OS X F1 2013 - initial views

[imacken]

Don't understand why there aren't more posts here on F1 2013, but there we go.
After a few days of playing, I haven't really got much to say! It's just all good.
Better in almost every way than the previous versions. Subtle differences, but differences all the same.
Things I've noticed so far:
1) graphically superb. Look at the cockpit reflections and haze effects in Melbourne as an example. Huge improvement.
2) the cars can now do things that in previous years were (unrealistically) impossible. You can now go for a bit more kerb, without some sort of canned effect throwing you off the track.
3) not that I have (sadly) ever driven an F1 car, but after at least 20 years of playing F1 sims, the cars seem here to me to be the most 'realistic' I have come across.
4) only a couple of minor graphical glitches so far. There is an annoying vertical line right across the screen, just above the nose of the car in cockpit view sometimes. Seems to happen often at Spa. Also, the sidewall colours on the tyres disappear sometimes in the cut scenes.
5) I have twice had the situation where the game would not exit to desktop correctly, which meant I had to force quit Steam to restart the next time.
Let's hope F1 2014 is released before the 2015 season starts! It is frustrating that the release date was pushed back a few months - for perfectly good reasons, I'm sure. 6 months after the PC release is a bit too much. F1 2012 was released just 2 or 3 months after, I seem to recall. I'm guessing the delay was due to some implementation of OpenGL 4, but I don't know.
Still, all-in-all, a superb job - as usual - from Feral!

 

[luceo non uro]

I haven't played much of it; only had a quick go off the old Lotus and a quick race in Australia. It does look and feel fantastic though.

I felt the previous annual releases could have been downloadable content (new cars, drivers etc), but this looks and feels like a new game. With the season starting this weekend I will no doubt feel inspired to put a few hours in between qually and race.

If anyone is interested in online we could get that on the go. I am, however, crap at it so far, so will present no significant challenge.

 

[iRock1]

I just noticed a few days ago that it was available for OS X. Not sure how long it's been though.

I definitely want to play it, but for now I'll keep it in my wish list until the price drops or gets a Steam discount. Still it looks great!

 

[imacken]

I just noticed a few days ago that it was available for OS X. Not sure how long it's been though.

7 days

 

[Mattww]

Kind of been too busy playing the game - but I'd certainly agree with everything said so far:

Graphically it looks very polished and better than F1 2012. The performance is really great as even at 1440p it feels smooth to me.

The way the car feels to drive does seem more dynamic and controllable (I play with a Logitech force feedback wheel and always turn all the driving and visual aids off). It seems you can use different lines without being punished as it seemed you were in F1 2012 where you would get terrible understeer.

The AI seems a little better but still sometimes rams you on the straights rather than attempting a pass and is slow for the first half of the lap at the start so that is always your best chance to make up several places.

The fact you can save your game during a session in the main career mode is excellent and means I might actually get to try 50% or 100% races now.

Classic content is a nice bonus and the cars are very different to drive but I do miss my modern dash to see what gear I'm in with the old cars

The only real things I can immediately think of that I would like to see going forward (given that modding is probably out and I doubt I could cope with all the settings being change on the go in a real F1 car today) are the option of doing your own driving in the pitstops (although the animations are very cool) and improved race start procedures including a way to turn off the red lights in the middle of the screen - the real life gantries are enough.

 

[imacken]

The way the car feels to drive does seem more dynamic and controllable (I play with a Logitech force feedback wheel and always turn all the driving and visual aids off). It seems you can use different lines without being punished as it seemed you were in F1 2012 where you would get terrible understeer.

Definitely agree, the horrible understeer in F1 2012 has gone!
As an aside, the game is only £7.49 on Steam this weekend down from £30.
Oh well, c'est la vie!

 

[iRock1]

F1 2013 - initial views

I just noticed a few days ago that it was available for OS X. Not sure how long it's been though.



I definitely want to play it, but for now I'll keep it in my wish list until the price drops or gets a Steam discount. Still it looks great!

I said this just a couple of days ago and look — it turns out that there is a huge discount during this weekend (-75%). I'm gonna get it for just $12.49!

I just wonder how well (or bad) is going to run on my old Mac (27", ATI 4850, 12 GB of RAM, Core i5).

EDIT: Ok, it works great. Very well-designed game.

 

[lewdvig]

I've bought all of the Codemaster F1 games day one on PC up until this one, because I heard it was coming out on Mac.

Things I like:
- the textures are higher res than the last iteration, no more MS paint style jaggies!
- the game detects whether you have played previous games and lets you skip some of the tutorial, I find the first ten minutes of Codemaster racing games unbearable due to the verbal diarrhoea of it's writers/voice actors.
- The AI is better
- Classic mode is neat

Things I don't like:
- Unlike EA sports games, these games only come out after the season is done, or almost done. So you can't play along with the season.
- I have to play the game at compromised settings to enjoy it in OS X (2012 MBP, 650m - 1024*600 medium/high no AA).
-- Play the windows version on the same machine and 1440*900 High settings are super smooth.

[edit] thanks to imacken I discovered that I was having problems due to gfxCardSetting not forcing discrete GPU, as selected in the menu bar. After deleting this app:

H: avg 45, min 32
U: avg 27, min 16

That's about what I would expect; about 20% less that Windows benchmarks on same hardware.

So 1440*900 at High it is! That saves me having to boot into Windows - something I also like to avoid.​

-- Built in benchmark makes it easy to compare.
- Classic mode needs more content! Old tracks South Africa, Argentina and Mexico. Cars like the Ferrari 312, or the Prost/Senna McLarens, or a Schumi Benetton... Seems like an incomplete idea.

Codemasters make really small improvements every year. Worth $13? Yes. Worth buying day one for $50, not so much.

Also, the 2014 version will probably be targeted at next gen consoles. I think OpenGL will really choke on that version.

 

[Spikeywan]

Is there any disadvantage to getting it on Steam?

I don't really understand it, and the chance to get the game for under £8, seems too good to be true!

Also, I thought the Mac version included the Classic Edition. But on Steam, the standard version is £7.49, and the Classic Edition is £9.99 (both for Mac). How does that work? Surely if I buy the Mac version, it'll include the Classic Edition?

 

[monokitty]

Being 75% off on Steam until Mar 17th, it's an absolute steal right now. One thing I noticed - are there no graphical settings one can adjust? By default, it runs well at my MBP's native resolution with 4xAA, but I couldn't find graphic settings inside the actual game when launched. I could be missing something, though. Just curious.

 

[imacken]

Is there any disadvantage to getting it on Steam?

I don't really understand it, and the chance to get the game for under £8, seems too good to be true!

Also, I thought the Mac version included the Classic Edition. But on Steam, the standard version is £7.49, and the Classic Edition is £9.99 (both for Mac). How does that work? Surely if I buy the Mac version, it'll include the Classic Edition?

It's best getting it on Steam, as there is no multiplayer (except LAN) on the MAS version.
It's £7.49 for this weekend only to celebrate the new season.
The normal price is £29.99 plus £9.99 for the Classic Pack, or you can buy the Classic Edition for £39.99 (like I did). It's the 'normal' version your are getting for £7.49.

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Being 75% off on Steam until Mar 17th, it's an absolute steal right now. One thing I noticed - are there no graphical settings one can adjust? By default, it runs well at my MBP's native resolution with 4xAA, but I couldn't find graphic settings inside the actual game when launched. I could be missing something, though. Just curious.

There are a huge number of graphic settings. Just go to MyF1/Settings/Graphics.

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Things I don't like:
- Unlike EA sports games, these games only come out after the season is done, or almost done. So you can't play along with the season.

I agree, that is very annoying. Even the console/PC version come out almost when the season is over. Don't know why it has to be this way.

- I have to play the game at compromised settings to enjoy it in OS X (2012 MBP, 650m - 1024*600 medium/high no AA).
-- Play the windows version on the same machine and 1440*900 High settings are super smooth.

I play on my 3.4GHz i7 iMac @2560x1440 with everything on max, and it is super smooth.

Codemasters make really small improvements every year. Worth $13? Yes. Worth buying day one for $50, not so much.

I was happy to pay £40. (Would have been happier paying £7.49 though!)

Also, the 2014 version will probably be targeted at next gen consoles. I think OpenGL will really choke on that version.

Why do you say that?

 

[erayser]

I'm really not into racing games, but always wanted to try this... but not for $50. Glad I seen this thread... and thanks for posting the steam sale. I had $3 sitting my steam account like forever... adding $9 was worth a try. It looks great in NVidia surround... and I'm happy to see it supports NVidia 3D vision... looks great in 3D... But with Titanfall out and Infamous Second Son coming out in a week for the PS4... I doubt I'll play this game much. Thanks again for the thread...

 

[Spikeywan]

Looks great! I just downloaded it, but can't give it a proper try, as I haven't got my steering wheel with me. Roll on Monday, when I get home.

One silly question - How do I get the game to become an icon in Launchpad? At the moment, I can only access it by opening steam.

 

[iqwertyi]

I'm planning to purchase the F1 2013 through Steam with weekend.
Does anyone know if the PS4 controller can work with the Mac and F1 2013?

I also have the Logitech Driving Force GT wheel that I've used with a PS 3, will this work with the iMac?

Thanks,

 

[erayser]

I'm just using an wireless Xbox controller, but I do have a Logitech Driving Force GT wheel I used on my PS3 also. I hope I can get it to work. Anyhow... the performance on high settings is insane. Rivatuner OSD shows FPS above 120 during the race. Benchmark test results are... Average FPS=128, Minimum FPS = 106.

• Settings screenshot
• Benchmark Results screenshot
• In game screenshot

 

[escdrift]

can't play on 2010 mbp, says not supported and can only quit. ok, looks like Im done with mac gaming.

 

[Cougarcat]

can't play on 2010 mbp, says not supported and can only quit. ok, looks like Im done with mac gaming.

What model do you have? If it's the 13", you don't have enough VRAM. It needs 512. Read the system requirements next time.

 

[Janichsan]

- I have to play the game at compromised settings to enjoy it in OS X (2012 MBP, 650m - 1024*600 medium/high no AA).

How many fps do you have? I get 37 fps in average on my 2012 rMBP at 1440x900 and Ultra settings.

 

[iqwertyi]

Are you saying you're using an xbox controller hooked up to a mac and you can control it fine (on OSX, not Windows)?

I'm just using an wireless Xbox controller, but I do have a Logitech Driving Force GT wheel I used on my PS3 also. I hope I can get it to work. Anyhow... the performance on high settings is insane. Rivatuner OSD shows FPS above 120 during the race. Benchmark test results are... Average FPS=128, Minimum FPS = 106.

• Settings screenshot
• Benchmark Results screenshot
• In game screenshot

 

[escdrift]

What model do you have? If it's the 13", you don't have enough VRAM. It needs 512. Read the system requirements next time.

15". I never seen any game prevent from at least trying to test how the game plays.

 

[Cougarcat]

15". I never seen any game prevent from at least trying to test how the game plays.

What graphics card? The 15" graphics card came in 256 and 512 MB versions, you need the latter.

 

[escdrift]

What graphics card? The 15" graphics card came in 256 and 512 MB versions, you need the latter.

nvidia 512mb.

 

[Cougarcat]

nvidia 512mb.

Well, then you should be able to run it as long as you're running Mavericks.

 

[erayser]

Are you saying you're using an xbox controller hooked up to a mac and you can control it fine (on OSX, not Windows)?

Sorry... I know this a OSX thread. I'm a windows gamer (gaming rig in sig). I just posted here to give props to the thread for mentioning the $12 steam deal. Someone posted that have a Logitech Driving Force GT for his PS3... and I have the same wheel. I use an wireless Xbox controller... but a wheel is probably better.

 

[e1me5]

nvidia 512mb.

That GPU is not supported by the game as Feral says on the game's website.

http://www.feralinteractive.com/en/mac-games/f12013/links-requirements/