I think it’s time for me to come out of the closet…. I’ve started watching Formula One. No ways around it and it’s partially because of the BBC’s excellent coverage that I’m now finding myself fascinated with the technical aspects of the sport. It’s making me wonder what kind of a game should Codemasters, owners of the F1 license, make?
Hitting the apex at the right point and following the racing line are traditionally things I don’t like to do in racers. Although it’s fun to dabble with a Race Pro or Forza, I’m very much a follower to the Burnout Paradise and GRID philosophy of enjoyment before realism. Yet at some point during today’s Turkish GP, which I was shocked to know like the back of my hand due Codemaster’s stunning recreation of the track in GRID, I could imagine getting knee deep into a simulation of the sport.
Now previous offerings have been very simulation and very inaccessible to anyone outside of the sport. Then again that was when Sony had the license, now Codemasters have the rights to push the franchise in a new direction. Suddenly though I’m interested, as not only are they good publishers but they’ve also developed some of the most under-appreciated and fantastic driving games of this generation. But they are very much arcade experiences as GRID, DiRT and possibly the recently released Fuel are all the opposite of what Sony previously defined as an F1 racer.
Arcade or Simulation is the real question. Codemasters have that excellent track record of Arcade racers but the F1 community demands a Simulation orientated game. Either way I’m sure I’ll be happy. On the other hand either way, one half of the crowd will be disappointed. The Open Wheel Formula 3 racing in GRID was enjoyable and I would really be happy with that with a Formula One skin over the top of it.
One quick read of the early feature list for the tentatively named F1 2010 and the one bullet point that sticks out like a sore thumb is ‘Both Arcade and Sim versions will be included’. Surely not. Only a few games have gotten this balance correct and neither of them where perfect. Project Gotham Racing 4 and Race Pro both tried a medley of styles to mixed results. It must be a tall task to remember that these driving styles are about gameplay and the feeling of the car rather than ramped difficulty.
I guess I should put faith into the team at Codemasters because they probably will hit it out the park again with another standout and unfortunately another under-appreciated, across-the-pond, racer. Trying to cater to everything just puts a weird taste in my mouth but I shouldn’t write off a game for a difficult design decision that I couldn’t come to myself.
If you had to make the call, Arcade F1 or Simulation, what would you pick?
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