Codemasters Announces a New Generation of Official Formula One Video Games

April 24, 2009

Codemasters Announces a New
Generation of Official Formula One Video Games

Official F1 2009 and F1 2010 video
games revealed and formats confirmed

A new generation of FORMULA ONE
video games featuring Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and all
the official drivers, teams and circuits from the 2009 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP was announced today by Codemasters, the developer and publisher of
award-winning racing video games, under its exclusive worldwide agreement with
Formula One Administration Limited.

The first title in the series, F1
2009, will debut on Wii and PSP this autumn. F1 2009 will deliver an authentic
and accessible recreation of the current FORMULA ONE season, including, for the
first time in a FORMULA ONE title, the stunning Singapore night race. A trailer
video is now live at www.formula1-game.com, Codemasters’ new online destination
for the game.

Extending the FORMULA ONE experience
to further gaming formats, it was also announced that F1 2010 is in development
at Codemasters Studios and coming mid 2010 for the PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360 and
Games For Windows. F1 2010 is being created using Codemasters’ EGO Engine
technology, which most recently powered the BAFTA award-winning Race Driver:
GRID.

Talking about the partnership with
Codemasters, Bernie Ecclestone, CEO Formula One Management Limited, commented:
“Codemasters has a great heritage when it comes to racing games and their
reputation is second to none. We’re working very closely together on the
upcoming FORMULA ONE titles and are very impressed with what we have seen.”

Rod Cousens, CEO, Codemasters, said:
“FORMULA ONE is the pinnacle of motorsport. For many, it embraces a lifestyle
and its audience is far reaching and growing. We are producing a series of games
that will deliver the passion, glamour and exhilaration that fans deserve and we
know how to do that. F1 2009 is the start of something very special for
Codemasters and will set the standard for the high definition versions that will
follow in mid 2010.”

“Our studios are working extremely
closely with Formula One Management Limited and the teams to produce the most
authentic and thrilling experience possible. We are delighted with the level of
support and access afforded to us so far, enabling us to get as close to the
sport as possible. It is this level of support, understanding and working in
partnership that enables to deliver superb FORMULA ONE games for whichever
platform players choose to race.”

In addition to bringing FORMULA ONE
to Wii for the first time, F1 2009 marks Lewis Hamilton’s debut in a videogame
and will enable players to take to the wheel of his MCLAREN MP4-24 FORMULA ONE
car and battle to retain his FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP crown. The new
2009 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP promises to be one of the most exciting
and closely fought, thanks to new regulations on aerodynamics, slick tyres and
the introduction of the KERS boost system, which is designed to aid overtaking.
The rule changes, including KERS, will be reflected in F1 2009 to deliver a
truly enthralling racing experience.

Both the Wii and PSP editions of F1
2009 have been exclusively designed to deliver the ultimate racing package for
each individual format and its audience. Setting new standards for immersion and
authenticity on Wii, F1 2009 will offer a variety of race modes, including a
full FORMULA ONE season and individual arcade-style challenges. Customisable
driver aids will be offered to individual players, so both novice and expert
drivers will be able to keep their car on track. In the game’s multiplayer mode,
driver aids will enable friends and families of different abilities to play
together in wheel-to-wheel split screen co-operative and competitive multiplayer
races.

The PSP edition of F1 2009 will have
players racing against each other wirelessly in addition to engaging and
challenging single player modes exclusively tuned for portable play, including
competing in full championships.

As FORMULA ONE enters its most
exciting season yet, F1 2009 will take Wii and PSP players as close as possible
to racing in the world’s most spectacular motorsport when it launches this
autumn; F1 2010 will follow for PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360 and Games For Windows in
2010.