Jalopnik
Forget about everything we speculated yesterday regarding next-generation Formula 1 video games after Sony opted out of renewing the ridiculously high bid Bernie Ecclestone wanted for F1 licensing. Game maker, Codemasters, turned the right tricks on old Bernard and has won the rights to license a F1 game (and pay F1 an undisclosed, but likely ridiculously high fee). The fun doesn't end there, there's plenty of more details that makes this great news for F1 fans.
Codemasters has said that the F1 game will be multi-platform—meaning if you own any next-generation console, portable gaming system or even a PC capable of gaming, there's a really good chance you'll be able to pick up the new F1 game from Codemasters. The deal locks up the rights to all Grand Prix circuits, F1 teams, cars and drive likenesses. The cherry on top of it all is that the deal is multi-year, so we can expect solid F1 games for years to come.
It's not too surprising that Codemasters would fork over the dough for the license. This is the same developer responsible for the Colin McRae and Race Driver games.
The game, currently going by the name FIA Formula One World Championship is looking at a 2009 release date. (Thanks to everyone who sent in tips on this)[Kotaku]
Comments
it will be so much realistic that even you can buy other teams projects... and spank your own nazi dominatirx...
i mean the game... :)
wow... imagine online real tournaments of all the real life circuts... & making a virtual season that 22 players can play in!
god bless code masters & sony!
Women will never be able to play it.
I honestly can't wait to see what the mini-games will be.
I hope they have one where you get race against the clock in a Chevrolet Lasetti for bonus points, with a score multiplier equal to the number of jokes you can make about Richard Hammond.
@boosted-lego-wagon: They won't have the thumb strength.
Codemasters? Hopefully they'll be able to use everything they learned making the Micro Machines video games.
I wonder if this means the inclusion of the F2007 (and any other licensed F1 car, for that matter) is no longer a sure thing for the full version of GT5. If so, that would suck Death Star-sized balls.
@Tomsk:
Well, GT4 got around that by making a "Formula Gran Turismo" car that was similar, but not identical, to real F1 cars.
It's kind of a cop-out though. It'd be nice to get the real deal.
It's possible that they'll be able to use the cars (which are owned by the teams, i assume?) but not call them F1 cars.
@J-2-da-B: You mean 20 now that Super Aguri is gone...
@PeteJayhawk:
Oh dear. I knew I recognized that name from somewhere.
Codemasters generally produces rubbishy low-production-value B-rated video games, like "Ultimate Death Chess" and "Post-apocalyptic future: The Computerized Board Game."
Please resume your previously scheduled waiting for GT5.
I'm just glad Electronic Arts wasn't able to create a monopoly by obtaining the F1 license. Then we'd just have F1 2009, F1 2010 (released within ten months of each other).
On a side not, every time I think of Codemasters, I think of Micro Machines for the NES.
Please let this be the return of F1 racing on a pool table!
codemasters sucks it with their physics models from 1995, kthxno
I thought Codemasters did the TOCA series, and the Colin McRae series....and those are pretty good games....
Guess they'll do great on the consoles, but from the last time I tried a TOCA series, I uninstalled it after a few laps. Just didn't enjoy it, and as tomax stated, physics simulation was pretty bad.
@LionZoo: yeah, could be... but i'm sure a replacement would come around, & 22 races will be seen again within the near future!
Damn straight the win. Coadmasters built the V8 supercars game and is seconded only by Gran Turismo
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