Formula One (1985 video game)
Encyclopedia
Formula One is a Formula One
racing management videogame published in 1985 by CRL Group PLC
, developed by G.B. Munday and B.P. Wheelhouse for the ZX Spectrum
, and converted to Amstrad CPC
by Richard Taylor.
The game sets the player as the Formula One team manager on a team of choice, starting on the season of 1985 and onwards. The player is in charge of all the decisions regarding drivers, sponsors, budget management, chassis and engine improvements, tires selection, among others, during the sixteen races comprised. The game was conceived with a hotseat
mode for up to six players to play simultaneously, each managing a different team, and five different levels of difficulty for the cpu controlled teams.
Formula One was one of the first games of its genre, following in the footsteps of its predecessor Grand Prix Manager
by Silicon Joy, and was in overall well received by the critics, with review ratings of four and five out of five stars from several publications of its time.
, Lotus
, Williams
, McLaren
and Renault
), and two sponsors, from a list of thirteen, for the whole season which comprises sixteen races. With limited funds, the player is asked to hire up to two drivers (from a list of twenty four available), and prepare the race car(s). After each race the player is awarded a money prize for participation and also an extra sum if its drivers rank in the top places. The sponsors also contribute to the team in varying amounts after each race. The funds have to be managed in order to repair or upgrade the cars, or even hire new drivers for the following race. The goal is to lead the team to win the constructors championship, and if possible the drivers championship too. The game is virtually endless, in the sense that after a season finishes a new one starts again, and the player has to hire new drivers, prepare new cars, and repeat the cycle of management.
The game is based on four management points, which are:
The driver's skill, unlike the other three management points, is the only one that cannot be improved by applying funds to it (short of hiring a better driver). The driver's skill level changes dynamically during the season, slowly increasing after each successfully finished race, or decreasing in case of accidents that force an early retirement from it. In the event of an accident in which the driver is injured all of the driver's skill level is set back to the minimum value and he is marked as injured until the end of the current season. A new driver must then be hired for its position.
The engine and the car levels determine how fast and how reliable the car will be in race for the driver. Applying more funds into the engine and fewer in the car (chassis) means that the car will be faster and more reliable but with a fragile chassis. Applying the reverse settings will mean that the car might be more resistant in chassis, but slower and more prone to engine failures.
A number of different events happen during every race, the most common being weather changes and accidents. If the weather changes the player can call the cars in for a tire change, in case the drivers do not do it themselves first. In the case of accidents, if the car is still able to race, the driver will take it immediately to the pits for repairs.
But if the cars are damaged beyond the ability to repair in race, or even totaled, the player will have to watch the rest of the race, even if none of its cars is on track.
In the demonstration mode of the game, the pit crew includes four extra mechanics placed next to each of the car tires who make the tire changes, but they work one at a time until all tires are replaced and the car is ready to go.
The game features five different kinds of tires to choose for racing, Slicks (soft, medium and hard compound variants), Intermediates, and Rain tires. Each kind of tire is best suited depending on the present weather and track conditions, and the weather conditions can vary during the race.
.
magazine.
The speed and time differences between drivers is noticeable during the race. The player can tell how fast its cars are going by simply observing and comparing to the other cars as they pass by the screen in each lap. The distance between each two cars is also noticeable as the interval between them is longer or shorter.
The spectators in the benches always move their heads to the right as the cars are coming by, and then to the left after the last car passes by the screen.
In every race a Goodyear blimp
is located at the top right of the screen. Lap after lap this blimp slowly moves left, and on many occasions it even crosses over to the top left side of the screen.
There is in-game advertising
for a number of companies, including Marlboro, Agip
, Goodyear
, Mobil
, Fiat
, Dunlop
, and references to many of the sports's sponsors of the time, as well as the F1 teams themselves although the game did not have an official tie-in licence with FIA. This did not generate income for the developers but adds to the realistic feel of the game, as all of the brands and companies advertised were involved in Formula 1 competition at the time.
Due to the native color palettes
that each system uses, the game presents itself very similarly in both versions but with slightly different color tones. The ZX Spectrum attribute clash
problem is also widely visible through the game, whereas in the Amstrad CPC it does not occur.
Some in game objects though are painted differently in the Amstrad CPC port, for example the pit stop screen shows different colored doors, windows and other objects in the background. Also, on the race screen, the publicity stripe below the spectators is mostly red in the Amstrad CPC port while in the ZX Spectrum version it shows mostly yellow.
A noticeable difference is that in the ZX Spectrum version, in the race screen, there are four rows of spectators on the left side and three rows on the right side. The Amstrad CPC port shows one fewer row of spectators on each side, making it three rows on the left side and only two rows on the right side.
Another difference is that at each race start, in the ZX Spectrum version six cars are visible in the starting line, while in the Amstrad CPC version only four cars are visible.
version of the game was developed and first released by CRL Group PLC
in 1985, and was subsequently re-released as a budget title by Alternative Software Ltd with the title Formula Grand Prix in 1988. Formula One was included in a CRL compilation entitled Burning Rubber in 1990. The port
to the Amstrad CPC
was completed by CRL in 1988.
When Alternative Software released Formula Grand Prix the packaging was the subject of potential legal proceeding by Codemasters
. A spokesperson for the company stated that the artwork for Formula Grand Prix plagiarises their box art for Grand Prix Simulator
. He said that Codemasters would be issuing a writ
against Alternative for breach of copyright and for passing off
.
The ZX Spectrum version, although not perfect, was in overall highly appraised by reviewers. Chris Bourne, software reviewer for Sinclair User
magazine, awarded it 5 stars, and a "Sinclair User Classic" award, referring to it as "a rare example of a simulation which combines attractive displays, good game structure and an exciting theme". Other reviews of Formula One for the same platform also gave it merit, Paul Bond of British magazine Your Computer
awarded 4 stars stating that "the graphics are functional rather than brilliant". Same opinion about the graphics is shared by the Amstrad Action
reviewer for the Amstrad CPC port stating that "the race graphics aren't brilliant but manage to convey some of the tension of real racing".
Computer & video games magazine review on Formula One was done with the collaboration of Peter Collins, manager of the Formula 1 team Williams
at the time. Peter Collins, looking at it from a professional point of view, heavily criticized the game for its general lack of detail in the management part, and lack of documentation provided to the player as well. As a result Computer & video games awarded it 6.5/10 (average), referring to it as an entertaining strategy game "but Grand Prix enthusiasts will soon find the novelty wearing off!"
A four stars ranking was also attributed by Computer Gamer
magazine, mentioning that with up to six players simultaneously the game "could get quite exciting". But on the negative side, it was also pointed out a simple user interface issue, that if corrected would have proportioned a better experience to the players. "It would be nice to be able to select from the menus using the joystick rather than the keyboard"
When the game was included in the Burning Rubber compilation for the ZX Spectrum it was received less favourably. David from Your Sinclair commenting that the graphics look rather basic and that decision making is limited. He mentions that the game was not liked when it was first released, and that it has not aged well. He gave it an overall score of 30%.
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
racing management videogame published in 1985 by CRL Group PLC
CRL Group PLC
CRL Group plc is a defunct British video game development and publishing company. Originally CRL stood for "Computer Rentals Ltd.". It was based in King's Yard, London and run by Clem Chambers....
, developed by G.B. Munday and B.P. Wheelhouse for the ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
, and converted to Amstrad CPC
Amstrad CPC
The Amstrad CPC is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, where it successfully established itself primarily in the United Kingdom,...
by Richard Taylor.
The game sets the player as the Formula One team manager on a team of choice, starting on the season of 1985 and onwards. The player is in charge of all the decisions regarding drivers, sponsors, budget management, chassis and engine improvements, tires selection, among others, during the sixteen races comprised. The game was conceived with a hotseat
Hotseat (multiplayer mode)
Hotseat or hot seat is a multiplayer mode provided by some turn-based video games, which allows two or more players to play on the same device by taking turns playing the game...
mode for up to six players to play simultaneously, each managing a different team, and five different levels of difficulty for the cpu controlled teams.
Formula One was one of the first games of its genre, following in the footsteps of its predecessor Grand Prix Manager
Grand Prix Manager (1984 video game)
Grand Prix Manager is a Formula 1 management simulation video game released for the ZX Spectrum in 1984. It was written by P. Boulton and published by Silicon Joy.-Gameplay:...
by Silicon Joy, and was in overall well received by the critics, with review ratings of four and five out of five stars from several publications of its time.
Gameplay
The game starts by asking the player to choose a team to manage from the six teams available (Brabham, FerrariFerrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
, Lotus
Team Lotus
Team Lotus was the motorsport sister company of English sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The team ran cars in many motorsport series including Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, IndyCar and sports car racing...
, Williams
WilliamsF1
Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited, trading as AT&T Williams, is a British Formula One motor racing team and constructor. It was founded and run by Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head...
, McLaren
McLaren
McLaren Racing Limited, trading as Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, is a British Formula One team based in Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom. McLaren is best known as a Formula One constructor but has also competed and won in the Indianapolis 500 and Canadian-American Challenge Cup...
and Renault
Renault F1
Lotus Renault GP, formerly the Renault F1 Team, is a British Formula One racing team. The Oxfordshire-based team can trace its roots back through the Benetton team of the late 1980s and 1990s to the Toleman team of the early 1980s. Renault had also competed in various forms since , before taking...
), and two sponsors, from a list of thirteen, for the whole season which comprises sixteen races. With limited funds, the player is asked to hire up to two drivers (from a list of twenty four available), and prepare the race car(s). After each race the player is awarded a money prize for participation and also an extra sum if its drivers rank in the top places. The sponsors also contribute to the team in varying amounts after each race. The funds have to be managed in order to repair or upgrade the cars, or even hire new drivers for the following race. The goal is to lead the team to win the constructors championship, and if possible the drivers championship too. The game is virtually endless, in the sense that after a season finishes a new one starts again, and the player has to hire new drivers, prepare new cars, and repeat the cycle of management.
Team management
Throughout the season the game focuses on budget management. With limited funds and resources the player has to establish in each race the best ways to invest in its race cars. In each race there is also a possibility that the race car(s) get damaged, destroyed, or even that the driver is injured. Any of these setbacks mean added expenses for repairs or having to hire new drivers.The game is based on four management points, which are:
- Driver's skill level
- Power (Engine)
- Car (chassis)
- Pit-crew
The driver's skill, unlike the other three management points, is the only one that cannot be improved by applying funds to it (short of hiring a better driver). The driver's skill level changes dynamically during the season, slowly increasing after each successfully finished race, or decreasing in case of accidents that force an early retirement from it. In the event of an accident in which the driver is injured all of the driver's skill level is set back to the minimum value and he is marked as injured until the end of the current season. A new driver must then be hired for its position.
The engine and the car levels determine how fast and how reliable the car will be in race for the driver. Applying more funds into the engine and fewer in the car (chassis) means that the car will be faster and more reliable but with a fragile chassis. Applying the reverse settings will mean that the car might be more resistant in chassis, but slower and more prone to engine failures.
Race
During each race the player's task is to watch the race as it goes lap after lap from the starting lane point of view, and react depending on the events that may occur. The blackboard on the top of the screen shows the top six drivers time differences in seconds, but the player can also tell how well their cars are doing just by watching closely to the cars passing by in each lap. The speed and time differences between the drivers are noticeable in game.A number of different events happen during every race, the most common being weather changes and accidents. If the weather changes the player can call the cars in for a tire change, in case the drivers do not do it themselves first. In the case of accidents, if the car is still able to race, the driver will take it immediately to the pits for repairs.
But if the cars are damaged beyond the ability to repair in race, or even totaled, the player will have to watch the rest of the race, even if none of its cars is on track.
Pit stops
The pit-crew also has a deciding factor in each race because the more funds are applied into it, the faster they work when in pit stops. The pit stop events are controlled by the player, when a car has the need to go in for a pit stop the player controls one of the mechanics in the pits, which changes the tires one by one, and applies any other repairs if necessary. The faster the mechanic moves, the less time is spent in pit stops.In the demonstration mode of the game, the pit crew includes four extra mechanics placed next to each of the car tires who make the tire changes, but they work one at a time until all tires are replaced and the car is ready to go.
The game features five different kinds of tires to choose for racing, Slicks (soft, medium and hard compound variants), Intermediates, and Rain tires. Each kind of tire is best suited depending on the present weather and track conditions, and the weather conditions can vary during the race.
Racing circuits
Formula One's game play setup is a season comprising 16 races, and all the game's data including racing circuits, number of laps of each race, past season winners, and track record holders is based on the official 1984 Formula One season1984 Formula One season
The 1984 Formula One season was the 35th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1984 Formula One World Championship for Drivers and the 1984 Fomula One World Championship for Manufacturers which were contested concurrently over a sixteen race series which commenced on March 25,...
.
| Round | Race | Location | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Brazil Brazilian Grand PrixBrazilian Grand Prix The Brazilian Grand Prix is a Formula One championship race which occurs at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos, a district in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.- History :... |
Jacarepaguá Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet The Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet , also known as Jacarepaguá, after the neighbourhood in which it was located, is a race course in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil which hosted the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix 10 times.-History:The circuit was built in 1978 on reclaimed marshland, thus the... |
61 |
| 2 |  South Africa South African Grand PrixSouth African Grand Prix The South African Grand Prix was first run as a Grand Prix motor racing handicap race in 1934 at the Prince George Circuit at East London, Eastern Cape Province... |
Kyalami Kyalami Kyalami is a motor racing circuit located in Midrand, Gauteng province, South Africa. The circuit has been used for Grand Prix and Formula One races and has hosted the South African Grand Prix many times. In recent years, the area surrounding the circuit has developed into a residential and... |
75 |
| 3 |  Belgium Belgian Grand PrixBelgian Grand Prix The Belgian Grand Prix is an automobile race, part of the Formula One World Championship.... |
Zolder Zolder The Circuit Zolder, also known as Circuit Terlaemen, is an undulating motorsport race track in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.Built in 1963, Zolder hosted the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix on 10 separate occasions in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the 1980 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix. The F1 circus... |
70 |
| 4 |  San Marino San Marino Grand PrixSan Marino Grand Prix The San Marino Grand Prix was a Formula One championship race which was run at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in the town of Imola, near the Apennine mountains in Italy, between 1981 and 2006... |
Imola Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari is an auto racing circuit near the Italian town of Imola, east of Bologna and east of the Ferrari factory in Maranello.... |
60 |
| 5 |  Early Modern France French Grand PrixFrench Grand Prix The French Grand Prix was a race held as part of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's annual Formula One automobile racing championships.... |
Dijon Dijon-Prenois Dijon-Prenois is a motor racing circuit located in Prenois, near Dijon, France. The undulating track is noted for its fast, sweeping bends.... |
79 |
| 6 |  Monaco Monaco Grand PrixMonaco Grand Prix The Monaco Grand Prix is a Formula One race held each year on the Circuit de Monaco. Run since 1929, it is widely considered to be one of the most important and prestigious automobile races in the world, alongside the Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans... |
Monaco Circuit de Monaco Circuit de Monaco is a street circuit laid out on the city streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine around the harbour of the principality of Monaco. It is commonly referred to as "Monte Carlo" because it is largely inside the Monte Carlo neighbourhood of Monaco.The circuit is used on one weekend in... |
76 |
| 7 |  Canada Canadian Grand PrixCanadian Grand Prix The Canadian Grand Prix , abbreviated as gpc, is an annual auto race held in Canada starting in 1961. It has been part of the Formula One World Championship since 1967... |
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Circuit Gilles Villeneuve The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a motor racing circuit, venue for the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.... |
70 |
| 8 |  United States Detroit Grand PrixDetroit Grand Prix The title of Detroit Grand Prix was applied to the Formula One races held at the Detroit street circuit in Detroit, Michigan, United States of America from 1982 through 1988.... |
Detroit Detroit street circuit The streets of Detroit, Michigan hosted Formula One racing, and later CART racing, between the 1982 and 1991 seasons. The course was set up near the Renaissance Center and the Cobo Arena, also including a small part of the M-1 highway, also known as Woodward Avenue.Created largely in an effort to... |
63 |
| 9 | United States Dallas Grand Prix Dallas Grand Prix The Dallas Grand Prix was a round of the Formula One World Championship in 1984 before becoming a round of the American Trans-Am Series in 1988.Originally the race was run at the Fair Park street circuit, before moving to nearby Addison in 1989... |
Dallas | 67 |
| 10 | British Grand Prix British Grand Prix The British Grand Prix is a race in the calendar of the FIA Formula One World Championship. It is currently held at the Silverstone Circuit near the village of Silverstone in Northamptonshire... |
Brands Hatch Brands Hatch Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events... |
71 |
| 11 |  Germany German Grand PrixGerman Grand Prix The German Grand Prix is an annual automobile race.Because Germany was banned from taking part in international events after World War II, the German GP only became part of the Formula One World Championship in 1951... |
Hockenheimring Hockenheimring The Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg is an automobile racing track situated near the town of Hockenheim in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located on Bertha Benz Memorial Route. Amongst other motor racing events, it biennially hosts the Formula One German Grand Prix... |
44 |
| 12 |  Austria Austrian Grand PrixAustrian Grand Prix The Austrian Grand Prix was a Formula One race.The first event, in 1964, was held at a race track on the Zeltweg Airfield. The race was a success, but the track was deemed too dangerous; it was narrow and very bumpy, and spectators complained of poor viewing areas... |
Österreichring Österreichring The Red Bull Ring is an Austrian race circuit in Spielberg, Styria.The race circuit was founded as Österreichring and hosted the Formula One Austrian Grand Prix for 18 consecutive years, from to . It was later shortened, rebuilt and renamed the A1-Ring, it hosted the Austrian Grand Prix again from... |
51 |
| 13 |  Netherlands Dutch Grand PrixDutch Grand Prix The Dutch Grand Prix was a Formula One automobile race held at Circuit Zandvoort, from 1948 to 1985. It was a part of the World Championship from 1952, and designated the European Grand Prix two times, 1962 and 1976, when this title was an honorary designation given each year to one grand prix... |
Zandvoort | 71 |
| 14 |  Italy Italian Grand PrixItalian Grand Prix The Italian Grand Prix is one of the longest running events on the motor racing calendar. The first Italian Grand Prix motor racing championship took place on 4 September 1921 at Brescia... |
Monza Autodromo Nazionale Monza The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is a race track located near the town of Monza, north of Milan, in Italy. The circuit's biggest event is the Formula One Italian Grand Prix, which has been hosted there since the sport's inception.... |
51 |
| 15 | Germany European Grand Prix European Grand Prix The European Grand Prix is a Formula One event that was reintroduced during the mid-1980s and has been held regularly since 1999. From 2008 it will take place for at least another 7 years... |
Nürburgring Nürburgring The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about... |
67 |
| 16 |  Portugal Portuguese Grand PrixPortuguese Grand Prix The Portuguese Grand Prix was a motorsports event held for several years, mostly in the 1950s and then in the 1980s and 90s. It was a Formula One race between and and between and .... |
Estoril Autódromo do Estoril The Autódromo do Estoril is a race course in Portugal, owned by state-run holding management company Parpública. Its length is . It was the home of the Formula One Portuguese Grand Prix from 1984 to 1996.... |
70 |
Gambling
A gambling mode is also available in-game, in which the player can bet an amount of money on one or more drivers to win. This is an optional feature of the game, and is only accessible by pressing a specific key before the races. The gambling screen presents the list of drivers that are going to participate in the race to follow, as well as their respective winning odds.Expert level winning code
An uncommon feature of the game was the addition of a special alphanumeric code that was revealed to the player once the game was beaten in expert mode, that served as proof of authentication that the player had mastered the game at its highest level of difficulty. This special code was used as means of entry on a competition held in June 1985 by Sinclair UserSinclair User
Sinclair User, often abbreviated SU, was a magazine dedicated to the Sinclair Research range of home computers, most specifically the ZX Spectrum...
magazine.
Graphics details
Although Formula One is a management game, several graphics details are included that provide a more realistic and appealing feel to it.The speed and time differences between drivers is noticeable during the race. The player can tell how fast its cars are going by simply observing and comparing to the other cars as they pass by the screen in each lap. The distance between each two cars is also noticeable as the interval between them is longer or shorter.
The spectators in the benches always move their heads to the right as the cars are coming by, and then to the left after the last car passes by the screen.
In every race a Goodyear blimp
Goodyear Blimp
The Goodyear Blimp is the collective name for a fleet of blimps operated by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for advertising purposes and for use as a television camera platform for aerial views of sporting events...
is located at the top right of the screen. Lap after lap this blimp slowly moves left, and on many occasions it even crosses over to the top left side of the screen.
There is in-game advertising
In-game advertising
In-game advertising refers to advertising in computer and video games. IGA differs from advergaming, which refers to a game specifically made to advertise a product.The IGA industry is large and growing...
for a number of companies, including Marlboro, Agip
Agip
Agip is an Italian automotive gasoline and diesel retailer established in 1926. It is a subsidiary of the multinational petroleum company Eni.In 2003, Eni S.p.A...
, Goodyear
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
, Mobil
Mobil
Mobil, previously known as the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, was a major American oil company which merged with Exxon in 1999 to form ExxonMobil. Today Mobil continues as a major brand name within the combined company, as well as still being a gas station sometimes paired with their own store or On...
, Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
, Dunlop
Dunlop Tyres
Dunlop Tyres is a British company owned 75% by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and 25% by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, which bought the right to sell Dunlop-branded road tyres....
, and references to many of the sports's sponsors of the time, as well as the F1 teams themselves although the game did not have an official tie-in licence with FIA. This did not generate income for the developers but adds to the realistic feel of the game, as all of the brands and companies advertised were involved in Formula 1 competition at the time.
Version differences
Both ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC versions are very similar in all aspects, and the gameplay is not altered between ports, but some visual differences exist between them.Due to the native color palettes
Palette (computing)
In computer graphics, a palette is either a given, finite set of colors for the management of digital images , or a small on-screen graphical element for choosing from a limited set of choices, not necessarily colors .Depending on the context In computer graphics, a palette is either a given,...
that each system uses, the game presents itself very similarly in both versions but with slightly different color tones. The ZX Spectrum attribute clash
Attribute clash
Attribute clash was a display artifact caused by limits in the graphics circuitry of a number of early color 8-bit home computers, most notably the Sinclair Research ZX Spectrum, where it meant that only two colors could be used in any area of 8×8 pixels...
problem is also widely visible through the game, whereas in the Amstrad CPC it does not occur.
Some in game objects though are painted differently in the Amstrad CPC port, for example the pit stop screen shows different colored doors, windows and other objects in the background. Also, on the race screen, the publicity stripe below the spectators is mostly red in the Amstrad CPC port while in the ZX Spectrum version it shows mostly yellow.
A noticeable difference is that in the ZX Spectrum version, in the race screen, there are four rows of spectators on the left side and three rows on the right side. The Amstrad CPC port shows one fewer row of spectators on each side, making it three rows on the left side and only two rows on the right side.
Another difference is that at each race start, in the ZX Spectrum version six cars are visible in the starting line, while in the Amstrad CPC version only four cars are visible.
Releases and Codemasters copyright controversy
The ZX SpectrumZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
version of the game was developed and first released by CRL Group PLC
CRL Group PLC
CRL Group plc is a defunct British video game development and publishing company. Originally CRL stood for "Computer Rentals Ltd.". It was based in King's Yard, London and run by Clem Chambers....
in 1985, and was subsequently re-released as a budget title by Alternative Software Ltd with the title Formula Grand Prix in 1988. Formula One was included in a CRL compilation entitled Burning Rubber in 1990. The port
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
to the Amstrad CPC
Amstrad CPC
The Amstrad CPC is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, where it successfully established itself primarily in the United Kingdom,...
was completed by CRL in 1988.
When Alternative Software released Formula Grand Prix the packaging was the subject of potential legal proceeding by Codemasters
Codemasters
The Codemasters Software Company Limited, or Codemasters is a British video game developer founded by Richard and David Darling in 1986...
. A spokesperson for the company stated that the artwork for Formula Grand Prix plagiarises their box art for Grand Prix Simulator
Grand Prix Simulator
Grand Prix Simulator is a racing game developed by The Oliver Twins and published by Codemasters for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 computer systems. The ZX Spectrum conversion was done by Serge Dosang...
. He said that Codemasters would be issuing a writ
Writ
In common law, a writ is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court...
against Alternative for breach of copyright and for passing off
Passing off
Passing off is a common law tort which can be used to enforce unregistered trademark rights. The tort of passing off protects the goodwill of a trader from a misrepresentation that causes damage to goodwill....
.
Reception
In early 1985 when Formula One was launched, there were several good references in the market for sports management games, but few in the field of motor sports. As one of the first games of its genre, following Grand Prix Manager by Silicon Joy in 1984, Formula One received very positive reviews upon launch from several publications of its time.The ZX Spectrum version, although not perfect, was in overall highly appraised by reviewers. Chris Bourne, software reviewer for Sinclair User
Sinclair User
Sinclair User, often abbreviated SU, was a magazine dedicated to the Sinclair Research range of home computers, most specifically the ZX Spectrum...
magazine, awarded it 5 stars, and a "Sinclair User Classic" award, referring to it as "a rare example of a simulation which combines attractive displays, good game structure and an exciting theme". Other reviews of Formula One for the same platform also gave it merit, Paul Bond of British magazine Your Computer
Your Computer (British magazine)
Your Computer was a British computer magazine published monthly from 1981 to 1988, and aimed at the burgeoning home computer market. At one stage it was, in its own words, "Britain's biggest selling home computer magazine". It offered support across a wide range of computer formats, and included...
awarded 4 stars stating that "the graphics are functional rather than brilliant". Same opinion about the graphics is shared by the Amstrad Action
Amstrad Action
Amstrad Action was a monthly magazine, published in the United Kingdom, which catered to owners of home computers from the Amstrad CPC range and later the GX4000 console....
reviewer for the Amstrad CPC port stating that "the race graphics aren't brilliant but manage to convey some of the tension of real racing".
Computer & video games magazine review on Formula One was done with the collaboration of Peter Collins, manager of the Formula 1 team Williams
WilliamsF1
Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited, trading as AT&T Williams, is a British Formula One motor racing team and constructor. It was founded and run by Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head...
at the time. Peter Collins, looking at it from a professional point of view, heavily criticized the game for its general lack of detail in the management part, and lack of documentation provided to the player as well. As a result Computer & video games awarded it 6.5/10 (average), referring to it as an entertaining strategy game "but Grand Prix enthusiasts will soon find the novelty wearing off!"
A four stars ranking was also attributed by Computer Gamer
Computer Gamer
Computer Gamer was a video game magazine published in the United Kingdom by Argus Specialist Publications, covering home gaming during the late 1980s...
magazine, mentioning that with up to six players simultaneously the game "could get quite exciting". But on the negative side, it was also pointed out a simple user interface issue, that if corrected would have proportioned a better experience to the players. "It would be nice to be able to select from the menus using the joystick rather than the keyboard"
When the game was included in the Burning Rubber compilation for the ZX Spectrum it was received less favourably. David from Your Sinclair commenting that the graphics look rather basic and that decision making is limited. He mentions that the game was not liked when it was first released, and that it has not aged well. He gave it an overall score of 30%.
See also
- Grand Prix ManagerGrand Prix Manager (1984 video game)Grand Prix Manager is a Formula 1 management simulation video game released for the ZX Spectrum in 1984. It was written by P. Boulton and published by Silicon Joy.-Gameplay:...
(1984 ZX Spectrum game by Silicon Joy) - Grand Prix ManagerGrand Prix ManagerGrand Prix Manager is a Formula 1 management game released in December 1995 by MicroProse. It featured the 1995 Formula 1 season.- Description :...
(1995 video game by MicroProse) - Grand Prix Manager 2Grand Prix Manager 2Grand Prix Manager 2 is a 1996 Formula 1 management simulation for Windows systems and is based on its prequel, Grand Prix Manager. It was developed by Edward Grabowski Communications Ltd and published by Microprose, and it is licensed by FIA to have real statistics for the 1996 Formula One season...
(1996 video game by MicroProse) - Grand Prix WorldGrand Prix WorldGrand Prix World is the sequel to Grand Prix Manager 2 released in 2000. The game was designed and produced by Edward Grabowski Communications Ltd , and Microprose. It is based around the 1998 Formula One season, and is officially FIA licensed....
(2000 video game by MicroProse)