SPOnG: What is the most significant change between F1 2012 and last year's title?
Stephen Hood (SH): The most significant change is a brand new visual style to the game. When you think about the money in Formula 1 and the technology, some of the set-ups the teams have are amazing. Some of the headquarters are visually stunning.
So, we've themed the front end around that this time around. We still have the cinematics such as the pit crew running out during pit stops. It's more like a TV presentation.
This suits the spirit of the game as while we're not trying to attract the casual gamer, because that makes it sound like we're trying to simplify the game, we're trying to say that where F1 2010 and F1 2011 were appealing to people who had a passing interest in the sport, with F1 2012 we're saying if you like racing games you're going to like this.
F1 2012 isn't scary because we're going to hold your hand from the beginning. So, right from the start of the game when you fire it up, we go from the introduction sequence, which is commentator David Croft talking about drivers testing in Abu Dhabi, and then the player testing (will be) over a period of two days in game time.
Then we're showing the player what the basic controls are: this is how you drive the car, do some simple tests then from that point forward we assume that you're past the basics and you can go into front-end play whenever you want.
Or you can continue into Day 2 to do far more advanced tests that will teach the player about the tyres and the different compounds, for example. The better you do in Day 2, the more decent contract offers you will get from teams.
The player is basically unlocking elements of the career mode so that there's a reason for Williams wanting you because you have done well during the Day 2 tests. You can drive back into these tests to get better scores and hence better contracts as a result.
Stephen Hood (SH): The most significant change is a brand new visual style to the game. When you think about the money in Formula 1 and the technology, some of the set-ups the teams have are amazing. Some of the headquarters are visually stunning.
So, we've themed the front end around that this time around. We still have the cinematics such as the pit crew running out during pit stops. It's more like a TV presentation.
This suits the spirit of the game as while we're not trying to attract the casual gamer, because that makes it sound like we're trying to simplify the game, we're trying to say that where F1 2010 and F1 2011 were appealing to people who had a passing interest in the sport, with F1 2012 we're saying if you like racing games you're going to like this.
F1 2012 isn't scary because we're going to hold your hand from the beginning. So, right from the start of the game when you fire it up, we go from the introduction sequence, which is commentator David Croft talking about drivers testing in Abu Dhabi, and then the player testing (will be) over a period of two days in game time.
Then we're showing the player what the basic controls are: this is how you drive the car, do some simple tests then from that point forward we assume that you're past the basics and you can go into front-end play whenever you want.
Or you can continue into Day 2 to do far more advanced tests that will teach the player about the tyres and the different compounds, for example. The better you do in Day 2, the more decent contract offers you will get from teams.
The player is basically unlocking elements of the career mode so that there's a reason for Williams wanting you because you have done well during the Day 2 tests. You can drive back into these tests to get better scores and hence better contracts as a result.
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