Grand Prix Manager 2/GPM1 Leftovers
This is a sub-page of Grand Prix Manager 2.
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A number of leftover files from the first Grand Prix Manager game exist within the files of GPM2.
Graphics
Top-view car images belonging to fictional teams Cassini and Tsunami (which have new liveries in this game) as well as Simtek, a real team that went bankrupt in the middle of an actual 1995 Formula One season and thus does not appear in GPM2, as it was based on the 1996 season.
A picture of three FIA men in an official FIA panel/meeting, used when the player is caught running illegal parts in GPM1.
Five images used for newspaper headlines in GPM1. The first two are cropped versions of the FIA officials used in the picture above, for two different news items. (The second is used when the team is found guilty of running illegal parts.) The third, as described as NEWSPICS.TXT in the front page, is for the "team ecstatic" (world champion/top positions) condition/ending. The fourth is a picture of the team manager with an alcoholic beverage on the manager desk, showing some concern. The last one is the FIA Formula One World Championship logo for the "Welcome to Grand Prix Manager" entry at the beginning of the first season.
Newspaper background used in the end of the season/game.
Wind tunnel station from GPM1, complete with menu bar with the menu text in it.
GPM1 menu bar strip. The old file name, MTCSTRIP.PCX, is used by GPM2's used menu bar strip.
This particular graphic, the in-race menu bar, does not appear on its own; rather it is included in all track PCX files. GPM2's own menu bar (TRAKBASE.PCX) is shown at the top of those. The GPM1 menu bars were included likely because the tracks were tested in GPM1, or for compatibility purposes.
Text Files
All text files pertaining to the GPM1's in-game advice is still in GPM2's folder. There are no advice buttons in GPM2, except for one in Sponsor Deals screen.
ACQUIRE.TXT:
Acquiring technology from other teams can be faster and less costly than developing it yourself. However, car designs are closely guarded secrets, so first you'll have to pay someone to get them for you. If you find out that a rival team does have components you want, you can either do a deal with that team (buying the technology or swapping it for some of your own), or try to acquire the technology, at no cost, by 'stealth'.
BANK.TXT:
If your cash is running low, and you are not expecting any fresh income from sponsorship or prize money, you should think about asking the bank for a loan. This should be a short term measure only, because debt repayment on large sums will probably bankrupt you. Beware, if you take out a loan on top of an existing one, the bank will increase the interest on all the money you owe.
CAREXT.TXT:
Car aerodynamics are all about balance. You can either set the car to run as fast as possible in a straight line, or go for more downforce, which improves grip but reduces overall speed. Try to find the right level of downforce for the circuit you're racing at next. On 'power circuits' like Hockenheim go for straight line speed, while on winding tracks like Monte Carlo look for faster cornering. Also check tyre pressure and wing balance to avoid steering problems.
CARINT.TXT:
The ultimate aim of car construction is to make the car as powerful and reliable as possible. Any component failure can lose you a race. Keep an eye on weight - don't fit a 100% capacity fuel tank if you're planning plenty of pit stops. And always try to set gear ratios as tight as possible, especially for slower circuits. Finally, if the next race involves a lot of hard braking, make sure you bias the brakes to the front of the car.
DRAID.TXT:
These advanced electronic systems are costly and time consuming to develop, but they will give you an edge over any team which does not have them. Unfortunately, Driver Aids are also subject to more FIA rule changes than any other area of Formula One car construction. It is possible that your massive investment could result in you having equipment you cannot legally use.
ENGINE.TXT:
The heart of any racing car is its engine. Modern F1 engines are lighter and more fuel-efficient than ever before, and are capable of generating up to 750 brake horsepower. Most teams have to buy their engines, and this can be one of the biggest single costs a team ever has to meet. The top teams, however, receive free engines, plus massive technical support from the supplier, in exchange for advertising. The value of this kind of support cannot be over-exaggerated.
FACILITY.TXT:
Owning customised construction facilities is the hallmark of a top F1 team. The benefits of facilities are tremendous. Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems cut down the time involved in all Design work, while Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) systems save Engineering time. A Carbon-Fibre Unit enables you to build your own in-house Internal parts; as does a Manufacturing Unit with in-house External parts. Using a Testing Rig will improve your car's overall performance, while building a Wind-Tunnel will save you having to rent one whenever you need an indication of how fast your car is.
FUEL.TXT:
Your engine requires the correct blend of fuel to run at its optimum performance. The fuel companies recommend which engines their fuel should be used with, and you should try to use the right kind of fuel for the engines you're running. If you can't manage this, you should use the highest quality fuel you can afford. The fuel companies can only support a limited number of teams each season, so you might not be able to enter into a contract with your first choice of supplier.
INSURANC.TXT:
The FIA insists that all drivers are covered by third party insurance, but anything else is up to you. Injury cover means that if your driver is hospitalised, all his medical bills and wages will be paid for while he is recovering. Loss cover means that should your driver be unable to work for you again, you will receive a large lump sum to cover his contract. Though motor racing is now safer than ever before, it is still a dangerous sport and you should take care to cover any eventuality.
MERCHAN.TXT:
There's no big money to be made from merchandising, but any cash we do make is at no cost to ourselves. Also, the more successful our team is, the more money we can make from such licensing. All the items on the shelves are goods manufactured by other people, who want to pay us for the rights to use our team's name. All the team goods on the right are made and paid for by ourselves; however, they're good for promoting our image and help to attract sponsorship.
NEWCAR.TXT:
It is vital that you complete the design of your new car chassis before the end of this season. If you don't, you'll have to start next year's season using this year's technology, which means you can expect to see your cars being out-performed by practically every other car on the track.
RANDD.TXT: (%s are names of currently banned driver aids)
Note: the following Driver Aids are currently illegal: %s %s %s
OFERDEAL.TXT:
How well you perform here will decide the future of your team. Areas marked 'Most Costly' should be sold for large bids only. Areas marked 'Cheapest' are worth a lot less and so will attract lowest bids. The value of all areas will increase or decrease with your team's performance. So if you think the team is going to improve, don't sell off all your best areas too soon for too long. If, on the other hand, you expect a down-turn in performance, sell off as much as you can as quickly as you can.
SECURITY.TXT:
Ultimately, Formula One racing is a competitive business. Each team invests millions of dollars in cutting edge research, and car technology is a closely guarded secret. It is important, then, that you hire the best security group you can afford. Low security can mean information on your car designs, and even on specific components, being made available to other teams. Good security contacts will also be able to help you with any 'enquiries' you yourself may wish to make about your rivals.
SPARES.TXT:
Incredibly powerful engines, state-of-the-art tyres and carbon fibre components are all key elements in the construction of a Formula One racing car. But without the hundreds of standard spare parts needed to hold these elements together, a racing car wouldn't move two feet let alone two miles. Basically, you should buy the best parts you can afford - you wouldn't want to lose a race because of a badly made, deformed wing-nut, would you?
SPONS.TXT:
A strong commercial department is vital if you want to survive in Formula One. If you don't find sponsors, you'll never get the money you need to compete with the best. Sponsors are interested in two things: success, and teams who put in a lot of effort trying to attract the sponsor's attention. You should also look into merchandising - team goods, which cost us money but raise our profile, and money-earning licensing deals.
TESTT.TXT:
Testing is expensive but vital if we're going to become a top team. It helps us set up the car to achieve the results we want, and to make sure that the car can go full race distance. We can fine tune any improvements we've made to the car - if we don't, new components won't give us their best. Finally, testing helps me learn circuits, and gives me and the pit crew a chance to practise!
TYRE.TXT:
In setting up a tyre contract, you should be looking to buy the best quality tyres possible. The tyre manufacturers are constantly seeking to improve the quality of their tyres by keeping abreast of developments in tyre design and composition. Unfortunately, these modifications are not always successful, and so tyre quality can vary from year to year. For this reason you should try not to commit to a manufacturer for more than one season at a time.
