CTDP has announced that the development of their planned Formula One 2009 mod for rFactor 2 has been canceled due to lacking progress during the past months.
Announced in March, F1 2009 was planned to bring the then-current Formula One season to rFactor 2. With most of the base team being busy working on the Superleague Formula Game as well as the F1 1994 mod for rFactor, the mod was planned to be developed by another arm of the team – A plan that did not work out due to several members dropping out for various reasons.
While the decision to end the development publicly instead of letting the mod die in months of silence is very much understandable, one aspect is rather worrying as the team admits that legal concerns have played a part in their decision too:
“Additionally there is something else concerning us. Since Codemasters has the official FIA Formula One License, we don’t know if a release of a “competing” Mod with Codemasters’ F1 Game is a good idea. It feels as Modding becomes more dangerous these days and we already saw Modders quiting their hobby because of legal problems. We don’t plan to quit, but we would be lying if we claim the topic wouldn’t concern us.”
It seems that the latest legal issues around BATRacer and NFS Bolide are now starting to worry the big modding teams too, a big shame considering that CTDP’s excellent mod have done a much better job representing Formula One than some of the recent commercial titles holding the official license. The team’s full statement on their decision can be found here.
ZombieJim
December 31st, 2009 at 04:08
Codies would be threatened – I expect CTDP would do a damn sight better job than them.
It sucks that everything boils down to money.
Wil
December 31st, 2009 at 04:22
I knew it!
Another forever WIP bites the dust. This “legal issue” is not convincing since Codemaster will release a 2010 season based game and considering the very small niche of rFactor hardcore players/pilots. At least we can hope a good job from FSONE guys at this.
ForzaBarca88
December 31st, 2009 at 04:40
Thats a shame. But reading that statement it seems like CTDP just got disinterested in the mod so this is probably for the best. Anyways, appreciate the honesty and good luck with the ‘94 mod.
eddiespag
December 31st, 2009 at 06:43
So sad about this. It is a great disappointment, especially because we know through first hand witnessing that often times passion trumps money. Thank you CTDP for all that you have given to our sim racing community, and now for your openness and honesty. ‘Stay in touch’.
miguelattam
December 31st, 2009 at 07:13
Please think!. Do you really think Ferrari, or any constructor in the world for that matter, would bother about their “brand” being used by amateur modding teams or websites?? I mean, follow the money: who as got the more to lose? Ferrari or whoever, or those super-hyped, well-paid websites like IRacing and WTF? Who’s investing in licensing and subscription-based gaming? Who wins with the stopping of all real-world modding for free? Not RFactor makers for sure, not the constructors I believe, but the people behind new “sim-racing concepts”. I’m not criticizing them, they have to care for their business, but who else’s lawyers would bother about a Ferrari F40 appearing in a 3rd party mod for free??? Welcome to the future of internet.
michael
December 31st, 2009 at 08:31
Heh, read the story guys.
They stopped developing it because they had better things to do and they couldn’t be bothered to do it or find people that could be bothered to do it
No other reasons than that.
The blather about codies is something that starts “we don’t know”
It’s like saying “I didn’t go to work today because I couldn’t be bothered but additionally I don’t know if a meteorite is going to strike the planet wiping out life…it seems going to work is dangerous these days”
Then folk are nodding their heads in agreement “at the terrible meteorites”
Pandamasque
December 31st, 2009 at 08:48
Ferrari have nothing to lose if the rFactor gets a good modern F1 mod. Codemasters do lose. There are many kids who PLAY rF just because it’s the ONLY PC ‘game’ that has modern F1. Just look at those countless F1 leagues with a handful of kids playing with keyboard using nearly all available assists. Potentially they are customers for Codies.
BSR-WiX
December 31st, 2009 at 09:13
a top answer. And a creative one. I like the way you express yourself Michael.
i Agree.
FooAtari
December 31st, 2009 at 09:51
Ah well. F1 is terrible these days anyway. I’d rather see them complete the 1994 mod when the sport still had some credibility.
Now that CTDP have released a commercial game they will be more known to larger developers and I’m sure Codemasters would have a lot to say about an unlicensed F1 mod being released.
Adam D
December 31st, 2009 at 10:17
Will some of you give it a rest, especially Wil! Do you ever pay for the work these guys do: No, It’s all ours for free so give them a break.
Good luck with the future guys.
massarob
December 31st, 2009 at 10:17
Wondering if all mods future and past could be in danger, if the future will be fantasy name then a mod to mod names?
And all these issues ara going to affect rF2 which is, I still guess, based on mods?
philliecullen
December 31st, 2009 at 10:34
While it’s a shame to see a project dropped, it isn’t a bad thing from a logical point of view.
Current-season F1 mods are pretty much the ‘thing’ to create these days. As such, the market is swamped with them – from those already out to the the longer term projects being done by the likes of FSOne.
In my view, its a good call from CTDP. Not that I don’t think they can’t make a quality project, but given how flooded the mod market is with current season F1 cars – its probably harder to get more universal appeal for it because each of the mods have their own niche audience.
One would suspect, and hope, that they are going to maybe work on other projects, such as F1 seasons gone by (such as their 1994 project). From what I can tell (someone will no doubt smack me if I’m wrong), there is no quality mod done from that year. I’m sure many will argue that getting good, quality mods of seasons gone by is just as important, if not more, than having five or six different current season F1 mods to choose from.
FooAtari
December 31st, 2009 at 10:38
Agreed philliecullen. There are countless mods for 2005 – 2009 F1 seasons, probably 3 for each year. Do we really need that many? No. Especially when there are other (better IMO) motorsport series to base mods on.
zudthespud
December 31st, 2009 at 11:49
Sad News, but I appreciate them announcing it publicly.
Flaux
December 31st, 2009 at 11:57
Same here! But a simple “sorry we don’t go on with this mod. Lets focus our power on 1994″ would have been enough for me. What now happens is that everyone is going to tell that the world is going down because of the “Cody Meteorit” (thx wix
) And then its AGAIN the end of Simracing. I’m fed up with this…
jonneymendoza
December 31st, 2009 at 12:34
fucking shame indeed as F1 is my favourite racing mod on rfactor.
commodore
December 31st, 2009 at 13:31
I’m actually somewhat happy because I’m waiting for the 94 mod more eagerly than the 09 mod.
JGoenR
December 31st, 2009 at 14:07
What a shame.
On the other hand look at the bright side – you can complete F1 1994 faster as there is no other mod you’re working on. 
BSR-WiX
December 31st, 2009 at 14:50
It seems to be rumour preiode. I am hearing allot of stuff these days. a few of them where pleasant, and would create a bing bang in the simcommunity if they where true.
pleb
December 31st, 2009 at 16:16
FUG SAKE :[
jonneymendoza
December 31st, 2009 at 17:35
f1 2010 mod i need please
Xabi
December 31st, 2009 at 18:28
2009 was a shit year, but 2010 looks exciting, as the Codemasters F1 2010 game is coming like the rFactor 2 and the FSONE 2009 mod. I think that we will forget the cancel of this mod quickly.
Mitos
December 31st, 2009 at 20:44
Good bye 2009! Welcome 2010! Happy New Year!
quik4ever
January 1st, 2010 at 09:19
“Modding becomes more dangerous these days and we already saw Modders quiting their hobby because of legal problems.”
1st : come on…, 2nd : you (the modders) started to make modding “dangerous”. they tell everythings us… they catch the public attention on them, they now got real troubles…
i dont think making a mod for a ‘not very well’ (in front of public games sell numbers) sold pc title will bring you problems…or get it out without official names… simracers will still like it, but numerous mods have been out when sony got the license, i never heard of something dangerous, and i’m online net since 96, its not the same market, not the same developpement, not the same aim, it can’t get you in troubles, especially if you dont make any money with what you made (actually sites/blogs like this one make that money, and really dont care because i read it everyday, and i dont want another big site/blog/forum down after rcs…)
after that, happy new year to everybody
Loetkoe
January 1st, 2010 at 09:48
Personally I think it’s good, they can concentrate more on 1994 then :)
Husky42
January 1st, 2010 at 10:26
I very much understand the decision by CTDP and honestly cannot blame them.
What I will state is people (me included) need to start looking at the way we treat modders and other content creators (developers alike) PC gamers have become incredibly gimmie gimmie and unforgiving in their criticism and thankfulness of titles that people develope and spend lots of time and energy on.
On the legal issues, I once again support CTDP’s decision 100% With Butch being threatened, Jason receiving legal threats and even in the mil sim world threats being given by a big government defence contractor all I can state is this. Modders and mod groups need to watch themselves and their releases.
Some people may say that too many are starting to fear the unknown, but when you look at the fact CTDP may have complete justification and right to worry, instead of potentially fight a battle they could not win they have avoided that, and it is completely understandable.
When you truly understand corporate copyright you will understand that even freely and for sale art is never protected by your rights as an artist as if you reproduce something that has the corporate logo and name sake of said company you CAN be sued. It does not mean you will be, but there is always the potential.
I for one want to take the time to thank CTDP for everything they have done thus far, they have released some of the best works for Rfactor and will continue to do so, even with the ingrates in the community (me included) they still move forward attempting to bring content to our chosen racing platforms.
So thank you CTDP and here is hoping you have a great trouble free 2010.
EmptyBox
January 3rd, 2010 at 08:39
Given CTDP’s record – it’s actually a good thing to think of things like that. This isn’t a group of chumps – heck – they have actually done work for a full commercial product. That isn’t flying under the radar.
It just sucks that rF really won’t work GP4 style where you can mix and match cars so easily from different authors, where people did single cars, not full seasons. Spread the load out while keeping large amounts of content. Would certainly help in situations like this.
I hope to see CTDP remember that T and what it means in their name. Car mods are limited in scope compared to amazing tracks.