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GC 2008: What's new in Need for Speed Undercover?
To be blunt, after some of the series' most disappointing entries, Need for Speed Undercover has something to prove. Today, EA revealed some of the features of the November release, the opening salvo in the battle to win back our hearts (unless you count the announcement of Maggie Q's involvement ... which we do not.)You'll be taking down a crime syndicate with Ms. Q (if you're nasty), a story that will be presented with the help of live-action footage (hooray!). From a gameplay perspective, the big draw seems to be the Heroic Driving System, which EA describes as "a unique technology that generates incredible high-performance moves at 180 miles per hour during breathtaking highway battles." ... So, it's an emergency brake?Maybe it's just our relief from the yucky, Far 2 Fast and Uncom4tably Furious aesthetic that's plagued the series recently, but this new entry sounds like a breath of fresh air. Well, Undercover, it would seem we, much like the Ghostbusters, are ready to believe in you.%Gallery-30062%
Video: Need for Speed Undercover live action uncovered
Anytime we hear that a game will feature live action sequences, we immediately have nightmares about awful, awful Sega CD games. Now, we're not saying that the live action sequences in Need for Speed Undercover will be awful. In fact, if this recently released video is any indication, they may actually be pretty good. The video features a police officer discussing the state of Tri-city, the city where Undercover takes place. Unfortunately, other than what appears to be some CG footage at the end, there isn't a hint of what the game actually looks like. Maybe next time.
Need for Speed Undercover speeds to November
Black Box today announced that Need For Speed Undercover will be arriving November 18 in North America and Novermber 21 in Europe. The game brings cop chases back to the series and features actress Maggie Q -- famous for her roles in Live Free or Die Hard and Mission Impossible III (not to mention having a letter for a last name) -- in live action segments that "propel the original story." Q plays a federal agent, described as "a seductive handler who recruits and guides players as they go undercover." Let's get this straight, a sexy woman recruits you so you can become an undercover agent that drives awesome cars for a living? So, basically, it's a 15-year-old's fantasy come true.For what it's worth, Black Box claims that Undercover "takes the franchise back to its roots" and throws police chases back into the mix. No word on whether or not the police involved are also sexy.[Via Joystiq]
Need for Speed Undercover hits pavement in November
Developer Black Box's nitro button must be worn down to a nub. The studio announced today that its upcoming Need for Speed sequel, Undercover, will ship this November, pulling up to the starting line well before the 2009 release previously mentioned by EA CEO John Riccitiello.In development for every platform under the sun (yes, even mobile phones), Need for Speed Undercover will also sport what Black Box describes as "big-budget live-action sequences" starring Balls of Fury and Mission Impossible III actress, Maggie Q, as a federal agent who recruits drivers to take down a criminal syndicate. While recent Need for Speed racers have all but siphoned our tanks of what enthusiasm we once had for the series, those who care can look forward to race with Ms. Q in North America on November 18 and in Europe on November 21.
PlayStation 3 Greatest Hits Buyer's Guide
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/playstation/PS3_Greatest_Hits_buyer_s_guide'; Today marks the launch of the PlayStation 3 Greatest Hits collection, with nine games given a (slightly) new jewel case and an attractive $30 price tag. Warhawk MotorStorm Resistance: Fall of Man Call of Duty 3 Need for Speed Carbon The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Ninja Gaiden Sigma Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas Assassin's Creed But which of these games are worth your time and money? Our friends at PS3 Fanboy have done the research for you. Check out their Buyer's Guide to see recommendations, and which online retailers currently have these budget games in stock
Revolutionary: WRX Stage 1
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Revolutionary_WRX_Stage_1'; The training wheel project got me thinking about what more it would take to create a Wii racing rig that's as comprehensive as a traditional wheel and pedal gaming setup. The Wii Wheel provides analog control for steering, but not throttle and braking. The Wheel shell also blocks off the expansion port, so you can't use a Nunchuk's analog stick. It seemed like there was just no way to build a full set of racing controls around the Wii Wheel, but then I got my Balance Board and the wheels started turning in my head. How about a Wii Racing Xperiment?
Next Need for Speed going 'Undercover' in 2009
We'll be honest and say that the past few entries in the Need for Speed franchise haven't exactly driven us mad with desire. But, ever the salesman, EA CEO John Riccitiello knows just the way to get a game back into our hearts: Mention it in the same breath as The Transporter.Riccitiello said that the next iteration, Need for Speed: Undercover will have a strong mission structure and a similarity to the Jason Statham action classic. "For those of you who ever saw movies like The Transporter - it's sort of a cult classic among people with a B-movie mentality, which fits me perfectly," he said. "I liked it. I apologize. For those of you with no taste, and you liked it too, we can go have a Schlitz after this."Don't worry John, we're right there with you. We're just heartbroken that we're apparently going to have wait until 2009 to partake of the fruits of your genius.
PSP Fanboy review: Need for Speed ProStreet
Like most EA franchises, the Need for Speed series has been quite prolific over the years. Through the franchise history, the franchise has donned a number of styles, never quite a quality that makes it distinctly unique. ProStreet focuses much more on the "Pro" side of things, losing the very urban street-based attitude it has featured over the last few iterations. Players will collect and tune cars, and will partake in a number of professional circuits from throughout the world. The offering is pretty standard-fare, but should more than satiate the basic needs of the car enthusiast. The career mode has players completing various challenges in each course. Many trials involve crossing the finish line first. However, there are a couple of modes that keep things interesting. There's Speed Trap, which has players attempting to reach the highest speeds possible at each checkpoint. There's no need to be in first: rather, players must smartly approach each gate in a way that'll allow them to get the highest speed. Sometimes, that means cutting corners, or taking turns in rather unconventional ways. It's an interesting mode that takes advantage of a different kind of strategy. %Gallery-16459%
Brace yourself: More Skate, Burnout, Need for Speed confirmed
In a move that will shock the industry, EA revealed to analysts that sequels to Burnout: Paradise and Skate are in the works. More specifically, EA Games president Frank Gibeau said the two series would "see extension" before April of 2009. Extensions? Can't you just taste the vision?Gibeau also said that after a disappointing sales year, Need for Speed would be returning to the touchstones that made it a hit before, and adding open-world racing and a new "highway battle mode" -- does it count as stealing if you do it from your own company? It's a great time to be alive for people who love EA games, but hate being surprised.
Need for Speed ProStreet gets exclusive features on PSP
EA loves adding a few extra things to the PSP versions of their games. Although ProStreet on PSP is "at its core, a portable edition of the console version," there are a number of extras that PSP owners can look forward to. Driver Intuition, Driver Personas, and Speed Mode are all features exclusive to the system. An IGN interview reveals that the "Driver Persona also indicates the level of assist that you will receive from the game; this is called Driver Intuition."Intuition, an optional assist feature, will show you the best line to take in each course. Racing enthusiasts know that this information is crucial for winning a race. Handheld owners can rejoice in having this very helpful feature. Finally, people will be glad to hear that EA is continuing their Infrastructure efforts on PSP through this latest title.
Expect SMG, RRR2, and more; pay less
Starting today until this Saturday, Target will have six of its Wii games for sale for only $37.00! As you can see from the list below, they're not all crap, either! Super Mario Galaxy Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Need for Speed: Prostreet Madden NFL 08 Smackdown vs Raw Most of these titles are already out of stock on Target's online shop, but you should still be able to pick them up at a brick and mortar location. If you've been putting off on buying Super Mario Galaxy to accommodate your Christmas budget, with the holiday now behind us and this great deal, you can make this long overdue purchase without having to feel guilty about it![Thanks, Tofufa!]
'Safer Scotland' places anti-drunk driving ads in 360 games
Proving that not all in-game advertising is used solely for evil, the Scottish government plans to spend £10,000 on virtual billboards to discourage drunk driving, the BBC reports today. The campaign will place anti-drunk driving messages in Xbox 360 racing games like Need for Speed: Carbon, Project Gotham Racing 4, and sports titles like Pro Evolution Soccer 2008.The Scottish government is elated that the campaign will be going forward, as it believes that video games are a great way of reaching younger audiences. We couldn't agree more, and think that this is one of the smartest uses for ad dollars we've seen in a while. Kudos to the Safer Scotland campaign.
EA repents use of topless models in Need for Speed ads
Boobs have long been the marketing companion for guy stuff, like fast cars. So it seemed a natural choice for EA (or more likely, a contracted third-party ad firm) to feature a pair of scantily clad models posed with a Ferrari to promote Need for Speed: ProStreet (rated 3+ in Europe). That "scantily" is hereby defined as sans tops is admittedly risqué for games promotion, but the ads only appeared on UK tabloid The Sun's softcore site Page 3. Today, EA issued a statement of regret about the images, explaining that the promotion had "slipped through the proper EA approval process." As a result, the ads have been removed from the site (but not from the murky bowels of the internet). So what's the cost? Perhaps longer 'exposure' could have helped ProStreet topple Assassin's Creed from the charts. We'll never know.[Update: full censored image has been moved to accommodate 'work surfers' -- view it after the jump.]
Last chance: win Need for Speed Pro Street
Alright folks, this is it, your last shot at winning Need for Speed Pro Street from Xbox 360 Fanboy (that's us!). Hopefully you remembered to submit an entry every day to maximize your chance of winning. Here's your chance to enter one more time, or, if you like living dangerously, enter for the first time. Head on over to the official giveaway post for your chance to win. You've got one hour to do so as of this posting, so make it quick, fanboys.
Fanswag Weekly: Need for Speed Pro Street [update]
[Update: This giveaway is now closed and our winner has been chosen. Check your inbox (and spam box), you might be the winner.]Hooray for Fanswag! This week we're giving away EA's latest racer, Need for Speed Pro Street. We've got a brand new, sealed copy just for one lucky reader. If you'd like to see yourself in the driver's seat, simply follow the instructions below. Need for Speed Pro Street, as you might expect, is very speedy. Leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite high speed activity. You can leave one comment per calendar day (Eastern Time). Be sure you only leave one comment per day. Posters of multiple comments during the same day will be disqualified. We'll accept entries until Friday, November 16, 12:00 Noon, Eastern Time. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only On Friday, we'll pick one winner via a random drawing One winner will receive a copy of Need for Speed Pro Street, worth $60. You'll notice that we've allowed one entry per day again. Be sure to enter all three days to maximize your chance to win.
EA reorganizes business into four labels
We imagine mega publisher EA's recently announced reorganization strategy was as much in service of strengthening its brands as it was in keeping the peace between roving employees. "Excuse me, what do you think you're doing?" "I'm modeling a car for Need For Speed: Pro Street, what does it look like?" "I just stepped out for lunch... I was using this workstation for the The Sims team." "The the sims? You got a stuttering problem there? You nervous about something?" "No, I was referring to the team working on The Sims. This is our computer." "Really? I don't see your name on it." Well, obstinate fictional employee, there soon will be! EA is planning to reorganize its business in the coming months into four primary and distinctly labeled groups, each equipped with dedicated studio and publishing teams. The labels are as follows: EA Games: Home to the likes of Need for Speed, Medal of Honor, Spore, Command & Conquer and the EA Partners publishing business. The Sims: If a game features a nonsense dialect, emotion gauges and a mechanical imitation of your own life, it'll come from this team. EA Casual Entertainment: A group dedicated to easily accessible titles for the non-gaming folk. Franchises like Harry Potter and Boogie fall under this label, as does EA's online casual game service, Pogo.com. EA Sports: What could this section be working on? Answers on a postcard. EA notes that all four labels will be supported by two new groups, namely Central Development Services, a technology group overseeing operations and EA's online platform, and Global Publishing, the marketing muscle and distribution, uh... diaphragm.
Need For Speed: Extreme Street Talking Interview edition
While the whole street racing genre has gotten as dry as that meatloaf we tried to call supper (the oven simply refused to let it come out until the timer went off -- the timer happened to be the smoke alarm), EA is attempting to jump start the genre with their latest Need For Speed title: ProStreet. Game Informer has the details -- we'll make it much quicker to read. More emphasis on car performance and your skill at driving the cars than crazy crashes and cheesy live-action sequences (which will still exist, of course). The game has been in development for 16 months! That means they've probably already started on another NFS title due out in 2008. Just speculation. All races thus far are scheduled to take place in broad daylight. No police, either. The emphasis isn't on getting "caught" but on keeping your car clean of damage. Which there will be a lot of. About damage ... it's not going to be a punishment. They want you to see it -- damage is "cool". Personally, that's lame. If we smash our hood, we should have a faulty horn to amuse ourselves with at least. Or a broken axle means ... well ... it means you've got to cough up a bit of scratch to keep that ride. The customization system in the game will allow you to do "whatever you want" with the cars. Not to resell online or anything, but to make something you're genuinely proud to drive. Sixaxis controls will be toyed with. Expect it to be an option you can turn off, though! It honestly seems like they've got just as much going for them as the upcoming title skate does. Similar customization claims, departures from games with similar premises and Electronic Arts. We'll file this game in the "potential" cabinet. Where do you all stand?
Need For Speed ProStreet screenshots finally round the bend
And you thought you'd be off the hook with street racing games for a while, huh? There is a difference between this ProStreet iteration of Need for Speed and other street racing games, though. Imagine this: a driving simulation, but for street racing. Yes, it's like Gran Turismo meets The Fast and The Furious. Is this a good idea? We aren't sure because we've never actually experienced a game like that before. The culture of street racing and focusing on your vehicles performance permeate from this game like ... well, like gas fumes.The game itself, taking place in a multitude of locations with a multitude of cars, actually looks good. Yep, EA is making a game that seems like effort was put into this year's edition of any given franchise. So, let's get this straight: a realistic street-racing simulation with car damage and a complete move away from prior NFS titles? Yeah, it's surprising, but don't let our loss of words keep you from checking out the first screenshots. What do you think? Could this actually work?%Gallery-3565%
Need for Speed: Pro Street announced
Remember the Need for Speed teaser that was released just over week ago? The one that told us to check NeedForSpeed.com on May 31? Guess what? It's May 31, and EA has officially announced ... a Need For Speed game (imagine that). The new game, subtitled Pro Street, focuses on players becoming the world's greatest street racer. The press release mentions fully customizable cars that you can fully tweak and tune for maximum performance. It also gives us a few tiny details about the damage system, noting that "every dent, every scratch and every crumpled body panel is a battle scar, proof of your commitment and competitive mettle." The game is also slated to have a "revolutionary online mode," though no concrete details are given. Need For Speed: Pro Street is scheduled to release this November. Watch the (slightly) extended trailer above and check out the screenshot gallery below.%Gallery-3553%
New Need for Speed trailer shows new hotness
A new trailer has popped up for the next incarnation of Need for Speed. At the moment, the game goes without any subtitles, leaving us unable to properly identify it. The trailer shows off a real purdy car which subsequently explodes, and really, what more do you need from a video game? The trailer concludes with a quick blurb directing viewers to check out NeedforSpeed.com on May 31st. Impatient people that we are, we decided to check it out now, and were sadly greeted with the website for Need for Speed: Carbon. Sigh ... guess we'll have to wait.
