View source for Grand Prix Legends

{{Short description|1998 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Citation style|date=February 2025}} 
{{Infobox video game
|title = Grand Prix Legends
|image = Grand Prix Legends Coverart.jpg
|caption = North American boxart
|developer = [[Papyrus Design Group]]
|publisher = [[Sierra Entertainment|Sierra Sports]]
|director = Matt Sentell
|designer = Randy Cassidy<br>David Kaemmer<br>Brian C. Mahony<br>Matt Sentell<br>Richard Yasi
|engine =
|released = {{vgrelease|NA|October 5, 1998<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-2154,00.html | title=What's in Stores This Week | author=Gentry, Perry | date=October 6, 1998 | website=Gamecenter | publisher=[[CNET]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817182437/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-2154,00.html | archive-date=August 17, 2000 | url-status=dead | access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sierrasports.com/sierrasports/pr/grandprix.html | title=Sierra Sports - Press Release | date=October 5, 1998 | website=Sierra | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990824162145/http://www.sierrasports.com/sierrasports/pr/grandprix.html | archive-date=August 24, 1999 | url-status=dead | access-date=December 13, 2024}}</ref>|EU|1998}}
|genre = [[Sim racing|Racing simulation]]
|modes = [[Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
|platforms = [[Windows]]
}}

'''''Grand Prix Legends''''' is a [[Personal computer|computer]] [[racing simulator]] developed by [[Papyrus Design Group]] and published in 1998 by [[Sierra On-Line]] under the Sierra Sports banner. It is inspired by the [[1967 Formula One season]]<ref name=NGen29>{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/stream/NEXT_Generation_29#page/n66 | title=NG Alphas: Grand Prix Legends | magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] | publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]] | issue=29 | date=May 1997 | pages=66–69}}</ref> and includes the teams [[Brabham]], [[British Racing Motors|BRM]], [[All American Racers|Eagle]], [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] and [[Team Lotus|Lotus]]. Two fictional teams called "Murasama" and "Coventry" replaced [[Honda in Formula One|Honda]] and [[Cooper Car Company|Cooper]] within the game.

==Gameplay==
[[File:Grand Prix Legends screenshot.jpg|thumb|left|Replay mode (cockpit view)]]
The game offers several modes in which the player can race alone or against computer generated opponents. The game also features multiplayer via [[local area network|LAN]]. Many parameters affecting the skill and aggressiveness of the [[Non-player character|NPC]] drivers can be specified.

==Teams and drivers==
{{flag|GBR}} [[Brabham|Brabham Racing Organisation]]
* #1 {{flag|AUS}} [[Jack Brabham]]
* #2 {{flag|NZL}} [[Denny Hulme|Denis Hulme]]

{{flag|GBR}} [[British Racing Motors]]
* #13 {{flag|GBR}} [[Chris Irwin]]
* #8 {{flag|FRA}} [[Jean-Pierre Beltoise]]

{{flag|GBR}} Coventry Car Company
* #14 {{flag|AUT}} [[Jochen Rindt]]
* #15 {{flag|MEX}} [[Pedro Rodríguez (racing driver)|Pedro Rodríguez]]
* #12 {{flag|BEL}} [[Jacky Ickx]]
* #17 {{flag|SUI}} [[Jo Siffert]]
* #11 {{flag|SWE}} [[Joakim Bonnier]]

{{Flag|USA}} [[All American Racers|Anglo-American Racers]]
* #9 {{flag|USA}} [[Dan Gurney]]
* #19 {{flag|NZL}} [[Bruce McLaren]]
* #10 {{flag|USA}} [[Richie Ginther]]

{{flag|ITA}} [[Scuderia Ferrari]]
* #18 {{flag|ITA}} [[Lorenzo Bandini]]
* #3 {{flag|NZL}} [[Chris Amon]]
* #20 {{flag|GBR}} [[Mike Parkes]]
* #16 {{flag|ITA}} [[Ludovico Scarfiotti]]

{{flag|GBR}} [[Team Lotus]]
* #5 {{flag|GBR}} [[Jim Clark]]
* #6 {{flag|GBR}} [[Graham Hill]]

{{flag|JPN}} Murasama Motors
* #7 {{flag|GBR}} [[John Surtees]]


==Development==
The game was in development for three years<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sports-gaming.com/racing/gpl/interview1.shtml | title=Grand Prix Legends Interview | date=October 25, 1998 | website=The Sports Gaming Network | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523235634/http://www.sports-gaming.com/racing/gpl/interview1.shtml | archive-date=May 23, 2022 | url-status=live | access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref> with a team of 25 to 30 people.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/107580802/the-sydney-morning-herald/ | title=Circuit Breaker | newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | publisher=[[Fairfax Media]] | date=September 26, 1998 | page=206 | access-date=September 3, 2023 | via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Inspired by the 1966 film ''[[Grand Prix (1966 film)|Grand Prix]]'', the developers chose to base the game on the 1967 Formula 1 Grand Prix season because during that period tracks were narrow and lined with trees, houses, and other elements that in a video game can serve as backgrounds to enhance the sensation of speed.<ref name=NGen29/> In addition, the more primitive suspension of cars of the time meant that the car physics could be more visually dramatic.<ref name=NGen29/>

However, the amount of time that has passed since the 1967 Grand Prix season meant that some of the tracks the designers wanted to recreate no longer existed in their original form. The team visited [[town hall]]s to get [[blueprint]]s for defunct tracks.<ref name=NGen29/> Papyrus co-founder Dave Kaemmer commented that the licensing for the game was difficult, but they had people who helped them during the development.<ref name=NGen29/>

{{clear}}

==Reception==
===Critical reception===
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 84%<ref name=gr>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/52156-grand-prix-legends/index.html | title=Grand Prix Legends for PC | website=[[GameRankings]] | publisher=CBS Interactive | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602020115/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/52156-grand-prix-legends/index.html | archive-date=June 2, 2019 | url-status=dead | access-date=December 25, 2020}}</ref>
| CNG = 9/10<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-2220,00.html | title=Grand Prix Legends | author=Mahood, Andy | date=October 29, 1998 | website=Gamecenter | publisher=CNET | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816095206/http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-2220,00.html | archive-date=August 16, 2000 | url-status=dead | access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref>
| CGSP = 4.5/5<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/015/048/grandprixl_review.html | title=Grand Prix Legends | author=Bauman, Steve | date=October 28, 1998 | website=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] | publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030523211749/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/015/048/grandprixl_review.html | archive-date=May 23, 2003 | url-status=dead | access-date=January 17, 2019}}</ref>
| CGW = 4/5<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_174.pdf | title=Blast From the Past (''Grand Prix Legends'' Review) | author=Goble, Gord | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] | issue=174 | date=January 1999 | pages=340–41 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827180627/https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_174.pdf | archive-date=August 27, 2023 | url-status=live | access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref>
| Edge = 9/10<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://retrocdn.net/images/0/0a/Edge_UK_064.pdf | title=Grand Prix Legends | author=Edge staff | magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] | publisher=[[Future plc|Future Publishing]] | issue=64 | date=November 1998 | pages=82–83 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207053644/https://retrocdn.net/images/0/0a/Edge_UK_064.pdf | archive-date=February 7, 2023 | url-status=live | access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref>
| GamePro = 4.5/5<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/865.shtml | title=Grand Prix Legends Review for PC on GamePro.com | author=Morris, Daniel | magazine=[[GamePro]] | publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG Entertainment]] | year=1999 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040623005537/http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/865.shtml | archive-date=June 23, 2004 | url-status=dead | access-date=January 17, 2019}}</ref>
| GameRev = A<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32992-grand-prix-legends-review | title=Grand Prix Legends Review | author=Cooke, Mark | date=December 1998 | website=[[GameRevolution]] | publisher=[[CraveOnline]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012040200/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/grand-prix-legends | archive-date=October 12, 2015 | url-status=live | access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref>
| GSpot = 8.9/10<ref name=gspot>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/grand-prix-legends-review/1900-2536263/ | title=Grand Prix Legends Review [date mislabeled as "May 1, 2000"] | author=Poole, Stephen | date=December 17, 1998 | website=[[GameSpot]] | publisher=[[Fandom (website)|Fandom]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041205091317/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/driving/grandprixlegends/review.html | archive-date=December 5, 2004 | url-status=live | access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref>
| JXV = 17/20<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00000200_test.htm | title=Test: Grand Prix Legends | language=fr | author=lightman | date=October 21, 1998 | website=[[Jeuxvideo.com]] | publisher=[[Webedia]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225035700/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00000200_test.htm | archive-date=February 25, 2020 | url-status=live | access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref>
| NGen = 5/5<ref name=NGen49>{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_49/page/n101/mode/2up | title=Grand Prix Legends | magazine=Next Generation | publisher=Imagine Media | issue=49 | date=January 1999 | page=100 | access-date=December 25, 2020}}</ref>
| PCA = 7/10<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/PCXL05Jan1999/page/n89/mode/2up | title=Grand Prix Legends | author=Klett, Steve | magazine=[[PC Accelerator]] | publisher=Imagine Media | issue=5 | date=January 1999 | page=90 | access-date=December 29, 2020}}</ref>
| PCGUS = 70%<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/23.html | title=Grand Prix Legends | author=McDonald, T. Liam | magazine=[[PC Gamer]] | publisher=Imagine Media | volume=6 | issue=1 | date=January 1999 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991222230827/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/23.html | archive-date=December 22, 1999 | url-status=dead | access-date=January 17, 2019}}</ref>
| PCZone = 90%<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_69_November_1998/page/n103/mode/2up | title=Grand Prix Legends | author=Hill, Steve | magazine=[[PC Zone]] | publisher=[[Dennis Publishing]] | issue=69 | date=November 1998 | pages=104–5 | access-date=December 25, 2020}}</ref>
}}

The game received "favorable" reviews according to the [[Review aggregator|review aggregation]] website [[GameRankings]].<ref name=gr/> ''[[GameSpot]]'' said that ''Grand Prix Legends'' has the most intense racing experience ever seen on a personal computer.<ref name=gspot/> ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' highly praised the graphics, gameplay, the recreation of 1967 Grand Prix season (in addition to its cars and tracks of its era), artificial intelligence and realistic driving model physics.<ref name=NGen49/> The magazine ranked it at #47 in its list of the Fifty Best Games of All Time.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_50/page/n73/mode/2up | title=The Fifty Best Games of All Time (#47) | magazine=Next Generation | publisher=Imagine Media | issue=50 | date=February 1999 | page=73 | access-date=December 25, 2020}}</ref>

===Sales===
The game was a commercial failure;<ref name=mahood/><ref name=gamesthatsell/> Andy Mahood of ''[[PC Gamer|PC Gamer US]]'' described its sales as "abysmally poor".<ref name=mahood>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.pcgamer.com/columns/simcolumn/column_2001-07-27c.html | title=Staying Ahead of the Game | author=Mahood, Andy | magazine=PC Gamer | publisher=Imagine Media | volume=7 | issue=12 | date=December 2000 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030827062250/http://www.pcgamer.com/columns/simcolumn/column_2001-07-27c.html | archive-date=August 27, 2003 | url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2003, writer [[Mark H. Walker]] reported that "the game sold only a few thousand copies" in the United States, which he attributed to the general unpopularity of Formula One racing in the country. He noted that its "steep learning curve kept many fans away" in European markets.<ref name=gamesthatsell>{{cite book | author=Walker, Mark H. | author-link=Mark H. Walker | title=Games That Sell! | date=June 25, 2003 | publisher=Wordware Publishing | isbn=155622950X |page=194}}</ref> ''GameSpot''{{'}}s Gord Goble attributed its performance to the "combination of treacherous gameplay, sometimes glacial frame rates, and esoteric subject matter". It ultimately totalled 200,000 sales by 2004.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/history-of-papyrus-racing-games/1100-6103365/ | title=History of Papyrus Racing Games [date mislabeled as "June 8, 2005"] (Page 6: A Daring Move) | author=Goble, Gord | date=July 24, 2004 | website=GameSpot | publisher=Fandom | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040805140430/http://www.gamespot.com/features/6103365/p-6.html | archive-date=August 5, 2004 | url-status=live | access-date=December 25, 2020}}</ref>

Despite its commercial underperformance, the game developed a [[cult following]] among racing simulator fans attracted by its realism and challenge. A number of fan [[Video game modding|mods]] were developed and adopted by players.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Davies |first=Dylan |date=2005 |title=Why I loved hardcore racing sim Grand Prix Legends |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/why-i-loved-hardcore-racing-sim-grand-prix-legends/ |magazine=[[PC_Gamer#PC_Gamer_UK|PC Gamer (UK)]] |location=[[Bath, Somerset|Bath]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |access-date=26 December 2025|issue=145 }} </ref>

===Awards===
The game was the runner-up for ''[[Computer Gaming World]]''{{'}}s 1998 "Best Driving" award, and for ''GameSpot''{{'}}s 1998 "Driving Game of the Year" award, both of which ultimately went to ''[[Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit]]''.<ref name=cgwpremier1998 /><ref>{{cite web | url=http://gamespot.com/features/awards1998/genre3.html | title=The Best & Worst of 1998 (Driving Game of the Year - Nominees) | author=GameSpot staff | year=1999 | website=GameSpot | publisher=Ziff Davis | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001001015345/http://gamespot.com/features/awards1998/genre3.html | archive-date=October 1, 2000 | url-status=dead | access-date=August 28, 2021}}</ref> The staff of the former commented that ''Grand Prix Legends'' was the most ambitious and realistic driving simulation game of 1998, and the toughest to play.<ref name=cgwpremier1998>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_177.pdf | title=''Computer Gaming World''{{'}}s 1999 Premier Awards (Best Driving) | author=CGW staff | magazine=Computer Gaming World | publisher=Ziff Davis | issue=177 | date=April 1999 | page=100 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601211440/https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_177.pdf | archive-date=June 1, 2023 | url-status=live | access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref>

The game won ''[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]]''{{'}} 1998 "Sports Game of the Year" award. The staff wrote that a few racing games could come close to ''Grand Prix Racing''{{'}}s level of sophistication and uncompromising detail.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/017/163/sports_of_year.html | title=The Best of 1998 (Best Sports Game) | author=CGSP staff | date=February 11, 1999 | website=Computer Games Strategy Plus | publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050209104308/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/017/163/sports_of_year.html | archive-date=February 9, 2005 | url-status=dead | access-date=January 17, 2019}}</ref> It also won the Best Racing Game award at the 1998 ''[[CNET|CNET Gamecenter]]'' Awards.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Awards98/ss08c.html | title=The CNET Gamecenter.com Awards for 1998! (Racing Winner) | author=Gamecenter staff | date=January 29, 1999 | website=Gamecenter | publisher=CNET | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210193012/http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Awards98/ss08c.html | archive-date=February 10, 2001 | url-status=dead | access-date=August 28, 2021}}</ref>

==Legacy==
{{Empty section|date=August 2022}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{moby game|id=/2561/grand-prix-legends/}}

{{Formula One games}}
{{Papyrus Design Group games}}

[[Category:1998 video games]]
[[Category:Formula One video games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Papyrus Design Group games]]
[[Category:Racing video games]]
[[Category:Sierra Entertainment games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games set in Belgium]]
[[Category:Video games set in Canada]]
[[Category:Video games set in France]]
[[Category:Video games set in Germany]]
[[Category:Video games set in Italy]]
[[Category:Video games set in Mexico]]
[[Category:Video games set in Monaco]]
[[Category:Video games set in South Africa]]
[[Category:Video games set in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Video games set in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Video games set in the United States]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Windows-only games]]