Ever since Formula One harnessed the power of television to
capture imaginations the world over in the late seventies and early
eighties, video game developers have been desperately seeking to
cash in a global phenomenon. During the era of Mansell, Senna and
Prost you could barely move for different editions of varying
quality, each claiming to replicate the F1 experience like no
other. However, nobody ever really perfected a product which
accurately portrayed an extraordinarily complex and fast moving
sport. As a result, the demanding user base dwindled - as did the
supply of new games, which declined considerably in the nineties.
Even when Sony gained an exclusive license and gave the game the
full studio treatment, the sales weren't there and in 2006 the
disgruntled corporation walked away from the sport. An era was
apparently over.
It wasn't until 2009 that one of the world's largest sports was
again represented in this lucrative market, with the launch of F1
2009 by Codemasters - a relatively small, independent British
company behind the hit Colin McRae Rally series. Although the
public reception was decidedly mixed, this can be largely blamed on
the game's unofficial status as a work in progress and it's
incompatibility with major consoles (only running on the Nintendo
Wii and Playstation Portable). Still, many welcomed the return of
F1 to the marketplace and saw it as a stepping stone to a brighter
future for the popular franchise.
The next year things really took off with the launch of F1 2010.
Not only did this new release feature all twelve teams, twenty four
drivers and nineteen venues, but also "the most sophisticated
weather system ever seen in a racing game" - a much lauded
breakthrough in visual effects. Most importantly it was now
available for the incredibly popular XBOX 360 console and its
direct rival, the Playstation 3, not to mention a PC edition for
those serious gamers. Sales were absolutely incredible, topping the
charts in key markets and selling two and a half million copies
around the world. The experience itself was a great improvement on
previous games, with performance-crunching tyre degradation,
detailed damage simulation and individual performance
characteristics for each car and driver (with each character taking
on certain driving habits of their real life counterparts). The
game also went further than ever before in adding a plot outside
the cockpit, with the player at the end of a media barrage or
involved in contract negotiations when taking on "career mode". The
attention to detail was a joy to behold, but a number of key
features were not included: a formation lap, a safety car, podium
celebrations, split-screen multiplayer. Nevertheless, the game won
a BAFTA Video Game Award in the "Best Sports Game" category,
beating off competition from FIFA 11 and Football Manager 2010.
Despite these accolades, the real winners resulting from the
renaissance of the series have been the fans who have long awaited
a professional, world-class video game which lets them take their
place on the world's most famous paddocks from the comfort of their
living rooms. Long gone are the days when exasperated gamers made
do with jerky and uninspiring graphics and three lap races. Today,
you can hop inside a faithfully recreated Ferrari (complete with
even the smallest sponsor's decal) and take a terrifying spin
around the spectacularly lit up Singapore street circuit while
fireworks decorate the sky above. Almost every aspect of F1 2010
raises the bar to a whole new level.
And so, to F1 2011. It has already been confirmed that the
sequel will address many of the quibbles fans had with the original
offering, featuring multiplayer mode, a safety car and much more
alongside a fully updated grid and the new Indian GP circuit in
Delhi. With less than a month until the new game hits shelves the
world over, fans are all set to receive the most comprehensive
Formula 1 simulation to date. At fifty quid a disc, it doesn't come
cheap (although admittedly cheaper than the real thing), but
enthusiasts can rest easy knowing they will be buying a fantastic
product which keeps evolving to be better still, the result of
countless hours of toil by a small, enthusiastic company with a
genuine passion for the sport we all love. After three decades of
hit and miss, F1 has finally found a good home.