Super Monaco GP

n/a

X Board Mega Drive
Super Monaco GP
System(s): Sega X Board, Sega Mega Drive, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
Publisher: Sega Enterprises, Ltd. U.S. Gold
Developer: Sega R&D 1 Sega R&D 2 Probe Software
Distributor: Ecofilmes (PT) Kanal 10 (SE rental) (older) Hent Gruppen (SE rental) (newer) Tec Toy (BR)
Sound driver: SMPS Z80
Genre: Racing
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code JP 1989-05 ¥? ? US 1989-08 $? ? UK 1989 £? ? UK 199x £? ? JP 1990-08-09 ¥6,0006,000 G-4026 US 1990-09 1107 US (Classic) 1992 1107C US (Mega Hit) 1997-09 $19.9919.99 US ▼ (Sega Channel) 1994-06-01 SUBsub EU 1991-01 1107 EU ▼ (Sega Channel) 199x SUBsub PT 199x UK 1990-12 £34.9934.99 1107 FI 199x SE (Rental) 199x AU 199x CA 199x BR 199x BR (Red) 199x 043210 UK 1991-04 £24.9924.99 UK (Kixx) 199x UK 1991-04 £24.9924.99 UK (Kixx) 199x ES (Cassette) 199x ES (Disk) 199x UK (Cassette) 1991-04 £10.9910.99 UK (Disk) 1991-04 £15.9915.99 UK (Kixx) 199x UK (Cassette) 1991-04 £10.9910.99 UK (Disk) 1991 £15.9915.99 UK (Kixx) 199x UK (Cassette) 1991-04 £10.9910.99 UK (Kixx) 199x UK 1991-11

For the Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear versions, see Super Monaco GP (8-bit).

Super Monaco GP (スーパーモナコＧＰ) is a 1989 arcade racing game by Sega Enterprises, Ltd. It is the sequel to Monaco GP, but rather than being a top-down racer it has a first person view. It was originally released for the Sega X Board arcade system.

Gameplay

Super Monaco GP is a Formula One racing game played from a first person perspective, where the objective is to race against other F1 cars around a track in an attempt to reach first place. The game lacks any official licensing from any manufacturers or drivers, though continues to take many design cues from what was happening in the sport in the late 1980s (one exception is the "Sega SG1000 V8" engine, which is named after the Sega SG-1000 video game console).

Despite its name, the arcade Super Monaco GP does not feature any variant of the Circuit de Monaco, (i.e. the "Monaco GP"), instead opting for an original track layout with elements inspired by the famous race course. Also, typical for the era, the game takes a more arcade-style approach, scrapping many of the rules and regulations of the sport and being far more lenient with the physics of the cars.

Flicky is referenced in track advertisements, with the eponymous bird having a cameo at the end of races.

Courses

	San Marino
	Brazil
	France
	Hungary
	West Germany
	U.S.A.
	Canada
	Great Britain
	Italy
	Portugal
	Spain
	Mexico
	Japan
	Belgium
	Australia
	Monaco

History

Release

Despite its outward appearance, Super Monaco GP did not acquire any Formula One-related licenses or sponsorship deals during production. Cabinet designs and marketing material greatly emphasise the orange and white stylings of team Marlboro McLaren Honda's McLaren MP4/4, one of the dominant cars in Formula One during the late 1980s (driven by Ayrton Senna, who would feature in the game's successor, Ayrton Senna's Super Monaco GP II). Later releases add a touch of blue to the cabinet to create a more unique look.

Sega was sued by Philip Morris in the US due to the unauthorised Marlboro cigarette advertisements in the game. An initial complaint was filed when one of Philip Morris's lawyers spotted branding while visiting an arcade in November 1989. The firm demanded that Sega removed what it saw as trademark infringement immediately, citing also that it did not want to be seen advertising to minors. Sega conceded immediately and began the process of removing the advertisements from the game.

Co-chairman of Sega David Rosen issued a statement shortly claiming that the inclusion of "fleeting billboard parodies" was an "innocent attempt to mimic real-life locations and scenery to enhance the realism of game play". It had been claimed that the in-game banners were sponsored by Philip Morris, something both companies denied. The Marlboro advertisements were also criticised by the US Federal Trade Commission as many arcade users at the time were children

Sega was not alone in plagerising cigarette companies at the time, with Jaleco, Namco and Konami also featuring similar advertisements in their racing games. Sega's own Hang-On had featured "Marbor" advertisements back in 1985, with general council of Sega Kiichi Nishikura citing that the practise was legal under Japanese copyright law. Nishikura's response to anti-smoking group complaints was to pass the blame to US tobacco companies advertising on Japanese television, suggesting also that the billboards scroll by so fast that he didn't think it would have a "serious subconscious effect".

Sega completed the changes and began issuing free conversion kits in March 1990, plus a $200 cheque to entice arcade operators into making the change. However takeup was not good enough for Philip Morris, who sued in February 1991 when it emerged many older cabinets were still in active service. By May 1992 the two companies had reached an agreement. Sega would also distance itself from plagerising official Formula One cars and sponsors in the home ports of the game.

Legacy

Super Monaco GP was ported to the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Sega Mega Drive and ZX Spectrum.

Super Monaco GP was followed by Ayrton Senna's Super Monaco GP II which built upon the previous game.

Versions

Mega Drive version

On the Mega Drive, Super Monaco GP is a much larger game than its arcade counterpart thanks to its highly received "World Championship Mode", in which all sixteen tracks from the 1989 Formula One season are included (albeit far less detailed than the X Board arcade version due to the limitations of the Mega Drive's hardware).

Likewise, sixteen one-driver teams are included, though as with all versions of the game, the names are fictional due to a lack of an official FIA license.

This version of the game has since been included in numerous compilations.

The Japanese release was the first Mega Drive game to be software incompatible with PAL consoles.

Commodore 64 version

The Commodore 64 version of Super Monaco GP builds on the engine developers Probe Software used for their earlier C64 racing conversion of Special Criminal Investigation. Programmer Grant Harrison stated that having a first person perspective actually made the game run faster, as fewer calculations were needed to draw the road ahead.

Sprite limitations are a problem for the Commodore 64 version of the game, so if an opponent car gets too close to the player (and thus needs a bigger sprite), any other on-screen cars will speed up so that they are not rendered on-screen.

As the team only had access to a video of the game (and Harrison had only played the arcade once), the Mega Drive version was used as a reference. A cartridge version was "discussed" but never made it to market.

Production credits

Main article: Super Monaco GP/Production credits.

Magazine articles

Main article: Super Monaco GP/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Super Monaco GP/Promotional material.

Photo gallery

• 

  Cockpit cabinet

• 

  Upright cabinet

• 

  Upright cabinet (newer)

Physical scans

X Board version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score ACE (UK) 100 Commodore User (UK) 91 Computer & Video Games (UK) 94 Sinclair User (UK) 90

	94
Based on 4 reviews

Super Monaco GP

X Board, US
Manual

X Board, World (sit-down)

X Board, World (deluxe)

X Board, World (upright)

X Board, World (sit-down; 2-player)

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 60 ACE (UK) 59 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 73 Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 88 Buzz! Computers (UK) 95 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 94 The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) 94 Console XS (UK) PAL 90 Cool Gamer (RU) 60 Computer & Video Games (UK) 95 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 95 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 90 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 85 Games-X (UK) 80 Famicom Hisshoubon (JP) NTSC-J 60 Hobby Consolas (ES) 91 Joystick (FR) 98 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL 68 Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J 79 Mega (UK) 90 Mega Action (UK) 90 Mega Play (US) NTSC-U 78 MegaTech (UK) 94 MegaTech (UK) PAL 93 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 90 Mean Machines (UK) 93 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 91 Player One (FR) 95 Power Play (DE) 73 Raze (UK) 91 Sega Power (UK) PAL 92 Sega Power (UK) PAL 100 Sega Pro (UK) 90 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 85 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 81 Tilt (FR) 85 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 74 Zero (UK) 91

	85
Based on 38 reviews

Super Monaco GP

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Mega Drive, US (Sega Classic)
Cover
Cart PCB

Mega Drive, US (Mega Hit Series)
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Mega Drive, IT (NTSC Import)

Mega Drive, PT
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, SE (rental; Kanal 10)
Cover

Mega Drive, SE (rental; Hent; black)
Cover

Mega Drive, FI
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, AU (Horizontal manual)

Mega Drive, AU (Vertical manual)

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, BR (Cardboard Box))

Mega Drive, BR (Red Box)
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, CA
Cover

Mega-Tech version

Mega-Tech,
Cover

Amiga version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source CU Amiga (UK) 80 Play Time (DE) 96 5/91

	88
Based on 2 reviews

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score ACE (UK) 87 Amiga Force (UK) 81 Amiga Format (UK) 83 Amiga Format (UK) 80 Amiga Joker (DE) 75 Amiga Power (UK) 72 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 77 Amiga User International (UK) 90 CU Amiga (UK) 85 Computer & Video Games (UK) 85 The Games Machine (IT) 84 Joystick (FR) 90 The One (UK) 89 Power Play (DE) 78 Raze (UK) 83 Svet Kompjutera (YU) 70 Tilt (FR) 90 Tilt (FR) 80 User (GR) 87 Zero (UK) 85 Zzap!64 (UK) 91

	83
Based on 21 reviews

Super Monaco GP

Amiga, UK
Cover
Disk

Amiga, UK (Kixx)
Cover
Disk Manual (Front) Manual (Back)

Amstrad CPC version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Joystick (FR) 71

	71
Based on 1 review

Super Monaco GP

Amstrad CPC, UK (cassette)

Amstrad CPC, UK (disk)
Disk

Amstrad CPC, UK (cassette; Kixx)
Cover
Cassette

Amstrad CPC, ES (cassette)
Cassette

Amstrad CPC, ES (disk)

Atari ST version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source Svenska Hemdator Nytt (SE) 75 №4/91, p15

	75
Based on 1 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Computer & Video Games (UK) 83 The One (UK) 89 Tilt (FR) 65 Zero (UK) 85

	81
Based on 4 reviews

Super Monaco GP

Atari ST, UK

Atari ST, UK (Kixx)

Commodore 64 version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score 64'er (DE) 30 Commodore Force (UK) 85 Commodore Format (UK) 78 Commodore Format (UK) 75 Your Commodore (UK) 91 Zzap!64 (UK) 90 Zzap! (IT) 91

	77
Based on 7 reviews

Super Monaco GP

Commodore 64, UK (cassette)
Cassette

Commodore 64, UK (disk)

Commodore 64, UK (cassette; Kixx)
Cover

Commodore 64, UK (disk; Kixx)
Cover
Disk

ZX Spectrum version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Crash (UK) 74 Sinclair User (UK) 84 Your Sinclair (UK) 82

	80
Based on 3 reviews

Super Monaco GP

ZX Spectrum, UK
Cassette

ZX Spectrum, UK (Kixx)
Cover

Technical information

Main article: Super Monaco GP/Technical information.

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1	3720kB
✔	CRC32 90f9bab3 MD5 c53dbf0f7172556d08a37cc590bddf8a SHA-1 631b72e27b394ae6b5a1188dfa980333fc675379	512kB	1990-06	Cartridge	Revision 00
✔	CRC32 b1823595 MD5 ded2b235f625424f353c13c4d3a2cf89 SHA-1 ed6f80546a7847bf06cf4a62b34d1c3b989e4d3e	512kB	1990-06	Cartridge	Revision 01
✔	CRC32 be91b28a MD5 7c343c0b33f8af9f4719ead8cee7b201 SHA-1 1e49a449367f0ec7ba0331b7b0d074f796e48d58	512kB	1990-06	Cartridge	Revision 02
✔	CRC32 725018ee MD5 0948aa1acc9f21a966b052a8ee385884 SHA-1 1947d41598daa3880ecb826303abae2accd1857f	512kB	1990-06	Cartridge (US)	Revision 03

Specifications

Dimensions

Deluxe	Cockpit	Upright
1.07 m (42.126") 1.55 m (61.024") 2.16 m (85.039")	850 mm (33.465") 1.5 m (59.055") 1.89 m (74.409")	630 mm (24.803") 1.85 m (72.835") 1.02 m (40.157")
Mass: 350 kg (770 lbs)	Mass: 150 kg (330 lbs)	Mass: 130 kg (286 lbs)

External links

• Sega of America webpage: Mega Drive