MicroProse to Develop an Authentic Motorcycle Racing Game

Here is the official announcement of GP 500 being in development along with the press screenshots. This was released as a press pack at ECTS in 1999.

Hasbro Interactive, Inc. (NYSE:HAS), leading entertainment software publisher, announced it has entered into a worldwide licensing agreement with Dorna Promoción del Deporte, S.A., for the PC game rights to the FIM Road Racing World Championship GP 500 motorcycle circuit. The GP 500 is the world’s largest and most recognised formula motorcycle racing circuit and is establishing its position as one of the greatest sporting spectacles in the world. GP 500 will be published under the MicroProse brand.

“Adding the GP 500 game license will give us a foundation to develop and design the most authentic motorcycle racing computer game available,” said Matt Carroll, MicroProse brand director, Hasbro Interactive International. “GP 500 is an important brand to have in an increasingly global software industry where great game play must be combined with real life statistics and actual sporting events.”

GP 500 Racing

The GP 500 racing circuit includes 15 international races, reaches an average of 530 million* spectators per Grand Prix and is televised in more than 200 countries. The riders race on behalf of one of 19 teams including the Marlboro Team Kanemato featuring race-winning rider, Max Biaggi, and team Repsol Honda which includes the current world champion GP 500 rider, Mike Doohan. A fast growing spectator sport which features the ultimate high-performance 500cc motorcycles, the riders speed and navigate through courses at speeds in excess of 190 mph.

“By entering into a licensing agreement with MicroProse for the development of an authentic racing game, we are able to reach not only our GP 500 racing fan, but possibly a new market of motorcycle hobbyists who may not have been introduced to the circuit,” said Jordi Pons, marketing director, Dorna Promoción.