Codemasters F1 games vs. EA F1 games

Hi guys,

I need to touch on something here, and it once again is clear proof that Codemasters did a far better job regarding F1 games than EA did.

Here's a little backstory: Since I already reached max level in F1 22's current series, I decided to go back in time and play F1 2019, probably the only F1 game I haven't played this much compared to say F1 2020.

I decided to start my F1 career with Renault, joining forces with Nico Hulkenberg. I also went for Expert difficulty (80), because I don't want to beat everyone so easily. For the first two race weekends in Melbourne and Bahrain, I used custom setups par usual, but since I couldn't find more for races after China, I went with presets instead.

What happened in these three races was probably a shocker to every single F1 fan if it was real life. Not only did I perform really well in a midfield car, but I also managed to score podiums in the first three races of my career. And yesterday, I secured my first pole position in Baku.

And no, the difficulty stayed on 80 the entire time. And even though the 2019 cars were a bit twitchy on the rear end, I was still able to keep up really well. This shows that Codemasters analyze the pace of the cars with a fine tooth comb and scale the AI difficulty based on the data they got.

I'm just gonna say this, if I would play say F1 2021 on Expert with just preset setups, I would get completely obliterated and not even score one point, even if I drive a Red Bull. It's so insane what big of a jump in difficulty this is compared to F1 2020, and it gets worse with every follow-up game.

Nowadays in F1 22, I play on 74, and this honestly feels like I play on 83-86 on F1 2020. Which means that the AI are still way too fast, which once again underlines the insane jump in difficulty.

When it comes to comparing 2019 to 2020 regarding AI, this is what people in the CM Forum call "creeping up the difficulty", but with 2021, the difficulty spiked up a whole lot.

Am I the only one who thinks like that? Let me know what you guys think in the replies.

- Nico

PS: No, this post is not just referring against Verstappen's AI, it refers to AI in general.

f1 22

Ultrasonic_77
3 years ago
My understanding is that AI performance is to some degree deliberately made better year-on-year, so 80 one year is not intended to be the same as 80 the next. The logic being that players generally get better too. For me it doesn't really matter either way so long as there is still an AI level that a player can use to race competitively.
AI inconsistency between tracks and driving in ways that a player can't are MUCH more important issues worth talking about.

11 Replies

Meza994
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@LuckyNico92 This proves literally nothing.. They just didnt make the AI as fast as they did in later years and you are not using appropriate AI difficulty, sorry..

Btw. the game is still made by Codemasters, its the same staff..

Also you cant say the difficulty spiked only because the preset setups suit your personal driving style less.. you might need to tweak the setup more in later releases but that doesnt equal the AI "spiking in difficulty"..

The difficulty increases a bit and certain AI flaws have made it look more extreme, the tricky traction also doesnt help as that is one particular set of skills that can cost you a LOT of laptime and that the AI are obviously strong at..
ScarDuck14
Legend
3 years ago
@LuckyNico92 Have you noticed that we are on this forum now and not Codemasters. Why do you think that maybe? Maybe it’s because at some point Codemasters would have to change to be aligned with EA operations and systems. EA is a USA based company and Codemasters a British based company. We may both speak English. But they are two different types off English. Not to mention cultural obstacles.

For the first year I’m sure EA operations just observed Codemasters so see what’s got to be change. And it tech so I guess there could have been massive changes leading to disruption at Codemasters offices. And then codies would need time to adjust to new day to day stuff.

Before you say EA could have picked a better time. How do we know they didn’t do it at the perfect time. and besides EA now have Codemasters it’s it absolutely expected EA would make changes that best suit EA

Every smaller company taken over by a larger one goes through the same thing:
LuckyNico92
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@Meza994 I didn't say that the difficulty spiked because of the preset setups. I just compared AI difficulty to different games.

Also, what would be a suitable level to test it? 110? Sorry, but I'm not an F1 Esports player.
Meza994
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@LuckyNico92 No i said the difficulty seems to you that it spiked and not just increased a little bit because the preset setups dont suit you as much..

Pre MyTeam testing difficulty is always best with GP mode.. for you id say around 85 would be more appropriate thinking of the results you got.. maybe 84 but that doesnt change too much, you should have a good challenge and occasionally depending on AI strategy etc. get a p5 or such..

Post MyTeam introduction (so 2020, 2021, 22) its more difficult as stat boosts make AI harder in career modes than in GP mode and the engine suppliers upgrades make traction harder than in GP mode which in turn makes the gap to the AI even bigger.. Also for some reason the MyTeam car feels really understeery in F122 dunno why yet and the low rear grip is just because of the engine suppliers upgrades IMO which HOPEFULLY are not making a return as they are banned IRL anyway..
LuckyNico92
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@ScarDuck14 Maybe that's true, but they could simply delay the release of F1 games if they can't keep up with the schedule, to at the very least make sure that the game is enjoyable for everyone, and to make sure that the game has little to no problems at release. Sure, the very old CM F1 games like 2012 have problems too that remain unfixed to this day, but that was a different time, a different engine, and different technology compared to today.

Also, if I remember correctly, the only game franchise from EA that Codies was supposed to lay hands on was Need for Speed. I know that from a German YouTuber who loves Need for Speed.

I still stick with my personal opinion: F1 2020 was the pinnacle of F1 games, and with 2021, it went downhill very fast.
LuckyNico92
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@Meza994 Well, I would say that the best way to test your difficulty is to do a one shot Qualifying in Monaco with the best car in the grid, and tweak the difficulty until you score pole position. I use Monaco because since 2021, Monaco is THE absolute AI track in F1.

And yes, I am aware that the preset setups differ from game to game, but that's mainly because the cars change from year to year. And still, it doesn't change the fact that 2021 compared to 2020 made a huge jump in difficulty.
Meza994
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@LuckyNico92 If thats would you want do it that way, i personally dont want to beat the AI on its strongest track and therefore have no competition at all at the others.. But to each their own..

For me the "spike between games without grinding setups is only about 2-3 difficulty points less, not a huge jump but you are entitled to your own opinion and experiences of course.
Ultrasonic_77
Hero
3 years ago
My understanding is that AI performance is to some degree deliberately made better year-on-year, so 80 one year is not intended to be the same as 80 the next. The logic being that players generally get better too. For me it doesn't really matter either way so long as there is still an AI level that a player can use to race competitively.
AI inconsistency between tracks and driving in ways that a player can't are MUCH more important issues worth talking about.
TotosHeadphones
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@LuckyNico92 wrote:
@ScarDuck14Maybe that's true, but they could simply delay the release of F1 games if they can't keep up with the schedule, to at the very least make sure that the game is enjoyable for everyone, and to make sure that the game has little to no problems at release. Sure, the very old CM F1 games like 2012 have problems too that remain unfixed to this day, but that was a different time, a different engine, and different technology compared to today.

Also, if I remember correctly, the only game franchise from EA that Codies was supposed to lay hands on was Need for Speed. I know that from a German YouTuber who loves Need for Speed.

I still stick with my personal opinion: F1 2020 was the pinnacle of F1 games, and with 2021, it went downhill very fast.
When it comes to licensed games, it's not a simple case of delaying games because of quality and development. Contracts are tight and I'm sure they are extra tight between FIA/FOM and Codemasters (and now EA). It's been said many times, if you want a quality product and you want companies to put the time in, send the message with your wallet; stop buying yearly games with cosmetic updates.
Additionally, you should probably stop taking the words of your "German Youtuber" as gospel.
LuckyNico92
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@Ultrasonic_77 I know that, and one major member from the CM Forum admitted that they creep up the difficulty with every game, and it's been like that until 2020, and I speak from experience.

I understand that players get better as well, but that's no excuse to spike up the difficulty. I still remember playing F1 2021 for the first time, dominating the competition in Bahrain, and after that, it went downhill insanely quick, so I know what you mean with AI inconsistencies from track to track, which did get better with F1 22, even if the AI in general is still too fast.

I'll mark this as solution. Thanks, mate.

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Codemasters F1 games vs. EA F1 games

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