The latest footage features the all-new Safety Car in action alongside a range of season updates that make the game feel “completely different.”
“The safety car is something a lot of people have been asking us for. We’d always said we’d only do it when it was absolutely right, so now it’s available in single-player and multiplayer,” said Stephen Hood, Chief Games Designer.
“It’s the wild card in the pack,” added Paul Jeal, Senior Producer. “Maybe you’re out in front, maybe you think you’re out the points, and then this key event comes in. Can you dive into the pits and get a lap advantage on everyone else? You have to keep the distance to the car in front of you and behind, you need to do the weaving sequences to keep your tires up to temperature”
The addition of the safety car feature is brand new to the F1 video game franchise for this 2011 season and should give players on the championship career mode something else to consider in their overall strategy. You don’t get to drive the safety car, but it can definitely reduce your lead or allow you to take fresh tires if it emerges in the middle of a race.
All the rule changes from the 2011 F1 season are included in the game to give players the authentic racing experience. This includes both the KERS Kinetic Energy Recovery System to give players an acceleration boost, as well as the DRS Drag Reduction System that adds top speed to overtaking maneuvers around each circuit. The new Pirelli tires are additionally incorporated, affecting performance and handling, changing qualifying and racing strategy. “These three elements alone make the game feel completely different,” added Stephen Hood. F1 2011 will challenge players with wide-ranging technical and gameplay advancements on and off track, as well as a vastly extended competitive and co-operative multiplayer components.
Players will be able to race against 16 others online plus eight AI cars to simulate a full 24-car grid. You will have access to all the official teams, drivers and circuits from the 2011 FIA F1 season, including the new Delhi’s Buddh International Circuit in Indian and the return of the Nürburgring to the calendar.
F1 2011 launches for the Xbox 360, PlayStation3 and PC on Sept 20, 2011. Handheld editions of F1 2011 are also in production for Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita. Specific release dates for the handheld editions are to be announced.