Psygonosis Formula 1 '97 press release...

I get these things from AOL's news servers every now and then... usually they say not to copy or re-transmit them, but this one didn't... since it's a press release, I further assume it is meant to be copied and re-transmitted... So, Business Wire, if you're reading this, my apologies for spreading this if you didn't want it to be....... - Mike. ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 19, 1997--Selling over one million units world-wide, Psygnosis' Formula 1 gears up for the new season with Formula 1 '97! Developed by Bizarre Creations, Formula 1 is the ultimate game for realistic racing e***ment. Acclaimed for its blend of arcade action and authentic handling, Formula 1 '97 features the latest '97 statistics, all the teams and drivers of the 1997 season, 17 circuits, arcade and championship options, new tracks, and commentary by professional Formula 1 race veterans, Murray Walker and John Watson. Experience the thrill, speed and e***ment of the ultimate *** challenge. Undergo the same dynamics, real car engine noises, pit stop tactics as any driver does in the world of F1 today by driving the painstakingly accurate representations of the world's finest tracks. Legendary locations like Silverstone (UK), Adelaide (Australia) and Monaco (Monte Carlo), along with 14 other tracks are featured. Formula 1 '97 offers a range of in-game options including steering and braking assistance, manual or automatic transmission, random and statistically correct weather conditions, multiple viewpoints and a comprehensive replay feature. Players will also experience the fierce rivalry amongst teams and racers as a built-in sophisticated artificial intelligence algorithm crunches raw data such as car reliability and aggression level. These parameters, based on real-life driving styles, give each gamer a unique personality. Audio options include Dolby Surround and Q-Sound support and definable ambient and engine noise levels (from DAT recordings taken from a real Formula 1 race car). Psygnosis employs over 600 people with publishing and development offices in the US, UK, and across Europe. Working with over 30 development teams and six internal development sites, the company is now the largest development house in Europe. Psygnosis is a subsidiary of Sony. -0- Note to Editors: Psygnosis' Formula 1 '97 for the PC and PlayStation will be available at retail computer and software specialty stores everywhere. Reviewer's copies and screen shots can be obtained from xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Customers can order Psygnosis products by calling 1-800-GET-PSYG (1-800-438-7794). Visit us on the Web. Psygnosis' latest offerings, including current and future titles, game tips, contests, all press releases and company information, are accessible at www.psygnosis.com . ==================================================== Mike Holthouse - Indianapolis, IN I'm sick of spam!! To e-mail me, remove the "x"... R.I.P. Jeff Krosnoff: Sep 24, 1964 - July 14, 1996 ====================================================

"Latest 1997 statistics"? Adelaide bit the dust in 1995. "Great". Where are the... Detailed setup options? Realistic handling? Accurate fuel stops? Accurate regulations? Proper inclusion and use of flags? Engine braking, individual wheel locking, wheelspin, punctures from debris, non-icy grass and all the other things expected from a sim? I'm not saying that Formula One 1997 doesn't have these things, it's just that for something touted as a simulation it's pretty worrying when the press release talks only of the frills. Cheers! John

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>I get these things from AOL's news servers every now and then... >usually they say not to copy or re-transmit them, but this one >didn't... since it's a press release, I further assume it is meant >to be copied and re-transmitted... >So, Business Wire, if you're reading this, my apologies for >spreading this if you didn't want it to be....... >- Mike. > ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 19, 1997--Selling over one million >units world-wide, Psygnosis' Formula 1 gears up for the new season >with Formula 1 '97! Developed by Bizarre Creations, Formula 1 is the >ultimate game for realistic racing e***ment. Acclaimed for its >blend of arcade action and authentic handling, Formula 1 '97 features >the latest '97 statistics, all the teams and drivers of the 1997 >season, 17 circuits, arcade and championship options, new tracks, and >commentary by professional Formula 1 race veterans, Murray Walker and >John Watson.

<rest of post bandwidth-reduced> Am I the only one confused by this press release? AND, could THIS one (if not the old? F1 by psygnosis) be "Starting Grid"? And if so....whatta shitty way to rip people off. Put out a substandard racing game and then after it sells, anounce another one with updated features..... Ken Tarvin [link lost in import] San Diego, CA "When things are made idiot-proof," "Then the world will make better idiots."

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>> Formula 1 '97 features the latest '97 statistics >> Legendary locations like....Adelaide (Australia) >"Latest 1997 statistics"? Adelaide bit the dust in 1995. >> range of in-game options including >> steering and braking assistance, >> manual or automatic transmission, >> random and statistically correct weather conditions, >> multiple viewpoints and a >> comprehensive replay feature. >> Dolby Surround and >Q-Sound support and >> definable ambient and engine noise levels >"Great". Where are the... >Detailed setup options? >Realistic handling? >Accurate fuel stops? >Accurate regulations? >Proper inclusion and use of flags? >Engine braking, individual wheel locking, wheelspin, punctures from >debris, non-icy grass and all the other things expected from a sim? >I'm not saying that Formula One 1997 doesn't have these things, it's >just that for something touted as a simulation it's pretty worrying >when the press release talks only of the frills.

John, You know we don't write the press releases - we thought some of it was funny too! Come and get your multiple viewpoints here!! Sarah

Except you are missing the most important viewpoint of all (i.e. from the***pit)

According to "Playstation Pro" magazine (July ish'), : ..... "F1 97 will improve both arcade and simulation modes, moving both further away from each other in terms of style. The arcade mode will now feature power slides and other Rage Racer style trickery, while the simulation Grand Prix mode promises even more technical accuracy than ever before. Using the most up to date season information, and with drivers AI actually based on their real life counterparts, Psygnosis is confident that this'll be the most complete Formula 1 game on the shelves when it goes head to head with Eidos' sffort later this year." "A split screen mode is included, in both arcade and sim modes, so at least you can tear around Monaco with a mate. The graphics are hi-res, the only driving game on the Playstation to use such complex graphics at high speed, and more polygons than you can shake a stick at have been thrown into the mix as well" Apparently there are new comments from both Murray Walker and Martin Brundle, including them talking about the specific bend your on instead of random phrases. Apart from that - and more importantly for the sim aspect - the screen shots show a***-pit view complete with outstretched drivers arms!! That was a shot of Eddie Irvins car, but the front looked a bit strange above the steering wheel. Maybe he'd had a smack. Hopefully this'll get ported over the the PC and make everybody a bit happier! Pity they didn't do it with the original version tho'. -- To reply, remove NOSMEG from end of e-mail address.

>I have a feeling that this one will be the same dissappointment as the first >version. Arcade racing games usually get boring real quick. I tried F1 on the >playstation. All I can say is that the graphics impressed me but the Physics >and Computer AI told me this game won't keep my attention for long. >Alex Yep, from my admittedly limited wheel time on this title at a friend's house, the driving physics model leaves ALOT to be desired, when you step off the gas the car slows down *noticeably*. When approaching corners I found myself not needing to use brakes very often at all, since since getting off the trottle slowed me to the point where I could make the turns. Combine this with AI that bring back recollections of F1GP1, ie. they follow their own preset line regardless if you passed them and have the line for the corner, and you could soon become very frustrated by this game, if like me you are at all spoiled by the modern improvements in AI and physics of GP2/ICR2/N2. On the other hand, the graphics and eyecandy were *amazing*, really very nice, especially the very realistic tracks and nicely done wet-weather racing. Sadly I doubt if I will be purchasing this once it is available here in the US, although I am eagerly anticipating the *first* auto-sim to take advantage of my 3dfx voodoo card, F1 Racing would get little use from me other than to take a spin around the tracks for familiariztion prior to watching the F1 Grand Prix on TV. Cheers. --John (Looking forward to Papy's F1 Grand Prix Legends with 3dfx support) -- Note: my real e-mail address is below. Delete the asterisks. ------------------------------+-------------------------- Seattle, Washington USA. | http://www.cool.com/~jsilva

> > >"Great". Where are the... > > >Detailed setup options? From the screen shots I've seen you can change brakes, tyres, gearbox, suspension, wings and fuel. Yep, there are flags in F1 97 There are supposed to be engine fires, wheels locking under braking, mechanical faliures, loss of wheels in crashes and deformable bodywork depending on the severity of the collision (a bit like destruction derby) when the press release talks only of the frills. F1 97 also has an in***pit view. Kev

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> > > >"Great". Where are the... > > > >Detailed setup options? > From the screen shots I've seen you can change brakes, tyres, gearbox, > suspension, wings and fuel. > > > >Realistic handling? > > > >Accurate fuel stops? > > > >Accurate regulations? > > > >Proper inclusion and use of flags? > Yep, there are flags in F1 97 > > > >Engine braking, individual wheel locking, wheelspin, punctures from > > > >debris, non-icy grass and all the other things expected from a sim? > There are supposed to be engine fires, wheels locking under braking, > mechanical faliures, loss of wheels in crashes and deformable bodywork > depending on the severity of the collision (a bit like destruction derby) > when the press release talks only of the frills.

Nope, unless I missed it... (This thread is really refering to Psygnosis Formula 1???) Nope, unless sitting on the nose of the car is a***pit view 8^) I sold this piece of .... after a few days. I wouldn't even give it high marks as an arcade. I never thought I move a car, not even remotly! l8er ronny

On Tue, 24 Jun 1997 12:42:32 +0100, K Clark >From the screen shots I've seen you can change brakes, tyres, gearbox, >suspension, wings and fuel. Yes, but change what? Change tyres? Change pressures? Scrubbed or sticker tyres? Toe-in? Camber? There's not much information which can point towards how much arcade and how much sim it will be, My money is on 75% arcade, but I hope not. There are also flags in GP2 but not very good. By "proper use of flags" I meant black flag, blue flag, oil flags etc. The usual green and chequered flags don't add anything by comparison. There has been talk of a lot of features, and I spoke about a lot of things when I visited last time, but the critical part is how they are implemented. "Wheels locking under braking" is all very well, but look at the way it is implemented in the original. GP2's wheel locking is implemented pretty well, the original arcade F1 was not. It is only a "sim" feature if implemented in a realistic manner (i.e. SIMulating real life). There are quite a lot of sims coming out soon, CART, Andretti, XCAR, GPL, Ubisoft etc, so I wonder if Psygnosis are confident going head-to-head with them or if they will release as another primarily arcade title? I hope that will not be the case but it is my concern at present. I already returned the original "F1" to the shop as I was pretty disappointed with what it was when considering what it could have been, and also with how unrewarding it was to drive (not good when a driving game isn't good to drive!), and I hope that F1'97 will not go the same way. Cheers! John

>> You know we don't write the press releases - we thought some of it was >> funny too! Come and get your multiple viewpoints here!! >> Sarah >Except you are missing the most important viewpoint of all (i.e. from >the***pit) No we're not - this is a new game WITH a***pit (even on the 3Dfx ;-)

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> > > > >"Great". Where are the... > > > > >Detailed setup options? > > From the screen shots I've seen you can change brakes, tyres, gearbox, > > suspension, wings and fuel. > > > > >Realistic handling? > > > > >Accurate fuel stops? > > > > >Accurate regulations? > > > > >Proper inclusion and use of flags? > > Yep, there are flags in F1 97 > > > > >Engine braking, individual wheel locking, wheelspin, punctures from > > > > >debris, non-icy grass and all the other things expected from a sim? > > There are supposed to be engine fires, wheels locking under braking, > > mechanical faliures, loss of wheels in crashes and deformable bodywork > > depending on the severity of the collision (a bit like destruction derby) > > when the press release talks only of the frills. > Nope, unless I missed it... > (This thread is really refering to Psygnosis Formula 1???)

No its referring to the sequel F1 97 which is out later this year. So, yes, it does have all that other stuff (flags etc) Yep. F1 97 has a***pit view. F1 doesn't. Kev

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> On Tue, 24 Jun 1997 12:42:32 +0100, K Clark > >From the screen shots I've seen you can change brakes, tyres, gearbox, > >suspension, wings and fuel. > Yes, but change what? Change tyres? Change pressures? Scrubbed or > sticker tyres? Toe-in? Camber? There's not much information which can > point towards how much arcade and how much sim it will be, My money is > on 75% arcade, but I hope not.

I'm not sure. From what I've seen you can definitely choose tyre type, i.e. soft, hard, intermediate, wet or monsoon. I don't know anything else about camber etc. I suspect not, but thats just a guess. Again I don't know, sorry. (Does Sarah from Bizzare want to comment?) Thats true. I think Bizzare/Psygnosis vastly underestimated the number of people (and I'm talking from the playstation camp here) that wanted a proper sim. I would have thought it was obvious from the demographics (average psx owner being 24-28) that we had had enough of boggo racers and wanted something a bit more involving. This has also shown itself in the numbers of people who picked up on the pit bug in the original which only manifested itself when playing full race distances with a fuel load set up for 2 or 3 stop strategies. I suspect this wasn't picked up in testing cos they didnt think mnay people weree going to do a full length season. As a result the game has a very arcady feel to it despite claims of realistic physics (I've played indycar and THATS what I call realistic physics). But to give them credit they seem to have taken some, if not all, of the criticism of the original in hand and separated the arcade and sim modes much more and so the sim mode should be a lot better this time round. (I wonder why they dont market the sim and arcade versions as separate games). Yes I also hope that F1 97 will be much more sim like. I enjoyed the original but found that the one thing that really pissed me off was the (lack of) AI. Being chopped by backmarkers gets on yer wick when it happens for the ump***th time! But apparently thats been sorted now so here's hoping. Kev

> >Except you are missing the most important viewpoint of all (i.e. from > >the***pit) > No we're not - this is a new game WITH a***pit (even on the 3Dfx ;-) And I really hope you implement support for 2 joysticks for a single player so people with pedals can drive your game, unless of course yr target audience drive with joysticks. Fully customisable (not selectable) control buttons would be nice too as would lots of other GP2 type issues which I'm sure many, many others would bring up in due course.