EA Announces Need For Speed Franchise Renovation
See Full ImageNeed for Speed: Undercover represented a slight departure from tradition for the long-running racing franchise, as EA implemented a movie-like storyline in order to grab new fans. Evidently, though, they didn't go far enough with the restructuring.
According to Eurogamer, EA says they plan to "reinvent" the Need for Speed series this year, which means we won't see just one blockbuster release. Instead, we'll get "separate core, casual and 'Play 4 Free' games." Therefore, the schedule includes Need for Speed: Shift for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PSP and PC (set for fall), Need for Speed: Nitro for the Wii and DS, and Need for Speed: World Online, which will be released to the Asian online PC market first in the summer, than head to North America in the winter. Shift is being developed by Slightly Mad Studios (they're responsible for GT Legends and GTR2), and this installment will focus on the simulation aspects of driving. Apparently, this will not only include racing physics, but "realistic driver behavior." That whole "urban underground" theme will disappear, it seems, and instead, we get features like "a flashy 3D HUD that mimics driver head movement" (feeds off inertia and G-force), a cockpit view, and more. Said EA Marketing boss Keith Munro:
"Need for Speed Shift is amazing and I think it will blow people away. The tech behind that game, the details that only a team with such racing pedigree could accomplish, and the ability to make you feel the intensity of a race is unprecedented. I can't wait for our fans to begin experiencing it! Regarding any new Need for Speed girls I can't comment, but I'll definitely mark down one enthusiastic vote for Josie Maran."
As if you hadn't already guessed, Nitro will be a "fast, fun arcade" racer, and...well, that's all we really need to say about it. World Online is being co-developed by Black Box and EA's online studio in Singapore. Munro says it's "not so much a proof of concept - it is a full-fledged launch in a market that we are very ambitious toward." If you want to sign up for this bad boy, you'll be able to get your hands on more licensed cars, parts and game modes than has ever appeared in any NFS title in history. So there you have it: the NFS revamping is under way! How do you like it?
1/30/2009 Ben Dutka
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Comments (30 posts)
Deleted User
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 11:15:20 AM
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Leave it to these idiots to ruin on of the best series out.
Need for Speed was THE game back in the PS1 and early PS2 days.
0 up, 1 down
Papa Burgundy
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 11:31:14 AM
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1 up, 0 down
LividFiction
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 11:54:53 AM
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0 up, 0 down
Joe_III
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 12:01:04 PM
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bring back HP2 or NFSU1...those were fun.
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SPS3
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 12:03:21 PM
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Zorigo
Saturday, January 31, 2009 @ 9:55:50 AM
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dveisalive
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 12:06:57 PM
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2 up, 1 down
faraga
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 12:09:08 PM
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i stopped buying nfs games after u bought carbon, which really turned me down, completed it in about an afternoon in total (and im a slow gamer, trying to get the most outa the games), and it wasn't as cool by far as the previous ones.
though midnight club la was good, though i liked the cars and the modding of mc3 dub remix better
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Blaiyan
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 12:18:04 PM
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Looks like the super bland, "Anti-Urban" gamers out there will get their wish. I'll try it but if NFS ends up being like Gran Turismo then as along a time fan since ps1 i'll definitely be done with the franchise. Hopefully MC will continue and i'll just keep buying their games. I just wanted NFS to go back to the ps1 games and underground style of race tracks and dump the open world crap.
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CH1N00K
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 12:57:03 PM
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2 up, 0 down
city96
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 1:00:00 PM
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it'd be craaap
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Tim Speed24
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 1:39:39 PM
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The only thing the last NFS titles did was have me coming back to the game store to trade them in.
Cmon GT5...
1 up, 1 down
Akuma07
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 10:51:03 PM
finally someone els who liked GRiD =D
i LOVE that game to death.
best racing game ive played since Underground1
1 up, 1 down
shaydey77
Saturday, January 31, 2009 @ 5:48:31 PM
Well until GT5 drops anyways!!
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ArnoldK PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 1:47:41 PM
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Xanavi23
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 5:37:22 PM
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Driven2Decay
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 2:19:10 PM
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Last edited by Driven2Decay on 1/30/2009 2:23:44 PM
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GamerKid123
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 2:19:15 PM
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tlpn99
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 3:47:37 PM
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0 up, 2 down
bamf
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 4:47:41 PM
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Maybe we'll see a diferent racer from Slightly Mad Studios? Let's hope the level of customization is still there, I like to see them partner with West Coast Customs to get some authenticity in the customization and I would add some TV monitors, all just for fun.
How cool would it be if they added a tool in the game that would allow the user to easily create there own car designs.
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JackieBoy
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 5:14:47 PM
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Xanavi23
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 5:30:17 PM
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NFS needs a revitalisation, an overhaul and to go a bit back to its handling roots. Like Jack Sparrow said, stop making them so fast, focus on each installment and support each one for a while.
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somethingrandom
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 10:41:38 PM
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Akuma07
Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 10:54:37 PM
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they were the best NFS that ive played.
(i only started playin NFS at underground, nd have played all of them since)
give me a most wanted sequel =D
1 up, 0 down
shaydey77
Saturday, January 31, 2009 @ 5:50:42 PM
0 up, 0 down
coldbore
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Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 11:00:31 AM