Xbox360Achievements.org - Codemasters Secures Official Formula One Video Game Licence

Codemasters Secures Official Formula One Video Game Licence

Written Friday, May 09, 2008 by Geoff White

Formula One is the ultimate glamour sport in the motor world. While people love NASCAR and Rally, they don't have the budget and the technology that F1 has to offer. While there hasn't been a F1 title on the 360 due to a certain other console having the licence, that is all about to change.

Codemasters, developer and publisher of award-winning racing video games, has secured the exclusive video game rights to FORMULA 1 it was announced today. In a worldwide licensing agreement with Formula One Administration Limited, Codemasters will develop a new generation of the multi-million selling FORMULA 1 game franchise across multiple platforms.

Codemasters Studios, creators of genre-leading racing titles Colin McRae: DiRT™ and Race Driver: GRID™, will lead the design and development of official FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP games for home console, handheld and PC gaming formats.

“FORMULA 1 is ambitious in expanding its reach with more circuits planned beyond recent additions in the Middle East and China. It is also ambitious in expanding its reach via technology. The digital communities that computer and video gaming creates will play a key role in further growing the FORMULA 1 audience and connecting them globally,” said Rod Cousens, chief executive officer, Codemasters.

“As a world-leading creator of driving games, this alliance with FORMULA 1 is the jewel in Codemasters’ racing crown and creates an undisputed segment champion. FORMULA 1 has gone with the best, the segment leader. It has gone to the home of the EGO Engine for quality; it has gone to the company that can host FORMULA 1 Online, to the company that is streaking away from the pack.”

“Codemasters’ success and recent innovations in the racing game space makes the company more than appropriately tuned for the challenge,” said Chris Deering, chairman, Codemasters. “The combination of FORMULA 1’s new momentum of expansion and Codemasters’ contemporary technology and past experience is the breaking of a new dawn for the sport, on the track and on the HD game screen.”

The worldwide deal provides Codemasters with rights to feature all Grand Prix circuits, FORMULA 1 teams, cars, and driver likenesses.

The FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP games will be developed using the evolution of the award-winning EGO™ Game Technology Engine, Codemasters’ highly versatile cross-platform middleware technology. Its advanced graphics and physics technology brings an unmatched cinematic quality and realism to interactive entertainment.

The EGO Engine is currently being deployed in the creation of Race Driver: GRID™, the latest in Codemasters Studio’s international circuit-based racing series. Set to be a landmark release when it launches on May 30th, Race Driver: GRID was recently hailed as “The driving game of the summer” by BBC Top Gear magazine.

Codemasters expects the first game based on the FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP to launch in 2009.

- Discuss this on our forums

	Comment #1 by Pieface Friday, May 09, 2008 @ 10:10:01 AM To be honest if they pull this off I will deffinitely buy it. Love F1 and F1 Games

	Comment #2 by vgcollateral Friday, May 09, 2008 @ 10:12:02 AM f1 is a bit dry and repetative in my opinion but my love for motorsports will demand i still buy it.

	Comment #3 by the Ghost888 Friday, May 09, 2008 @ 10:13:04 AM Its about time to see an F1 series started (again)

	Comment #4 by vgcollateral Friday, May 09, 2008 @ 10:14:49 AM im still waiting for codemasters to bring back BTCC and DTM which they left out of GRID but they still have licenses for.

	Comment #5 by Honey Child 248 Friday, May 09, 2008 @ 10:55:02 AM Finnally! Been sooooo frustrated there aint been an F1 game on the 360, Woohoooooo! :D

	Comment #6 by hellboundsoul Friday, May 09, 2008 @ 11:21:42 AM That didn't take long... Sony gives up the license, and then Codemasters picks it up. The guys at Codemasters are really good with their racing titles, so, we'll see what happens.

	Comment #7 by andyb24 Friday, May 09, 2008 @ 12:56:57 PM really happy about this. last F1 game i played was F1 2002 and i've been wanting one for 360 ever since. guessing one will come out late next year? that way i will have finished gta4, grid, and both nascars by that time lul

	Comment #8 by Zaxex Friday, May 09, 2008 @ 01:00:35 PM Awesome, Codemasters is making continually great racing games. I loved Dirt and Grid's demo is phenomenal.

	Comment #9 by MrXtr3me Friday, May 09, 2008 @ 01:11:58 PM could be good. haven't played a good F1 game since 98, all later releases we're rubbish and unplayable. (EA?)

	Comment #10 by FlimFlam Friday, May 09, 2008 @ 02:15:54 PM Codemasters are fast becoming THE racing studio, especially with their aquisition of SEGA Racing Studio as well... Never been a fan of F1 games, but with the developer having given us Dirt and about to bestow the awesome Grid on us, I'm remaining cautiously optimistic

	Comment #11 by Sanction Friday, May 09, 2008 @ 05:25:15 PM YES! Finally! The Sony grip has been lifted. Thank God. F1 CE was good for the PS3, but paying $400 for one to play that game was more than I wanted to pay. lol. I really hope they don't mess this up, but by the looks of Dirt and Grid (haven't played it, but the videos look amazing) Codemasters will do a phenomenal job with the F1 license.

	Comment #12 by Uncl Ad Friday, May 09, 2008 @ 06:39:31 PM Ive wanted a F1 game for a little while now so really looking forward. I did have F1 championship edition on the PS3 (which was good) but the console was shit so got rid. Fingers crossed..

	Comment #13 by radar616 Saturday, May 10, 2008 @ 12:27:10 PM The last F1 game I played was F1 2001 on the ps2.

	Comment #14 by Zion14782 Saturday, May 10, 2008 @ 03:28:27 PM I think this is Justice! Formula One on the 360 sounds great. I had the F1 game on the PS3, it was one of the best games graphically to be honest, yet I just found the game extremely hard and not fun due to the PS3 controller. Now with Codemasters we will get the 360 F1 game and I think it will be awesome in graphics, realism and gameplay. Codemaster = The Dog's bollocks!

	Comment #15 by JesusBread Saturday, May 10, 2008 @ 09:02:27 PM Hopefully, I can get a steering wheel soon. I Love all types of driving games and codemasters, IMO, is the best at making them.

	Comment #16 by NumberUno Sunday, May 11, 2008 @ 04:42:17 AM Codemasters, Codemasters, Codemasters .. you go boys ! your making racing fun once again.

	Comment #17 by l.maciver Sunday, May 11, 2008 @ 09:37:28 AM its been to long since ive play'd a F1 game.

	Comment #18 by Xterm1n8or Sunday, May 11, 2008 @ 01:34:37 PM Yes yes yes! Can't wait for this.

	Comment #19 by MASTER X Sunday, May 11, 2008 @ 08:35:46 PM I want official WRC game!

	Comment #20 by x JaY G 1991 x Wednesday, May 14, 2008 @ 12:21:29 PM formula 1 is the best, mclaren are the best, hamilton n kovalienen are the best, hamilton will win 2008 world championship, ferrari n bmw are shit

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