burnout paradise
Latest
Criterion reveals Boost Specials Collection for this Thursday
Criterion Games, the nutty folks who just can't stop tinkering with Burnout Paradise, are preparing to unload yet another pile of DLC goodness onto the game in the form of The Boost Specials Collection. If you're finding a lapse in your memory regarding the Boost DLC, then read up on it here.If you're too lazy to click (it's Monday, we totally understand), then here's a quick rundown: The Boost Specials Collection DLC features two cars -- the Hawker Mech and the Carson Extreme Hotrod -- priced at 240 ($3) each. You can buy both in a single download for 400 ($5). Look for these new cars on PSN and Xbox Live Marketplace this Thursday.Essential reading: Joystiq interview: Downloading Criterion's thoughts on DLC
Burnout cars spotted on Godfather II's streets
It seems the Don has been spending some time in Paradise City, returning from his extended vacation with a pair of the city's more recognizable rides. Eagle eyes at Polish site Play PC recently discovered similarities between two cars in both Godfather II and Burnout Paradise, namely the latter's Hunter Cavalry and Carson Opus.Whether or not the cars in the upcoming EA sequel are the exact same models as those in Burnout, or just strikingly similar, isn't exactly clear. In any case, the Don's chop shop looks like it sanded off most of the details from Burnout's rides. When you're the Don, image is everything; we just hope the new paint jobs are as bulletproof as they are green.[Via N4G]
Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box destined for Steam
Good news! If you have yet to pick up Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box for PC, and if you absolutely hate things like boxes and physical manuals, the game will soon arrive on Steam. The Criterion website has revealed that Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box will be available on the service, though no further details were given. Such details, according to Criterion, will be revealed "soon."The Ultimate Box, which contains oodles of updates and previously released DLC for Burnout Paradise, was released to retail earlier this year.
Toy Cars DLC rolling into Burnout Paradise this Thursday
Following a somewhat embarassing premature release of Burnout Paradise's "Toy Cars" DLC a couple of weeks back on Xbox Live, Criterion has finally set a legitimate release date for the nine-car pack. Keep an eye on your respective system's digital shopping center this coming Thursday morning -- that's when Criterion anticipates the miniature vehicles will be released upon the inhabitants of Paradise City.Surprisingly, with two days between us and shrunken vehicular carnage, Criterion hasn't announced the price of the DLC bundle -- though if it matches the costs displayed during February's accidental launch, we can expect to drop 1,000 ($12.50) for the whole kit 'n kaboodle, or 160 ($2) per car, with the exception of the Toy Nakamura Firehawk motorcycle, which went for 240 ($3) during the early release.
360 owners granted access to Criterion Games Network
The once PC / PS3 exclusive Criterion Games Network is now accessible to Burnout Paradise owners through the Xbox 360 version of the game.We've come up with two possible scenarios for the new 360 access: A) It's the result of Criterion giving in to the mob of hunger strikers outside it offices; or B) Someone at Criterion finally bothered to flip on the third and final switch (geez, was it that hard, guys?). Whatever the reason, Xbox players now possess a valid ID to gain entry into the Games Network, which includes such perks as the discovery of new DLC before it's "officially" announced.
Burnout Paradise Toy Cars and Boost DLC detailed [update]
Burnout Paradise's upcoming Toy Cars, Boost Specials, and Big Surf Island DLC packs can all be seen in the in-game "Burnout Store" (featured in the PC and PS3 versions), revealing previously unknown details. Although all the vehicles can be browsed, the content is currently inaccessible.The Toy Cars Pack will feature nine rides (listed after the break, along with the Boost Specials), including an adorable miniature motorcycle. The Boost Specials DLC will pack two cars, featuring the previously unannounced Hawker Mech, which is allegedly customizable.While the Burnout Store doesn't currently reveal pricing for these vehicles, an accidental release on Xbox Live Marketplace did (the content has since been removed). The Toy Car Pack was apparently offered this morning as a single download for 1,000 ($12.50). Each toy car was also available individually for 160 ($2), with the exception of the motorcycle, the Toy Nakamura Firehawk, offered for 240 ($3) -- the cars, minus the motorcycle, where also combined and offered in two separate packs for 480 ($6) each. The Boost Specials Pack was available as a single download for 400 ($5), or both cars could be purchased individually for 240 ($3). Obviously, the final pricing is subject to change.Big Surf Island, a new island being added to the Burnout Paradise universe, is still without a date. Promising the "biggest jumps in Paradise City" the upcoming DLC will also include a new vehicle: the Dust Storm. Undoubtedly, additional details will be unveiled in the coming weeks.Also released (and still available) on XBLM and PlayStation Store, is the new Time Savers Pack for 400 ($5), which grants purchasers "the keys" to the the standard retail edition's unlockable cars. Apparently, you can put a price on impatience.Update: Criterion has confirmed these details through the in-game Burnout Store -- the original post has been altered to reflect the information found therein.
See what you'll be ruining in Burnout's new DLC
As if we weren't tantalized enough by the gaggle of screens Criterion sent over a few weeks back, today the company dropped teaser videos for each of the cars in the soon-to-be released 'Legendary Cars' DLC for Burnout Paradise. Not skimping one bit on the nostalgia factor, the "GT Nighthawk" "Cavalry Bootlegger" video employs liberal use of the General Lee horn over a slo-mo jump sequence, though Doc is unfortunately missing from the "88 Special" video. "Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." Peruse our gallery below and then hit the jump for all four videos. That's a command!%Gallery-41360%
Burnout Paradise 'Legendary Cars' priced
Criterion Games has officially announced the price for the upcoming Legendary Cars DLC for Burnout Paradise. Gamers who hunger for choice can download each vehicle separately or together in a discounted package when they release on February 19. The Jansen 88 Special (you know, the not-so-subtle nod to the DeLorean) is priced at $3.99 / 320, while each of the other three vehicles clock in at $1.99 / 160 a piece. The Legendary bundle will also be available for a discounted price of $7.99 / 640. We know your first reaction would be to get upset that the obvious favorite in the package is priced slightly higher. Think of it as a glimpse into the future. Flying cars are going to be hella expensive. Don't even get get us started on the time traveling or air conditioning options -- we still don't know how those packages aren't on the base models.[Update: Originally we listed the Legendary Cars pack at 600; however, the price is $7.99 / 640]
Burnout Paradise 'Legendary Cars' coming Feb. 19
How times have changed. Today's news that Burnout Paradise's upcoming Legendary Cars pack will be arriving on consoles this Thursday, February 19th, comes directly from Criterion games via Twitter. Not a press release or forum announcement in sight. Need more proof that we're living in the future? How about flying cars in Paradise City? That's just one of the new vehicles available in the Legendary Cars pack, all of which are based on famous fictional vehicles.There's no word on pricing yet. Perhaps Criterion will be kind enough to tweet that info before the pack releases on Thursday. Check out the gallery below for more images of these Legendary Cars.%Gallery-41360%[Thanks, Rahul]
Joystiq interview: Downloading Criterion's thoughts on DLC
Over the course of the 2008, Criterion did its best to win over our hearts, though as fond as we are of Burnout Paradise it was the UK developer's knack for releasing quality DLC that kept us coming back. In a market where most games are shelved weeks -- if not days -- after first spinning up, Criterion managed to keep its open-world racer relevant all year long with a steady stream of downloads, adding night driving, motorcycles and a host of new online challenges. This tradition looks to continue well into 2009, with famous cars, inflated toys, hot rods and now the fuzz all slotted to pull out onto Paradise City streets in the coming months. Now, with a newly released Party Pack under the hood, and PC gamers racing against the flow of traffic with a keyboard and mouse, we spoke with Burnout Paradise senior producer Pete Lake to get his thoughts on why we just can't seem to let go of the steering wheel.
Criterion bringing 'Cops and Robbers' to Burnout Paradise
Yes, Criterion is making yet another add-on pack for Burnout Paradise, but we're not complaining. The developer has revealed that its next premium content release will be the "Cops and Robbers Pack," which shouldn't come as a surprise to attentive Joystiq readers, seeing as we dug up evidence of its existence late last month.According to Burnout Paradise's in-game "Criterion Games Network," the DLC is "slotting in soon after the Party Pack, Legendary Cars, Toy Cars and Boost Specials," and is "dedicated to bringing the thrills and spills of cops and robbers car chases in Paradise City." Police pursuits haven't been a part of the series since Burnout 2: Point of Impact, or three games and about a thousand Burnout Paradise updates ago.Owners of the PS3 and PC versions of Burnout Paradise can check out screens of the DLC via the in-game browser. Sorry, 360 fans -- you'll have to wait until Monday, February 9 when Criterion has promised to post them in "stunning high resolution" on its site.
PSN Thursday: Burnout, Hockey and Baseball, oh my!
Europe wins the PSN war this week with its Killzone 2 demo and other assorted full games. America's update isn't dire, however, as 3 on 3 NHL Arcade is now available, along with the Burnout Paradise Party pack. There's also plenty of DLC -- as usual -- and PSP owners have a demo for Phantasy Star Portable to try out. That's probably the most exciting thing in today's update, to be honest. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
Review: Burnout Paradise Party, Criterion's first 'premium' DLC
Many gamers are incredibly grateful for Criterion's exceptional handling of DLC for Burnout Paradise. Over the course of the last year, Criterion has added a day/night system to its game, new online multiplayer modes, and motorcycles -- all for the price of nothing. However, it looks like the free ride is over, and today's update marks the first "premium" downloadable content for the game. The Party pack adds a new offline multiplayer experience to the game, but is it worth it?Unfortunately, we'd say no. At $9.99 (800), the Party pack is not a very cheap add-on (it's half the price of the full game!). At such a steep price, we'd expect a bit more than a simple retooling of menus. There's no added content in the Party pack: you will not see any new parts of Paradise City, nor will you unlock any new vehicles. The challenges featured in the Party pack are, quite frankly, not very different from what's already available in Online Freeburn.%Gallery-35782%
Rumor: Police cars, pursuits returning to Burnout Paradise via DLC
Click image for more evidence It seems the lazy and inattentive police officers of Paradise City have begun to frown upon the frantic racing and wreckage filling their city, with rumor indicating the return of police cars or possibly pursuits to Criterion's racer. Some scenes depicting the blues in red-hot chase have already spilled onto the internet, as you can see in our gallery below.You can see the potential pursuit mode that showed up in the new Burnout Store right here, as well as images for a new cop car in the game. Will these become available as DLC in the future? We've asked for comment and we'll get back to you as soon as we get word.%Gallery-43378%[Thanks, Eric]
Prepare for CARnage: Burnout Paradise Ultimate Box trailer
If you are one of the unfortunate many who have yet to check out Burnout Paradise, Criterion Games hopes to capture your attention when they re-package the game with all of its current downloadable content in one neat package. Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box is set to hit stores next month across the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC and includes hundreds of hours of on and offline content. Still on the fence about picking up our user voted Best Driving Game of 2008? Check out this new trailer that showcases some of the beautiful insanity you'll witness if you decide to hop into the drivers seat.Ed Note: We should clarify that Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box will only be available in Europe. Burnout Paradise can be purchased for dirt cheap on the Xbox 360 in North America and all of the extra content is available for free now over Xbox Live.
Burnout Paradise Ultimate Box trailer shows Party footage
Criterion Games has earned a lot of street cred for the amount of content they've added to Burnout Paradise. The upcoming Party pack is the first premium (read: not free) DLC coming to the game, and many gamers are eager to show Criterion their support. However, while we know the Party pack adds new pass-the-controller modes, we're not exactly sure how it will play, or what it will look like. This newly released trailer for the Europe-exclusive Ultimate Box shows a few seconds of the DLC pack -- but it's still not enough to get a good feel for how the expansion will play. It's not too long until the DLC will be released. We're hopeful that Criterion will make something that justifies the asking pice.
Report: EA's Criterion, Bright Light studios safe from layoffs
At least two studios appear to have sidestepped the torrent of layoffs that have loomed over the game industry in recent months. Develop reports that UK-based Burnout dev Criterion and Bright Light, Electronic Arts' casual game studio in Guildford, have been given immunity from EA's recent round of layoffs. That sound you hear is a collective sigh of relief.Staff cuts at EA have been particularly deep, with numerous employees at its Mythic, Black Box and Tiburon branches given their walking papers in just the last week. With news of Bright Light's amnesty, it seems certain that EA is looking to casually dig itself out of its financial hole. Then again, maybe once Criterion gets its time circuits working we can all go back to a time when money was easier to come by.
Super-sized Burnout Paradise update detailed, coming Feb. 6
Burnout Paradise's first-ever premium content pack is coming February 6, and even if you aren't willing to dole out the dead presidents, Criterion's giving you another reason to mark that date. Coming alongside the Party Pack DLC is a rather hefty title update ... and it's free!Highlights include an in-game store, in-game access to the Criterion Games Network website (details to come; PC and PS3-only), enhanced visuals, a restart event option (yay!), easier barrel rolls and some vehicle and game mode tweaking. Hit up the developer's site for full details, and check out PS3 Fanboy for a full list of the new Trophies. Gallery: Burnout Paradise - Feb 2009 update
What's in the upcoming free Burnout Paradise patch?
Click for high-resolution image. You thought Criterion was done adding content to Burnout Paradise? Wrong! On February 6th, PS3 owners of Burnout Paradise will be able to download a free patch that adds a whole lot of content. In-Game Store (PS3/PC only) - An in-game browser will connect to the "Criterion Games Network." From here, you'll be able to see all the game's updates and purchase any of the upcoming premium DLC. Tweaked vehicle handling - The earlier cars are now tweaked to be easier for newcomers to use. "These cars are now slower, harder to crash and less likely to spin out at low speeds." Junkyard sorting - You'll be able to compare the stats of cars, and you'll be able to filter out cars, bikes, and upcoming DLC vehicles. Stunt Run timer changed - Stunt Run will now have a different timer that starts much slower than before. This allows beginners more wiggle room to start a combo. Experts will still be challenged: the larger your combo, the faster the timer runs out. Events rebalanced - All events have been modified to accommodate the new car speeds. Road Rage tweaked - Players no longer get additional time once they reach the target score. This is great, because we usually intentionally crash in order to end this mode. Enhanced visuals - In-game items, like billboards and smashes, are now easier to spot. The lighting has been tweaked to be "more vibrant." Driving at night will be easier. Restart - Yes, you can restart races now. Easier barrel rolls - Barrel rolls are now automatic. However, to do more than one at a time, you'll have to use the analog sticks. The upcoming premium DLC packs (Party, Toy Cars, Legendary Cars) add additional Trophies into the game. We've included them after the cut.%Gallery-42989%
Burnout: Ultimate Box dated, exclusive to PC in North America
Click to embiggen. Players who missed the offramp to Paradise City can take the next exit early next month. Electronic Arts announced that the "Ultimate Box" edition of Burnout Paradise will ship in North America on February 5 as a PC exclusive, while players in Europe will be able to pick up the compilation on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC on February 6. As previously revealed, the box will bundle together all of the game's previously released DLC, from patches to two-wheeled mayhem, in one easy-to-crash package. Also included will be a pass-the-pad multiplayer mode, promising dozens of "quick-fire, turn-based challenges" for up to eight players. This mode will also be released to console drivers as a premium (read: not free) "Party" pack, adding new Achievements and Trophies to the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions when the DLC rolls out in both North America and Europe on February 5.Both Amazon and GameStop list the PC bundle for $40, though no official pricing for the DLC nor "Ultimate Box" edition have yet been announced. Gallery: Burnout Paradise Party
