About this time last year, I said that I don’t like Formula 1 though I do like the games. I’ve since been banging the drum of the latest game to release, either in end of year reflection articles, a video on our YouTube channel, and also when this year’s game was announced. After 150+ hours, I’m not bored of driving in circles around a twisting track in the forests of Belgium, the city of Baku, or the middle of nowhere in Texas. A sane person would claim that I am easily entertained. I just like driving at stupid speeds on a chicane in one of the most dangerous races in the world.

In fact, during the last couple weeks as the German working for the prancing horse announced his departure, I’ve been liking this COVID-19 F1 season a bit more. The internal politics and speculation make this raceless season (so far) a lot more fun than many were expecting. The entire calendar is up in the air and rules that were set to come into play this coming year have been pushed back and pulled forward. It is a mess and I love it. However, it makes me more excited for F1 2020 releasing in July.

As we head into the middle of the year, I can tell you I’m excited about three things: F1 2020, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 & 2 remastered, and licking John Wick in Cyberpunk like a horse does salt. So every time Codemasters releases a new piece of information or a video showing the game off, you can bet I’m on that like it is John Wick. This week, ahead of the virtual Monaco GP, Codemasters released a video of Pierre Gasly’s AlphaTauri roaring through the streets of the principality. What is interesting is the press release along with the video, suggesting a “visual uplift” for Monaco.

As much as I will happily talk up the speed, power, and everything else I love about the games; I don’t care if something has (as Codemasters claim) a facelift contouring every little line. I’m even in agreement with Shaun Prescott of PC Gamer, the casino isn’t gone, Mirabeau hasn’t been made into a straight drop into the tunnel, and there is still the kink in Sainte Devote. You could drive the same circuit in twelve different games and the only difference would probably be the billboards on the side. Unless you go back to 1985, it is the same circuit you are driving; before the du Port chicane became the Nouvelle chicane.

Much like the “Gameplay trailer” above which released the other week, I can’t see it being a “visual uplift.” It is saying one thing and doing another. Some billboards may be changed, but at 160 mph in Louis Chiron and Piscine, I don’t see that. As for the gameplay trailer, it is nice someone recorded all that footage of them playing with the replays. However, that’s not gameplay, unless you’re weird like me!

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