Today Codemasters revealed that it has signed a new multi-year deal with Formula 1 and the FIA. This secures the developer the license to make more F1 games in the coming years.

Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One group CEO, said: "Codemasters has created some of the best and most successful FORMULA ONE games to date. We and the teams work closely with them and look forward to creating more award winning games together in the future."

Later this spring Codies will bring F1 to the PC as an online experience and also plans to create more Formula 1 titles on additional platforms.

We have already reviewed Codemasters' excellent F1 2011 for Xbox 360, PS3, PC and Nintendo 3DS, all versions have one thing in common - they are great titles on their respective platforms. With the launch of the PlayStation Vita, Codies has released the game for a third time. Read on to find out if F1 2011 hits the apex or spins into the gravel.

Okay, I left you with a bit of a cliff hanger there but let me make it up to you, F1 2011 on the PS Vita is as impressive as ever and the third release truly is the charm. Codemasters already had the perfect setup with the previous versions on the market and it certainly didn't mess up the PS Vita port, it also is a great game. When I first heard that Codies would port one of my favorite games of the past year to the Vita, my hopes were pretty high. Looking at the Vita with its beautiful screen, dual sticks and high performance processor, it seemed to be a great fit for Codemasters' flagship Formula 1 game.

F1 2011 includes just about all the goodies from its big brother for this PS Vita release. The game comes with the championship and season modes as well as a scaled down multiplayer and coop mode. While the console and PC versions of the game have 16 player multiplayer and 2 player coop seasons, the PS Vita port has 4 player multiplayer racing and 2 v 2 coop racing. Unfortunately I wasn't able to test the multiplayer modes since there was not a lot of activity on the servers.


I was able to play the game's single player modes though and I was impressed. Of course the Vita version looses some of its fidelity and is somewhat twitchy but with a bit of practice, this does not really present any issues. After a few races I was fully accustomed to the mechanics of F1 2011 and had a blast with it. The cars handle somewhere between simulation and arcade, while they lean more towards the latter. F1 2011 has all the driving aids we are used to such as steering and breaking assists as well as a racing line, of course all of them can be turned off. During races I had to turn up the AI's difficulty pretty high to get a good challenge as the game provides a good balance for all kinds of experience levels. F1 2011 also comes complete with DRS and KERS which are new additions to Formula 1 and are included for the first time with the 2011 versions the game.

Just as impressed as I was with the actual racing of F1 2011, I was with the presentation and design of the game. Codemasters managed to squeeze quite a bit of performance out of the Vita and as a result F1 2011 looks extremely good. The tracks and opponents are nicely detailed while the cockpit view could stand to look a bit sharper. All of the menus were easy to navigate and made for a seamless experience. Loading tracks and switching between all the different menu screens was fast and seamless, I never felt bored since the game kept me going back into the action immediately

Racing games on handhelds have typically been filled with arcade action titles and seemed to leave 'hardcore' racing fans waiting for their turn. While F1 2011 for the PlayStation Vita isn't quite the bone-breaking simulation I had hoped for, it is probably the next best thing for racing fans on the go.

Score: 8 / 10

F1 2011 was developed and published by Codemasters for PlayStation Vita on February 14th. A retail copy of the game was provided to us by Codemasters for reviewing purposes.

The Formula 1 experience is one cherished by console and PC gamers alike. Codemasters has delivered on that front with last year's excellent F1 2010 and the improved 2011 this year, providing excitement, authenticity and fun in a great package. With the addition of the Nintendo 3DS to the hardware front it was time for Codies to enter the handheld space as well.

I will say this up front, if you're the type of gamer that loves to sit on the couch or a comfortable PC gaming chair, then this game will probably not be for you, unless this is a supplement to your Formula 1 cravings. F1 2011 for the 3DS is sort of a double edges sword, the game provides content parity with its its bigger HD brother and even includes additional modes like time trial and race based challenges but the racing will not be of the same simulation-esque caliber you may be used to.

However, if that is not an issue for you and the goal is to get some fun racing on the go, then go ahead and pull the trigger on F1 2011 for 3DS. Codemasters has created a fine handheld game that suits the 3DS very well. The 3D effect worked well for me on a medium setting, providing some additional depth , that I never experience in that way. The game includes full blown career and championship modes as well as single races. F1 2011 looks and sounds good, it didn't blow me out of the water but certainly got the job done.

Once players decide what they'd like to do and get into the racing, F1 2011 becomes quite fun, after some getting used to the controls. The circle pad allows for precise maneuvering after some practice. While I was certainly skeptical about the gameplay of this handheld version, I have to say that it managed to surprise me in a good way. The handling of the cars is rather arcadey but kept me engaged throughout several hours.

Racing games on handheld platforms aren't always the best fit for the hardware, unless we are talking about arcade racers like Mario Kart, but with F1 2011 Codemasters manages to create a quality niche for itself. The game includes a full suite of content as well as features and manages to impress with its racing gameplay. Many 3DS games use rather gimmicky 3D effects but again, Codemasters was able to add meaningful, yet not overpowering 3D to a good racing game for Nintendo's latest handheld.

Score: 8 / 10

F1 2011 was developed by Codemasters Birmingham and published by Codemasters for the Nintendo 3DS on November 25th. A copy of the game was provided to us by Codemasters for reviewing purposes.

The world of Formula 1 is made of glitz and glamour coupled with incredibly fast, sexy and superb racing machines that require only the most skill-full technique. Not everyone can handle the requirements of being a Formula 1 driver, just the same as not just any developer is able to create a videogame experience worthy of such a classic and iconic license as the FIA Formula One Championship.

Codemasters has established itself as one of the most qualified motorsports developers of this generation, seeing their label show up during the initial load screen simply oozed the smell of break dust and gasoline. Last year Codies brought back the Formula 1 license in a big way with F1 2010. For the first time, since Sony’s PS3 launch title, we had finally gotten back the king of all racing series in digital form. Codemasters, responsible for the GRID and DIRT series, re-launched F1 into a world of desperate demand for its main event. While F1 2010 was a very accurate and authentic experience, there were still a few gripes the hardcore fanbase had with the title and complained about, such as AI issues and some other inconsistencies, which were later fixed in a patch.

Codies quickly revealed that F1 2011 was in development and that the UK based developer wanted to build on a strong first iteration with a more complete and even better experience. This year’s game has a lot in common with F1 2010 but managed to, not only fix all of the complaints critics ad gamers had previously, but also improve the overall experience.

One of the first things I noticed about F1 2011 was its presentation; Codemasters put a bit more emphasis on the flare around the F1 circuit and placed the player into an office as opposed to a trailer next to a race track. This was just one more thing showing how F1 2011 wanted to be a step above its predecessor. The overall menus slightly changed along with a shortened career mode, which is now 5, as opposed to the long 7, seasons. There are still interview sections between races but these can still be expanded on in future releases of this excellent series, as they just need to be more impactful throughout the career.

The question that every racing and F1 fan is asking however, is; “What about the driving”? I am pleased to tell you all that F1 2011 has managed to greatly improve the handling and AI behavior. Codemasters has really put in a lot of work to balance the overall challenge, depending on which assists and difficulty players select. F1 2011 is an absolute joy behind the wheel, or the gamepad of course, which work equally well. Going around the excellently modeled and updated circuits of Formula 1 really delivers an authentic experience that improves over F1 2010’s outing. The cars feel a lot more grounded and ‘tarmac gripping’ than they did previously, gone is the slight feeling of ‘floatiness’. Taking one of the extremely fast F1 cars from turn to turn, over the curbs, and across blistering fast straightaways, only to shave off a few thousand’s of a second or pass an opponent before the hairpin, is probably the most fun to be had in F1 2011 or any racing game out there.

The feeling of being inside an F1 race has been delivered with excellence. F1 2011 also includes the new rule changes and incorporation of KERS and DRS, which are part of Formula 1 to create additional competition and should lead to more overtaking and track position changes between drivers during races. The team at Codies has done a solid job to incorporate these new assists and make them easy to use as well. KERS stands for ‘Kinetic Energy Recovery System’ and uses break friction to charge a ‘boost’ which can aid drivers to passing other cars or protect against drafting. DRS (Drag Reduction System) on the other hand is used to allow drivers to go faster at certain times when the rear wing is being adjusted to minimize wind resistance.

Using KERS and DRS becomes vital during races, especially on higher difficulties, as every car can use it to their advantage. If those two assists are being used wisely, they can change your race in a flash. After a few laps of understanding how to use it, I was able to catch and pass faster cars and it was more than satisfying to slip by Vettel or outbreak Alonso in a Williams. In addition to KERS and DRS, players still have the ability to adjust the wing and fuel mix to leverage additional strategic elements to get the victory. Any true motorsports junkie will probably only use the edge of their seat towards the end of a race in F1 2011, because Codemasters really incorporated all these features so well.

Another big, and often requested, addition to F1 2011 is the safety car. While it is not often called upon in an F1 race, the safety car can change the outcome of any F1 event. When there is enough damage and danger debris-causing carnage on the track in F1 2011, the safety car will hit the tarmac and bring the field closer together, this can become a massive strategic factor and decide races. During one of my first races in my career mode, I pitted just before the safety car moved on the track and I ended much farther up on the grid than I would have during a normal race because some of the top cars got caught in the pace car phase. This sort of event occurs in the actual F1 championship, as it does in its virtual version of F1 2011.

This year’s game also includes multiplayer and a coop championship in which 2 players will battle the field and each other in a full championship season as teammates. Even though this mode is included in F1 2011, I wasn’t able to fully explore it, because I did not have a ‘coop teammate’ for the full duration. Competitive multiplayer was one of those features that didn’t fully work in F1 2010, or simply wasn’t filled with enough players to be fun and consistent. F1 2011 seems to have turned that around. With more options and larger grid sizes available, as well as added popularity of the franchise, F1 2011 multiplayer has become a truly fun and exciting experience within the game, versus a ‘bullet point’ on the back of the box.

As an absolute motorsports and F1 junkie, I can say that Codemasters has taken a perfectly functional and fun game to another level. F1 2011 absolutely satisfies and wipes out any previous complaints about last year’s game. Codemasters has build on a great base and build an exhilarating racing experience that will satisfy true Formula 1 fans and gamers alike. F1 2011’s presentation, sound and attention to detail really show how dedicated Codemasters is to creating well crafted experiences, true racing simulations and even add the much needed fan service. I simply cannot wait for what we can expect from next year’s version.

Score: 9 / 10

F1 2011 was developed by Codemasters Birmingham and published by Codemasters for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on September 20th. A copy of the Xbox 360 version was provided to us by Codemasters for reviewing purposes.

Whenever Codemasters releases a new racing game, whether it'd be Dirt, Grid or F1, people get excited. This year's F1 2011 will bring an awesome new feature to the game.

In F1 2011 players will be able to take on a season with a buddy for a teammate in the all new coop mode. Today's trailer shows the team talk about the addition.

Formula 1 fans start licking your fingers, today Codies delivered one of the more exciting videos for the upcoming F1 2011. The latest clip recaps the current F1 season so far and also sports the first appearance of the safety car.

There aren't too many games that get me as excited as Formula 1 licensed products like Codemaster's follow up to the excellent F1 2010.

This September F1 2011 will launch and the game already looks impressive in this first gameplay video. Codies is focusing on building on top of the great first game and add all the little details missing from 2010 as well as fleshing out the existing features.

Codemasters' follow up to their first Formula 1 entry is just around the corner. F1 2011 will build on the very successful entry into the virtual F1 circuit. Codemasters released the first, in a series of Developer Diaries.

The sequel to a game that I really enjoyed last year has gotten a release window. Codemasters announced via Twitter that F1 2011 will release in September this year. Codies also revealed a competition to play the game early.

If you submit a youtube clip asking a question about the game and LIKE the facebook page you are entered into challenge to play the game early at Codemasters. Good luck!