Grand Prix Manager 2 v1.02 Patch Adds DirectPlay

EDCOM have today released an update for Grand Prix Manager 2 that improves Windows 95 support and drops Windows 3.1. The 32bit program now uses DirectPlay and there’s a bunch of other tweaks and fixes, too.

You can grab the patch in the downloads section.

Readme:

Grand Prix Manager 2
Version 1.02

Requirements
Windows 95 (this version no longer works under Windows 3.x)
DirectPlay version 3.0 installed on your system
The GPM 2 CD-ROM.
8Mb of RAM

This version of Grand Prix Manager 2 is completely different to 1.01!

OK – so the game hasn’t changed, but the way it’s been written has! Every line of program code has been upgraded to make it a fast, streamlined, 32 bit application. The race section is much faster and smoother and the program in general works much better under Windows 95.

Multiplayer games have been particularly improved and are now much more stable.
GPM2 now uses DirectPlay (a collection of routines written by Microsoft for the gaming community). This has increased the link play capabilities by improving the speed the data is sent and allowing other protocols to be used.

Installation

Copy the files from the floppy disk into your GPM2 installed directory (usually C:\MPS\GPM2).

Run GPM2102.EXE and the new program executable GPM2.EXE will be installed.

Note: You will be asked if you wish to overwrite the existing file. Press ‘Y’ to continue.

This version requires the WING32.DLL, along with the DirectPlay DLL’s. These should be located in your ‘C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM’ directory. If these files are not present the program will not start, requesting the appropriate DLL. Note: The WING32.DLL should have already been installed by GPM2.

The Directplay 3.0 (DirectX 3.0) arew also required. These drivers can be obtained from almost any magazine cover disk and many other existing titles. Many people already have Direct X 3.0 installed and therefore we have not included these files. If V1.02 will not run just install these drivers from another game such as Magic The Gathering or a coverdisk. Make sure you choose V3.0.

DirectPlay from Microsoft

DirectPlay is a set of Microsoft routines for communications and is part of their DirectX games system. By using these, GPM2 will work over any form of network, or serial connection, that supports DirectPlay. This means that whenever a new network protocol becomes available, you can use it without upgrading your copy of GPM 2. In fact, GPM 2 can now work over TCP/IP and a MODEM, because those drivers are supplied as standard with DirectPlay!

DirectPlay can be downloaded from most sites, including the Microprose BBS.

TCP/IP

In our testing we have found some machines are unable to use an IPX connection. The game may, at certain intervals, stop responding. If this occurs you should use a different protocol, like TCP/IP – even if its only over a local network – TCP/IP has proven to be more reliable for long games than IPX. It’s available ‘free’ on your Windows 95 CD. If you haven’t got it installed already (and you probably have if you’ve accessed the Internet), then install the TCP/IP protocol from your Windows 95 CD as follows.

1. On your desktop open Network Neighbourhood with the right mouse button, and select properties.
2. Select the ‘Add’ button.
3. Choose ‘Protocol’, and press ‘Add’. Windows may then build a driver database.
4. Select ‘Microsoft’ from the Manufacturer window, and TCP/IP from the Network Protocols window. Then click OK.
5. Windows will then install any new drivers it requires. You may have to insert your Windows 95 CD for this to work.
6. Once the drivers have been installed, you will probably have to re-boot your computer.
7. If you need to know the IP address of your computer then run the program ‘winipcfg.exe’ (not included). This will give you the current machines IP address, both locally, and through and dial-up service you use.

Link Play in GPM 2

Start GPM 2 and select link play. After selecting the difficulty level a list of available connection methods will be displayed. Make your choice and press the Master or Slave button as per usual. The instructions are the same as in the original Technical Supplement.

When playing by Modem (only two players can play at a time) the slave will be asked to enter the telephone number of their opponent and should then press the Connect button. The master should press the Answer button on the connection panel. The slave calls the master and the connection is made.

BUGS FIXED

Network Play
Many crashes have been fixed under network play and as mentioned above the whole area has been coded using Direct X making it faster and stable.

Common Problems that have been addressed are:-

Cars would often retire from the race with ‘Electronic Problems’.

The master machines background sound would sometimes remains switched off.

The speech samples would sometimes “pop” a lot.

At the end a race the game would sometimes freeze whilst displaying the results.

Occasionally at the first race of the season drivers would ask for a wet weather setup, even though conditions were dry.

Single Player Bugs:

As with network play retirements with ‘Electronic Problems’ has been fixed.

During the race the “TOP CARS” report would sometimes list the same car six times instead of showing the top six cars.