Review

		   FERRARI FORMULA ONE
						 by Mark Underwood


	From the start I will say that this program is more of a
 simulation, rather than a pure 'game', so it will be reviewed with that
 in mind.
	The game comes in a video size plastic box, with some screen shots
 on the back.  The photos are actually of the Amiga version, rather than
 of some other obscure computer version, such as Atari or IBM (who ever
 heard of them?).  Inside the pack you will find your disk, an
 instruction manual, a quick reference card and a card asking you to send
 your warranty to Queensland, along with $1.20 to cover postage of a
 miniature, gold plated disk, to fit your key ring.  This is as good an
 incentive to send in a warranty as any!
	The reference card tells you how to load the program and also
 advises you to back up your master disk.  The master disk is used as a
 'key' disk and must be present at the start of your session, but may then
 be safely put away.  The card also tells you how to quickly get into
 the program with a 'Going for a Lap' section.  This is for those of us
 too impatient to read the full manual.
	The manual is 42 pages of small print and diagrams.  I wish that
 they could have made it larger, particularly because of the labels on the
 diagrams.  These are hard to see, so if you have a magnifying handy I
 suggest you use it.  I found the manual very comprehensive.  Apart from
 explaining the mechanics of the simulation it explained  many things, and
 also told me many things about the real racing world.
	At the bottom of the pages are small, (very small), maps of the
 tracks you race on.  There are 16 tracks in all, including our Adelaide
 track.  Also illustrated, but in greater detail, is the Ferrari home
 track at Fiorano.
	The program itself can be played in one of two different ways,
 either as a game or as a full fledged simulation.  On loading it you are
 presented with a picture of a formula one car hurtling around a corner.
 Entirely forgettable title music plays as the game loads.  If you do not
 touch your computer at this time an automatic demo starts.
	To play this as a simulation you must first set up your car in
 racing trim that suits your driving technique and the track conditions.
 You do this at the Fiorano track, where your team has all the required
 facilities at hand.  Whenever you arrive at a track you are presented
 with a 'paddock view', which is an overhead perspective of the pit area
 and other nearby areas.  Using your mouse you can sweep your pointer over
 the area.  As you do this the mouse pointer will change shape to
 represent the area you have selected.  Releasing the mouse button will
 open up that area.  The areas you can select are :-
    1/ The Garage
    2/ The Wind Tunnel (only at Fiorano)
    3/ The Pit
    4/ The Score Box
    5/ Transport
 Through these main sections you can enter many other areas, such as engine
 tuning, suspension settings, etc.

1/ The Garage:- A nicely detailed picture of your car, in a state of
 partial disassembly here.  By moving the pointer around you can change
 your engine, tires, gearbox ratios, suspension and wing settings.  There
 are some nice digitized sound effects as items are bolted onto your car.
 From here you can run your engine in a test stand, and find what best
 suits you for economy and horsepower.  As the engine is run a graph is
 automatically made to show you how it is all going.  You can also
 artificially age the engine so you can see how it would be performing at
 the end of a race.  At any stage you can ask your chief mechanic, Maure,
 for his suggestions at any stage.  At lower levels of play his
 suggestions are automatically enforced.

2/ The Wind Tunnel:- Again, a very graphically nice screen.  You see your
 car sitting in the tunnel, and as you increase the windspeed you see
 smoke streaming over your car.  By adjusting your front and rear wing
 panels you can see, (again by automaticgraph,) how this affects your drag
 and downforce.

3/ The Pit:- is the same as the garage, but lacks some of the features, as
 it only intended for quick stops and adjustments during a race.

4/ The Score Box:- shows you your position for the race and the season.

5/ Transport:- is represented by trucks at the back of the pit.  When
 opened, a map of the world is shown, with all the tracks marked, and the
 weather in all areas is indicated.  A requestor box can be clicked on to
 select which track you wish to travel to.  A small icon of a plane then
 flies to the requested locality.

	Well, after all that I suppose you are wondering what the race
 part of the game is like.  You are given an 'in the cockpit' view,
 looking along the track.  You can see, in some detail, behind you using
 the rear view mirrors.  The front wheels are visible, and they show tire
 wear as the game progresses.  There are also the usual gauges, such as
 fuel, oil pressure and boost pressure.  To the right is the gear stick,
 which changes position as you go through the gears.  The steering is by
 the mouse, and it is here that the simulation differs from anything I
 have seen before.  As you turn the wheel the view turns with it, as if
 the driver's head was looking into the corners.  This is perplexing at
 first, but you soon get used to it.  I suppose it is meant to be more
 realistic.  (You turn your head as you drive, don't you?)  The brakes and
 accelerator are controlled from the mouse as well.  Gear changes are
 automatic if you want, but on higher levels you must use the keyboard to
 change up and down.  When you finally plant you foot, (finger?),
 you are rewarded with a squeal of rubber as you move off.  If you watch
 the demo of the program you may be a bit disappointed with the speed of
 the animation, but I found when you are involved in the actual driving
 the pace is more than quick enough.  I think it is all a matter of
 getting involved with it all.  The sound effects are good, especially up
 loud.  The animation of the other cars is also good.  Some nice touches
 are the fact that other drivers are not perfect, and crash and burn as
 easily as you do. Also, if you are behind another car as it goes into a
 corner you can see puffs of flame coming from their exhausts, as they
 change down.

	To sum it all up, as a pure game some people may be disappointed
 about the speed of the animation, but those interested in a simulation
 will not be upset at all.  I personally give the program an 8 1/2 or a 9
 out of 10.  Definitely recommended.

	Purchased:Microcomputer Spot, Penrith.        Price:$89.95

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