F1 2012 - Games vs Reality

Ahead of the first race of the 2012 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP in Melbourne this weekend, we are happy to announce that F1 2012 will launch worldwide in September for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. F1 2012 is the next game in the award-winning, multi-million selling series from Codemasters as part of an exclusive multi-year deal with Formula One World Championship Limited.

To mark the announcement and introduce one of F1 2012's new headline features, Codemasters has released a video following F1 2012 Creative Director, Stephen Hood, as he meets the next generation of drivers at the Young Driver Test. Filmed at the Yas Marina Circuit, home of the FORMULA 1 ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX, Stephen asks if their experience with Codemasters' FORMULA ONE™ games has been of benefit as they prepare for a career in the world's most exciting motorsport in real life.

F1 2012 will introduce a new Young Driver Test mode as one of the headline additions to the series that will take players even closer to the experience of becoming a FORMULA ONE driver. Players will be introduced to the world of FORMULA ONE through a range of tutorials explaining how to handle racing's most exciting and responsive cars, and challenged to earn a drive from a team for the 2012 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

In the video, rising star Sam Bird, testing for Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team, says, "I think Codemasters have done a super job of giving regular people a proper insight into what a FORMULA ONE car is like."

Stefano Coletti, representing Scuderia Toro Rosso added, "When I came to Abu Dhabi I couldn't go to the simulator so I switched on the videogame and started to play. It actually worked because when I got here I felt like I'd already driven [the circuit]. It was my first race in GP2, first ever time in GP2, and I won in my first race so it actually helped."

In F1 2012 players will feel the unparalleled thrill of becoming a FORMULA ONE driver with a host of new features, wide-ranging technical and gameplay advancements and extensive competitive and co-operative multiplayer components. F1 2012 will feature all of the official teams, drivers and circuits from the 2012 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, including the debut of the 2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX at Austin, Texas and the return of Germany's famous Hockenheim circuit to the calendar.

F1 2012 is set to deliver the most accessible and immersive FORMULA ONE game for fans of all abilities.

F1 2012 is in development at Codemasters Birmingham for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC, and is available for pre-order ahead of its September worldwide release. To get all the news straight from the studio, race over to www.facebook.com/formula1game or follow the team on twitter at www.twitter.com/formula1game. ESRB RATING PENDING: Visit www.esrb.org for rating information.

• Category

  Gaming

[Bushido Ketra]

That's two words.

[cometcruiser91]

Notice there is no GFWL advertisement? Yes, on PC the game no longer uses Games for Windows Live, it's now Steamworks. Same will go with next DiRT game

[plasticacrobat9]

the helmet at 1:32 is actually in the game

[keynotedude]

The problem with this Young Driver Test is that you can only play it once for 5 minutes at the beginning, and it's ridiculously easy. Codemasters spent so much time developing this mode and not focusing on anything else. Therefore, the rest of the game is basically the same.

[destinie everett]

@exbccmy That's true, it turned out to be pretty difficult to find. I just streamed it here: bit.ly/RBbxzt?=wxwybjn

Man it was such a good film, way better than I thought it would be! Must see!

[CAP198462]

@AnimatedKookie it was fun for two minutes, then fun died.

[CAP198462]

@AnimatedKookie that's not what I said. I said it was a chore to play, I couldn't stand to play it for long at all before getting very bored or thinking, ohh goody more menus and options, when can we race?

[AnimatedKookie]

You thought F1 2011 was hard? Think again.

[MrObesto]

well... Don't use them if you don't like them?

[jakubgt1]

57 people like nascar

[CAP198462]

Yes, all well and good but have they made it more fun. F1 2011 was a chore to play.

[keithl8041]

Aargh, just played the demo and they've included Flashbacks.. just like DiRT :-(