Previews

Hands-on with stunning F1 simulator Motorsport Manager for iPhone and iPad

Pedal to the metal

Hands-on with stunning F1 simulator Motorsport Manager for iPhone and iPad
|
iOS
| Motorsport Manager

Christian West has submitted his stunning racing simulator Motorosport Manager to the App Store, and says he plans to launch the game on iOS in August.

You play as the head of a racing team, and must manage your crew both on the tarmac and off. Are F1 circuits paved with tarmac? Probably.

Between races you must book sponsors, hire and fire drivers and engineers, develop new cars, and even manage your headquarters. Plus, you need to maintain your popularity, standings, and - most critically - your budget.

Then, when it's time to race, you start by outfitting your team's cars with the right bits. Which gear ratio should you pick, and which tyres should you choose, and what type of aerodynamics should you install.

It's all down to the design of the course (twisty circuits need different equipment to those with long straights), and the weather.

Motorsport

But what if have weather changes mid-race? While you don't have much control over the cars on the track, you can tell a driver to pull in for a pitstop and change to more appropriate tyres. Or alter their driving style to be conservative or vicious.

Making these choices can lead to some seriously tense moments.

Maybe one of your racers is in first, and on the penultimate lap, but her tyres are about to blow out. Can she hold out until the end before the rubber pops? You'll watch some races through the gaps in your fingers.

The shining star in Motorsport Manager is that UI design, of course. It's stark, flat, and minimalist, but swishes about with playful animations. And those miniature tilt-shift racing sequences are even better in motion.

It's just a shame that without music or many sound effects, the game is eerily quiet at times.

Motorsport Manager

And while it's ultimately quite a simple game, it's densely packed and not particularly inviting to those who aren't F1 fans. You can always ask expert Nigel for some advice, but there's still a steep learning curve.

But if you're a petrol head, a racing fan, or a just a simulator nut, you'll find a lot to like in Motorsport Manager. We'll let you know when it hits the App Store.

Mark Brown
Mark Brown
Mark Brown is editor at large of Pocket Gamer