F1 Manager spotted...

It looks like we have a new F1 manager game available (at least in Finland). I saw a box of game labelled "F1 Manager" in a local computer shop. I didn't look it too closely, so I can't tell what it's machine requirements, etc are, but at least it has nice silver colored fonts in the cover;-) More seriously: Has anyone bought it, or read an review about it? How detailed it is, and in what areas? In my opinion Microprose's GP Manager seemed to be too technical (car setups). Driver selections and sponsor negotiations were on background, although they should be a major part of team managers work. Pasi.

Its very good sim, but my biggest gripe is that when you take on a team like williams you should win a least one race in a season, I've tested as much as possible and used the best parts etc, but I cannot get my cars to both go full race distance, strange a bug perhaps? much better than microprose's offering, well worth a look and tell me what happens. Jason

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>It looks like we have a new F1 manager game available (at least in Finland). >I saw a box of game labelled "F1 Manager" in a local computer shop. I didn't >look it too closely, so I can't tell what it's machine requirements, etc are, >but at least it has nice silver colored fonts in the cover;-) >More seriously: Has anyone bought it, or read an review about it? How >detailed it is, and in what areas? In my opinion Microprose's GP Manager >seemed to be too technical (car setups). Driver selections and sponsor >negotiations were on background, although they should be a major part of team >managers work. >Pasi.

The game is by Europress and is certainly available in the UK too. I bet the publishers feel a bit stupid as they have Villeneuve plastered all over it ;-) I bought the game a couple of weeks ago but haven`t played it a great deal. It certainly seems detailed as to building the car. Much like GPM you select different modules for your car as you see appropriate. Unlike in GPM you are given plenty of data about them including weight, volume, downforce and stability. You can have your own parts designed and built specifically if you have the resources or buy off the shelf parts. As in GPM the actual set up is very limited being just tyres, fuel load, wings and suspension. It seems like you should be able to change brake balance but I haven`t found anyway to yet. There appears to much more to managing your finances in GPM (where I could often make 5 to 10 million pounds profit in a season.) Negotiating with sponsors is much improved over GPM. You contact potentials, they tell you how much they can afford, you tell them how much space you will offer for that amount, they say whether they will accept or not and so on. As to other aspects of finance I haven`t played it enough to make a judgement. During practice and races you do the usual driver management stuff of deciding pit stratagies and telling your driver what style to adopt. You can choose to let your mechanics do your pit stops or do them manually (supposedly in real time). Races are viewed from TV style cameras but a BIG disappointment is there is no collision detaction in the graphics routine so rather than cars passing each other they simply drive through one another. I`m guessing that this would make tactics such as trying to block a car attempting to pass useless. I`ve noticed a few innacuracies such as Lagorce driving a Forti and the Jordan team being in 95 Livery despite the game being based on the 96 season. There is supposedly a huge driver data base including many drivers from F3 and F3000 series although I am yet to see them. There are plenty of ex-formula one drivers though. Mark _________________________________ "..every lap I think `Oh bollocks! This is dreadful..`" Damon Hill __________________________________

My first race of the season finished 2nd and 4th. I think it is hard to get to grips with, working out what wings etc. to use, buy or develop. I am getting there though. Just started managing Jordan, best finish so far is 4th and I have 8 championship points after 4 races! -Mike

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>Its very good sim, but my biggest gripe is that when you take on a team >like williams you should win a least one race in a season, I've tested as >much as possible and used the best parts etc, but I cannot get my cars to >both go full race distance, strange a bug perhaps? much better than >microprose's offering, well worth a look and tell me what happens. >Jason

------------ Mike Skilton