This preview was stolen from
http://www.gamespot.co.uk/pc.gamespot/driving/f12k_uk/preview1.html
"Four lights on the grid ...five lights ...and it's go! Go! Go!" for
F1 2000, EA Sports' brand new Formula One racer, which is coming to a
PC near you at the end of March. Developed by Image Space, a newly
formed collective of racing and sim veterans from across the industry
whose previous titles include Sports Car GT, F1 2000 certainly has the
pedigree to take on the established F1 order, and counts among its
members some of the team who worked on Geoff Crammond's original Grand
Prix.
Following the familiar pattern from EA Sports, this is the officially
licensed article with all the drivers, teams, liveries, logos and even
advertising (barring booze and ciggies which are banned) all
absolutely authentic reproductions of their real-life counterparts.
Developed alongside, but separately from, the PlayStation version, F1
2000's primary aim will be to deliver a racing game that you can play
in parallel with the current Formula One season. The attraction of
racing alongside the top drivers as the season's story unfolds is a
proposition that simply can't be underestimated.
Dive into the game and the first thing you'll notice is that F1 2000's
engine is already looking extremely sumptuous, with some simply superb
looking cars and circuits. Every track from the 2000 season has been
modelled in immaculate detail using official photography and track
data to exactly reproduce all the twists and nuances of each circuit,
even down to tiny details like the famous graffiti at Imola.
F1 2000's cars are equally detailed, with full and authentic liveries,
helmet styles and insignia, separate car monocoques and up to 1200
polygons per car (depending on team and model). The viewing system is
impressive, with full TV-style race coverage courtesy of up to 16
different internal and external camera views, fully working wing
mirrors and the ability to zoom in and even see the driver's eyes move
as they anticipate the next tricky corner. Graphically it's extremely
difficult to fault - and on a high-end machine, combines a very real
impression of breakneck speed with a near photo-realistic quality
driving experience.
It would be fair to say that F1 2000 on the PC is pretty much squarely
aimed at the *** F1 fan with the emphasis on creating a
hyper-accurate but playable simulation. A very agreeable set of
driving aids will soften the blow for Formula One novices, but for
dedicated F1 fanatics the level of depth underlying the game is
excellent - full and detailed setup options go down to details like
camber on the wheels, tyre pressures and suspension settings. If you
so desire you can even tinker with really esoteric features like your
reverse gear ratio. It's certainly a comprehensive approach and full
testing and telemetry feedback will enable you to hone your car to
perfection during some extended testing sessions.
On the presentation and options front, F1 2000 certainly lives up to
EA Sports' usual high standards. A FIFA-style introduction to each
racing weekend will be provided by the same company who supply the
visuals for ITV and Jim Rosenthal will be providing introductions and
post-race analysis to keep you a*** of all the latest developments.
In a bit of a departure from the usual in-game commentary, there'll be
no "Murray and Martin" style observations, instead it will be your pit
crew who provide all the feedback on race positions, fuel strategy and
tyre wear, which the developers hope will re-enforce their aim of
giving players a real feel of racing from the driver's perspective.
Well, after an exhaustive look at the behind-the-scenes features, we
finally persuaded Image Space to let us get our hands dirty by taking
a test drive in Jaguar's new baby down the long straights and curving
chicanes of the Nurburgring. Armed only with a ForceFeedback wheel and
some blind faith in our own abilities, Eddie Irvine's new drive proved
relatively easy to begin with (with all the driving aids turned on),
and handled like a dream as we powered down the track at Hockenheim.
Throwing caution to the winds, we then removed the driving aids - and
we managed to plough headlong through a gravel trap at about 150mph,
crumpling the front wing and losing both front wheels against a very
convincing 3D tyre wall. Oh well, back to the drawing board - we might
well fancy Eddie Irvine's lifestyle, but clearly we're going to have
to put in a lot of work before we acquire his driving skills.
EA have certainly invested a fair amount into the game and it looks
set to be the first of a long running series because they hold the
official licence for the next three years.
So watch out Schuey and Mika, we'll see you on the grid...
Check out our extensive gallery to see F1 2000 in action, but please
note that the cars and teams still have 1999 liveries as placeholders
until the new season's offerings are revealed.
First of all, It's nice to finally see official word that Image Space was
doing the F1 sim. One of those things that was semi-secret ;)
Let's hope this time the development team who did SCGT for the PSX has been
replaced. Not to be harsh but they did a very poor job I would say.
The game engine in SCGT is pretty good in terms of 3d environment, so I do
say that tracks will finally be done in a correct way on a F1 game else than
the Psygnosis ones.
a la C:PR ? Let's hope not! A la GPL please! ;-)
I wonder how much time they took to formulate that sentence. It is to me
the most important of all for us in the press release. What can we take out
of it ? Serious sim but has gameplay helps? Or a more dumbed down version
of Formula 1 physics like SCGT without the realism patch? Who knows Image
Space can become the Janes of racing sims. It can be possible, the hype
gets me a little I would say.
<snip actually good sim features, actually not "EA features">
--
-- Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard>
-- May the Downforce be with you...
"People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realise
how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world."
Which brings with, I suppose, the usual restrictions on internet play?
grumble grumble
(but I want a copy! I want a copy!)
DK
Someone queried about an in-cockpit view and as to whether it was/is an
afterthought similar to SCGT. I don't know, but I did look thru the
screenshots. Note that #18 (of 20) is an in-car view. Now, it being
the only one might raise some eyebrows. But it looks like a decent
***pit from that one shot.
: Ok so now we know what Image Space has been doing since SCGT. BUt...I
: can only hope they learned a thing or two...hopefully offline reporting,
:***pits view as the main driving view, not added on late in
: development, a better multiplayer, and more physics....
The screenshots already show a 3D***pit with head-panning (of course,
that would be panning of the miniature head :)
Stephen
:> even see the driver's eyes move as they anticipate the next tricky corner.
: a la C:PR ? Let's hope not! A la GPL please! ;-)
Well, the screenshots do show head-panning in the***pit view, but I
think that this line in the preview refers to the use of multiple textures
for the visor in replays which show the driver's eyes moving (for the
camera view looking back at the driver over the steering wheel). If EA
follows the trend of their other recent sports games, I bet we will be
able to stick our own mug into the helmet.
Stephen
Quoted text (7 lines)
> : Ok so now we know what Image Space has been doing since SCGT. BUt...I > : can only hope they learned a thing or two...hopefully offline reporting, > :***pits view as the main driving view, not added on late in > : development, a better multiplayer, and more physics.... > The screenshots already show a 3D***pit with head-panning (of course, > that would be panning of the miniature head :)Heh - I thought the head looked pretty small myself!
--David Cook
wrote...
Quoted text (9 lines)
> : Ok so now we know what Image Space has been doing since SCGT. BUt...I > : can only hope they learned a thing or two...hopefully offline reporting, > :***pits view as the main driving view, not added on late in > : development, a better multiplayer, and more physics.... > The screenshots already show a 3D***pit with head-panning (of course, > that would be panning of the miniature head :) > StephenQuoted text (13 lines)
> This preview was stolen from > http://www.gamespot.co.uk/pc.gamespot/driving/f12k_uk/preview1.html > "Four lights on the grid ...five lights ...and it's go! Go! Go!" for > F1 2000, EA Sports' brand new Formula One racer, which is coming to a > PC near you at the end of March. Developed by Image Space, a newly > formed collective of racing and sim veterans from across the industry > whose previous titles include Sports Car GT, F1 2000 certainly has the > pedigree to take on the established F1 order, and counts among its > members some of the team who worked on Geoff Crammond's original Grand > Prix. > Following the familiar pattern from EA Sports,.....snipQuoted text (32 lines)
> First of all, It's nice to finally see official word that Image Space was > doing the F1 sim. One of those things that was semi-secret ;) > > Developed alongside, but separately from, the PlayStation version > Let's hope this time the development team who did SCGT for the PSX has been > replaced. Not to be harsh but they did a very poor job I would say. > > Dive into the game and the first thing you'll notice is that F1 2000's > > engine is already looking extremely sumptuous, with some simply superb > > looking cars and circuits. > The game engine in SCGT is pretty good in terms of 3d environment, so I do > say that tracks will finally be done in a correct way on a F1 game else than > the Psygnosis ones. > > even see the driver's eyes move as they anticipate the next tricky corner. > a la C:PR ? Let's hope not! A la GPL please! ;-) > > It would be fair to say that F1 2000 on the PC is pretty much squarely > > aimed at the *** F1 fan with the emphasis on creating a > > hyper-accurate but playable simulation. > I wonder how much time they took to formulate that sentence. It is to me > the most important of all for us in the press release. What can we take out > of it ? Serious sim but has gameplay helps? Or a more dumbed down version > of Formula 1 physics like SCGT without the realism patch? Who knows Image > Space can become the Janes of racing sims. It can be possible, the hype > gets me a little I would say. > <snip actually good sim features, actually not "EA features">Yeah.
Is it just me or do the tyres look a bit on the large side too.
Kev
Quoted text (18 lines)
> Heh - I thought the head looked pretty small myself! > --David Cook > wrote... > > : Ok so now we know what Image Space has been doing since SCGT. BUt...I > > : can only hope they learned a thing or two...hopefully offline reporting, > > :***pits view as the main driving view, not added on late in > > : development, a better multiplayer, and more physics.... > > The screenshots already show a 3D***pit with head-panning (of course, > > that would be panning of the miniature head :) > > StephenOnce again, F12000 is being published by EA, not made by them. The company
that made Sports Car GT is making F12000.
Dan Belcher
Team Racing Unlimited
http://simcrashes.cjb.net
Apologies for my ignorance, but is this development house in the UK or
elsewhere?
Mike.
On Fri, 21 Jan 2000 00:17:41 GMT, "Mike Laskey"
>Apologies for my ignorance, but is this development house in the UK or
>elsewhere?
>Mike.
Image Space last I knew was located in Michigan, USA. A very small
development house that I believe starting doing sim work for the US
car companies. Could be wrong about this since I couldn't their web
site.
Image Space Inc
206 South Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 662-3660
Jeff
