With the newest Formula One game being released on the 20th, 22nd and 23rd September, and being the sequel to a BAFTA winning game, the Codmasters team have been put under huge pressure to make bigger, and better than before.
I have the preview right here. After watching numerous trailers, Dev diaries and reading lots of reviews, i write about the main changes to the game and what is expected, while also giving you some of the review stats and criticisms from the previous reviews.
F1 2011 is effectively a heavily improved game, based on F1 2010. All the main features were their from the previous project, so it was all about building on those things, and improving what dragged the 2010 game down.
The team have worked extremely hard to make it the most realistic game possible, in the allotted time period. With people such as Stephen Hood, Paul Jeal and Andy Gray working hard to create the game, and using ex-Formula One driver Anthony Davidson to fine tune the car and AI's handling.
F1 2011 is being released on the 20th September 2011 in the USA, followed by Australia 2 days later, and the UK and Europe on the 23rd, and has been anticipated world wide with eager F1 fans wanting to get the new, up to date game. There are a number of new components in the game, whether they are keeping up with the 2011 rules or adding in new features, i have the low down on these below.
KERS(Kinetic Energy Recovery System) and DRS(Drag Reduction System) are the main changes to the rules in 2011, helping to aid overtaking in the cut throat Formula One world. The F1 2011 game has both of these, with rules such as the DRS being unlimited during Practice and Qualifying, but can only be used in race situations after lap 3, and only if you are within 1 second of the car in front by the detection zone. DRS has proved an important part of each race in Formula One, with the overtaking figures for each race increasing from the previous year. However in the game, you will have to be careful; just as in real F1. If you release the DRS too early you could see yourself pointing the opposite direction. KERS was last used in 2009, and featured on F1 2009 for Wii and PSP. All cars will be fitted with KERS and it gives an 80bhp boost for 6.67 seconds of a lap, and is all recovered under braking meaning it re fills on the start line. It is key to use strategy around the lap as to where you deploy KERS, as it is best used on longer straights.
Pirelli are the sole tyre manufacture on the F1 grid in 2011, and have seen higher degradation spicing up the action, meaning the tyres go off quicker and can drop of the pace considerably. They call this 'dropping off the cliff'. This means in the game you will have to conserve your tyres, and realise when the cliff drop has arrived, to determine your pit strategy. Also in qualifying, you can not go round and round on the same set of tyres, you may only get 1 or 2 hot laps in before the tyres start to degrade. This means strategy not only in the race, but practice and qualifying, along with only limited amounts of each tyre is key. It all adds to a very strategic game which involves lots of planning and thinking.
2 new circuits arrive for the F1 2011 game, first is the Nurburgring which alternates the German Grand Prix with another circuit. Also the Indian Grand Prix being held in Dheli, which has yet to be raced on, will give the players a first hand, exclusive look at the track and its layout, before the F1 drivers get to in October.
All the drivers from the F1 2011 world championship are in the game, excluding Bruno Senna and Daniel Ricciardo (late season replacements), along with all the teams from this season, bring it bang up to date. You can choose between the stunning Lotus Renault Gp car, or the sleek silver Mclaren, or go for a bright red Ferrari, your choice as all the teams and drivers are in there.
Split screen playing in Multi player mode has helped bring the racing back to your own home, as players can now race each other from the same console in new split screen racing. This creates competitive rivalry between friends and family, while enjoying it from the comfort of your own home. It highly increases the accessibility of the game as its now not just 1 player being able to play.
Also a new Co-op championship See's drivers play by Split screen or on live as team mates. The aim is to try and achieve the constructors title as a team, but also to both battle for that 1 drivers title. It is similar to career mode but with two players, to see who comes out on top. Both these features add to the games appeal, as more people can play. It adds to the enjoyment, as you can play against all your buddies.
Online gaming has been a huge priority, so now the grid See's up to 16 online players going head to head on a full 24 car grid, as the other 8 are AI cars. This creates more action and drama during the races. It hugely increases the likability of the game as more and more people can join in on a race, making the competitively level sky high. This has been demanded since the release of F1 2010, as before the grids were pitifully small. It makes it increasingly easier to race in large groups, as people wont be left out, but if there is a small amount of you then it fills the spaces with the left over cars.
It is not all about the new features however, the whole game has stepped up a few notches. The graphics are breath taking. Each car has their own individual steering wheel determined by the team, and the helmets are alot more detailed too.The game gives much more attention to detail and the brightened colours and reflections make it look much more realistic.
The handling of the cars make them amuch closer match to real F1 cars than 2010. They have given cars new suspension settings to make it more realistic, as well as the aero depending on which car. They also have added things like body work flexing and more realistic handling when the car has damage. You also lock wheels more, and smoke comes of the tyres. Anthony Davidson helped tune the cars handling, and said the mechanical grip is a big step up.
The AI which you race against are much smarter, knowing where to place their car, and making it much more realistic and challenging. They also use DRS and KERS too. The AI also have similar characteristics to the real drivers, with drivers such as Jenson Button looking much smoother and neater while you can see the more aggressive drivers. Damage has been improved, with smaller pieces of debris getting taken off, and with the paint rub marks and damage to the car evolving throughout the race, it can decide between a pit stop, or carrying on in a slightly damaged car, as well as taking you out of the race, and making game play more realistic. Mechanical failures are also involved, but instead of being random they are determined on how you treat the car, so high revving and bouncing on the rev limited causes engine problems.
The realism of living the life has also been heavily improved, with a new question system were their are more questions to be asked. These answers create a press clipping from a magazine or newspaper, were they are shown at the end of a weekend, which depends on your result and answers to questions. The paddock's heavily improved, with alot more realistic people and a bigger area of the paddock. You also see cinematic celebrations or movements from the drivers before and after races.
Safety Car has been hotly anticipated, Will it be in the game? Wont it? It was finally revealed just a few weeks before finishing it was in there, with it being available only for races 20% and over. It comes out if incidents on the track are blocking or hindering drivers, such as stray cars or debris, and it comes out. It really can spice up the racing, get a free pit stop, bunch up the pack and revitalise the race, while also giving the challenge of having to restart. The actions during the safety car periods are limited to a certain speed, but you still drive around the track and have to weave and wheel spin tyres to keep temperature. Red Flags also make their debut in F1 2011 in certain situations like extreme weather or big incidents.
The overall design and look of the game has changed too, with menu's being slightly more user friendly and more appealing to look at. The race engineer in the game is also alot more helpful in understanding the new tyres, DRS, KERS and aids the strategy choices.
The F1 2011 game has already been reviewed by many websites and shops. It has had an average scoring of:
9/10
91/100
The majority of the reviews praise the step forward in graphics, the new aspects and the improvements of handling, but also point out its downfalls. If the player is a novice, they will find it alot more challenging, especially with the new AI. However the game will be more aimed at F1 fans anyway, with the majority of the people who bought F1 2010 already pre-ordering or waiting for the release of F1 2011.
F1 2011 is released worldwide on the 20th September for North America, 22nd September for Australia and the 23rd September for the UK and Europe. It will be available on Xbox 360, PS3 and Pc. Their are plans for a version of the new Playstation Vita and Nintendo 3DS.
F1 2011 looks to be a big step forward compared to F1 2010, and will be hoping to equal or build on the worldwide sales of over 2.3 million and a BAFTA for best Sports game.
I, as are many others, eagerly awaiting the release of F1 2011. I already have it pre-ordered. I will do a review next weekend after playing it for a while. Hope to see you then.
 |
| (c) Codemasters |
F1 2011 is effectively a heavily improved game, based on F1 2010. All the main features were their from the previous project, so it was all about building on those things, and improving what dragged the 2010 game down.
The team have worked extremely hard to make it the most realistic game possible, in the allotted time period. With people such as Stephen Hood, Paul Jeal and Andy Gray working hard to create the game, and using ex-Formula One driver Anthony Davidson to fine tune the car and AI's handling.
F1 2011 is being released on the 20th September 2011 in the USA, followed by Australia 2 days later, and the UK and Europe on the 23rd, and has been anticipated world wide with eager F1 fans wanting to get the new, up to date game. There are a number of new components in the game, whether they are keeping up with the 2011 rules or adding in new features, i have the low down on these below.
KERS(Kinetic Energy Recovery System) and DRS(Drag Reduction System) are the main changes to the rules in 2011, helping to aid overtaking in the cut throat Formula One world. The F1 2011 game has both of these, with rules such as the DRS being unlimited during Practice and Qualifying, but can only be used in race situations after lap 3, and only if you are within 1 second of the car in front by the detection zone. DRS has proved an important part of each race in Formula One, with the overtaking figures for each race increasing from the previous year. However in the game, you will have to be careful; just as in real F1. If you release the DRS too early you could see yourself pointing the opposite direction. KERS was last used in 2009, and featured on F1 2009 for Wii and PSP. All cars will be fitted with KERS and it gives an 80bhp boost for 6.67 seconds of a lap, and is all recovered under braking meaning it re fills on the start line. It is key to use strategy around the lap as to where you deploy KERS, as it is best used on longer straights.
 |
| (c) Octane Photographic |
2 new circuits arrive for the F1 2011 game, first is the Nurburgring which alternates the German Grand Prix with another circuit. Also the Indian Grand Prix being held in Dheli, which has yet to be raced on, will give the players a first hand, exclusive look at the track and its layout, before the F1 drivers get to in October.
 |
| (c) Octane Photographic |
Split screen playing in Multi player mode has helped bring the racing back to your own home, as players can now race each other from the same console in new split screen racing. This creates competitive rivalry between friends and family, while enjoying it from the comfort of your own home. It highly increases the accessibility of the game as its now not just 1 player being able to play.
Also a new Co-op championship See's drivers play by Split screen or on live as team mates. The aim is to try and achieve the constructors title as a team, but also to both battle for that 1 drivers title. It is similar to career mode but with two players, to see who comes out on top. Both these features add to the games appeal, as more people can play. It adds to the enjoyment, as you can play against all your buddies.
 |
| (c) Octane Photographic |
It is not all about the new features however, the whole game has stepped up a few notches. The graphics are breath taking. Each car has their own individual steering wheel determined by the team, and the helmets are alot more detailed too.The game gives much more attention to detail and the brightened colours and reflections make it look much more realistic.
The handling of the cars make them amuch closer match to real F1 cars than 2010. They have given cars new suspension settings to make it more realistic, as well as the aero depending on which car. They also have added things like body work flexing and more realistic handling when the car has damage. You also lock wheels more, and smoke comes of the tyres. Anthony Davidson helped tune the cars handling, and said the mechanical grip is a big step up.
The AI which you race against are much smarter, knowing where to place their car, and making it much more realistic and challenging. They also use DRS and KERS too. The AI also have similar characteristics to the real drivers, with drivers such as Jenson Button looking much smoother and neater while you can see the more aggressive drivers. Damage has been improved, with smaller pieces of debris getting taken off, and with the paint rub marks and damage to the car evolving throughout the race, it can decide between a pit stop, or carrying on in a slightly damaged car, as well as taking you out of the race, and making game play more realistic. Mechanical failures are also involved, but instead of being random they are determined on how you treat the car, so high revving and bouncing on the rev limited causes engine problems.
 |
| (c) Octane Photographic |
Safety Car has been hotly anticipated, Will it be in the game? Wont it? It was finally revealed just a few weeks before finishing it was in there, with it being available only for races 20% and over. It comes out if incidents on the track are blocking or hindering drivers, such as stray cars or debris, and it comes out. It really can spice up the racing, get a free pit stop, bunch up the pack and revitalise the race, while also giving the challenge of having to restart. The actions during the safety car periods are limited to a certain speed, but you still drive around the track and have to weave and wheel spin tyres to keep temperature. Red Flags also make their debut in F1 2011 in certain situations like extreme weather or big incidents.
The overall design and look of the game has changed too, with menu's being slightly more user friendly and more appealing to look at. The race engineer in the game is also alot more helpful in understanding the new tyres, DRS, KERS and aids the strategy choices.
The F1 2011 game has already been reviewed by many websites and shops. It has had an average scoring of:
9/10
91/100
The majority of the reviews praise the step forward in graphics, the new aspects and the improvements of handling, but also point out its downfalls. If the player is a novice, they will find it alot more challenging, especially with the new AI. However the game will be more aimed at F1 fans anyway, with the majority of the people who bought F1 2010 already pre-ordering or waiting for the release of F1 2011.
F1 2011 is released worldwide on the 20th September for North America, 22nd September for Australia and the 23rd September for the UK and Europe. It will be available on Xbox 360, PS3 and Pc. Their are plans for a version of the new Playstation Vita and Nintendo 3DS.
F1 2011 looks to be a big step forward compared to F1 2010, and will be hoping to equal or build on the worldwide sales of over 2.3 million and a BAFTA for best Sports game.
I, as are many others, eagerly awaiting the release of F1 2011. I already have it pre-ordered. I will do a review next weekend after playing it for a while. Hope to see you then.
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