Codemasters didn't need to wait until they shipped "F1 2010" this week to begin working on "F1 2011." The game marks Formula One's official debut on the Xbox 360 and a return to the PC, but its developers know that they've got to keep their deadlines tight if they want to release their next game in the series on time next year.
"[Senior producer Paul Jeal] and I have already started on '11 now," lead designer Stephen Hood told Eurogamer.
This year's game introduced a new mode called "Live the Life," which explores the political and celebrity aspects of being a Formula One driver and developing a career off the track, as well as on it. Jeal pointed to that aspect of the game as one of the key points they want to expand on for 2011, and though they sounded content with many of the concepts they worked into "F1 2010," he admitted to having been rushed a bit to get in stores.
"[We have the most work to do on] Live the Life and multiplayer, just because we've had to invest that much time in the first one on the career, the meat and bones, the driving, the pit-stops, the weather," Jeal explained. "We had some great ideas which have been fairly well stripped back in development for both Live the Life and multiplayer."
Meanwhile, many Xbox-owning Formula One watchers are just glad to see the sport getting some representation on their console at long last. And the early reviews aren't looking terrible at all.
Are you happy to see Formula One finally make it to the 360? What are your impressions of Codemasters' new game? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.