Geoff Crammond signing copies of Grand Prix 2

Geoff Crammond is a computer game designer who specialises in motor racing games. He claims to have little interest in motor racing, but he holds a physics degree, which may explain the realism of some of his programming. Image File history File links Geoff_Crammond. ... Image File history File links Geoff_Crammond. ... Grand Prix 2, sometimes known as GP2, is a racing simulator released by MicroProse in 1996. ... A game designer is a person who designs games. ... A racing game is any game that involves competing in races through a surrogate playing piece or vehicle, either getting it from one point to another or completing a number of circuits in the shortest time. ... Physics (Greek: (phúsis), nature and (phusiké), knowledge of nature) is the branch of science concerned with the fundamental laws of the universe. ...

Games

One of his early releases was Aviator, a Spitfire simulator marketed for the BBC Micro by Acornsoft. Although it had monochrome Mode 5 graphics and few of the features of modern simulators for more powerful computers, Aviator was of unparalleled quality at the time of its release (c. 1983), with a realistic flight model that included g-forces that could tear the wings off in a dive. Applying forward pressure on the analog stick restored the wings, however! The landscape was crudely rendered, and was basically a plane. Some scenic features were drawn as vector graphics, including low hills, rectangular fields, a lake, a suspension bridge over a river, and a small town which comprised a cluster of three buildings. Bonus points could be earned for flying under the bridge or along the main street of the town at a lower altitude than the buildings. Double points were earned for performing these stunts upside down. The game also had a shoot-'em-up mode in which alien vessels were seeded in the fields, feeding on the crops and growing until they could become airborne, at which point they headed for the town. The player could destroy the aliens on the ground as they fed, or score more points by tackling them in the air (the aliens were agile but could not return fire). If an alien reached the town, the game was lost. The Supermarine Spitfire was an iconic British single-seat fighter used primarily by the RAF and many Allied countries through the Second World War and into the 1950s. ... The BBC Microcomputer System was a series of microcomputers and associated peripherals designed and built by Acorn Computers Ltd for the BBC Computer Literacy Project operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation. ... Acornsoft was the software arm of Acorn Computers Ltd, and was a major publisher of games for the BBC Micro. ... 1983 1983 in games 1982 in video gaming 1984 in video gaming Notable events of 1983 in computer and video games. ... Example showing effect of vector graphics versus raster graphics. ...

Although better known for his Formula One simulation games on the PC and Amiga platforms, his first motor racing simulator was REVS, a Formula Three simulator that debuted on the BBC Micro platform in 1984. The BBC version of Revs featured just one track, the Silverstone circuit, but the realistic implementation of motor racing physics and artificial intelligence of the computer controlled components gave the game enormous depth and replayability. Formula One - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... While being one of the first personal computers, the Altair 8800 was considered a mere toy due its lack of abilities. ... The original Amiga 1000 (1985) with various peripherals The Amiga is a family of personal computers originally developed by Amiga Corporation. ... REVS is a 1984 Formula Three simulator written initially for the BBC Micro by Geoff Crammond that is notable for its realistic simulation of the sport and as a precursor to its authors later work on Formula One Grand Prix and its sequels. ... Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or, in abbreviated form, F3, is a type of formula racing and a class of open-wheeler motor racing. ... 1984 1984 in games 1983 in video gaming 1985 in video gaming Notable events of 1984 in computer and video games. ... Silverstone Circuit is a racing circuit at Silverstone, England. ...

A Commodore 64 version of the game, entitled Revs Plus, was released in 1986, which added the Brands Hatch track to the game. An enhanced edition of the BBC version was later released called 'REVS 4 Tracks' which included Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Oulton Park and Snetterton race tracks. Later the Commodore 64 version added the Nürburgring to this list to continue the "4 Tracks" theme as Brands Hatch had already been included with the initial REVS Plus release. The Nürburgring was chosen as its new layout had recently been completed and computer based design data was available. This gives an idea of just how accurate REVS was as a simulation rather than 'just' a game. The Commodore 64 is the best-selling single personal computer model of all time. ... 1986 1986 in games 1985 in video gaming 1987 in video gaming Notable events of 1986 in computer and video games. ... Brands Hatch is a British motor racing circuit. ... World Series by Renault at Donington Parks Melbourne Hairpin in 2005. ... Oulton Park Circuit is a motor racing track in the small village of Little Budworth, Cheshire, northwest England,about 5 miles from Winsford, 13 miles to Chester City Center, 8 miles to Northwich and 17 miles to Warrington with nearby rail connection along the Mid-Cheshire Line set in rolling... Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit is a motor racing circuit in Norfolk, England. ... The Commodore 64 is the best-selling single personal computer model of all time. ... Detailed Nürburgring map showing both the Nordschleife and the new GP section. ...

The Sentinel was published by Firebird on the BBC Micro in 1986. It was a 3D puzzle game, featuring ten thousand levels, in which the player had to maneuver his way through a landscape of cliffs, trees and boulders to topple the ominous Sentinel. The game was a critical and commercial success. Conversions for the ZX Spectrum, C64, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST and PC soon followed. A sequel, Sentinel Returns, was published by Psygnosis in 1998 on the PC and PlayStation platforms. The Sentinel is a computer game created by Geoff Crammond, published by Firebird in 1986 for the BBC Micro and converted to Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC 464, Atari ST, Amiga and PC. It was among the first games, if not the first, to do solid 3D on home... Firebird was a software label established by Telecomsoft for publishing budget computer games for a number of 8-bit home computer platforms. ... 1986 1986 in games 1985 in video gaming 1987 in video gaming Notable events of 1986 in computer and video games. ... The ZX Spectrum is a home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd. ... Close_up of C64 Commodore 64 (C64, CBM 64) was a popular home computer of the 1980s. ... The Amstrad CPC was a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad during the 1980s and early 1990s. ... The Atari 520ST Atari 1040STF with SC1224 color monitor The Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was commercially popular from 1985 to the early 1990s. ... Sentinel Returns is a computer game developed by Hookstone, produced by No-Name Games and published by Sony (under the Psygnosis label) in 1998, for PC and Playstation. ... The cover artwork of most Psygnosis games was by fantasy artist Roger Dean. ... 1998 1998 in games 1997 in video gaming 1999 in video gaming Notable events of 1998 in video gaming. ... The Sony PlayStation ) is a video game console of the 32/64-bit era, first produced by Sony Computer Entertainment in the mid-1990s. ...

Crammond's attention returned to motor racing simulators. Stunt Car Racer was a slightly offbeat driving simulation, rewarding the player for performing outrageous stunts on a number of elevated, roller-coaster-like courses. Although less serious in tone than his previous simulators, the game nevertheless used an impressive physics engine to offer a realistic driving experience. The game has a kind of cult status, especially among Amiga and Atari ST gamers. Stunt Car Racer (also distributed under the title Stunt Track Racer) is a racing video game developed by Geoff Crammond for MicroStyle and was published by in 1989. ...

Ever since the early 1990s, Crammond's primary focus has been on developing the award-winning Formula One Grand Prix series of games. The first game in the series, F1GP (aka World Circuit in the USA), was released by MicroProse on the Amiga in 1992 and is essentially the spiritual successor to Revs. Around this time Amiga Power magazine began referring to him as Sir Geoff, a running gag which has caught on with many others. The game was an instant success, earning a conversion to the Atari ST and PC platforms, but the inevitable sequel, GP2, remained in development for three years before eventually being released on the PC in 1996. Game screenshot Formula One Grand Prix (known as World Circuit in the United States) is a computer game released in 1992 by MicroProse for the Amiga and PC created by game designer Geoff Crammond. ... MicroProse Software, Inc. ... 1992 1992 in games 1991 in video gaming 1993 in video gaming Notable events of 1992 in video gaming. ... The front cover of Amiga Power Issue 49. ... Grand Prix 2, sometimes known as GP2, is a racing simulator released by MicroProse in 1996. ... 1996 1996 in games 1995 in video gaming 1997 in video gaming Notable events of 1996 in video gaming. ...

GP3 was released on the PC in 2000 but received only a lukewarm welcome from fans and critics alike. Crammond's series now had considerable competition from other developers, particularly Psygnosis/Sony, who were licensed by the FIA to produce the official Formula One gaming titles. Grand Prix 3 is a computer racing simulator by MicroProse. ... 2000 2000 in games 1999 in video gaming 2001 in video gaming Notable events of 2000 in video gaming. ... Sony Corporation ) is a Japanese multinational corporation and one of the worlds largest media conglomerates with revenue of $68. ... The Fédération Internationale de lAutomobile, commonly referred to as the FIA, is a non-profit association established on June 20, 1904 to represent the interest of motoring organisations and motor car users. ...

GP4 was released on the PC in 2002 and is generally regarded as the most accurate game in the series. Grand Prix 4, released for the PC on the October 9, 2002, is currently the last Formula 1 racing simulator released by the developer Geoff Crammond and the MicroProse label. ... 2002 2002 in games 2001 in video gaming 2003 in video gaming Notable events of 2002 in video gaming. ...

After Grand Prix 4 there were rumors that Crammond's next game would be Stunt Car Racer Pro, an updated version of his classic game. The rumors were later confirmed with an announcement that he was co-operating with Lost Toys studios. Unfortunately the production faced difficulties as Lost Toys studios were closed in late 2003. At the beginning of 2005, the game was rumored to be cancelled, although the official statement is nowhere to be found.

Crammond was unofficially "Knighted" as "Sir" Geoff Crammond by the British computer games media following the release of F1GP, which was accorded the then highest-ever score in reviews in Amiga Format and Zero.

Released

• 1981 - Super Invaders (BBC)
• 1983 - Aviator (BBC)
• 1984 - REVS (BBC)
• 1986 - Revs Plus (C64)
• 1986 - The Sentinel (Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, C64, PC, ZX Spectrum)
• 1989 - Stunt Car Racer (Amiga, Atari ST, C64, PC, ZX Spectrum)
• 1992 - Formula One Grand Prix (Amiga, Atari ST, PC)
• 1996 - Grand Prix 2 (PC)
• 2000 - Grand Prix 3 (PC)
• 2001 - Grand Prix 3 2000 (PC)
• 2002 - Grand Prix 4 (PC)

REVS is a 1984 Formula Three simulator written initially for the BBC Micro by Geoff Crammond that is notable for its realistic simulation of the sport and as a precursor to its authors later work on Formula One Grand Prix and its sequels. ... The Sentinel is a computer game created by Geoff Crammond, published by Firebird in 1986 for the BBC Micro and converted to Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC 464, Atari ST, Amiga and PC. It was among the first games, if not the first, to do solid 3D on home... Stunt Car Racer (also distributed under the title Stunt Track Racer) is a racing video game developed by Geoff Crammond for MicroStyle and was published by in 1989. ... Game screenshot Formula One Grand Prix (known as World Circuit in the United States) is a computer game released in 1992 by MicroProse for the Amiga and PC created by game designer Geoff Crammond. ... Grand Prix 2, sometimes known as GP2, is a racing simulator released by MicroProse in 1996. ... Grand Prix 3 is a computer racing simulator by MicroProse. ... Grand Prix 3 is a computer game by MicroProse. ... Grand Prix 4, released for the PC on the October 9, 2002, is currently the last Formula 1 racing simulator released by the developer Geoff Crammond and the MicroProse label. ...

Status Unknown

• Stunt Car Racer Pro (PC) (Cancelled)

External links

• Official website of the Grand Prix series