GPRM Zone

Interview with GPRM Program Manager

GameManager.When did you decide to develop a Race Management Game?

Program Manager.Between 1992 and 1993 I developed a Football management Simulation that was published in 1993. I also wrote a Race game that was never published. At that time I was not aware of any Race Manager games. I bought a number of Race games that were released some years later and believed that I could do a Race game that played better. I began work on the game in May 1999 and hope to complete it in late 2001

GameManager.Which are the most interesting features of your Game, and why do you think it’s better than some of the others?

Program Manager.The micro-management that is required in some Manager games (not just Race) can be very irritating and boring. I want to have fun when I play sports management simulations not change the price of the hot-dogs on sale in the stadium. If I play a Football sim I want to spend most of the game co-ordinating my players and watching the game. In Race I want to spend more time at the race and have more input on the performances of my players or drivers. In GPRM the game is focussed upon the GP Race week-end (well, all 17 GP race week-ends to be precise). That is where the action is. The rest of the game, the business, the car design the finance etc is very very important but does not take up 99% of the time you spend playing the game. The objective of RaceCM is to bring you more of the part of the game that you are buying the game for – race strategy, tactics, qualifying decisions etc. 

GameManager. It’s pretty original that a Game has been developed by a very heterogeneous team working as a matter of fact “on line”. Was this a choice or a necessity?

Program Manager.The RaceCM team came together because each member of the Team has a passion for Races and a desire to try and be part of a truly great Race manager simulation. The Team come from UK, Holland, Italy and Denmark and have worked together in their spare time. Most are still in full-time education but each one is highly skilled in their own area comprising a Programming team, a Graphics Team and a Research Team. We were brought together by chance following the collapse of a similar Race game program that collapsed. I was never involved with the other project but earlier this year I began to talk to some of the guys that were involved who had some skills to offer my project which I gladly accepted. It was at this point that the game moved from being a hobby to being a series commercial opportunity for myself and the Team.

GameManager. Do you think the Game will be so original too?

Program Manager.There have been quite a few Race Manager simulations before our game but very few, if any, have been created by Race enthusiasts. There are many features of the game that I do not believe are in other games.

GameManager. Could you tell us something about any forthcoming projects?

Program Manager.We have no pipeline of games, although I have lots of ideas that I would really like to progress. The success or otherwise of RaceCM will have an impact one way or the other on the prospect of those ideas becoming reality.

GameManager. I can’t conclude without asking you when the Game will be released.

Program Manager.If all goes well the game should be released this year.  

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