F1 2009

The PlayStation Portable version was also available as a download from the PlayStation Store from 16 November. This is the first game in Codemasters' F1 video game series upon acquiring the licensing rights for Formula One video games in 2008, with all subsequent sequels based on further F1 seasons released annually on non-Nintendo consoles and the PC. It eventually became the only F1 game to be available on the Wii and one of only three F1 games that Codemasters released for a Nintendo console, with the other two being the spin-off, F1 Race Stars, for the Wii U, and F1 2011, for the Nintendo 3DS.

• Title — F1 2009 • Developer — Sumo Digital • Publisher — Codemasters • Series — F1 • Engine — EGO Engine • Platforms — Wii PlayStation Portable iOS • Released — PlayStation Portable, Wii'iOS 14 December 2009 • Genre — Sim racing • Modes — Single-player, multiplayer

F1 2009 marks the first time since Electronic Arts' F1 Challenge '99–'02 that a Formula One game has been released on multiple platforms. Sony previously held the rights to F1 and released games only on their own consoles: PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3. The game engine is based on the Ego Engine that Codemasters have used on past racing games Dirt, Race Driver: Grid and Dirt 2. Codemasters released limited bundles of F1 2009 with Formula One-style wheels; the Wii Remote slots into this. In addition to supporting motion-controlled steering and steering wheel peripherals like the standard Wii Wheel, the Wii version also supports analog steering via either the Nunchuk or Classic Controller. F1 2009 features all the circuits that are on the 2009 calendar including the Marina Bay Street Circuit for night racing and the new Yas Marina Circuit. The game only features the 20 drivers that started the 2009 Formula One season, and does not include the driver changes that were made during the season. There are 15 driver aids each switchable on and off for first time and experienced players, and in the multiplayer version, the level of help changes according to the player's skill, by using a "Fair Play" system. It features slick tyres, as well as the newly introduced KERS concept that functions like a turbo boost, although the game has the feature on all the cars, not just the few that actually used it in the motor racing series. There are several different gameplay modes: Quick Race, where players can choose from a multitude of options, from driver and track to damage and weather, Time Trial, where players compete to set the fastest lap possible by tuning car setups, a two-player split-screen mode on the Wii, and wireless multiplayer option on the PSP for up to four players. The game also offers the choices of playing through a whole Championship season, or taking part in a Grand Prix weekend. It includes the possibility of participating in all the practice sessions, qualifying and the race. A career mode, involving three seasons of the Formula One World Championship, is also included. The game features technical settings for the player to change if desired, including aerodynamics, car balance, gear settings and suspension settings, wheel geometry, tyre compound and pressures, suspension spring rates, individual gear ratios, ride height and wing adjustments. About 70 smaller mini-game style challenges in "Challenge Mode" are also included.

In August 2009, Codemasters released the first gameplay footage of F1 2009 showing the Wii version at the Valencia Street Circuit. As the Formula One calendar visited each track after Valencia, Codemasters released a video showing footage of the track: the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, the Marina Bay Street Circuit, the Suzuka Circuit, the Autódromo José Carlos Pace and the Yas Marina Circuit were all shown, although the race held immediately after Valencia, the Belgian Grand Prix was missed out. The game features all the drivers and tracks from the 2009 season, but does not represent the replacement drivers that featured in the real F1 season, therefore Luca Badoer, Romain Grosjean, Kamui Kobayashi, Jaime Alguersuari and Vitantonio Liuzzi are not featured, although Giancarlo Fisichella who replaced Luca Badoer (substituting for the injured Felipe Massa) at Ferrari is featured in the Force India team (although he had spent over half of the season driving for Force India anyway).