F1

n/a

Mega Drive Master System Game Gear
F1
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Domark
Developer: Lankhor The Kremlin Tiertex Teque London
Distributor: Tengen (US) Ecofilmes (PT) Hent Gruppen (SE rental) Tec Toy (BR)
Licensor: Formula One Constructors' Association, Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
Peripherals supported: Gear-to-Gear Cable
Genre: Driving
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code US 1993-11 T-88066 EU 1993 T-88066-50 DE 1993 DM 119.95119.95 T-88066-18 FR 1993 T-88066-09 PT 1993 15.900$15.900 MD88066/F1 UK 1993-11-05 £44.9944.99 T-88066-50 SE (rental) 199x AU 1993 $109.95109.95 F1000SMC EU 1993-10 MK 27072-50 PT 199x UK 1993-10 £29.9929.99 MK 27072-50 AU 1993 FF1000SEC BR 1993 026330 US 1993 $39.9539.95 T-88058 EU 1994-01 T-88058-50 PT 1994 GG88058 UK 1994-01 £27.9927.99 T-88058-50
Non-Sega versions Amiga Atari ST IBM PC

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F1, known as Formula One on North American packaging, is a formula one racing game developed by Lankhor and Teque London and published by Domark. It should not be confused with the later game, F1 World Championship Edition, also published by Domark. F1 was released in 1993 for the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear. No versions of this game were released in Japan.

During development the game was known as Team Williams Grand Prix and Formula 1 Champions.

Gameplay

F1 is a pseudo-sequel to Lanhor's earlier release, Vroom, originally released in 1991 for the Amiga, Atari ST and IBM PC compatibles. On the Amiga, this relationship is even closer, with earlier versions of the game being released as Vroom Multiplay before acquiring an official license from FOCA. Both F1 and Vroom share graphics and sounds, though F1 adds further refinements to the engine and stands as the first time one of Lankhor's racers was released on a home console.

F1 attempts to replicate the 1993 Formula One season, providing 12 tracks roughly based on their real-life counterparts and seven constructors; Benetton, Ferrari, Ligier, Lotus, McLaren, Tyrrell and Williams. Producer Jim Tripp is also included as a driver in a special "Domark" team.

1993 champion Ayrton Senna is omitted due to licensing issues (likely thanks to Sega and its 1992 release of Ayrton Senna's Super Monaco GP II). That being said, racers are only differentiated in-game by a change in colour, and the player always races as him/herself under a generic "SEGA" banner.

Tracks

Even on the Mega Drive, F1 is severely limited by the hardware, so while the basic track layouts of the season are in place, the aesthetics very different to the real thing. In real life, the Monaco grand prix for example takes place in a built-up area next to the coast, while in this game there are no bulidings or water, just a road surrounded by grass.

	Interlagos (Brazil)
	Imola (San Marino)
	Barcelona (Spain)
	Monte Carlo (Monaco)
	Montreal (Canada)
	Castelet (France)
	Silverstone (United Kingdom)
	Hockenheim (Germany)
	Spa (Belgium)
	Monza (Italy)
	Estoril (Portugal)
	Adelaide (Australia)

Versions

The Mega Drive version uses a mixture of 2D sprites and 3D polygons to simulate its game world, however the limitations of the hardware means frame rate is usually sub-30FPS at any point in game. To partially negate this issue, a "Turbo" mode is included, which renders less of the play area and uses smaller sprites, allowing the game to achive greater speeds. For 1993, however, both modes outperform most 3D polygonal-based games seen on consoles at the time (for example, critically acclaimed Super NES shooter StarFox runs below 10FPS despite the addition of a dedicated Super FX chipset for processing polygons).

Production credits

Mega Drive version

• Licensed By: Sega Enterprises Ltd
• Developed By: Lankhor
• Programmed By: Jean Luc Langlois and Christian Droin
• Graphics By: Stephane Polard
• Additional Graphics By: The Kremlin
• Music By: Tiertex
• Produced By: Jim Tripp

Master System version

• Developed By: Teque London Ltd
• Programmed By: Peter Hennig
• Graphics By: Mark Anthony
• Sound and Music: Peter Hennig
• Producers: Tony Love, Darren Anderson

Game Gear version

• Developed By: Teque London Ltd
• Programmed By: Peter Hennig
• Graphics By: Mark Anthony
• Sound and Music: Peter Hennig
• Producers: Tony Love, Darren Anderson

Magazine articles

Main article: F1/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Game Gear US print advert

FI advert (1993)

FI advert (1995)

Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #15: "October/November 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
also published in:

• Sega Visions (US) #16: "December/January 1993/1994" (1993-xx-xx)

Print advert in Mega Force (ES) #17: "Septiembre 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
also published in:

• Hobby Consolas (ES) #24: "Septiembre 1993" (1993-xx-xx)

Print advert in Hyper (AU) #1: "December 1993" (1993-xx-xx)

Print advert in AS Magazin-Video Igrice (YU) #13: "Jul-Avgust 1995" (1995-xx-xx)
also published in:

• Svet Kompjutera (YU) #130: "Jul/Avgust 1995" (1995-xx-xx)
• Svet Kompjutera (YU) #132: "Septembar 1995" (1995-xx-xx)

Print advert in Jogos Vídeo (PT) #2: "Dezembro de 1993; Ano 1, Nº 2'"`UNIQ--ref-0000000C-QINU`"'" (1993-12-xx)

Print advert in Blue Jean (TR) #03/97: "Mart 1997" (1997-xx-xx)

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 87 Consoles + (FR) 95 Computer & Video Games (UK) 86 Computer & Video Games (UK) 89 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 78 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 93 Game Power (IT) PAL 89 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 70 Gamers (DE) 80 GamesMaster (UK) PAL 90 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 81 Hobby Consolas (ES) 82 Hyper (AU) 88 Joypad (FR) PAL 90 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) 92 Mega (UK) PAL 90 Mega Action (UK) PAL 88 Mega Action (UK) 88 Megablast (DE) 84 Mega Force (FR) 93 Mega Fun (DE) PAL 87 Mega Power (UK) PAL 70 MegaTech (UK) PAL 94 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 93 Player One (FR) 92 Power Up! (UK) 93 Sega Magazin (DE) 88 Sega Power (UK) PAL 92 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 86 Sega Zone (UK) PAL 90 Sega Force Mega (UK) PAL 92 Sega Force (SE) 90 Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL 92 Todo Sega (ES) 82 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 71 Video Games (DE) PAL 80 VideoGames (US) NTSC-U 80

	87
Based on 37 reviews

F1

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU (Sega Pro Quote)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU (Mean Machines Sega Quote)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, FR
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, DE
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, PT
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, PT (alt)
Cover

Mega Drive, PT (NTSC Repack)
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, SE rental (HENT Orange)
Cover

Mega Drive, SE rental (ALT)

Mega Drive, AU

Master System version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Joypad (FR) PAL 82 Player One (FR) 72 Sega Power (UK) PAL 90 Sega Pro (UK) 61 Sega Zone (UK) PAL 88 Sega Master Force (UK) PAL 69 Todo Sega (ES) PAL 89 Video Games (DE) PAL 62

	77
Based on 8 reviews

F1

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart

Master System, PT

Master System, AU
Cover
Cart

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart File:F1-SMS-BR-Manual.pdf Manual

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 67 Console Mania (IT) PAL 90 Consoles + (FR) 83 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 60 Game Players (US) NTSC-U 54 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 88 Joypad (FR) 72 Mega Force (FR) 77 Player One (FR) 72 Power Unlimited (NL) 70 Sega Power (UK) PAL 88 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 81 Sega Force (SE) 74 Todo Sega (ES) 94

	76
Based on 14 reviews

F1

Game Gear, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, PT

Technical information

Main article: F1/Technical information.

References

Officially licensed Formula One games for Sega systems
	F1 Super Lap (1993) | F1 World Grand Prix (1998)
	Nakajima Satoru Kanshuu F1 Super License (1992) | F1 (1993) | Nigel Mansell's World Championship Racing (1993) | F1: World Championship Edition (1995)
	F1 (1993)
	F1 (1993) | F1: World Championship Edition (1995)
	F1 Circus CD (1994) | Formula One World Championship: Beyond the Limit (1994)
	F1 Challenge (1996)
	F1 World Grand Prix (1999) | F1 World Grand Prix II (2000) | F1 Racing Championship (2001)