This playable build of Formula X shows the game in its present, unfinished state. You start the game with lots and lots of money, there's a lot of freedom in setting up your team, and then there are three circuit sessions to play through.
The game is mostly free of game-breaking bugs, but please do contact me if you happen to run into one.
Stay tuned for updates on the game!
Twitter: @FormulaXGame
Dev-blog: www.nickheathfield.co.uk/wp/
FORMULA X BUILD 31 README FILE
Please take a couple of minutes to check through this help file. This game is a work in progress, so there ARE bugs, there ARE features missing, and there is no tutorial.
BUILDING A TEAM
1) There is no need to get loans. You have a zillion pounds. If you want loans, it all works, so feel free to try the system out.
2) You can actually acquire other teams. Bottom right corner of the main menu. Since you are only allowed to run one team at a time, your existing team is automatically sold to make way for your new team. When fully implemented, this feature will enable you to dodge potentially disastrous obligations by palming them off onto a willing buyer, or advance more quickly than might otherwise be possible. All this will come at a price, of course.
3) You should start by purchasing engines. When buying Engines, ignore the "partner" and "info" options. They don't work but you can look, it's harmless.
4) You will also need to hire at least one driver; it's cheaper and simpler to run a single-car team, but no way to go about winning a Constructor's Championship.
5) Click on the panel under the car colour switch in order to get to the R&D screen, where you can hire a chief designer and pit crew. You also have to order cars to be built, and assign drivers to cars where applicable.
6) I haven't finished working on sponsors. They all give similar or identical bonuses and I've only put a few examples in this build. The different liveries are quite nice though.
7) If you missed anything, the budget screen will catch you. The budget screen gives only partial information. If it lets you confirm and move forward, there's no problem.
SESSIONS
The first session is not a race. It is a combined testing/qualifying session in which you need to make decisions based on your engineer's recommendations. Be sure to complete each assignment set by your chief designer, or you won't get another one. When the session is over, the car with the fastest lap time begins the first race at the front, and the slowest at the back, etc.
For each race, there is a procession to the start line; you can take this time to initialise your car setup. After the cars line up, the race begins. When the race is won, there is a grace period for remaining cars to cross the line, after which the event terminates. Finishing positions are reversed for the next race's positions.
TACTICAL
-WEATHER
Keep an eye on the sky. Every lap, the weather updates. If it's raining, the amount of water on the track will increase. Otherwise, it will decrease.
Your wet weather tyre strategy should depend on the water displacement parameter of your Damp and Wet tyres.
-TYRE CHANGES
Right at the start, before the cars begin the first lap, you can freely choose any kind of tyre for your cars. The tyres are fitted before the race begins.
If you need to change tyres during a race, select the kind of tyre you want, and hit the "Pit" button so that it glows red.
Upon entering the pits, the tyres will be replaced with fresh ones of your choice.
-REFUELLING
At the start of the race, use the "Refuel" buttons to set the starting amount of fuel in each car. When making a pitstop, the Refuel buttons set the amount of fuel that the car will leave the pits with.
-PACING
The four buttons to the right of each car's tactics panel lets you change the pace.
--SLOW
The button shaped like a dash, or hyphen, causes the driver to keep a conservative pace. This is best used when a driver is exhausted, or when the tyres are in dire need of replacement, or when the weather becomes extremely bad.
--DEFEND
The button shaped like a shield causes the driver to block other cars more effectively - except for the team-mate, of course. This does mean he can't drive as fast, though.
--DEFAULT
The button shaped like a short arrow causes the driver to race as he normally would, without taking too many risks.
--ATTACK
The button shaped like a long arrow causes the driver to push hard. This will cause more stamina loss, fuel depletion and tyre wear in exchange for a little extra speed. Use with caution.
-TIME
During the race you will see three buttons at the top right. Buttons with arrows on them.
The first of the three sets time to 1x. You can use the 1 key to hit it quickly. Useful for responding to emergencies.
The second sets time to 5x. The 2 key also works. A good speed for keeping everything ticking along quickly without getting out of hand.
The third, sets time to 10x. Also triggered by the 3 key. Press this key if you don't anticipate any imminent need for your strategic intervention.
