Codemasters making official Formula One game

by Majed Athab { May 9th 2008 at 8:30PM }

Codemasters, makers of racing titles DiRT and the upcoming GRID are adding yet another racing game to their repertoire. The company has recently acquired an official license to make an authentic Formula One title. This worldwide deal gives Codemasters the rights to feature all Grand Prix circuits, teams, cars, and driver likenesses. The first game based off the FIA Formula One World Championship is expected to launch in 2009. That's the first, which means there's probably going to be multiple titles down the line.

[Via press release]

Tags: codemasters, formula-one

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Lavane @ May 9th 2008 8:39PM

Codemasters have always had my respect when it comes to racing games, but after playing the demo of GRID I'm disappointed. I hope these games (and GRID) will be better than what that demo had to offer.

Popfrogs @ May 10th 2008 4:01PM

I played the racing and drift mode in GRID and was actually quite impressed. Car damage, good dynamics, decent graphics. It's no GT5 but it's good enough for a saturday afternoon. I really liked the menu system and stats also.

theydidntnameme @ May 9th 2008 9:22PM

whats the difference between this fia formula one championship and the leagues that we've gotten in formula 1 (psx), formula one 06 (ps3), and all the formula 1's in between? is this a different league or something? or is this the one that has michael schumacher, damon coulthard, rubens barichello etc?

jayj @ May 9th 2008 10:39PM

there has only ever been 1 FIA Formula One Championship.oh, and it's David not Damon Coulthard.

Jay @ May 9th 2008 9:18PM

Oh great, another racing game with so much soft, blurry focus effect that I keep thinking I need to go to the opticians to see if I have glaucoma. What is it with DIRT and GRID (demo)? They look mushy as hell.

Darren Tilley @ May 9th 2008 10:17PM

I am so disappointed in this news. F1: Championship edition is an amazing game both graphically, and also in the simulation aspects of the game. Codemasters have proven that they have no intentions on making another simulation based racing game. They abandoned that shortly after Toca 3.

Both Dirt and Grid are so far away from real racing that they are on the same par as Burnout to me. That's not to say they aren't fun, but I certainly don't want that same style of game to be brought to the F1 license.

RoarrrUK @ May 10th 2008 3:03AM

Entirely the same sentiments here. GRID is pure arcade, akin to sega rally revo. I tried the demo with assists on and off and it feel so wrong, I deleted it. F1CE on the other hand was superb, graphically and gameplay wise. I have no doubt Codemaster's iteration will be a let down but I'm hoping I'm proven wrong.

Neil @ May 11th 2008 1:54PM

100% with you man.

Mike @ May 9th 2008 10:44PM

Dirt Grid ...This I think there all the same

Twinturbo120 @ May 10th 2008 12:04AM

yea Grid felt mussy and just weird

R.crisp @ May 10th 2008 10:51PM

I must be the only person in the world who thought Dirt was an excellent game that pushed you inch by inch to play the corners at the right speed, using accurate braking and wherever possible avoiding under/oversteer/drifting.
Stick that game on realistic and you'll be hard pressed to finish a race if you hit anything at more than 50 mph.
Plus wtf is wrong with the graphics? I thought they looked stunning, and I dunno if you've ever driven in real life, but if you look to your immediate left or right, or even with 10 yards of your front tyres, the road does tend to look a bit blurred.
Making the road visuals constantly sharp wouldn't be true realism either.

I have been playing racing games since I was knee-high to a grasshopper and I thought Dirt was one of the best on the market, for good controls, great graphics, interesting load screens and awesome gameplay.

linton @ May 10th 2008 6:49AM

After Toca Racedriver 2 I felt they lost their way a bit, Toca RD3 was a bit rubbish, Dirt = rubbish, Grid demo = WTF is that about??, Rubbish handling, PS1's Rage Racer handled better than Grid!(and I've played most console racing games so I know what I'm talking about!). Now Codemasters are doing my favourite Racing franchise!!?? - and they're using the same engine as GRID!? , maaaaaaan - they better not screw it up or else me and few heavies are gonna pay em a visit!

fil140 @ May 22nd 2008 3:42AM

i agree,but more so,toca and f197,both playstation,were the best,pure sport sims but since then we've had shed loads of watered down cash cows,they cater for arcade race gamers all the time,but for purists they seem to think we should go to the pc,toca and f197 sold really well so what ever happened to the theory,"if it aint broke then dont try to fix it?"

Dan @ May 10th 2008 8:23AM

I really hope their effort is as good as the offial Sony one's where other I'm going to be seriously disappointed.

Nick @ May 10th 2008 8:56AM

Yeah codemasters have lost the plot with recent titles.Far too arcadeyColin Mcrae Rally 2005 was the last good game they made for me after that the games have downhill.They`ve tinkered with the handling in Dirt and Grid and it just doesn`t feel right at all.And i hate those blurring effects too whats the point of them?I hope and pray they make a good f1 racer altough i won`t hold my breath if recent titles are anything to go by.I wish Sony kept the rights and continued to work off the first effort F1 Championship Edition they made on the ps3.Sure it wasn`t groundbreaking but the core gameplay was spot on and graphically it wasn`t too shabby either.

Maverick Saturn @ May 10th 2008 11:41AM

Dunno, they may be slipping, but I wasn't to bothered by DiRT, I actually enjoyed it.

ultrasur1 @ May 10th 2008 3:23PM

i don't get these overly critical statements. i'm a huge fan of the first formula 1 title for the ps3, but i enjoyed dirt and have been liking the current grid demo, which i'll most likely pick up when it drops. gran turismo it's not, but as far as fun factor goes, both of those games are pretty good quality. i think it's a bit unfair.

Vcize @ May 10th 2008 4:14PM

Wow, I can't believe all the hate for Grid around here. I enjoyed the demo as much as GT5:P and I'm usually a sim racing guy...

It seems like people everywhere except here on PS3F are ecstatic over this news.

Jason @ May 10th 2008 4:54PM

I wish Codemasters could just sub-contract it out to SCEE's Studio Liverpool. They did an excellent job with F1:CE. Don't get me wrong, I love DiRT and GRiD's demo is slowly growing on me, but after playing F1:CE, I have this sinking feeling that it might disappoint me. Here's hoping I'm completely wrong!

R_man_5K @ May 10th 2008 6:55PM

I liked dirt. I have not had much time with Grid yet. I think they will do a better job at this than most. It wont be like GT but come on not much else is.

dblakenz @ May 10th 2008 10:52PM

Im an F1 fan, but find this dissapointing news. SCEE's Studio Liverpool have been doing this game for years, and each year it gets better, & while F1:CE wasnt purfect it is one of the best F1 games out there, espically with assists turned off and the dificulty cranked up. Have'nt really enjoyed codemasters latest racing efforts so not holding my breath, seem to arcadey even in sim mode.
My vote would go to Poloyphany Digital to make an F1 game, can you imagine what that would be like.....! :)

joshua @ May 11th 2008 12:40AM

I really dig DiRT, yes the game did have a loose/floaty driving model, but it kind of added to the feel of the game, bouncing and sliding around crazy tracks trying desperately to keep your car on it. Jack up the difficulty beyond the default and it is a challenging game which requires you to know the tracks and your vehicle.

But GRID... from that demo its just total pants. DiRT-style handling just does not translate to the street. It feels like you're levitating over the tracks, not driving on top of them.

But I dunno, I'll stay optimistic, every company is allowed a screw up here or there, but I hope Codemasters realizes what F1 fans want from their games and its not driving an air cloud around the track.

Kilika @ May 11th 2008 8:16AM

So does that mean GT5 won't be having licensed F1 cars like GT5:P had the F2007? Or was that something just licensed by Ferrari since it was an "Officially Ferrari licensed product".

In a perfect world, I wish Polyphony Digital had every automotive license.

Davedrastic @ May 11th 2008 10:19PM

Well i think its good news. Well done Codemasters - they really have come a long way.

In my opinion, over PS1 and PS2 Codemasters has a consistent track record of producing quality titles, notably the TOCA series. Compared to the GT series, and indeed the F1 series, the TOCA series probably didnt have the graphics or the general polish of the other games, but were mighty fun and had a unique racing style which i enjoyed.

The F1 series over the PS1 and PS2 in my opinion was a bit up and down - good game, followed by bad game, then another bad one, then a good one, bad, bad, good - something like that - so it hasn't been flawless under Sony by any means.

Codemasters have just paid a huge sum to license these games ($200 million was the number i heard) and this really is the jewel in their crown as they say so i'm confident that they'll step up to the plate and produce the best F1 games yet.

And probably the best thing about it is that the games will be multi-platform, and they'll probably release new versions quicker than Sony did.

Leo @ May 12th 2008 12:48PM

Well hopefully Codemasters will add more authentic in car engine sounds than F1CE on the PS3. As an F1 fan, I can say that the sounds are wrong, not authentic at all.

Plus, the game should have FULL replays of races. Heck the first F1 game back on the PS1 (made by Bizarre Creations I think?) had full replays of races. How come F1CE on the PS3 doesnt?

mat parker @ May 12th 2008 4:42PM

This is probably a money based decision on the part of ecclestone as being on 360,PS3 and probably PC will make more money expect the Grid team to work on this.

linton @ May 22nd 2008 5:09AM

Hi all me again!, Well after over a week of playin the demo on and offline, my feelings about 'GRID' remain the same, I deliberately didn't play any other racing game apart from grid to get a better feel for the handling and to be honest -I was never one for fancy graphics, I just want the game to feel right and grid just didn't feel for me(neither did dirt),the cars were to floaty, the physical weight of the cars are not heavy enough and the steering control felt like old skool digital pads( you know - turn left and right was immediate and not gradual), there are other gripes but that would be just to moany even for me, so sorry codies you wont be getting my money again. This is just my personal opinion btw.

hatem @ May 25th 2008 9:32PM

hey guys!
if a game like grid or colin macrae got unsucessful than it might be ok. but to make such a mistake with a formula 1 game that is only published once a year is unforgivable. i think you guys have tried the f1 02 copy from EA GAMES
how terrible it was , we justy dont want the same thing with codemaster. i reckon SCEE was doing a macnepherson and beutiful job with their f1 copys. hopfully codemaster will be the same. if not than u guys should give the rights back to SCEE. im a f1 junky and thanks

dms2319 @ Jul 15th 2008 1:00PM

i cant wait for this game to come out formula one championship edition was great the graphics were stellar i am a huge formula one fan and can't wait or the new one to come out