Making an annual sports game can be difficult. How do you keep players coming back when they already have an idea what to expect? With F1 2017, developer Codemasters has some promising answers.
The newest trailer for Codemasters’ latest take on Formula One just dropped and it reveals some surprising new features. Monaco under the moonlight anyone?
Pitch Black Principality
Okay, it won’t be that dark. Tackling the twisty streets of Monaco is hard enough during the day, but it presents a new challenge under the stars. The driver that shined brightest this year was Sebastian Vettel as he took the spoils at the 2017 race. But how would he fare when the sun goes down? You’ll be able to find out with this year’s game. Maybe F1’s new owners Liberty Media could take a leaf out of Codemasters’ book and turn Monaco into a night race next year!
Both classic and current cars will be eligible to experience the iconic circuit during the day and, if you’re slightly insane, during the night as well.
New Tracks
You’d be forgiven for questioning how new tracks can be added when there are no new circuits on the F1 calendar this year. While that’s set to change next year, Codemasters has thrown in some short variations of current tracks on this year’s calendar.
Mini versions of Britain, Bahrain, the USA and one unannounced track will be joining the current 20 official circuits already in the game. These, coupled with Monaco at night, should throw in some healthy variation for players of this year’s game.
The Classics
If you’ve watched the trailer, you’ll notice a classic driving song accompanying the classic cars on show. Yes, we already know about these iconic machines making a return to an F1 game, but this is the first time we’ve seen all of them in a trailer. We see the cars racing on the track at the same time, a feature Codemasters announced earlier this year at E3.
Here’s a refresher on the 12 historic F1 cars making their way into the game:
- 1988 McLaren MP4/4
- 1991 McLaren MP4/6
- 1992 Williams FW14B
- 1995 Ferrari 412 T2
- 1996 Williams FW18
- 1998 McLaren MP4-13
- 2002 Ferrari F2002
- 2004 Ferrari F2004
- 2006 Renault R26
- 2007 Ferrari F2007
- 2008 McLaren MP4-23
- 2010 Red Bull Racing RB6
The New Generation
As any current F1 fan will know, the 2017 cars are some of the most aggressive the sport has seen. Wider, faster and with bigger tires, these new age monsters have been destroying lap records left, right and center. Records that were set by 3.0 litre V10 screamers over ten years ago are being broken by quieter, cleaner 1.6 litre V6 hybrids. It’s probably worth mentioning these hybrid power units are reaching power levels close to 1,000 hp. Even if you put a V8 in a Prius, you’re still not getting close. Add in a mad level of aerodynamics and its no wonder these cars are so rapid, but also difficult to drive.
Creative director Lee Mather explains how the new cars were implemented into F1 2017. “The 2017 cars present their own unique challenge as they are incredibly fast but wider and heavier than before,” explains Mather, “therefore we have had to completely rework the physics system to refine the balance between aerodynamics and tyre grip.”
The drivers this year have been struggling to hang onto their cars when they slide. Essentially, when the back end comes around, the whole car is likely to follow. Tie this together with the new physics model and F1 2017 could be the most challenging F1 game to date.
In the Mood for the Real Thing?
The F1 circus takes over Hungary this weekend as Budapest plays host to the Hungarian Grand Prix. After Lewis Hamilton won his home Grand Prix two weeks ago, Sebastian Vettel now leads the Brit by just two points as the fight for the 2017 title continues.
F1 2017 races onto the shelves on the major platforms this August, the first of a slew of racing games coming at us to close out the year. With less than a month to go, check out the latest trailer in preparation!
See more articles on Codemasters.
