burnoutparadise
Latest
'Burnout Paradise Remastered' hits Switch on June 19th
The open-world racing game will cost $50 on Nintendo Switch.
'Burnout Paradise' is back with a $40 4K remaster March 16th
Burnout Paradise was one of those rare racers that transcended its genre and was just a killer game. If its recent 10th birthday had you feeling nostalgic, then we've got good news. Come March 16th, you'll be able to hit the streets of Paradise City once again, to the complete original soundtrack, and replete with all 150 cars and eight main expansion packs -- including the "Big Surf Island" premium DLC -- in Burnout Paradise Remastered.
Humble Bundle's Origin package offers up some of its biggest games yet
Humble Bundle has had a pretty good run with its game offerings so far, but its newest grouping of Origin titles provides some of its biggest names yet. Included in the bundle are Mirror's Edge, Medal of Honor, Dead Space, Dead Space 3, Crysis 2 Maximum Edition, and Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box (most of which are available on Steam). The games can all be purchased for $1, but paying over the average (currently $4.54) will also net you Battlefield 3 and The Sims 3 Starter Pack. Buying the bundle won't just score you some sweet games; you'll also be contributing to a few good causes, as Electronic Arts is donating its share of the proceeds to charities like the Human Rights Campaign, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society. For more info, check out the video after the break or follow the Humble Bundle link below.
Burnout Paradise teases 'Cops and Robbers'
We're not exactly sure what they stole, but judging by the teaser trailer for Burnout Paradise's looming Cops and Robbers mode, criminals will have their jobs cut out for them outrunning the Paradise City fuzz. As a latest move to "change the way people think about and experience" the chaotic racer, much of Cops and Robbers' details remain behind bars, including the premium DLC's as-yet-unannounced release date. Still, if nothing else, this early look shows that Paradise City's police force is more than equipped to keep pace with lead foots on the wrong side of the law.
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.
See Burnout's Jansen 88 Special fly into action
What it lacks in a Flux Capacitor and time circuits, Burnout Paradise's hover-enabled "Jansen 88 Special" more than makes up for in its ability to make us drool, as evidenced in new footage released by Criterion Games. View it after the break!The car, which certainly meets with Doc Brown's seal of approval, is one quarter of the upcoming Legendary Cars Pack, which will also include the Cavalry Bootlegger, Manhattan Spirit and GT Nighthawk. Now, if only our Flux Capacitor would start fluxing so we could leap ahead a few months and try this DLC out for ourselves.
Burnout Paradise 'Cagney' update delayed again for Xbox 360
Have you ever had that dream where you're running down a hallway but are unable to reach the exit because the doorway is constantly stretching out of reach? For fans of Burnout Paradise for the Xbox 360, this has become a waking nightmare, as Criterion has again pushed back the title's forthcoming "Cagney" update until early August.Criterion is currently "aiming" to release the free update on August 4, nearly a month after the patch arrived on the PS3. However, according to a post on the dev's website, this merely represents the "earliest" that we can expect it to show up. Interestingly, while the previous hold-up was laid at the feet of Xbox Live's burdensome certification process, this latest information indicates that the update, much like the patience of street carnage virtuosos, is now in the "final stages of testing."[Thanks Greg]
PS3 Burnout: Paradise "Cagney" update adds 1080i support
Gamers stuck with an older HDTV that doesn't support 720p input can cheer for the upcoming Burnout: Paradise "Cagney" update, which adds (among other things) 1080i output support for the PlayStation 3 version. Dismissively referring to such sets "almost HD", Simon Phipps of Criterion dropped the details on the free update due July 10 that also adds improved SD rendering on the PS3 and support for custom soundtracks. It'd be nicer if that slick 2.40 update added Xbox 360-style scaling for all games so developers didn't to expend the effort, but from the sounds of things it's not high on Sony's list of priorities.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Criterion softens PC 'Paradise' with ambient occlusion
When Criterion Games announced that it was building a version of Burnout Paradise "specifically" for the PC, our minds raced with ideas of what the devs might have in store of armchair racers unable to break away from their keyboard and mouse. While we're still in the dark concerning the port's "expanded multiplayer, enhanced online features, and community driven content," Criterion has softened those shadows by announcing that the PC version will support some fancy techno-babble known as 'ambient occlusion.'Wondering what this will mean for you as you're barreling down the streets of Paradise City? We'll let Criterion explain: "It's an effect that uses soft shadows to add extra depth. Enclosed spaces naturally receive less light than open spaces and look darker – that helps us to see how close objects are to each other." We'll be honest, just judging by the above comparison shot it's difficult for our eyeballs to tell much of a difference, though admittedly Burnout Paradise was already easy on the eyes. Besides, shadows are the last thing on our mind as we smash headlong into the concrete median.
Criterion dates Burnout Paradise 'Cagney' update
Burnout Paradise's forthcoming "Cagney" patch will peel out on Thursday, July 10 according to developer Criterion Games, finally letting Paradise City motorists take the game's Stunt Run, Road Rage, and Marked Man events online in FreeBurn.The previously announced update will also introduce 70 new FreeBurn challenges, a handful of new liveries, a trunk full of bug fixes, and a pair of new vehicles just waiting to be wrapped around a light pole. Once applied, PS3 drivers can also look forward to finally being able to orchestrate their crashes to custom soundtracks. As the first of three new expansion islands, "Cagney" looks to include plenty to keep our four wheels spinning, at least until August when we begin to send motorcycles careening onto oncoming traffic.
EA, Criterion bringing Burnout Paradise to PCs
Console sandbox racer Burnout Paradise will soon be careening into oncoming traffic for PC, as developer Criterion announced this morning that it is rebuilding the title "specifically" to be played on a computer.As the the first Burnout title to make the leap to the kingdom of the keyboard and mouse, Criterion is keeping mum on exactly what about Burnout Paradise is being tweaked in the move, stating only that the version will include "expanded multiplayer, enhanced online features, and community driven content." More information is expected to be announced later this morning as part of a live webcast on the Criterion Games website, so look for more PC-centric street carnage soon.
PS3 Burnout Paradise gets cartography update
For the second time in as many weeks the developers at Criterion have given players of the PS3 version of Burnout Paradise a little extra hug. However, this time, instead of simply leveling the playing field, the devs have announced that they're working on what's called the Save Game Analyser -- a fancy way of letting perfectionists look at what they have and have not accomplished in the game.The feature will let players import Burnout Paradise saves from the PS3 using a USB drive or Memory Stick and onto the official Criterion website in order to view all of their unfinished business on the streets of Paradise City. A post on the Criterion website points out that the developers are putting the final coat of paint on the feature, and while no release date as been announced the post notes that it's expected to go live "imminently," which if we're lucky will give us just enough time to get our Hunter Citizen out of the shop.
Burnout Paradise for PS3 getting custom soundtracks
On top of the previously announced three new online modes to be introduced in Burnout Paradise's so-called "Cagney" software update, developer Criterion has revealed that the forthcoming download will also level the pavement between the open-world racer's two console versions, finally bringing custom soundtracks to Burnout Paradise for the PS3.After the update, PS3 owners will be able to get at their own music using the game's Easy Drive in-game menu, allowing them to cycle through their own collection of tunes while trying to avoid careening into oncoming traffic. Even better, this update, welcome as it is, is just one of several Criterion has planned this year, ensuring many repeat visits to the junk yard in the months ahead.
Burnout Paradise 'Cagney' update to include three new online modes
With about seven days until Burnout Paradise's second update, codenamed Bogart, and just over a week since promising to transform the game's crash-centric Paradise City through a series of downloadable content updates, Criterion has announced that it is currently kicking the tires on three new FreeBurn game modes, adding online flavor to Stunt Run, Road Rage, and Marked Man. According to Criterion, the online variants of both Stunt Run and Road Rage will support up to eight players at a time, while the number of drivers supported by Marked Man has not yet been specified. The trio of modes will be lumped in with the first of three previously announced expansion islands, codenamed "Cagney," and while no release date has been announced Criterion has confirmed that we can expect all three to pull up to the stoplight over "the next 12 months."
Burnout Paradise's Bogart patch out on April 24
Do you remember about a month ago we posted that a Burnout Paradise patch was coming? Back then we didn't have a set date for when the patch would go live; however, we do now. April 24, mark that day off on your calendar Paradise players so you won't be surprised when you need to make an update.Not much has changed since we first reported it -- save for the patch name changing to codename "Bogart." All the promised fixes are still the same. If you need an extra reminder of what they are, then read them right here.
New islands coming to Burnout Paradise as free DLC
Talk of new downloadable content for Burnout Paradise has been burbling around the Criterion Games website. On the forums, creative director Alex Ward has revealed that new cars will be made available as downloadable content in both the Xbox 360 and PS3 version. More exciting, though, is news of the expansion of Paradise City, with the introduction of several islands to the map. Perhaps even more exciting, however, is news that the islands will be offered as a free update to the game.Details are still scarce at this point, but Alex Ward states that bridges from the main section of Paradise City will lead out to the new islands, each of which will offer "a different type of gameplay." Whether this means that islands will depart from the open-ended style of Paradise, or whether the terrain of each will be suited to certain play styles remains to be seen. The islands themselves will be offered as free, mandatory software updates, while the new cars will be sold via the traditional microtransaction system.
Zero Punctuation doesn't find paradise in Burnout
Zero Punctuation takes a spin in Burnout Paradise this week and discovers that cars have taken over Paradise City and people are nowhere to be found. The main sticking point Yahtzee has with the game is that while Burnout Paradise has an open world like Grand Theft Auto, requiring the player to look at a map during a high-speed chase is a bit awkward. He realizes the game isn't designed for him, but rather for people who don't have time to play games and are too busy having carnal relations.This week's NSFW review of Burnout Paradise, involving a joke about female menstruation and biscuit mutilation, can be found after the break.[Thanks, Sam]
Kid gets mooned on Burnout Paradise
So here is another one of those "blame videogames for screwing up our kids" kind of stories. This time, a British tween had the unfortunate run-in with a picture of a crude gamer's buttocks in Burnout Paradise. Apparently, the takedown pics that get swapped every time a player gets knocked out didn't feature the gamer's face, but his unlovable backside -- yes, the dimples were on the other cheeks. You naughty Paradise players ... what are you guys doing? Seriously though, the kid isn't traumatized or anything like that but the story was picked up by CBS TV which linked the story with online pedophile practices -- something completely out of context with the issue at hand. The point here folks, don't go doing something so brash; your actions may be interpreted and misunderstood by others so much so that it may land you in trouble. Just keep it fun and clean. While this story would probably make parents more cautious about gaming, it isn't as bad as another recent controversy. [Via Google News]
Criterion details upcoming Burnout Paradise v1.2 patch
Criterion Games wants to let everyone know that the company is working on a v1.2 patch for Burnout Paradise. The patch is aimed at fixing a whole slew of glitches, exploits, and game-crashing events, so this must be extremely good news for Burnout Paradise owners. The only downside is that the v1.2 patch is currently not ready and Criterion has yet to schedule a final release date. We are, however, pretty sure that it shouldn't be too far off before this baby becomes available.The patch will most notable fix issues regarding online multi-player crash errors and hanging. Audio distortion and connection problems will all be addressed as well. Aside from fixing the problem spots, Criterion is also enhancing the gameplay by tweaking things here and there. Drifting and boosting will be slghtly modified for better control, and the Online Takedown logic and physical behavior will be tuned -- just to name a few. To see the entire list of changes, head on over to Criterion's official website.[Via Gamespy]
Criterion explains Burnout Paradise online hard drive requirement
Hoping to diffuse some of the resentment felt by Xbox 360 Arcade owners who only recently learned that they can't race online in Burnout Paradise, Criterion has issued a public statement on the game's official website, clarifying the reasons for the hard-drive-only requirement.The Burnout team explains that it was a priority to have the offline and online modes of the game transition seamlessly into each other, something that wouldn't be possible using the limited space of a memory card. Criterion states that they had been in talks with Microsoft to work out a solution for Core and Arcade owners, but when none could be found they opted to not limit the robust online gameplay experience in order to facilitate HDD-less 360 owners.While this does leave Core and Arcade users in the lurch, Criterion does point out that the online leaderboards for Burnout Paradise are fully accessible without the hard disk drive, meaning players can compete for best times with their friends, just not during the same race.
