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Burnout Paradise 360 requires HDD for online play
Xbox 360 Arcade owners will be saddened to learn that the online mode of Criterion's Burnout Paradise requires the Xbox 360 hard drive, leaving HDD-less console owners to explore the streets of Paradise City by their lonesomes. Reports that this information was not presented on Paradise's box are false, as the back of the box lists the hard drive requirement for online multiplayer under the game's features (as seen above). EA support representatives state that the temporary storage space required for online play exceeds that available on the Arcade's included memory card, making the hard drive necessary.Of course, this isn't new information by any means. Several already-released games require the 360's hard disk drive for online play, including Crackdown and Final Fantasy XI. The problem is that while this information is presented on these games' boxes, it's not presented as clearly as it could be. And for online shoppers, the hard drive requirement isn't listed at all. Sites like Amazon.com and EBGames.com fail to list the hard drive requirement in their product descriptions of Burnout Paradise, and never include images of the back of the box as part of their product pages.While EA can likely not be held accountable for the hard drive issue, online retailers should be responsible for sharing all relevant information about products. That Amazon and GameStop/EB fail to mention the hard drive requirement is a serious problem, and while consumers should be more careful about researching before purchasing, this process should be made easier by sellers, and not more difficult.
Metareview - Burnout Paradise (PS3, Xbox 360)
The reviews are starting to come in for Burnout Paradise, and we're beginning to notice a pattern. While most aspects of the game (controls, graphics) are getting slathered with praise, the game's open-world-as-menu system is proving to be fairly divisive. But it seems like even the biggest haters weren't put off enough by it to ignore all of Burnout Paradise's other strengths. 1UP (90/100): "As someone who's closely followed Criterion's racing series for the last seven years, it warms my heart to see it evolve into something as innovative, satisfying, and polished as Burnout: Paradise. ... while the most recent franchise offerings (Revenge and Dominator) feel like playin'-it-safe rehashes, Paradise brilliantly reimagines Burnout as a go-anywhere, do-anything open-world adventure in the vein of Grand Theft Auto." Eurogamer (80/100): "Once you (reluctantly) adapt to the demands of the game, a massive amount of fun awaits. Burnout Paradise isn't everything it could have been, but what's here is still worthy of serious consideration for anyone hell-bent on demented arcade thrills." GameTap (90/100): "And driving in Burnout--having the freedom to do nothing at all--is amazingly addictively fun. The open world is an evolution that keeps this from becoming a series that has only minor changes from year to year, and it's executed really well, with graphics that are still gorgeous and a frame rate that runs as smoothly as butter. I love this new format and can't imagine going back."
Burnout demo boosted with 8-player support, new challenges
Still not convinced Burnout Paradise was "THE best demo released" last year? Criterion has rubbed some grease on frontman Alex Ward's heaping helping of self-praise by doubling the maximum number of online players (from 4 to 8) and adding 13 new Freeburn Challenges. So does this mean that Burnout is now the best demo of 2008? Quick! Somebody give these guys an award!(Note: The multiplayer boost will take effect on servers between today and Jan. 14th. The demo is available on PSN and Xbox Live.)
Criterion (cockily) responds to Burnout Paradise criticisms
The PS3 and Xbox 360 demos for Burnout Paradise seem to have been met with largely positive reception, but Criterion is not content to let the few small criticisms fall through the cracks. They're also not content to do so without a little pomp and self-importance, either.In between references to the "experience" of Burnout Paradise, and claims that it's the "best demo released all year," Alex Ward addresses concerns regarding the lack of a "retry" option in the game's races, stating that the game is better off without one, as it would require a load screen, and the Burnout Paradise team "hates loading with a passion." In addition, Ward brings up the former Crash Mode (now called Showtime), promising that it's better than anything ever, and also makes sure to point out that feedback on the demo will in no way affect the final game, as work on Paradise has already wrapped up. Good to know Criterion's open to constructive criticism, eh?[Via GameStooge]
Burnout Paradise gets new trailer
We're just one day away from the new demo for Burnout Paradise, and we couldn't be more excited. We've stocked up on insurance, filled every part of our cars but the driver's seat with pillows and, of course, told our families goodbye. Now, there is only the waiting, the awful, awful waiting. ... And trying to come up with a good reason why we're wearing a helmet indoors.If you're like us (and millions in market research says you are) we're going to help you ease the waiting with this new clip from the game. Well, it's a clip of the demo of the game. ... OK, fine, we know it's not super-substantial. But if you're counting the seconds to tomorrow, it may just be the scrap of hope you need to live through the night.
Burnout Paradise demo coming Dec. 13
We don't know if you've done your holiday shopping yet, but take it from us: You'll want to get it out of the way before Dec. 13. Because after that day, the roads will be littered with psychopaths actively trying to get in collisions, all thanks to the new demo for Burnout Paradise. You can check out the countdown on Criterion's site, but don't expect to get any more details or even learn what systems the demo is coming to. Of course, with PSN getting updated on Thursdays (which the 13th is) we expect both 360 and PS3 owners will be making auto body shops very happy next week.[Via CVG]
New Burnout trailer welcomes us to 'Paradise'
While Burnout Paradise isn't appearing on shelves until January 22, 2008, that doesn't mean we aren't already planning on taking a "sick day" from the 'stiq (cover blown!) to enjoy this vehicular destruction porn without interruption. The "Welcome to Paradise City" trailer offers us a look at the city, which is all available right from the start (know as "Freeburn").That didn't fill up your tank? Why, then check out our hands-on impressions to satisfy your need for speed. Come on, turn those keys and drive.
Ridiculously pretty Burnout Paradise footage
The Burnout series has always had a penchant for looking good. With that in mind, it looks like Burnout Paradise is set to raise the bar again. GameTrailers has posted a handful of new videos showing off some of the cars in the game, and it is hard not to be impressed by the visual fidelity presented here. Our only gripe, the stupid cars stay in one piece. Where's the crashing, damn it?! Ah, well, for now you'll have to be satisfied with death-defying jumps and traffic evasion. Someone owes us an explosion though.
Burnout Paradise smashes into North America Jan. 22
The next installment in the Burnout franchise, Burnout Paradise, races (and crashes) its way into Xbox 360s and PS3s across North America on Jan. 22. Can't wait until the '08 for your Paradise fix? Then be happy in knowing that a demo will be available on PSN and XBLM this December.The demo will have the new "stunt" mode and also feature online support for apparently one other friend. You'll be able to play with them in three challenges or "simply smash each other up and grab your friend's Burnout Mugshot." Oh Burnout, never disappointing in vicariously allowing us to experience our real life driving fantasies. One day we'll slip up forgetting we're driving a real car and attempt some Burnout maneuvers ... one day, soon.[Via press release]%Gallery-2874%
Joystiq hands-on: Burnout Paradise
I recently got sucked into Burnout Paradise, playing about a half-hour of the racing game due for release this Winter. While a half-hour may not seem like much, at hands-on gaming events, we writers rarely have the time or interest to play more than about fifteen minutes of a title before moving to the next.Criterion creative director, Alex Ward chatted while I raced through the realistic city; he was clearly proud and excited by the game's deviation from previous Burnout franchise titles. And I was also impressed.Admittedly, a half-hour isn't enough time to make a complete assessment of a game. But I'm optimistic that the new version of the title will be a smash even if it breaks Burnout traditions.%Gallery-2874%
Burnout Paradise events, online focus confirmed
Burnout Paradise at E3 was something of a love/hate experience. On the one hand, its frenzied high-definition crashes and pyrotechnic displays reminded us why we love Criterion's visceral racing series in the first place. On the other hand, the demo was devoid of any of the modes popularized by previous entries, particularly Takedown, instead spearheading the series into an online free for all that seemed decidedly removed from what what players had come to expect from Burnout. With such tremendous focus being placed this time around on multiplayer racing, the developers now reveal that they have garnished the Burnout experience with "hundreds" of online challenges and an 'EasyDrive Friends List,' which will be internal to the game. According to the team, this will allow players to pop in and out of online races on a whim without having to fuss with a lobby.In addition, for those who remain conflicted, Electronic Arts has offered up just what single player challenges players can expect from Burnout Paradise once it ships in early 2008. Specifically, EA has confirmed that the game will feature four types of single player events, including regular races, 'Marked Man,' 'Stunt,' and 'Road Rage' challenges, though sadly it appears that the 'Crash' events did not make the cut. In addition, taking a page from Atari's Test Drive: Unlimited, EA notes that the entire Paradise City game world will be available from the word go, and that players will be able to "start and even end a challenge at their leisure." Finally, as previously mentioned, Burnout Paradise is among those titles confirmed to take advantage of Sony's upcoming rumble-ready DualShock 3 controller. In addition, as demonstrated at E3, the game will also include support for both the PlayStation Eye and Xbox Live Vision webcams, which will be chiefly used to take candid snapshots of players at the moment of impact.
Video: Crashtacular Burnout Paradise gameplay
We've seen its crashing mayhem in official trailers and video demos, but today we've got your first look at some actual in-game Burnout Paradise footage. Embedded above is a six minute gameplay demo of Burnout Paradise pulled from an unknown source and let's just say it's lovely. Watch as the pretty muscle car races down the streets, hits other pretty cars and blows up into pretty car bits. It's like an exploding pinata, but medal and octane fueled. We're not sure how intuitive accessing the various race modes in this free roam racer will be, but from the looks of things we're thinking EA has this one figured out. Watch the video above and see for yourself how crashtacular Burnout Paradise will be.[Thanks, Darkstar]
Eurogamer previews Burnout Paradise
The fancy lads over at Eurogamer gave a good, hard look at Burnout Paradise, and how Criterion is focusing on the "seamless" gameplay. Given the open environment of Paradise City, where we suppose the grass is indeed green and the girls above average, there are plenty of opportunities to expand on the number of things to do beyond racing and crashing. Aided by the addition of a handbrake, Burners will be able to perform Power Parking, where if you see a space between two parks vehicles that you may be able to squeeze into, and hopefully you can pull it off without hitting the curb or their parked vehicles. It's the little things like that which give us a lot of hope for this iteration of the Burnout series. Check out the full scoop by clicking the "read" link.
Videos: Burnout Paradise from GameTrailers
While we didn't get a chance to get hands on here at X3F, you're welcome to check out Joystiq's outlook on Burnout Paradise. In the meantime though, we have a bunch of video from GameTrailers. The first of which is a gameplay trailer that shows what some readers complained that the teaser lacked: crashes. The game runs silky smooth and on top of that eye candy we have a trifecta of videos for you after the break. The first is more gameplay, followed by a developer interview that covers a new feature: "Road Rules". The last one goes over the open world of Paradise City. Enjoy.
Burnout Paradise screens careen online
Electronic Arts released a slew of screenshots for Burnout Paradise after the Press Conference earlier today. Shots show off an exotic and muscle car racing through the streets of Paradise City. Joystiq has some impressions up, though the only version showing at E3 is the PS3 version. Either way, the game is looking great, and we'll try to get some time to talk with EA/Criterion about the 360 version and should the versions be identical, get some hands on impressions, blasphemous or not.
Joystiq impressions: Burnout Paradise
"Paradise" because this is the Burnout that Criterion has always wanted to develop, an EA marketing associate told us. Rebuilt on a yet-named engine (though internally, it's being called something like "smoldering BM"), Burnout Paradise drops us into a virtual city and promptly lets go. 'Burnout without boundaries' can be intimidating to the unimaginative, but it's simple enough to stop at any of the 150 traffic lights, spin your car wheels, and initiate a classic-style race (though even these races are open to interpretation, since checkpoints can be reached from numerous routes). Time trial and crash mode are also cleanly embedded into the open-world, seamlessly attached to each street in the game.Still, this looks and plays a lot like Burnout Takedown and its subsequent sequels, and it's not until your friends (up to 8) start to pile up in your city that Criterion's vision of Paradise starts to become clear. Suddenly, spontaneous barrel rolls don't seem so, well, pointless. Now it's a high score competition, or a lure into a friendly takedown. But watch out, if you're victim's using a web cam, the game will automatically snap a mug shot just as your buddy becomes a crumpled wreck and plaster it on your screen -- and there's no telling where said victim's camera might be pointed... Criterion has made sacrifices, giving up real-time lighting and weather effects to ensure 60fps, and has scrapped the neatly packaged standard of menus and sub-menus that tend to guide the gameplay of most racing titles. Perhaps Paradise is a place where the sun is always perched just past noon; where there are no traffic laws; where horrific crashes don't have haunting consequences -- instead they're pleasures. But Paradise was never meant to be a loner's retreat. It's multiplayer, and multiplayer alone, that will save this franchise from monotony.Note: PlayStation 3 box art is used above to reflect that Criterion and EA are currently previewing Burnout Paradise on PS3 only.Update: EA has set a tentative "winter" release -- expect Burnout Paradise in early 2008.%Gallery-2874%
New Burnout Paradise vid shows off vehicular destruction
Previous Burnout Paradise trailers have failed to show off any of the features that make a Burnout game a Burnout game, i.e., massive crashes with explosions of shrapnel. Criterion has finally given into our ravenous demands for destruction and they have released a new pre-E3 trailer that shows off a ton of sexy vehicular destruction. It also highlights some changes to level design, as it appears that the levels have more huge jumps and vertical pathways than the previous entries in the Burnout series. Though the whole sandbox aspect of the gameplay is still pretty suspicious, the rest of the gameplay is looking fantastic. The graphics look gorgeous and the game moves at the standard blistering pace we'd expect.With Criterion focusing on the PlayStation 3 version of Burnout, expect some top-notch carnage when the game hits the pavement later this year. Until then, check out the trailer above!
Burnout Paradise: it's crashtastic!
Realistic and powerful. That's how the cars in Burnout Paradise are being described. Their engines are loud, their paint is shiny, their speed is ferocious! Basically, the cars are pretty badass. Built from the ground up instead of using an existing engine, Criterion's Burnout Paradise has a lot going for it. The neatest feature is the damage physics. Ramming a pole at extremely high speeds will result in car-wrapping goodness, with details mirroring all those old crash test dummy videos. Sometimes, if you're especially violent in your wipeout, you can crack your vehicle right in half.Online racing is incredibly simple and incredibly seamless. Invite a buddy to race and when the person accepts, the race begins. No menus apparently. No waiting. This was demoed on the PS3 version, so we know we'll be getting this seamless feature. Chances are, the 360 build will get the same thing. The point is this: we're not getting shafted this time.Every street has "race rules" across the 30 square mile city, so again you won't be bothered by pop-up menus or interrupting boxes of text to tell you the rules. It's hard to imagine how they'll do this, since it's nearly unprecedented, but it sounds lovely. There's a lot more to this game than meets the eye (no, they don't transform), with tune-up shops, crash mode, freeburn and more. Check out the rest of the preview if you're curious. It's worth the read!
Burnout Paradise's Teaser collides with Marketplace
The beautiful, serene, and surprisingly crashless teaser trailer for Burnout Paradise is now available in glorious High Definition on Xbox Live Marketplace. While some of you readers complained that the lack of destruction didn't really do anything for you, the focal point was the city that will be literally at your disposal in the new gen aggressive racer. The trailer weighs in at 36.23 MB, which sounds about right for 60-ish seconds of content. Does it look like the new hawtness compared to the YouTube version we showed you before?
Calling All Cars due for release tonight!
Finally, after a month or so of doing the will-it-won't-it dance, David Jaffe's Calling All Cars has a set release date: Today! It will appear alongside Rampart (as promised) as part of the US PlayStation Store line-up tonight. There's no word on when it will be coming to Europe, but we're hoping it'll be within the next few weeks.The full line-up for tonight is as follows: Calling All Cars ($9.99) Rampart ($4.99) Warhawk video (free) Burnout Paradise trailer (free) Rampage video (free) All in all, not a bad haul. You lucky Americans. No doubt we'll have a review up for Calling All Cars before too long. Until then, be sure to comment and let us know what you think. Enjoy![Via SCEA press release]
