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Need for Speed: World Online begins testing in March
Before Need for Speed officially burns internet rubber, PC gamers in Asia will get an early taste of what it feels like to slip behind the wheel of Need for Speed: World Online. The recently announced free-to-play online experiment will begin testing in Taiwan and Hong Kong in March, well ahead of the game's eventual debut later this year. EA explains that Need for Speed: World Online will boast "the largest free roaming environment" in the series' history as players "form teams to take on the competition and the police." The Black Box-developed racer is one of several attempts at refueling the property, though we're waiting to see if the game makes it across the finish line or slips on a patch of black ice as it races to North America this Winter.
Electronic Arts announces Need For Speed: World Online
There aren't a lot of racing MMOs to choose from, which is why Electronic Art's announcement of Need For Speed: World Online is something of a fun surprise. We don't really know anything about the title other than that it's a jointly-developed free-to-play game from Black Box and EA Shanghai. Oh, and it's coming out in North America this winter, so we won't have to wait much longer to find out more.At least this answers the question of what Black Box was going to be up to after having more than half of its staff laid off recently. We're glad to see the developer behind titles like Skate 1 & 2 and the NFS franchise has something to work on. And of course we'll be keeping our collective eyes on this title as more information develops in the coming months.[via Joystiq]
EA unveils new Need for Speed trio
It seems EA's long-idling racing franchise isn't destined for the scrap heap at all, as the publisher has unveiled three new Need for Speed titles across several platforms. In an interview with Gamespot, EA's veep of marketing, Kevin Munro, insists that "the new brand strategy around three specific genres will keep the game fresh and players entertained." This refreshing and oh-so-entertaining trio of titles includes: Need for Speed: Shift (PS3, Xbox 360, PC, PSP) -- A "hardcore racing simulation" overseen by Black Box executive producer Michael Mann, and Patrick Soderlund, the co-founder of DICE and current senior vice president of EA Games Europe. External developer Slightly Mad Studios will be responsible for putting a realistic spin on the franchise. Need for Speed: Nitro (Wii, DS) -- As you might expect, this one will feature a "unique visual style," courtesy of EA Montreal. Nitro promises to take full advantage of the unique controls on offer for both platforms, but without sacrificing depth. According to Munro, "We do not want to fall into the trap of creating a 'Need for Speed Lite.'" Need for Speed: World Online (PC) -- Jointly developed by Black Box and EA Shanghai Singapore, this free-to-play online racer is set to launch in Asia this Summer, with a North American release slated for next Winter. You can look for Shift and Nitro on North American shelves sometime during Fall 2009. Update: Uploaded three screens (Shift, Nitro and World Online) and added source link to press release. Corrected development information for World Online.
