			GP Damage Editor (GPDAMED)
			      Version 1.1 
				  by
			    Martin Granberg

			     Documentation


	***NOTE***
Do *NOT* use this patch without having a backup of the game, as the patch 
alters the original gamefile.


Background
----------
This utility is yet another editor for Microproses Formula One Grand Prix game.
The reason for this one is that the other editors I have seen (on the PC) 
hasn't included the ability to alter the damage rate in the game. When you 
watch real Formula One races you never see all of the cars making it to the end
of the Grand Prix. This happens far too often in the game! In reality they 
sustain electrical failure, gearbox breakdown and so on. This is a feature 
which isn't included in the game, we can only hope that it is in F1GP 2 - 
when it is released. Another thing which I find unrealistic in the game is that
you can spin off the circuit and bang into a wall and yet be able to continue 
to race (a pitstop to change a wing might be needed, although). In a real race 
this is almost impossible, the cars are more fragile and because of the gravel
traps. There are no gravel traps in F1GP, but to make further racing impossible 
I have made a patch where you can edit how easily the cars get damaged when 
they hit a wall or another car. This is divided in two parts. You can alter 
both the chances to sustain wing-damage and to be put out of the race. I find 
this more realistic and you have to be more careful driving your car (specially
at the start of a race and if you have a bad qualifying position). I didn't 
know that you were able to alter these things in F1GP until a few weeks ago, 
when I saw a great editor for the game on the Amiga made by Oliver Roberts. 
His editor is really great!! I can't really think of anything that I would like
to alter in the game which he hasn't included (except for the tracks - but that
is a bit unrealistic to wish for). So I made this editor for the PC. 


What to do
----------
Just copy the file GPDAMED.EXE to your game directory and run it. The program
will examine your GP.EXE file and extract the present values and print them
on the screen. The game's default values are also printed.

You will then have the choice of (q)uitting or (e)diting the values. If you
quit - nothing in GP.EXE will be altered. If you want to edit the values, just
enter a number between 0 and 32767 for each of the four positions. Lower 
values mean a bigger risk to damage the car or be sent out of the race when 
you have an accident. Note that the changes apply both to your own car and the
computer controlled cars!



Which values are the best?
--------------------------
Well, I don't know - I keep altering mine every now and then. The same values
have different effect depending on the circuit. At one race perhaps only 0-3
cars are out, but in another race at a different circuit there can be a massive
start-line chaos and 15 cars are out at once. It also depends (I think) on
what BHP the AI-cars have. Higher BHP means harder impact if they go off. I
usually use a value about 50-75 percent of the default values. You will just 
have to find your own values depending on your preferences and AI-cars BHP. 
Although this patch is ment to increase the number of retirements, you can 
also raise the values and then you will be able to smash into a wall at +200 
MPH and get away with it - but that isn't fun, is it? 


Which versions of the game does GPDAMED handle?
-----------------------------------------------
European version 1.03 (F1GP)
European version 1.05 (F1GP)
Italian version 1.05 (F1GP)
US version 1.05 (World Circuit)

The patch detects which version of GP.EXE you have, but you should *not* try
it on another version than those stated above as there could be problems.

If someone would like to see some other version in this list (is there any?) -
send me an Email and I will include it if I have the time. I have only tested
it on the European version 1.05, but it should (!?) work fine on the others as
well.


History
-------

V1.0	First release
V1.1	Added support for Italian version 1.05


Misc
----
This patch is freeware, use it whenever you want and distribute it as much
as you want as long as there is no money charged. (Who would like to pay for
this crap anyway?)

Feel free to contact me for questions/comments or (I hope not) bug-reports.

martin.granberg@got.wmdata.se
or
hgus155@silver.stat.gu.se

Send mail to both addresses as you can.


DISCLAIMER
----------
This software is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either 
expressed or implied. Use it at your own risk. Always remember to have a
backup copy of your game.

THIS IS NOT A MICROPROSE PRODUCT