criterion games
Latest
Need for Speed Rivals on PC will look 'easily as good' as next-gen versions
Need for Speed Rivals – the franchise's first turn into the new world of next-gen consoles – is also coming to the PC. In crafting the PC version, Ghost Games executive producer Marcus Nilsson promises "Need for Speed Rivals will look easily as good on PC as next-generation consoles." The original press release for Need for Speed Rivals made no mention of a PC version; however, the PR has since been amended revealing the PC version will arrive on November 19 alongside the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game. Xbox One and PS4 versions will launch "later this year." Other than differences in graphical fidelity and online player count, Rivals features differences in its new marquee feature "AllDrive" across current- and next-gen systems. AllDrive is the ability for the game to "seamlessly" adapt to player interaction as they cross paths in the open-world space. On next-gen consoles, players will have unspecified exclusive ways to interact with the game using other devices. Nilsson would not detail if the PC version's feature-set would be based on the current- or next-gen platform versions. Expanding on how AllDrive would work, Nilsson offered an example of how the game would react to friends in the same world engaged in separate chases that come across each other. With the new feature, Need for Speed Rivals would recognize player proximity and any current missions and automatically shift objectives and scoring to that of a traditional co-op encounter. Players can enter and exit each other's worlds to race and interact "on-the-fly." The core features of AllDrive will be available on all platforms. For more on Need for Speed Rivals, read our reveal post with additional comments from the game's executive producer. [Ed. Note: This post was updated to reflect changes to the announcement press release.]
Need for Speed Rivals floors it to Xbox One, PS4 'later this year', PC and current-gen consoles Nov. 19
Recently renamed developer Ghost Games and the fellow racing fanatics at Criterion Games have banded together for Need for Speed Rivals: a new game that represents the franchise's first drift into the next-gen console world (which is not to be confused with the 2005 handheld spinoff). Powered by Frostbite 3, Rivals aims to utilize the power of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 to give players "the freedom to seamlessly go from single player to co-op to multiplayer" when it releases "later this year." [Update: This story has been updated for accuracy, removing mention of a release window for the next-gen versions from an outdated release draft.] Need for Speed Rivals transports players to the fictitious Redview County, an open-world environment where players can take on the role as either street racer or police officer. Like Most Wanted before it, racers aim to become the most infamous person behind the wheel, while cops attempt to work together to drive the area's high-risk inhabitants off the road. Players can personalize the experience with custom license plates, paint, liveries decals and rims, and performance upgrades. Current-generation consoles will also join the rivalry – powered by its own version of Frostbite 3 – on November 19. A PC version is also in the works.%Gallery-189208%
Criterion creative director indicates he isn't working on a racing game
Need for Speed: Most Wanted and Burnout Paradise developer Criterion looks to be expanding beyond the racing game genre. Studio creative director and VP Alexander Ward responded yesterday to recent speculation about a new Need for Speed: Underground game, ruling out any impending announcements of either that or a new Burnout - or at least ones that involve himself.This morning, Ward tweeted "The key word was 'personally'....#tothefuture #weseefarther," underlining that some of the comments he made were only in reference to himself. His tweet may imply Criterion has separate teams working on separate games - Ward said only nine months ago the Need for Speed series was "definitely a Criterion gig" now."Here is what I want folks to know," Ward wrote yesterday. "Some folks are eternally disappointed. Nothing I can do about that. So many tweets asking for new Burnout. Equally many tweets asking for a new NFS game from us. Also Road Rash. Whilst I love all of those games, I am personally not doing any.""After over a decade of making racing games it's time to make something new. It is early days thus I have nothing to 'announce' or talk about," Ward continued. However, he certainly didn't sever his own ties with the genre, later saying, "I am proud of all of the Burnout games. When it feels right we will make another one. We are creative people."
Need for Speed: Most Wanted DLC: Heroes and Legends reach Terminal Velocity
A trio of new DLC packs have pulled in to Need for Speed: Most Wanted's Fairhaven city, bringing a cadre of new cars and an entirely new game area with them. Terminal Velocity is the first offering and most substantial, bringing speeders to Fairhaven International Airport. The airport itself is under construction in-game, and features lots of launchers for high-flying antics, along with a new "nitrous jump" mod for extra pop off those construction ramps.Need for Speed Movie Legends is a DLC pack centered around iconic movie rides. Bond's Aston Martin DBS 2008 and Aston Martin DB5 are here – Smokey's Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am Special Edition 1977 is represented, as is Vin Diesel's chunky ride from the Fastion & Furious, the Dodge Charger R/T 1970. Rounding out the pack is the Shelby GT500 1967 from Gone in 60 Seconds.
Sony completely revises list of PS4 EU studios, down from 53 to 30 [updates]
Sony made wholesale corrections to the list of European/PAL companies confirmed as PS4 developers and publishers, reducing the list of named studios from 53 to 28. Curiouser, not one of the developers and publishers named on the previous list makes an appearance on the new roll call. A spokesperson for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe confirmed to us the first list, sent out last week, was erroneous, and this new one is correct. There are no revisions for any other regions.The new list removes a number of significant names, including Mojang (Minecraft), Rovio (Angry Birds), Frozenbyte, Criterion Games, and City Interactive. In their stead are some new noteworthy studios, such as CD Projekt, who've confirmed The Witcher 3 as a PS4 game. Also included are Bohemia Interactive, Deep Silver, Ninja Theory, IO Interactive, Codemasters, 2K Games, and Sumo Digital. The full list can be found after the break.We've reached out to a number of studios for comment. Mojang's Daniel Kaplan reiterated to us the comments he gave to Gamasutra, saying his studio hasn't decided anything yet, and that the error is "confusion from Sony's side." Gamasutra's article also confirms Super Crate Box developer Vlambeer and Skulls of the Shogun creator 17-Bit, both included in the original list, as not currently working on anything for the PS4.A spokesperson for Monsters (probably) Stole My Princess developer Mediatonic, included in the original list but not in the corrected one, told us he couldn't make any comment on his studio and PS4 development. Meanwhile, Sumo Digital's inclusion adds weight to the rumor the British studio is working on LittleBigPlanet 3, but for the PS4. When approached previously about LBP3, a studio representative told Joystiq, "No comment." Update 1: A spokesperson for 505 Games tells us the Italian company is "definitely" planning to publish games on the PS4. 505 Games was in the original list of European/PAL PS4 developers and publishers, but not the revised list. The spokesperson noted the company's logo appears in the image showcasing PS4 partners, as shown during last week's event, as do many of the names in the revised list. Update 2: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe informs us the list of European PS4 studios has been further revised. Two more studios are now present in the form of Criterion Games and Ghost Games (an EA studio) - both were in the original list of 53. That takes the tally of confirmed European studios up to 30.
Why hooligans have a place in Need for Speed: Most Wanted
Need for Speed: Most Wanted's online play is equal parts chaos and confusion, going against the normal regimented competitions and controlled environments found in other racing games. Criterion Games creative director Alex Ward says this design is part of the studio's "philosophy" for online play.In Most Wanted online, players are called to a meeting area before an event starts, without much warning or information. Unless you've played the particular event before, you have no idea what to do and – as mentioned in Joystiq's review – there's nothing stopping other players from foiling each other before the event starts. "The philosophy there is that we know people are utter degenerate hooligans online," Ward says – and the actions of these "hooligans," as he calls them, is a "valid" part of the overall online experience.%Gallery-178663%
Co-Driving through Need for Speed: Most Wanted on Wii U
Since the tail end of 2011, a core team of engineers at Criterion has been working with the Wii U. The final hardware launched in November, and Criterion started to scratch its collective noggin and figure out how it would work for Need for Speed: Most Wanted.This meant missing the Wii U launch, but Criterion Games' Alex Ward was fine with that during a preview session last week – if Need for Speed: Most Wanted had been at launch, it would've lacked all online functionality."The reason we didn't do the game for launch is because the online side of it wasn't very clear to us," said Ward. "We weren't sure how much we could do online or how it was going to be, because obviously Nintendo were making a lot of changes up until their run-up to launch. So we didn't want to bring the game out at launch on Wii U with no online play."%Gallery-178663%
Need for Speed: Most Wanted demo hits PSN, Xbox Live
If you're looking to sample Criterion's latest racer, Need for Speed: Most Wanted has a demo available on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network today. The demo tosses players the keys to four different vehicles: the Aston Martin V12 Vantage, Porsche 911 Carrera S, Audi R8 GT Spyder and Ford Focus RS500.During the Need for Speed: Most Wanted demo, players can earn up to 50,000 Speed Points, the in-game currency. These 50,000 Speed Points can then be applied to the single-player game proper.
Need for Speed: Most Wanted review: Burnout, baby
Need for Speed: Most Wanted is Criterion's second crack at the Need for Speed series, EA's biggest racing brand. Unlike 2010's Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, Criterion's first shot at the series, Need for Speed: Most Wanted is a game very much rooted in Criterion's past – not EA's.Need for Speed: Most Wanted is an open-world racer akin to Criterion's last effort for its most well-known series, Burnout: Paradise. Paradise's world felt larger than Most Wanted's city of Fairhaven, but Most Wanted is a more learned execution than Paradise, a game that doesn't take your time for granted and never takes you out of the driver's seat – literally and figuratively.%Gallery-157681%
Need for Speed: Most Wanted coming to Wii U in 2013
Criterion Studio's fuel-injected, open-world playground in Need for Speed: Most Wanted has joined the likes of Batman: Arkham City and Tekken Tag Tournament 2 as yet another current-gen title that will also make its way to the Wii U."In 2013, Nintendo fans will be able to experience what it means to be Most Wanted amongst their friends on the Wii U," EA told Polygon. The announcement came after the game was spotted in a list of pending European Wii U titles, tucked inside Nintendo's recent financial statement. No further information regarding potential Wii U-exclusive features was available, nor was a more specific release window. Think someone will make a WiiPad steering wheel?
Run down these 'Need for Speed: Most Wanted' Kinect commands
Using Kinect on Xbox 360, Need for Speed: Most Wanted will try its best to keep you out of menus and in the open world constructed by Criterion Games when it launches on October 30.In the video above, producer Chris Roberts shows off just some of the stuff you can yell at your television while racing away from authorities. The insta-modding is perhaps the most useful, allowing players to strengthen their car's chassis while being hounded by zealous coppers.
Drive whatever car you fancy in Need for Speed: Most Wanted ... if you can find it, that is
As if driving through pictures of your friends on billboards weren't enough to get you exploring the open world of Need for Speed: Most Wanted, perhaps finding lavish sports cars will sway you. Criterion's betting on exactly that, as seen in the latest trailer.
Need for Speed: Most Wanted's pretty cars with dirty faces
Need for Speed: Most Wanted features a bunch of very fast, very pretty cars. As it turns out, when those cars go real fast, they get pretty banged up. Also, some short cuts of dubstep play for some reason. We don't quite understand the latter effect, but the former just makes 'em look kinda rugged.
Latest Need for Speed: Most Wanted video hints at Kinect support
A recent gameplay video walkthrough for Need for Speed: Most Wanted includes a pack shot for a Kinect-supported Xbox 360 version. Since Kinect integration for the game has yet to be revealed, we've contacted EA for more information. In the meantime, feel free to check out the gameplay video.
Need for Speed: Most Wanted limited edition and pre-order bonuses revealed
Much to nobody's surprise, Need for Speed: Most Wanted will have an initial limited edition run, offering bonus in-game incentives for early adopters. Pre-ordering Need for Speed: Most Wanted is the only way to get the limited edition, which unlocks the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale and Porsche 911 Carrera S for early use in multiplayer, and gives players double speed points throughout their first four hours of multiplayer.Depending on where you pre-order Need for Speed: Most Wanted, you'll also get to choose between three different booster packs: speed, power or strike. The Speed pack grants players the Caterham Superlight R500, along with the Track Tyres and Lightweight Chassis mods for improved handling and top speed. The Power pack includes the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor with Reinforced Chassis and Nitrous Dump mods for greater damage sustainability and for "making tight jumps and powered up takedowns." Finally, the Strike pack includes a Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series with Powertrain and Re-inflating Tyre mods for improved torque and acceleration, and greater ability to withstand rival takedown attempts.If you want to snag a limited edition copy of Need for Speed: Most Wanted, you'll need to pre-order by October 30.
Buckle up for Need for Speed: Most Wanted gameplay
Words are great – we've built an entire website on 'em – but sometimes you need visuals to help you, uh, visualize stuff. So go ahead and check out some Need for Speed: Most Wanted gameplay, embedded here in this very post. After all, it is Mike Schramm's most wanted game of E3 and he does not toss around such praise lightly.
Need for Speed: Most Wanted pulls into retail on October 30 [Update: PC, iOS and Android ports, Limited Edition confirmed]
It wasn't much of a surprise, but EA officially pulled the wraps off (again) on Need for Speed: Most Wanted, the latest from UK's Criterion Studios. It's the follow-up to the outfit's previous take on the Need for Speed franchise, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit – with an open world.A gameplay demo showcased the new open world, and even gave us a glimpse of Porsche, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and Dodge whips, the titular "most wanted" rides the player will be tasked with collecting. Also: beautiful slow-motion crashes ala Burnout.Update: EA just sent us a press release, detailing a special-run Limited Edition version (just like Hot Pursuit) of the game, which packs in "double speed points, custom liveries, pre-customized rollouts and two vehicles: the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale and Porsche 911 Carrera S." Also, ports are coming to PC, iOS and Android – find more details in the press release past the break.
Criterion's next game is Need for Speed: Most Wanted
Forget about that other Need for Speed: Most Wanted that came out in 2005 – Criterion's got its own Need for Speed: Most Wanted title, and it's set to be unveiled next week during E3. EA confirmed the recent rumors in a missive today announcing its plans for E3.There are literally zero details beyond the name and the developer, but we'd wager the game will feature Hot Pursuit's lauded Autolog system. And based on the previous "Most Wanted" entry in the series, we're guessing the title has something to do with police chases and speedy automobiles. We'll assuredly find out more next Monday when EA's E3 press conference kicks off.Update: Geoff Keighley's tweeted the above image, which he says is the "first-ever image" of the game in action. As expected, the game features both high-end automobiles and police chasing said automobiles. Hot damn!
Report: 'Need for Speed: Most Wanted' listed on E3 booth schedule [Update: Yup!]
That mysterious Need for Speed game mentioned during EA's fiscal 2012 investors call may become slightly less ethereal during E3, as TwitchTV's booth schedule lists "Need for Speed: Most Wanted" as one of the games it'll be showcasing, according to IGN.If that name sounds familiar, that's because it should: The original Need for Speed: Most Wanted (above) was released on nearly every system in existence way back in the ancient caveman days of 2005. It's possible that this may be the Criterion-developed Need for Speed game the rumor mill was churning over a couple weeks ago, but that's just rampant speculation on our part.It's also possible that TwitchTV could merely be showing off the Game Boy Advance port of the original or something, we're going to go ahead and assume that isn't the case since we don't live in a Far Side cartoon.Update: We have also received the schedule in question and can confirm that Need for Speed: Most Wanted is indeed among TwitchTV's on-site programming for E3, along with "TBA" titles from Ubisoft, Capcom and Warner Bros.
Report: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit devs working on Vita title
UK studio Criterion Games is apparently prepping a project for release on the PlayStation Vita. Superannuation spotted a job listing for a software engineer that at one point reportedly listed "optimising and tuning the game resource system for the PS Vita" as part of the position's overview. The listing was seemingly altered since, as it now reads, "Optimizing and tuning the game resource system for other platforms."Aside from the bite-sized Burnout Crash launched on XBLA last year, Criterion Games has been rather quiet for the past couple years. The team's last console release was the fantastic Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit in 2010, and many expect that the next Need for Speed entry will be handled once again by Criterion. We've yet to hear a peep from the studio in 2012, but E3 isn't too far away.We contacted Criterion's parent company, EA, for comment.
