F1 2010 (video game)

F1 2010 is a video game based on the 2010 season of the Formula One world championship.[1][4] The game was released in September 2010[2][3][5] on the Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms,[1] becoming the first F1 game released on the Xbox 360. It has sold 2.3 million units worldwide.[6] The game engine is based on the new EGO 1.5 engine, an unofficially titled evolution of the EGO 1.0 engine that was created specially for the title.

F1 2010
F1 2010 cover art
Developer(s)Codemasters Birmingham
Publisher(s)Codemasters
SeriesFormula One
EngineEGO Engine 1.5
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows[1]
PlayStation 3[1]
Xbox 360[1]
iOS
ReleaseXbox 360, Windows, PS3
  • NA: 22 September 2010[2]
  • AU: 22 September 2010
  • EU: 23 September 2010[3]
  • UK: 24 September 2010
iOS
2010
Genre(s)Sim racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Development and features

F1 2010 features "the most complicated weather system ever seen in a racing game"[7] which is integral to F1. When it begins to rain, the track will gradually lose grip, with some areas losing grip faster than others. "Overhanging trees, for example, will shelter the track, while dips and indentations in the tarmac will hold more standing water and provide a greater risk."[8]

When the rain stops, a "drying line" will start to appear which will provide more grip which will make it easier to drive. If a car strays from the dry line, the tyres will lose grip and it will be harder to drive. Evolving tracks are also featured elsewhere in the game; at the start of a race weekend, the track will be "green" and therefore have less grip, but as the weekend progresses, rubber will be laid down onto the track, increasing the grip.[8]

Research also features in F1 2010, in which players can earn receive new parts, updates and upgrades as they are developed by consistently out-running a teammate. The player's team will develop new parts and updates for their car throughout the season, evolving the car as the season progresses.

The game features a career mode consisting of either three, five or seven seasons (depending on the user's choice). Where players can drive for any team, each having their own objectives – "For example, race for Ferrari and anything other than winning the Driver's and Constructor's Championship would be a failure, while a mere points finish when driving for Lotus would be a huge success."[8] Media interest will also change, depending on whether the player is racing for one of the top teams, or a team at the back of the grid and will reflect the progress the player makes, more success will equal more media attention and more points. Impromptu interviews will take place alongside the official interviews following each race. The developer diaries released by Codemasters have revealed that impromptu interviews will be more sensationalist than formal press conferences and that the player may need to be wary of what they say to the media lest they say something they should not and upset their team. Players will be forced to retire after the end of the third, fifth, or seventh season.

Upon entering the motorhome in the main hub, the player can view their helmet design, drivers and constructors championship standings, settings for career mode, and a comprehensive, year-by-year summary of each driver and team (with the exception of Fernando Alonso, whose history is summarized into multi-year tidbits).

In addition to single player, F1 2010 has a feature-rich online mode that has remained popular since its launch. Players can choose from a multitude of options, whether they are looking for a quick fix or want to participate in the full procession of Qualifying and Race. There are also various options if the host is frustrated with other players' lack of caution on the track, such as making flags harsher or even turning off collisions, which enables ghost cars. Dedicated players can even choose to play a race with no driving assists, although for it to apply to all players the host must specify it. Other options include whether to use 2010 or equal car performance and the ability to play a custom championship with between 2–19 tracks and choose the weather conditions.

Bugs

After release, users on all three platforms reported corrupted game saves. Codemasters confirmed that a save file could become corrupt if a certain sequence of actions were performed, for example, exiting the game after completing an R&D objective and unlocking a new upgrade in a practice session. To avoid this, the user should continue progress to the qualifying session before exiting the game. A patch to address the issue was released.[9] PlayStation 3 users experienced corrupt data problems at other areas in the game[10]

Codemasters stated that some users have made "incorrect assumptions" about the game's AI, and wrongly assumed it to be a bug[11] by claiming that lap times were fake during a race,[12] however it was later announced that the lap times during practice and qualifying were fake because of the function of speeding the session up to x30. Codemasters stated that they will fix issues with the game that are not AI specific, but are adding to the confusion around the AI.[11][13]

Patch

On 18 October 2010 a community manager posted on the official Codemasters F1 2010 Forum that work was ongoing on the patch and announced most of the fixes the patch will include. Almost all the bugs were reported to be fixed and some new features for the game were included in the patch.[14] On 1 November 2010 the patch was released for the PlayStation 3 in Europe and Japan after two months of work.

After the patch, tyre wear and fuel simulation bugs still persisted. Codemasters declined to comment on whether a second patch will be released.[15]

Reception

The game was received positively, with developer Codemasters receiving praise for their attention to detail when it comes to developing racing games. The weather system which Codemasters aimed would be "the most comprehensive and impressive weather system ever seen in a racing game"[30] and the execution was given a rave reception by reviewers including Official PlayStation Magazine (UK) who said "It's one of the most terrifying and intense racers ever made", giving the game 9 out of 10 overall.[31] Australian's Pep and Max from YouTube's F1Podcast series gave the game a very positive review, awarding it "9-out-of-10 Rubber Chickens". IGN UK gave the game 8.5 out of 10, citing its impressive dynamic weather system as a plus point and even going as far to say "...it's possibly the best iteration of the sport of all time". However, they criticised the career mode, the game's in-game HUD and "forgettable" soundtrack.[32] A number of reviews (e.g. SimHQ.com and Techtree) have also specified that F1 2010 is not geared towards simulation driving model enthusiasts but offers a more arcade driving model, stating "The impression is that the engine handling the driving physics has been tweaked very well to simulate basic car behavior in a detuned, toned-down version suitable for a game that has to gain broad market appeal, but lacks the extra bit of finesse and driveability that should be an objective for a simulator as well as for a game."[33] [34]

Awards

F1 2010 won the Best Sports Game category at the BAFTA Video Game Awards beating other games such as FIFA 11 and Football Manager 2010.[35]

See also

References
  1. Simon Strang (23 April 2009). "Codemasters reveals F1 game details". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  2. Robert Purchese (16 August 2010). "F1 2010 given solid UK date News – Page 1". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  3. "F1 2010 Hands On - Page 3 | Eurogamer.net". eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
  4. Dustin Barton (15 June 2009). "The Unofficial CM/Developer FAQ". Codemasters. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
  5. "F1 2010 for September!". Codemasters. Codemasters Software Company Limited. 10 March 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  6. Dring, Christopher (3 June 2011). "Codies: 'We won't repeat Sony's mistakes'". MCV 640. Intent Media.
  7. Paul Jeal, Stephen Hood, Anthony Davidson (17 March 2010). Developer Diary. IGN.
  8. Robinson, Martin (17 March 2010). "F1 2010 Hands On". IGN UK. p. 2. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  9. "F1 2010 corrupt saves fix promised". eurogamer.net. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 November 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Codemasters Forums
  11. Wesley Yin-Poole (17 September 2010). "Codies: "Phoney" F1 2010 AI claims false News – Page 1". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  12. "Wheel Life: F1 2010 AI Faked?". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. 27 September 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  13. "Codies Talk F1 Issues, Defend AI". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  14. "F1 2010 Patch News – Post Four". Codemasters. 18 October 2010. Archived from the original on 25 October 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 November 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. "F1 2010 for PlayStation 3". GameRankings. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  17. "F1 2010 for Xbox 360". GameRankings. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  18. "F1 2010 for PlayStation 3". MetaCritic. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  19. "F1 2010 for Xbox 360". MetaCritic. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  20. "F1 2010 for PC". MetaCritic. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  21. "Formula 1 2010 Review | Edge Magazine". Next-gen.biz. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  22. Joao Diniz Sanches (14 September 2010). "F1 2010 Xbox 360 Review – Page 1". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  23. Words: Justin Towell, GamesRadar UK (17 September 2010). "F1 2010 – Review, F1 2010 Review, Xbox 360 Reviews". Games Radar.com. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  24. Martin Robinson IGN UK (7 July 2010). "F1 2010 Review – PlayStation 3 Review at IGN". Uk.ps3.ign.com. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  25. "News: F1 2010 review in OPM – 9/10". ComputerAndVideoGames.com. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  26. "Xbox Review: Review: F1 2010 – Official Xbox 360 Magazine". Oxm.co.uk. 21 September 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  27. Play magazine review, issue 197, Imagine Publishing
  28. "F1 2010 Review for PC". VideoGamer.com. 17 September 2010. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  29. "PS3 Review: Review: F1 2010 – GamingXP". MediaXP.at. 9 October 2010. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
  30. "Exclusive Q&A with F1 2010's Chief Games Designer". formula1.com. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  31. "F1 2010 review in OPM – 9/10". computerandvideogames.com. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  32. "IGN UK Review". IGN. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  33. "Techtree". Techtree. 16 September 2010. Archived from the original on 19 October 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  34. "SimHQ". Techtree. 16 September 2010. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  35. "F1 2010 wins at the BAFTAS".
  36. Firshman, Ben (3 March 2010). "Interview: Simon N Goodwin, Codemasters". The Boar. Coventry, United Kingdom: The University of Warwick. p. 18. Core of Volume 32, Issue 11. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
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