rec.autos.simulators

The game covers the 1995 season and is an offical FOCA licence so the
game includes all the cars and drivers from the 1995 season. The game
has apparently been developed in conjunction with a "famous"  but
unnamed F1 team to ensure technical accuracy (we can only hope that
the team wasn't Pacific !). From the screen shots, each car appears to
have its own 3D model - for instance the McLaren has the mid-wing from
last season.

I'm not sure whether all 17 tracks from the 1995 season are included,
but Bizzare Creations, the team behind the game, have apparently taken
great pains to ensure that the tracks are as accurate as possible -
although whether they will have gone to the lengths of sending their
brother-in-law out to the tracks to get road textures is another
matter.

From the screen shots, the graphics look very good. Gouraud shading is
used to great effect on the cars. No***pit views were shown in the
preview, but the outside views have the Tag Heuer timing strip at the
bottom of the screen just like TV. Conspicuously none of the shots
showed more than one car racing - I guess they haven't got that far
yet.

The game includes commentary by Murray Walker who recorded each line
of the script at three "e***ment levels". Lots of Murray Walkerisms
have been included too.

The emphasis of the game is on arcade rather than simulation. A quote
from one of the design team says the reason for this is that they
wanted the game to be "fun". IMHO simulations are much more fun than
arcade games, but the game will include an "advanced" mode with
realistic damage. Whether or not the driving model changes too in this
mode was unclear. The game will also have statistically correct
weather.

You can choose to race as any driver from last season. You cannot
enter your own name (obviously due to the commentary being fixed). One
aspect of the preview which left me confused was that the game
includes qualifying but the grid line up will be the same as in the
1995 season. Whether this means that the grid line up will be the same
except for your car I don't know.

The game will have a dual player link up on the Playstation, and the
programmers are evaluating a split screen mode - but a lot of game
companies say this and then don't do it - we'll see. The Playstation
version will also support the soon to be released analogue steering
wheel / footpedal combo.

All in all the game looks quite promising. Bizarre seems to have
wisely decided not to compete head on with F1GP2 by developing a game
which will be more accessible to the console user. Whether it is
enough to satisfy the rabid PC simulation freaks in this group (like
me) is another matter.....

Thanks for the interest! I thought you might like the answers to a few of the questions you raised. Yes, the models for the
cars are all unique - and taken from the official team info from FOCA. No, it isn't Pacific!!!

The tracks (yes, all 17) have all been precisely modelled from the official surveyor's maps of each circuit. These include
things like height info, buildings, pits, etc. Some circuits have provided aerial photos and details of key buidings. We also
have over 100 hours of video footage for reference, which helps with the textures, as we haven't got a brother-in-law to
send!

Not when those screen shots were taken anyway! Later ones should be coming out in next month's Edge (no. 31), we think.

Yes, the driving model does change! We're keenest on the 'advanced' mode too - but when you're developing for a console, you
have to cater for the arcade audience as well. The advanced car set-up options are based on the dynamics of a Formula One
car, and recent comparisons using our in-car telemetry and that of a well-known (sorry, still no names!) driver showed it was
pretty reliable. We surprised ourselves!

Your assumption is right. We've got all the qualifying times entered (I get all the good jobs!) and so when you qualify,
you'll be trying to beat Schumacher, Hill, or who-ever. Your grid place is then calculated based on your time as raced in
that session rather than that acheived by the driver you are playing.

No-one could claim to have 'out-Geoff Crammonded' Geoff Crammond, if you see what I mean! With F1GP2 just around (yet
another!) corner, it would be stupid to bring out a game that tried to go head-to-head with one that has 3 years worth of
development behind it.

But I suppose the proof of any pudding is in the eating, and I hope you'll give it a go when it comes out.

Hope this has been useful.

Sarah

*** Bizarre Creations ***

I knew someone would ask this one! The official line is that we have currently obtained the licence for release of the
PlayStation version of the game.

We can't be any more specific about other versions at the moment. Watch this space - as soon as there's any official news
I'll let you know. Sorry that I have to be so evasive!

Sarah

*** Bizarre Creations ***