World Grand Prix

From Sega Retro

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  • NTSC-U/PAL
  • NTSC-J

WorldGrandPrix title.png

TheCircuit SMS JP Title.png

World Grand Prix
System(s): Sega Master System
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: Racing[1]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Master System
JP
¥5,0005,000 G-1304
Sega Master System
US
5053
Sega Master System
EU
MK-5080-50
Sega Master System
BX
Sega Master System
DE
DM 7979 41006
Sega Master System
PT
MSJ-WGP
Sega Master System
UK
£19.9519.95[3][5] MK-5080-50
Sega Master System
AU
Sega Master System
BR
Sega Master System
KR
GB-1304
Sega Master System
TW
G-1304
Sega Master System
ZA

World Grand Prix, known as The Circuit (ザ・サーキット) in Japan, is a racing game developed and published by Sega for the Sega Master System. It is effectively an updated version of the SG-1000 and MSX game GP World, sharing many of the same ideas and features (including a track editor).

Gameplay

World Grand Prix is a racing game inspired by Formula One and reminiscent of Namco's 1982 arcade game Pole Position. The player drives an open-wheel race car as quickly as possible while navigating through turns and other vehicles on the road. The game contains 12 races, each consisting only of a single lap. Though other competitors appear on the track, the game does not keep track of the player's position during the race; instead, the player's position is determined based on the time taken to complete the race, and the other cars primarily act as obstacles. The player must finish sixth or better in each race to continue. There are three difficulty levels, which affects the number of other racers that appear.

The car steers with Left and Right. It accelerates with 2 and brakes with 1. The car is equipped with a two-speed transmission that upshifts (into high) with Down and downshifts (into low) with Up.

Driving off the track (including onto the rumble strips on the perimeter of the road) slows the car. Hitting a roadside obstacle or another racer destroys the car. It is restored back to the race, but the player loses time.

Parts shop

World Grand Prix SMS, Store.png

Parts shop

Points are awarded depending on the player's placement at the end of each race:

Placement Points awarded
1st 200
2nd 100
3rd 80
4th 40
5th 20
6th 10

Races can be run multiple times to accumulate more points. If the player has at least 100 points, parts can be purchased in exchange for points won after a race.

Upgrade Points cost Effect
Accelerator 100 Increases acceleration.
Handling 150 Improves turning.
Engine 200 Increases top speed.

Multiple upgrades can be equipped at once. The parts obtained are only used for the next race and must be purchased again to use on another race.

Courses

While the game is not paired with any official racing licenses, all of the pre-made tracks resemble circuits seen in the 1976 Formula One season. Names or locations for the circuits are never shown, though often the backgrounds can give further clues (for example, the British circuit, Brands Hatch features Big Ben and the UK Houses of Parliament in the background).

The Japanese cover art, however, seemingly depicts the 1985 season, with Nelson Piquet's Brabham BT54 (7) in front of Alain Prost's McLaren MP4/2B (1).

World Grand Prix SMS, Course 1.png

1 Course
Based on the Japanese Grand Prix.

World Grand Prix SMS, Course 2.png

2 Course
Based on the Dutch Grand Prix.

World Grand Prix SMS, Course 3.png

3 Course
Based on the French Grand Prix.

World Grand Prix SMS, Course 4.png

4 Course
Based on the Canadian Grand Prix.

World Grand Prix SMS, Course 5.png

5 Course
Based on the South African Grand Prix

World Grand Prix SMS, Course 6.png

6 Course
Based on the Austrian Grand Prix.

World Grand Prix SMS, Course 7.png

7 Course
Based on the United States Grand Prix.

World Grand Prix SMS, Course 8.png

8 Course

World Grand Prix SMS, Course 9.png

9 Course
Based on the Swedish Grand Prix.

World Grand Prix SMS, Course 10.png

10 Course
Based on the United States Grand Prix West.

World Grand Prix SMS, Course 11.png

11 Course
Based on the British Grand Prix.

World Grand Prix SMS, Course 12.png

12 Course
Based on the Monaco Grand Prix.

Track editor

World Grand Prix SMS, Track Editor.png

Track editor

The game includes a track editor. The segments that can be used for the current section of track are shown below the track. A segment can be selected with Left or Right, then placed with 1. The current section of track can be deleted with 2. The track must fit inside the white area of the screen. The track can overlap itself (though this overlap is not shown when racing).

Once a complete circuit has been made, the track can be raced. There is no parts selection when racing on a custom circuit, and there is no way to save a track.

Versions

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English World Grand Prix World Grand Prix
English (US) World Grand Prix World Grand Prix
Japanese ザ・サーキット The Circuit

Magazine articles

Main article: World Grand Prix/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

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Master System print advert in Popular Computing Weekly (UK) #6.50: "Vol. 6 No. 50" (1987-12-17)
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Master System print advert in Popular Computing Weekly (UK) #7.09: "Vol. 7 No. 9" (1988-03-03)
also published in:
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Print advert in Guida Video Giochi (IT) #7: "Gennaio 1990" (19xx-xx-xx)
also published in:
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Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
81
[8]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
81
[9]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL
81
[10]
Computer Action (DK)
50
[11]
Console XS (UK) PAL
60
[12]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
83
[13]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
60
[14]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
81
[15]
S: The Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
82
[16]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
75
[17]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
70
[18]
Tilt (FR)
60
[19]
Sega Master System
72
Based on
12 reviews

World Grand Prix

Master System, JP
WorldGrandPrix JP backcover.jpgNospine.pngWorldGrandPrix JP cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, US (Made in Japan; ℠)
WorldGrandPrix SMS US Box R.jpg
Cover
Master System, US (Made in Japan; ®)
Worldgrandprix sms us cover.jpg
Cover
Worldgrandprix sms us cart.jpg
Cart
Worldgrandprix sms us manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, US (Made in Taiwan; ℠)
WorldGrandPrix SMS US Box MadeinTaiwan SM.jpg
Cover
Master System, EU
WorldGrandPrix EU cover.jpg
Cover
WorldGrandPrixSMSEUManual2L.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
®, no barcode variant
WorldGrandPrix EU nobarcode cover.jpg
Cover
WorldGrandPrixSMSEUManual2L.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU ("No Limits")
WorldGrandPrix EU nolimits cover.jpg
Cover
WorldGrandPrixSMSEUManual2L.pdf
Manual
Master System, UK
WorldGrandPrix EU nolimits Eng cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, DE
WorldGrandPrix DE cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, PT
WorldGrandPrix SMS PT cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, BX
WorldGrandPrix SMS BX front.jpg
Cover
Master System, AU
WorldGrandPrix SMS AU cover.jpg
Cover
WorldGrandPrix SMS AU Cart Back.jpgWorldGrandPrix SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, AU (Hotline sticker)
WorldGrandPrix SMS AU hotline cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, AU (Wide hotline sticker)
WorldGrandPrixSMSAuCover.jpg
Cover
WorldGrandPrix SMS AU Cart Back.jpgWorldGrandPrix SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
WorldGrandPrixSMSAuManual.pdf
Manual
Master System, AU (Classics)
WorldGrandPrix SMS AU classics cover.jpg
Cover
WorldGrandPrix SMS AU Cart Back.jpgWorldGrandPrix SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR (cardboard)
WorldGrandPrix SMS BR cover.jpg
Cover
WorldGrandPrix SMS BR Cart2 Back.jpgWorldGrandPrix SMS BR Cart2.jpg
Cart
WorldGrandPrix SMS BR Manual Older.pdf
Manual
Master System, BR (clamshell)
WorldGrandPrix SMS BR Box Back.jpgWorldGrandPrix SMS BR Box Spine.jpgWorldGrandPrix SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
WorldGrandPrix SMS BR Cart2 Back.jpgWorldGrandPrix SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
WorldGrandPrix SMS BR Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, TW
WorldGrandPrix TW spine.jpgWorldGrandPrix TW cover.jpg
Cover
WorldGrandPrix TW cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, KR

WorldGrandPrix SMS KR cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, ZA
WorldGrandPrix SMS ZA box front.jpg
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 4aaad0d6
MD5 72b55720de75072a2feceab9ca4367b0
SHA-1 650f15ebbd149f5c357f089d7bd305fcb20b068f
128kB Cartridge (EU)
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 8fb75994
MD5 89d22e72bd0379495a2db456eda6ac4c
SHA-1 34307a745d3d52a4b814e9831b7041f25e8052d1
128kB Cartridge (JP)
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 7b369892
MD5 75550fca836414ce7286c294d03c1b04
SHA-1 feff411732ca2dc17dab6d7868749d79326993d7
128kB Cartridge (US)

References


World Grand Prix

WorldGrandPrix title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Development | Magazine articles | Reception


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