| EA Sports F1 Series | |
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Logo for last game in series, F1 Challenge '99-'02 |
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| Developer(s) | Image Space Incorporated Visual Science |
| Publisher(s) | EA Sports |
| Designer(s) | Image Space Incorporated Visual Science |
| Platform(s) | Windows, Macintosh, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance |
| Release date(s) | 2003, |
| Genre(s) | Sim racing |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer, Career mode, Online |
| Media/distribution | CD-ROM DVD-ROM |
| System requirements
P3 or better, Graphics card (PC) |
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The EA Sports F1 Series consists of five racing simulation games based on Formula One motorsport. The games were released annually between 2000 and 2003, stopped selling, then continued in 2006. They were developed by Image Space Incorporated (PC) and Visual Science (Console Versions).
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The Formula One games have a variety of 'driving aid' options that can be tailored to the users' own tastes. Thus, in terms of car handling, the game can play either as an arcade racer or a driving simulation.
After losing the official F1 license from Formula One Administration Ltd. to a multi-year exclusive licensing contract between FOA and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (publishers of the competing Formula One series on PlayStation/PlayStation 2), ISI developed their final release hitting stores in 2003. Showcasing four full seasons of Formula 1 from 1999 to 2002, many people thought it would be a type of compilation of all the games previously made by ISI but in fact the title turned into a cult following platform for both modders and sim racers.
Before this release ISI often tended to make mistakes at the time of modeling the tracks, cars and sounds. ISI listened to the fans and fixed almost every single aspect from previous versions, most noticeable was the sound which proved to be the most realistic to date, it was later improved in 2004 in a 3rd party mod release; Also the cars models were changed and made from scratch for this release to make them more realistic. Track versions were created specifically for each season resembling the real circuits.
The use of simple text files for track, drivers and cars physics parameters lead to gradually make F1C, as it is known, into a powerful 3D racing platform which saw from year 2003 onwards the release of mods from independent developers who posted their work for free in their web sites tuning not only cars physics but circuit physics and of course release every time track dependent liveries and 3D models for the cars. The game also offers multiplayer online version.
EA Sports F1 Series was based around various known standards, such as text files for storing player data and an industry known format for circuit geometry. Many extra circuits were created for the series, especially F1 Challenge '99-'02 (often shortened to F1 Challenge or even F1C). The complete 2003 European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) was released for free, as well as one Gran Turismo game released commercially. There were also mods in the "RH" (Ralph Hummerich) series for the following seasons, RH2003, RH2004 and RH2005. All three were released for F1 Challenge. Another mod group which also have done f1 seasons for F1 Challenge '99-'02 is the CTDP group (Cars and Tracks Development Project.) These are the biggest "rivals" for the RH Modifications as they appear to develop the game as well as update it.
Going back in time, F1 Challenge also served as the basis for the freely available 'F1 '74 '75 Mod' developed by a modding team called CREW. It provided a simulation of the numerous F1 cars of 1974 and 1975, including the championship-winning McLaren M23 and Ferrari 312T. Other great mods are the CK mods and the 1971 carset.
In September 2010 the is another free full mod called 1987 V1.2 , it was originally released in January 2009 but the mod was initial and in May 2009 , it was released the V0.9 of this mod and in October 2009, the V1.0. V1.1b in June 2010 and V1.2 in September 2010. Now the mod is called 1987CL mod V1.2b.
F1 Challenge has remained highly popular amongst sim enthusiasts up until the release of the successor rFactor, a game self-published by ISI. As of September 2005, it remains to be seen whether F1 Challenge follows a natural decline or endures.
A serious problem to the game is the issue of 'leeching'. Ralph Hummerich and CTDP both stopped making mods after their respective 2005 releases. While CTDP generally gives permission to most modders to use their textures and shapes for other mods, Ralph Hummerich does not give such permission.
In 2008, GGSF1 (member of International Pro-Modding) released a 2007 F1 Season Mod, the first legal after the disappear of RH in modding. Based on 2007 GG Mod, Armos, with collaboration of GGSF1, released the 2009 and 2010 F1 Season Mods in respective years.
Also in 2010, The RLSF Group released the 2006 F1 Season mod, the first legal mod of 2006 Season, and Armos & GGSF1 released the 2008 F1 Season mod, the first legal mod of 2008 Season, as an official conversion of 2008 FSOne mod for rFactor.
In 2011, on February 7th, Armos & GGSF1 released the official conversion of FSOne 2009 F1 Season for F1 Challenge. Started in February, and finished in April, Armos & GGSF1 released the all new 2011 F1 Season Mod for F1 Challenge.
There are a lot of Mods, since 1985 to 2011, with some seasons missing.
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