This evening saw the official launch of the Codies new F1 game. Videos included the developer diary IGN posted and a couple more very short clips of the game which was to be expected as it is still in pre-alpha. The main presentation came from the developers of the game as they went through the features in a very exciting PowerPoint type slide show.
The first part of the presentation was about “being the driver”. The game will feature full weather conditions from bright sunshine to tropical monsoons and you will be able to tweak engines, tyres etc. You car will perform differently depending if you are first out on the track when it’s “green” or racing later in the weekend. Over a period of time the track will evolve as the racing line gets more rubber from tyres but subsequently off the racing line, marbles or rubber from tyres will create more dangerous driving conditions.
Codies have tried to capture how the real drivers perform which was shown off neatly in a video. The player overtook a driver ahead with ease but when he tried the same manoeuvre on a different driver the driver blocked him from completing the move. The developers appear to be paying close attention to detail as each 30cm section of track has its own data which indicates its condition, for example wet, bumpy or hot.
The second part of the presentation was in regard to “living the life” of a F1 driver. Sadly this does not involve saucy times with a Pussycat Doll – instead it’s all about press conferences, impromptu interviews and your ranking within the championship. Perform better than your team mate and you will gain access to perks before he does, as your racing improves and your agent (female) will be getting you on better teams.
Mention was made of your F1 ‘paddock’. When you start off this will be a pretty barren affair but as you rise through the ranks you will be hounded by the press and fans. Quite how your responses to the press interviews effect the game was not made clear but I assume they must have a function.
I am not a fan of F1 (the last F1 game I played was by Geoff Crammond on the Amiga) but the Codies effort has got me interested. It’s a long way off from being completed but from what I’ve seen this could very good indeed.
I shall leave you with a TSA photo exclusive: The picture below is the brake disc from Lewis Hamiltons car when he won the championship a year or two back. My brother is one of the chaps who paints the bodywork on the F1 cars and this was removed from his car from when it was stripped down. Apparently it’s very expensive and is carbon fibre or something or other. I use it to keep my coffee mugs off the table when I’m typing for TSA. Sorry Lewis.
