Official review of Mobil1 Road To Austin game

So oil company Mobil is the next company in line to commit a racing game and have unleashed it upon us un-knowing souls for endless fun. Right?

Well, no. Mobil 1 and the Vodafone Lucozade Johnny Walker McLaren-Mercedes team have been partners for many years now, and in the wake of such apps and game such as Lotus´ wildly confusing link-up with soft-rockers Linkin Park and then Total´s more impressive game Micro Race, the Mobil oil company is now launching their idea of a racing game. You can race cars and win great prizes, such as an all-expense paid trip to the inaugural Austin Grand Prix this November, or as the website claims:

To experience the Mobil 1 Racing Academy, which features 3D graphics, multiple car racing and an amazing full screen mode, you must have the Unity software plug-in on your computer.

First things first. Registering is very easy, and this is of course a given, so that if you win, they know how to contact you. Simple, right? And it then goes pretty much downhill from here on end.

You enter races, which by the way is NOT in 3D at all, more on that later, and race such exciting places as Brandenburger Tor, around the Hagia Sofia and more. Racing itself is pretty straight forward. You have UP for throttle, DOWN for brake, LEFT for, well you get the point. There is also a boost button, SPACE, which gives you a welcome extra few hundred horsepower.

The game is rubbish, there is no denying it. I am sorry, I wanted to make a really good and detailed description of the game, but I could not progress far enough into the game to actually know what happens in the end.

Each ‘race’ takes about 25 seconds and after each one you are asked a simple question. Get it right, and you have 15 seconds off your finished race time, and this is for every race. So far so good. I would then expect that by the end of the game, you are presented with a list of other drivers and you can, probably, compare your times and try again as many times as you want, until you nail it.

As I have mentioned a few times now, the game is rubbish and here is the reason. Not 3D, not by a mile. Instead you get graphics that would be awesome if we were still in 1998, because there is no way that Mobil has paid top dollar for this load of….Graphics are the most simple I have seen in the last ten years, and no that is not a compliment, on any platform, there is no feeling of control of the car, no sense of “wauw, they really nailed it with the surroundings” and one of the worst part of the entire experience is, that the loading screen takes forever, then doesn´t remove itself when the race starts.

The tip is, apparently, to back up, re-load the game, and try again, until you get the loading screen away. But after each race completed, the loading screen keeps hanging on when the race starts, and fucks up the screen completely. It took me five or six tries to start each race and I gave up after three. At this time, the loading screen to signal the next race not only didn´t disappear, it ‘merged’ with the race, so I had block cars going all over the place. I even had seven or eight McLaren cars flying around the screen.

I wish I could tell you what happens in the end, but it took me 20 minutes just to complete two 25 second races. The rest of the time I waited for the game to load and to re-load the game when the loading screen didn´t disappear.

The worst part of it all is that the game has decided to completely fuck up the the Unity engine, a brilliant piece of engineering most prominently used by Arnt Jensen in his epic and very stunningly beautiful Limbo which came out a few years back. How the programmers behind this game managed to screw up the uses of the Unity engine is beyond me, but they have.

Road To Austin is a waste of time and I expect you have a whole array of console or PC games to play which are much more interesting and more importantly, gives off that gaming feel. Road To Austin, I give it 1 star out of 5 for having Lewis Hamilton´s picture on the website.

For more information on the game, go here

Rick Perry knows where the $25 million is

Remember some time ago, when the organisers of the United States Grand Prix said that all they needed to get the show on the road, was for the state comptroller to sign some papers and hey presto there´s the racing fee to Bernie Ecclestone?

The state never found the money, saying that they wouldn´t invest in something that wasn´t even a sure thing, and since the construction on the site started, there have been plenty of articles written on the subject, some suggesting one thing, some suggesting the opposite. In November 2011 Bernie Ecclestone even went as far as saying that the race in Austin would never happen, in fact when asked if the event would be cancelled, Ecclestone said: “Yes, it will be for sure, 100 per cent.”

Since then COTA, Circuit of the Americas as it´s called, have secured the funding from private investors, and the fee has been paid. Construction work is on schedule and the organisers even had to place more grandstands due to the overwhelming demand for tickets. So all in all it seems the United States GP will take place and very likely be a huge success.

But was the $25million really that hard to find? Ask the state and the answer is yes. They would tell you that the money, even though it came from a special fund earmarked for sporting events just like this, simply couldn´t afford it, and also in a financial crisis as the one we are in, how can they defend that decision?

Thing is, the state of Texas clearly has the money, a simple look at the state budget reveals plenty of money in the coffers. In fact, the state has just renovated and rebuilded the governor Rick Perry´s residence, at a cost of, you guessed it, precisely $25million. And this in a time where said governor, who was running for President by the way, slashed school spending by $5bn, and wants to cut 10% on next years total budget.

“I find it interesting that a state that can’t provide children’s health care or taking care of the poor can always find an unexpected $25 million laying around for a favored project,” said Bill Aleshire, (D) a lawyer and former Travis County commissioner in Austin.

“Of course the mansion needed to be repaired — I just don’t get the same sense of frugality” that’s applied to state spending for other purposes,” said Aleshire.

For more information, read this article.

US Grand Prix ticket demand is ‘overwhelming’

The organisers of the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, has been overwhelmed by the demand for reserved seats for the inaugural 2012 race in November, and has decided to add additional grandstands to accommodate the many people demanding tickets.

The request for the three-day reserved grandstand bleacher seats, has taken the organisers of the circuit by surprise. Still under construction, the Austin track received a thumbs-up from FIA race director Charlie Whiting a few days ago, and as VP of the Public and Community Relations Julie Loignon said, the demand for the tickets have been through the roof.

“We have experienced incredible demand for reserved grandstand seating tickets, and customers have quickly purchased our available inventory. As such, we are considering installing more reserved seats between Turns 9 and 10 and between Turns 11 and 12 in place of other types of seating that had been planned for those areas.  We will release more information about new grandstand inventory and when additional reserved seats might be available for purchase as soon as possible.
 
“We continue to see steady sales of personal seat licenses with premium seating and on-site parking at the Circuit. We are extremely pleased with how things are going overall, since our public ticket sales began less than a week ago.”

Whiting give COTA the thumbs up

FIA´s race director Charlie Whiting took the chance of visiting the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, while the F1 community was in Canada the previous weekend.

The circuit, which will play host to the first US Grand Prix since 2007, is curently being constructed from the ground up. And work progresses nicely, Whiting said.

“It is clear that the significant resources Circuit of The Americas has committed to completing this facility on time and to FIA specifications is making a difference,” Charlie Whiting said. “The more than 500 construction workers on site daily are making great progress, and I plan to return to Austin at the end of August for an update. My formal pre-race inspection is set for Sept. 25, which is 60 days before the scheduled start of the F1 United States GP.”

“From the world-class motorsports facilities and fan areas to the racecourse itself, which promises to be one of the most challenging new additions to our season, I believe Circuit of The Americas has the ability to put on a great show and spectacular Grand Prix in its inaugural year. I look forward to my next visit in August.”

COTA ticket sales kicks off Sunday

The organisers of the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, has announced that ticket sales will start on this Sunday, June 10.

The general admission three-day general ticket pass costs $159 per person, and allows race fans to choose between a variety of locations to watch the action. Then there is the three-day reserved grandstand bleacher seats, which starts at $269 and goes up to $499 per person. Those seats are specific. All three-day reserved grandstand bleacher seats and general admission, includes round-trip shuttle bus transportation from three designated park-and-ride locations around Austin.

“Formula 1™ fans and motorsports enthusiasts around the world have eagerly anticipated this news, and we’re excited to launch public ticket sales for our inaugural event in the next few days,” said Circuit Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer Geoff Moore said. “We have options to fit every pocketbook.

“Information provided by the public was crucial as we finalized prices for the 2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX™. We received fan input from extensive customer surveys and through market research from other Grands Prix and comparable premier, international, multi-day sporting events. In the final analysis, we wanted to make this event affordable to F1 fans around the country. Whether they want a reserved seat or the freedom to explore our expansive facility with a general admission ticket, they will enjoy great views and amenities.”

Seating Area	Three-Day Ticket Price  Per Person
General Admission	$159
Grandstand – Turn 11	$269
Grandstand – Turns 2, 3, 4 and 5	$299
Grandstand – Turn 12 (lower rows)	$399
Grandstand – Turn 12 (upper rows)	$499

For more information, do visit the official website www.CircuitofTheAmericas.com/tickets, www.ticketmaster.com (use the search terms “Circuit of The Americas” or “Formula 1 United States Grand Prix”), or dial the Ticketmaster hotline,800.745.3000, to review available options.

Statement from Circuit of the Americas

A statement from the COTA, the Circuit of the Americas, has been issued on Thursday.

“The Circuit of The Americas today filed with the District Court of Travis County, Texas, an amended plea in abatement and motion to compel arbitration, and voluntarily agreed to have the temporary sealing order vacated in the current legal dispute with former Circuit principal Tavo Hellmund and his various entities.
 
“Information contained in the pleading will release to the public information that had been temporarily sealed by the Court until the presiding judge had the opportunity to rule on whether the dispute would be resolved through binding arbitration.  As explained in the pleadings, and clearly stated in the Accelerator Holdings LLC partnership agreement signed by Circuit investors and Hellmund in December 2010, “any controversy, claim or dispute between or among the Company and any Member or among Members arising out of or relating to this Company Agreement or any other matters pertaining to the Company, shall be settled by binding arbitration.”  Accelerator Holdings has a minority interest in Circuit of The Americas.
 
“Circuit Chairman Robert Epstein reiterated the company’s desire to put an end to the dispute with Hellmund and Hellmund’s various entities through binding arbitration, as was agreed to in writing by Hellmund and all parties subject to the Accelerator Holdings company agreement. “Our intent from the beginning has been to resolve this matter efficiently through the agreed-upon binding arbitration process, and we feel that unsealing the court records moves us closer to this goal,” Epstein stated.
 
“Circuit of The America’s attorney Michael Whellan noted that, “We believe the facts made public through today’s filing strongly support our position that Mr. Hellmund’s claims and accusations—and his misrepresentations to Circuit representatives and the public about his ability to assign Formula 1™ race contracts—only serve to undermine his case.
 
““We believe the tactics Mr. Hellmund and his legal team have employed to date are meant to purposely generate negative public sentiment about Circuit of The Americas in hopes of extracting a large settlement. Unfortunately, we do not expect these tactics to end anytime soon. Nonetheless, we are prepared to arbitrate this dispute as the parties have agreed to do in writing.”

Austin GP in the spotlight again

It seems that there is still plenty of controversy surrounding the new home of the United States Grand Prix, the Circuit of the Americas, in Austin, Texas.

Some months ago it was revealed that Tavo Hellmund, the original project founder, got himself involved in a legal dispute with some of the investors for the project. He had asked for a buyout, but one clause in the contract has not been fulfilled, said Hellmund. In it, Hellmund is to receive an annual salary of $500,000, or £316,000 for his role as chairman of the Grand Prix. The contract is said to run for ten years.

But the details of the lawsuit has been kept under lock and key, on behalf of the COTA, and spokesperson Julie Loignon has said that the circuit has requested the documents to be sealed, in order to ‘safeguard confidential business practices’. The Austin-American Statesman newspaper have filed a plea in the district court, requesting the documents to be open to the public, saying it´s of public interest.

“We want to find out what it is about this lawsuit that has to be kept secret,” said Jim George, a representative from the Statesman, and the person who filed the action. “I’ve been doing this 20 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this. Secrecy from the public is never in the best interest of anybody.”

Managing editor of the Statesman, John Bridges said:

“Court records are open for a reason. The public’s right to access the records in this case is particularly important because the F1 project relies so heavily upon taxpayer money. Taxpayers deserve to know what’s happening in a civil suit that could affect that public investment.”

The United States GP will take place on November 18t.

Billionaire backs Austin circuit

Billionaire, entrepreneur and philanthropist John Paul DeJoria, has joined the list of financial backers supporting the Circuit of the Americas, in Austin, Texas.

A statement from the COTA, reads:

Circuit of The Americas™ (CoTA) is proud to announce that one of its newest supporters and investors is John Paul DeJoria, the internationally known co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems and a key investor in the high-end tequila company, Patron Spirits. DeJoria’s involvement in CoTA is testament to the strong commitment the project has received from global business and philanthropic leaders. As a resident of Austin, Texas, and avid motorsports fan, DeJoria’s interest in the facility focused on sports, entertainment, business development and recreational activities began when the project was first announced and the promise of bringing Formula 1 racing back to the United States became tangible.

“My wife, Eloise, and I attended our first Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1995 with our good friend, the entertainer Cher,” said DeJoria. “We were in Monaco and Michael Schumacher won that year. I will never forget that experience, and I’ve been in love with Formula 1 ever since. When I learned about the chance to bring F1 to Texas through a facility like Circuit of The Americas, I couldn’t wait to be involved.”

DeJoria’s motorsports connections spread into other types of racing as well. Tequila Patron of the Patron Spirits family is the title sponsor for the American Le Mans Series, the world’s premier sports car racing series. The Series gives fans non-stop action on the track and an open and friendly paddock, while providing manufacturers with a real-life laboratory to push the limits of automotive innovation and technology. Recent technology breakthroughs in the Series have focused on the environment, such as the development of biofuels, hybrid technology and tire compounds, all leading to more efficient automotive engineering.

On a personal level, DeJoria’s daughter Alexis DeJoria has excelled in the motorsports world. She has been a competitive drag racer since 2005 and recently started her first full season in the professional nitro funny car division. Other past success includes racing for Tequila Patron to become the fastest female driver in the alcohol-burning funny car division, as well as the second fastest driver ever at that level. She is also the first female to ever win a national event in this division in 30 years.

Beyond the motorsports world, John Paul DeJoria’s business and philanthropic interests include sustainability and green technology, and he has served as a guest speaker for the United Nations and the Wall Street Journal’s Eco-Economics Summit. Environmental protection and awareness is a key component to all of DeJoria’s business endeavors, and he was recently recognized for his ongoing efforts to develop clean technology in today’s modern world by being named the 2009 Goodwill Ambassador by the Intergovernmental Renewable Organization. Given CoTA’s commitment to sustainability in the construction and operation of its venue in southeast Travis County, becoming an investor in the project allowed DeJoria to align his personal and professional missions with a sports and entertainment franchise he’s passionate about.

“I am all for supporting a project that promotes not only F1, but all forms of racing and year-round family friendly entertainment and multi-purpose community use for Texans,” DeJoria added. “Circuit of The Americas will benefit the region economically and help the community in the process, and to me, that’s the definition of a great investment.”