The Future Of Need For Speed

Thesnipergecko

Thesnipergecko

Thesnipergecko

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NEED FOR SPEED FRANCHISE RACES INTO NEW GENRES
Global Studio Teams Drive Quality and Innovation in Three New Games

Guildford, UK – January 30, 2009 – Fifteen years; more than 40 countries; close to 100 million games sold. Need for Speed™ has helped to define automotive culture for millions of fans with its embrace of the car lifestyle and its cool rebellious attitude. Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) unveiled the details of what is in store for the franchise over the next 12 months, as the property expands to new platforms, new categories and new media.

Need for Speed is committed to providing unique and customized experiences for all types of racing fans by establishing three independent series; simulation, action and arcade racing. Each series will be developed by a highly-specialized team dedicated to delivering the ultimate racing experiences to car enthusiasts around the world – whether they be interested in adrenaline action, arcade fun or authentic simulation.

“We recognize racing videogame fans are very passionate and unique -- they want customized gameplay experiences. Whether it’s more of a realistic driving game with accurate car physics or over-the-top cop chases, we are making different games for different audiences,” said Keith Munro, vice president of marketing, Need for Speed. “Each game provides a deep, engaging and rich racing experience. We’re giving players the option to choose the best racing title that suits their style of gameplay.”

Need for Speed SHIFT – Autumn 2009
Shift into high gear! Designed to deliver a true driver’s experience that reflects contemporary motorsports, Need for Speed SHIFT is built by racers for racers. Need for Speed SHIFT delivers an authentic and immersive driving experience developed by Slightly Mad Studios in collaboration with executive producer Michael Mann at Black Box and senior vice president Patrick Soderlund at EA Games Europe. Slightly Mad Studios includes developers and designers that worked on the critically acclaimed games GT Legends and GTR 2. Need for Speed SHIFT replicates the true feeling of racing high-end performance cars like never before. Players are thrust into the heart of the action with immersive and exciting features including a stunningly realistic first-person cockpit view camera and an all-new crash mechanic, providing an unrivalled sensation of the speed and feeling of racing a car on the extreme edge of control.

Soderlund is also part of a racing team that recently competed in the 4th edition of the TOYO TIRES 24H Dubai 2009, the first major race event of the year. His team ranked #5 in the high-profile race. Soderlund and the SHIFT development team are committed to bringing the on-the-track experience to players across the world.

Need for Speed SHIFT will be released on PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) and PC in fall 2009.

Need for Speed NITRO (Working Title) – Autumn 2009
Developed by EA Montreal, Need for Speed NITRO for Wii™ and Nintendo DS™ will have players of all skill levels hooked from the moment they get into the action, while arcade racing fans will be exhilarated by the deep and challenging gameplay. EA Montreal has already established a strong track record of developing for these platforms and will bring their unique creativity and innovation to the Need for Speed franchise.

Gamers can build up their boost as they drift and drag behind their opponents and use it strategically to change the course of the race, but watch out for the cops! Offering a fresh and unique visual style, the game features a variety of licensed cars which can be fully customized to let the game reflect the player’s taste and personality. This evolutionary take on arcade racing, bringing back the best features found in Need for Speed games, comes exclusively to the Nintendo platforms this fall.

Need for Speed World Online – Winter 2009 in North America, (Summer 2009 in Asia)
Co-developed by Black Box and EA Singapore, Need for Speed World Online takes the race into the largest open world in the history of Need for Speed - designed exclusively for the PC. Beginning in Asia, this Play 4 Free action racing game will give Need for Speed fans access to licensed cars, parts and multiple game modes. Players will prove their racing supremacy through the sophisticated online matchmaking features and fully customize their profile and their ride.

EA and Black Box will have more news about the Need for Speed franchise in the months ahead.
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Quoted from EA press release website.

T.
 
meh meh meh.

It's been so long since it was good that I've just stopped caring. It would be nice to be surprised with a good one but I won't bother looking forward to one any more.
 
The series does need a complete overhaul implementing fresh new ideas and also needs to get away from the annual nature.
 
Disappointed with this news, i thought they were going to let NFS die. The last few games have been poor.
 
It'll be rubbish. 2009? That means it will be the same game engine as the last 3/4 titles which at the moment runs like rubbish, some re-hashed models they have already created and more frustrating AI and boring multilayer.

The best NFS was the 4th (High Stakes) and Porsche Unleashed which focused on a balance of realism and fun.
 
thought they said it was coming to an end? Jesus, end this tired beast, it has lost the will to live. fatal insertion into the heart with a rusty sword should kill any beast, why not this?
 
so for me the Wii and Ds gets the gametype i want, whilst the Xbox gets the crapola Pro Street style game and the Pc gets a GRID style game.

Oh well, end of a franchise for me then
 
wonder how realistic SHIFT is going to be, it would be great if the physics wiped the floor with other sim games that are on console at the mo

very interested

check it awesome pic, was interested in the console version but after seeing this....pc for me


also looks a little like the london track in gt5p

Shift_BrandRelease_Jan23.jpg.jpg
 
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That pre-rendered pic for the press there looks pretty good i guess, but then again i just can't show any kind of enthusiasm for it at all. Totally lost interest in NFS games. And as for your comment on disregarding the console version because you've seen the PC one.. eh?? :confused:
 
i thought that was a pc in game pic, mind you the game isnt made yet so must be pre rendered(im not 100% sure what is meant by pre rendered im kinda sure its not a ingame pic, is a pre renned pic a pic that a artist has just made up photoshop or whatever? i'd use google but is busted) but still pc for me because console graphics are crap compared to my 88gtx
 
muggs said:
wonder how realistic SHIFT is going to be, it would be great if the physics wiped the floor with other sim games that are on console at the mo

very interested

check it awesome pic, was interested in the console version but after seeing this....pc for me


also looks a little like the london track in gt5p

http://images.eurogamer.net/assets/articles//a/3/9/7/0/2/3/Shift_BrandRelease_Jan23.jpg.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

Final release will look nothing like that.

They best future for NfS would be to drop the series and try and make something new.
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