F1 Manager Professional is an excellent, comprehensive, and highly underrated F1 manager game by German developer Software 2000. The game lets you control every aspect of F1 team management, from manufacturing and financing, to race performance and even merchandising. Getting ahead in F1MP requires a combination of business savvy and engineering know-how, because your goal is not only to take your team to the top, but also to make money while doing so. A more advanced and improved version of Software 2000's earlier F1 Manager, this Professional version has a user-friendly and intuitive icon-driven interface to navigate through the literally hundreds of menus, charts, models, and diagrams that give you all the information you need to plan an effective business and race strategy. There is a lot of text and variables you need to grasp, especially in the design and testing of race car models. The game employs its SVGA resolution to present all the menus and the actual racing action in flawless detail, down to the sponsors' ads and background scenery. Beneath the polish lies an incredibly deep simulation that is sure to appeal to both the hardcore business simulation crowd and die-hard F1 fans. If you enjoy the likes of Grand Prix Manager but don't want to deal with business aspects, you can toggle off many micromanagement details that limit the game's scope. You can also choose from multiple difficulty settings and change most other variables that affect the game to suit your preferences and skills. This excellent customizability in F1MP should appeal to both casual and hardcore gamers alike. All in all, F1MP is one of the most underrated titles you will ever come across -- not only as a F1 manager sim, but even as a business simulation in general. If you are interested in professional sports management and want to play something a little different from the many soccer managers on the market, you definitely have to take a look at F1 Manager Professional. Two thumbs up, way up! Reviewed by: Underdogs |