3D Grand Prix

ZX Computing

Jamie Pullen

READERS' REVIEWS Reviews of software and hardware from the people who use them most - yourselves. 3D GRAND PRIX D.J. Tronics Jamie Pullen After two weeks an impressive looking tape came through the post. It is SAVEd on both sides in case of any mishaps, although it loaded first time. After a three minute loading time an excellent title page appeared with a racing car on a DK Tronics stand. When you press a key as instructed it zooms off smoothly and the first page of instructions appear. After you have read the five pages of instructions (very detailed) you wait thirty seconds for it to generate a new track layout. When you first see the screen you just have to fall back in your chair and admire the graphics. Occupying the bottom of the screen are your instruments, telling you what gear you are in (a total of six gears), how many revs you are doing (15,000 possible), your position in the race, your speed (maximum speed of 180), fuel left (you start with 50 gallons) and finally what lap you are on. When you start the game you are in 18th position. On the left of the screen is an overhanging lamp post which tells you when you can go or not. When the light shows red you can't go, and believe it or not, when it shows green you can go. When the other cars have sped away you see the chequered road. Depending how fast you are going it soon disappears and leaves you on a road with a line in the middle. As you approach a bend a sign on the right of the road advises you to slow down to the speed indicated. The main disappointment comes when you actually get to the bend. Instead of expecting to see the road curve round and having to go left or right to get round it, it is straight and the only thing that tells you that there is a bend is a couple of funny shaped signs on the right hand side of the road. If you go round a bend too fast you will either crash, spin off or just receive a warning. By the way, you only get one life! Twice during a lap you are informed of the weather. If there is rain your braking power is reduced. There are only three kinds of weather "dry", "light rain", or "heavy rain". You can also make pit stops. To do this you must come to a halt on the chequered part of the road. When you do this you will be refuelled and will be told about any faults that have been cleared. I advise you to make at least one pit stop during the race because on the two times I have got to the last lap my braking has failed and my accelerator jammed. The race lasts for five laps and believe me thats enough for anyone. Another problem you have to face is mastering the keys, as there are ten commands you need to use. At the end of the game you are told the position you were in when you crashed and asked whether you would like to see the instructions, have the same track again, or have a new one generated. For £5.45 (including postage) it is an excellent game for anyone with a 16K ZX81. I highly recommend it.

ZX Computing

Nick Pearce

THE ZX81 SOFT SELECTION In which Nick Pearce casts a critical eye over some of the latest software releases. 3D GRAND PRIX DK'Tronics Having recently spent a considerable amount of time on the Spectrum negotiating the various circuits of Psion's Chequered Flag, I wasn't expecting too much of this ZX81 program - no colour, sound and chunky graphics. I must admit, however, that I was favourably impressed by this simulation from DK Tronics. The dashboard is displayed on screen and shows gear, speed and rpm indicators and your fuel guage. You have a perspective view of the track as from the driving seat of a Formula 1 racing car and see the other cars on the track as you pass them or are overtaken yourself. Unlike Chequered Flag, cornering is no problem providing that your speed is not excessive. The car takes bends automatically, left and right steering puts you on the appropriate side of the track for overtaking. You do have control over the gears (there are six of them), throttle and brakes. Weather effects, mechanical failures and pit stops all feature in this game with each race lasting five laps, unless you succumb to one of the numerous hazards faced by the Grand Prix driver. I found that it required careful concentration to avoid crashing into the back of slower cars ahead for at 180 mph there is not much time in which to react! An excellent simulation. 3D Grand prix costs £4.95 and is available from DK Tronics Ltd, [redacted].

C&VG (Computer & Video Games)

Getting Started 8/10

Graphics 7/10

Value 7/10

Playability 7/10

ARMCHAIR RACE FANS REV-UP! Put your foot down and accelerate away from the pits in this grand prix simulation for armchair racing fans. Five laps of the track will test the slickest of computer drivers to the full. 3D Grand Prix shows the view through the windscreen as the track is eaten up by your slick machine. Full controls are featured, including accelerator, brakes, and six gears. A lap counter shows you how many times you have been around the track and the number of laps left. Displays also include a rev counter and a fuel gauge. Weather conditions will affect your lap speed just as in a real race and you receive two reports on the elements every five laps. Other cars in the race are passing you and you them so you will have to steer carefully to stay in the game. Keys O and P control your direction, and L enables you to brake. Graphics are reasonably good for the ZX81 - especially as this program has to simulate depth as the track and cars disappear into the distance. There are numerous other obstacles and eventualities such as spinning off at a bend or crashing into the car in front of you. Control of the gears is the key to success in 3D Grand Prix and it will take you some time to learn how to work your way up through them gradually, to derive maximum benefit. 3D Grand Prix is the latest game for the ZX81 from Artic Computing of Hull. It is in the shops now at £4.95 for the 16K machine. Driving games are rarely attempted on home computers. Unfortunate this, as they can be extremely entertaining. Full marks to Artic for having a go on such a limited machine and for making such a good job of it as well.