Formula One 2001 (video game)

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For the real life Formula One season, see 2001 Formula One season.
Formula One
Formula One 2001
Cover art
Developer(s) Studio 33 (PS)
Sony Studio Liverpool (PS2)
Publisher(s) Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform(s) PlayStation, PlayStation 2
Release date(s)
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Multiplayer
Media/distribution CD-ROM (PSX), DVD (PS2)

Formula One 2001 is a racing game in the Formula One series of computer and video games. It was released for the PlayStation and PlayStation 2. It was the first game to support the Logitech racing wheel (a.k.a. GT Force) (PS2 only).

Formula One 2001 was the last simulation Formula One game to appear on the PSone (as the PlayStation had become known by that point, to differentiate it from the PlayStation 2). It was also the last game in the series released in North America before the 2005 release of F1 Grand Prix for the PlayStation Portable.

Contents

Gameplay [edit]

The game's "arcade" mode followed a similar line to that of Formula One 2000, although incentives were now offered in the form of upgrades to the player's car.[citation needed]

A new mode—"Challenge" mode—was introduced. In Challenge mode, players were given a lap around Spa-Francorchamps in Jenson Button's Benetton B201. Players who achieved a fast lap time were given a verification code, and were given the opportunity to post their winning times on the Internet to compare their times to other people's. However that is if you have an account on the website.

In some editions, a DVD was given for free. The DVD offers a commentated review of the 2000 season, race by race, with the option to toggle between viewing the main stream, an on-board car camera, view the pitline or see on-screen data such as lap times and positions. These features were used in the former pay-per-view F1 Digital+'s interactive coverage.

Development [edit]

The PlayStation version was once again developed by Studio 33, while the PlayStation 2 version was developed by Sony Studio Liverpool. Formula One 2001 was created with the help of Benetton, Jaguar, Jordan and Arrows. Many of the employees from former franchise owner Psygnosis aided in the development.[1] At the peak of development, the game was worked upon by 25 people with a majority of them being programmers and artists.[2]

The game's engine was based upon an Research and Development project that began two years before the release of the game. This was to develop the physics, collision and A.I. for the game. Lead Programmer Jason Crown said: "We didn't have a particular target when we started it. But it turned to be a pretty good basis to start F1".[2] Sony had an extensive reference library for the tracks including aerial photographs, close-ups of the tracks and over 200 hours of race footage from F1 Digital+.[1] The PlayStation 2 graphical capabilities allowed the team to include more detail such as trackside details which were previously omitted and unique cockpit camera angles.[2]

Studio Liverpool also managed to speak with Formula One Administration who gave the team audio samples for all the cars. However, some of the audio samples provided were believed to be unsuitable. To rectify this, the developers spoke to Jordan and Prost and Sound Engineer Michael de Belle visited the garages to record the engine noises from the cars. The PlayStation 1 central processing unit was used for sound processing.[2]

Promotion [edit]

At the 2001 United States Grand Prix, Sony held a variety of sport promotions with Jenson Button and a multi-million advertising campaign. The advertising efforts in the United States included a national Television campaign via network, cable and syndication sports programming.[3] Promotions in print spreads and online adveritising were also used.[4]

A Formula One 2001 American Challenge was held on 29 September 2001 in Castleton, Indiana. The event saw a time trial competition using the game and was played by Jenson Button against consumer Chris Ohanian. Ohanian made it into the final round by scoring one of the top 2 times but in the final, he was defeated by Button who set a lap time of 1:15.6 compared to Ohanian's 1:16.0.[5]

Teams and drivers [edit]

Alcohol and tobacco related sponsors [edit]

Circuits [edit]

The game features 17 official Formula One circuits based on the 2001 Formula One season are:

No. Country Circuit Length (m) Turns
1  Australia Melbourne 5303 16
2  Malaysia Sepang 5543 15
3  Brazil Interlagos 4309 15
4  San Marino Imola 4959 17
5  Spain Catalunya 4727 13
6  Austria A1-Ring 4326 10
7  Monaco Monte Carlo 3370 25
8  Canada Montreal 4361 13
9  Europe Nürburgring 4556 13
10  France Magny-Cours 4250 19
11  Great Britain Silverstone 5141 17
12  Germany Hockenheim 6825 16
13  Hungary Hungaroring 3975 13
14  Belgium Spa-Francorchamps 6963 24
15  Italy Monza 5793 11
16  USA Indianapolis 4192 13
17  Japan Suzuka 5821 20

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b Gibbon, David (29 May 2001). "Let's play ... Formula One 2001". BBC Sport (BBC). Retrieved 13 November 2012. 
  2. ^ a b c d Presenter: Walker, Murray: The Making of Formula One 2001
  3. ^ "Formula One 2001 for PS2 Accelerates Marketing Programs". GameZone. 26 September 2001. Retrieved 13 November 2012. 
  4. ^ IGN Staff (26 September 2001). "Marketing Programs For Formula One 2001 Commence". IGN. Retrieved 13 November 2012. 
  5. ^ IGN Staff (2 October 2001). "The Formula One 2001 American Challenge". IGN. Retrieved 13 November 2012. 

See also [edit]

External links [edit]
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
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