Formula One 99

This article is about the video game for PlayStation and PC. For the real life 1999 Formula One season, see 1999 Formula One season.
Formula One 99

PAL cover art
Developer(s) Studio 33
Publisher(s) Psygnosis
Take-Two Interactive
Platform(s) PlayStation, PC
Release date(s) PlayStation:
  • PAL 20 October 1999
  • JP 21 October 1999
  • NA 31 October 1999
Windows (PC):
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single Player, Multiplayer
Distribution CD-ROM

Formula One 99 is a 1999 video game developed by Studio 33 and published by Psygnosis.

The drivers on the front cover, from left to right are: Jean Alesi, Michael Schumacher and Mika Häkkinen.

After Formula 1 98, Psygnosis brought in a new development team. Studio 33 had previously developed Newmann Haas racing using the original F1 Game engine from Bizarre Creations. Formula One 99 showed that Studio 33 was already experienced in creating a sim-based racing game.

Other innovations included the pit lane speed limiter and a clutch. This game was a considerable and welcome improvement upon Formula 1 98. It may have lacked an "arcade" mode or that extra polish, but Studio 33 clearly concentrated on the most important aspects of the simulation mode, leaving the addition of an arcade mode for Formula One 2000. The AI was suspect, and often cheated the player when pulling out a substantial gap, the AI would then do impossible lap times to catch up and pass. This was also inherent in the Newmann Haas Game which Studio 33 also developed. Another AI tactic was to simply pass through solid walls when trying to overtake the player. This was especially noticeable in Monaco.

Like usual, this game features in game commentary provided by Murray Walker and Martin Brundle.

During the making of this game, Psygnosis was taken over by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and became SCE Studio Liverpool.

Teams and drivers

Circuits

The game features 16 official Formula One circuits based on the 1999 Formula One season are:

No. Country Circuit Length (m) Turns
1  Australia Melbourne 5303 16
2  Brazil Interlagos 4309 15
3  San Marino Imola 4959 17
4  Monaco Monte Carlo 3370 25
5  Spain Catalunya 4727 13
6  Canada Montreal 4361 13
7  France Magny-Cours 4250 19
8  Great Britain Silverstone 5141 17
9  Austria A1-Ring 4326 10
10  Germany Hockenheim 6825 16
11  Hungary Hungaroring 3975 13
12  Belgium Spa-Francorchamps 6963 24
13  Italy Monza 5770 14
14  Europe Nürburgring 4556 13
15  Malaysia Sepang 5543 15
16  Japan Suzuka 5821 20

Alcohol and tobacco related sponsors

All alcohol and tobacco sponsors are censored:

Inclusion of safety car

This game was the first Formula One PC game to this point to have a fully working safety car. The safety car was not seen again in a simulation of the sport until Codemasters released F1 2011 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC - a gap of roughly 12 years.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PlayStation Magazine8/10[1]

There was good critical response to the game. The Official PlayStation Magazine said that the game "put the series back on track after last year's debacle", with top gameplay and true sense of speed.

References

  1. ↑ Official PlayStation Magazine, Future Publishing issue 52, (December 1999)

External links