Originally launched in 1995 for MS-DOS, Speed Haste brought high-speed action to racing fans with both Formula One and stock car competitions. Players could test their skills in a full championship mode across multiple tracks, facing increasing difficulty as they progressed. The game also supported multiplayer, allowing up to four players to race via IPX networking or split-screen.
In North America, Speed Haste was rebranded as Circuit Racer by WizardWorks Group, while the Dutch release—handled by Multimedia International BV—was titled Grand Prix Speed.
Fast-forward to 2012, the game’s original developer, Javier Arevalo Baeza, made its C source code publicly available on GitHub. Now, in 2024, Speed Haste has made its way to the Amiga, thanks to a port by Szilard Biro, reviving this racing classic for a new generation of players.
System Requirements for the Amiga Port
To enjoy the game on an Amiga system, these specifications are required:
- 68040 or 68060 processor with an FPU
- Kickstart 3.0
- AGA chipset or RTG graphics
- 4 MB of Fast RAM
- 7 MB of available disk space
- AHI 4.18+ for audio support
What’s Missing?
While the core racing experience remains intact, a few limitations exist in this port:
- No network-based multiplayer
- Fixed gamepad layout
How to Install
To set up the game, you’ll need to copy the following files into the game’s directory:
SPEED.CFGRECORDS.LSTSPEEDH.JCL(renamed fromCR.JCLif using the Circuit Racer version)
Audio Considerations
The game relies on AHI for audio processing, which requires multiple sound channels. Some sound card drivers—such as those for the SB128—may struggle with playback, leading to missing audio or crashes. If you run into such issues, switching to Paula-based modes is recommended. PCI sound card users have reported better stability with AHI 6.
Display Settings
By default, Speed Haste selects the most appropriate RTG screen mode based on your system. However, users can manually configure the display mode using this tooltype:
FORCEMODE– Filters available display modes by name (e.g., PAL, NTSC, DBLPAL, DBLNTSC, EURO36, EURO72, SUPER72, MULTISCAN).
Some RTG graphics cards may not handle the original 320×200 resolution correctly. In such cases, you can use:
RTG320X240– Forces a 320×240 resolution, adding a small border while maintaining the original game render.
Optimizing Performance
If you’re looking for a smoother experience, tweaking a few settings can help:
- Lowering music volume to zero in the sound settings can free up system resources.
- Adjusting graphics settings—such as setting floor detail to “half” or reducing decoration density—can improve frame rates without major visual compromises.
Want to Learn More?
For additional details, controls, and customization options, check out Szilard Biro’s GitHub repository for the Amiga port:
GitHub – Speed Haste Amiga Port
This legendary racing title is back, now on Amiga—get ready to hit the track once again!
