F1

From Sega Retro

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F1 Title.png

F1
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Domark
Developer:
Peripherals supported:
Sega Game Gear
Gear-to-Gear Cable
Genre: Racing

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
T-88066
Sega Mega Drive
EU
T-88066-50
Sega Mega Drive
FR
T-88066-09
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£44.9944.99[2]
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Master System
EU
MK 27072-50
Sega Master System
UK
£29.9929.99[6][5]
Sega Master System
AU
FF1000SEC
Sega Master System
BR
026330
Sega Game Gear
US
$39.9539.95[8] T-88058
Sega Game Gear
EU
T-88058-50
Sega Game Gear
PT
GG88058

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F1, known as Formula One on North American packaging is a formula one racing game developed by Lankhor/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, while the Game Gear version was exclusive to North America.

Gameplay

Having an official license from FOCA, 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.

F1 is notable because unlike earlier attempts at Formula One such as Super Monaco GP, it is able to simulate changes in height. This meant at the time it was one of the most realistic racers around.

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.

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


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

Tengen GG US PrintAdvert 2.jpg
Game Gear US print advert
Tengen GG US PrintAdvert 2.jpg
Mega Drive ES print advert
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #15: "October/November 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Hyper (AU) #1: "December 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
95 №23, p104-106
86 №141, p72/73[2]
89 №150, p109/111/113[10]
65 №52, p174[3]
90 №9, p36/37
90 №23, p114/115[11]
92 №13, p32-35
90 №11, p38/39
88 №3, p24/25
94 №20, p40-42
93 №11, p52-54[12]
92 №33, p80/81
92 №46, p32/33[13]
86 №22, p34-37
90 №10, p36/37
92 №2, p36-39[14]
92 №14, p12
Sega Mega Drive
89
Based on
17 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
87
[15]
Consoles + (FR)
95
[16]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
86
[2]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
89
[10]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
78
[17]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
93
[18]
Game Power (IT) PAL
89
[19]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
70
[3]
Gamers (DE)
80
[20]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
90
[21]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
82
[22]
Hyper (AU)
88
[23]
Joypad (FR) PAL
90
[11]
Mega (UK) PAL
90
[24]
Mega Action (UK) PAL
88
[25]
Mega Action (UK)
88
[26]
Megablast (DE)
84
[27]
Mega Force (FR)
93
[28]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
87
[29]
Mega Power (UK) PAL
70
[30]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
94
[31]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
93
[12]
Player One (FR)
92
[32]
Power Up! (UK)
93
[33]
Sega Magazin (DE)
88
[34]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
92
[13]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
86
[35]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
90
[36]
Sega Force Mega (UK) PAL
92
[37]
Sega Force (SE)
90
[38]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
92
[39]
Todo Sega (ES)
82
[40]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
71
[41]
Video Games (DE) PAL
80
[42]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
80
[43]
Sega Mega Drive
87
Based on
35 reviews

F1

Mega Drive, US
F1 MD US Box.jpg
Cover
F1 MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Formula One MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
F1 MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
F1 MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, FR
F1 MD FR Box.jpg
Cover
F1 MD FR Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

Mega Drive, SE (Rental; alt)

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
82 №24, p108
72 №38, p116[44]
69 №4, p28/29[45]
90 №48, p64/65
61 №24, p75
88 №13, p75
Sega Master System
77
Based on
6 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Joypad (FR) PAL
82
[46]
Player One (FR)
72
[44]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
90
[47]
Sega Pro (UK)
61
[48]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
88
[49]
Sega Master Force (UK) PAL
69
[45]
Todo Sega (ES) PAL
89
[50]
Video Games (DE) PAL
62
[51]
Sega Master System
77
Based on
8 reviews

F1

Master System, EU
F1 SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
F1 SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, AU
F1 SMS AU Box.jpg
Cover
F1 SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR
F1 SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
88 №55, p133[8]
72 №38, p116[44]
88 №50, p72/73
81 №26, p61
Sega Game Gear
82
Based on
4 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
67
[52]
Console Mania (IT) PAL
90
[53]
Consoles + (FR)
83
[54]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
60
[55]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
54
[56]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
88
[8]
Joypad (FR)
72
[57]
Mega Force (FR)
77
[58]
Player One (FR)
72
[44]
Power Unlimited (NL)
70
[59]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
88
[60]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
81
[61]
Sega Force (SE)
74
[62]
Todo Sega (ES)
94
[63]
Sega Game Gear
76
Based on
14 reviews

F1

Game Gear, US
F1 GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngF1 GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
F1 GG US cart.jpg
Cart
F1 GG US Manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, EU
F1 GG EU Box Back.jpgNospine.pngF1 GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
F1 GG EU cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 ccd73738
MD5 7247829ab401477e4141e5f5b3077f0c
SHA-1 8f8edd8e6846cbba1b46f8eb9015b195ccc4acf9
1MB 1993-08 Cartridge (US)
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 fbdd4520
MD5 b065e4a01adcfd6af4c96b950b832100
SHA-1 a8327157f6537f4cd5daaff648864e8e0bf945f1
1MB 1993-07 Cartridge (EU)
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 ec788661
MD5 5d67504b8334a0e36f6119515928717c
SHA-1 247fd74485073695a88f6813482f67516860b3a0
256kB Cartridge (EU)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 d0a93e00
MD5 93b3e1b682474ffd9985c0a5688d45bf
SHA-1 b5a1985d671e8b9e0eed7922e6db695011071e99
256kB Cartridge (US/EU)

References

  1. File:CVG UK 144.pdf, page 25
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 File:CVG UK 141.pdf, page 72 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 141.pdf_p72" defined multiple times with different content
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 File:GamePro US 052.pdf, page 178 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 052.pdf_p178" defined multiple times with different content
  4. File:SegaMagazine DE 01.pdf, page 47
  5. 5.0 5.1 File:SegaPower UK 46.pdf, page 24
  6. File:SegaMasterForce UK 04.pdf, page 29
  7. File:SegaForceMega UK 07.pdf, page 8
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 File:GamePro US 055.pdf, page 135 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 055.pdf_p135" defined multiple times with different content
  9. Sega Visions, "December/January 1993/1994" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 15
  10. 10.0 10.1 File:CVG UK 150.pdf, page 109 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 150.pdf_p109" defined multiple times with different content
  11. 11.0 11.1 File:Joypad FR 023.pdf, page 114 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joypad FR 023.pdf_p114" defined multiple times with different content
  12. 12.0 12.1 File:MeanMachinesSega11UK.pdf, page 52 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega11UK.pdf_p52" defined multiple times with different content
  13. 13.0 13.1 File:SegaPower UK 46.pdf, page 32 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPower UK 46.pdf_p32" defined multiple times with different content
  14. File:SegaForceMega UK 02.pdf, page 36
  15. Aktueller Software Markt, "September 1993" (DE; 1993-08-09), page 112
  16. Consoles +, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 104
  17. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 46
  18. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 48
  19. Game Power, "Settembre 1993" (IT; 1993-0x-xx), page 86
  20. Gamers, "Oktober/November 1993" (DE; 1993-09-24), page 72
  21. GamesMaster, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-19), page 36
  22. Hobby Consolas, "Septiembre 1993" (ES; 1993-xx-xx), page 104
  23. Hyper, "December 1993" (AU; 1993-xx-xx), page 51
  24. Mega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-15), page 38
  25. Mega Action, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-15), page 24
  26. Mega Action, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-09), page 64
  27. Megablast, "4/93" (DE; 1993-09-29), page 37
  28. Mega Force, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 120
  29. Mega Fun, "08/93" (DE; 1993-07-21), page 68
  30. Mega Power, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-29), page 26
  31. MegaTech, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-20), page 40
  32. Player One, "Juillet/Août 1993" (FR; 1993-07-10), page 80
  33. Power Up!, "Saturday, November 20, 1993" (UK; 1993-11-20), page 1
  34. Sega Magazin, "September/Oktober 1993" (DE; 1993-09-01), page 46
  35. Sega Pro, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-08), page 34
  36. Sega Zone, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-22), page 36
  37. Sega Force Mega, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-07-22), page 38
  38. Sega Force, "1/94" (SE; 1994-01-12), page 6
  39. Sonic the Comic, "November 27th 1993" (UK; 1993-11-27), page 12
  40. Todo Sega, "Septiembre 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 70
  41. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 68
  42. Video Games, "9/93" (DE; 1993-08-25), page 104
  43. VideoGames, "December 1993" (US; 1993-1x-xx), page 70
  44. 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 File:PlayerOne FR 038.pdf, page 116 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 038.pdf_p116" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 038.pdf_p116" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 038.pdf_p116" defined multiple times with different content
  45. 45.0 45.1 File:SegaMasterForce UK 04.pdf, page 28 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaMasterForce UK 04.pdf_p28" defined multiple times with different content
  46. Joypad, "Octobre 1993" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 108
  47. Sega Power, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-07), page 64
  48. Sega Pro, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-09), page 75
  49. Sega Zone, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-28), page 75
  50. Todo Sega, "Diciembre 1993" (ES; 1993-1x-xx), page 72
  51. Video Games, "1/94" (DE; 1993-12-19), page 118
  52. Aktueller Software Markt, "Avril 1994" (DE; 1994-03-07), page 113
  53. Console Mania, "Marzo 1994" (IT; 1994-0x-xx), page 53
  54. Consoles +, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 194
  55. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 52
  56. Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 6 June 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 85
  57. Joypad, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 104
  58. Mega Force, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-11-10), page 124
  59. Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 2, Nummer 3, Maart 1994" (NL; 1994-02-23), page 43
  60. Sega Power, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 72
  61. Sega Pro, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-11), page 61
  62. Sega Force, "2/94" (SE; 1994-02-23), page 27
  63. Todo Sega, "Noviembre 1993" (ES; 1993-1x-xx), page 48



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