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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%
NFS ProStreet set to do donuts this Fall
EA has revealed that they intend on bringing forth a new game into this wonderful world, which is a new installment in their racing franchise Need for Speed (surprise!). Titled Need for Speed ProStreet, the game is going to focus mostly on street racing, but according to EA will feature more customization options for players. EA says we'll get our hands on the game come Fall 2007, but in the meantime we'll have to settle for the teaser trailer after the break.
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.
EA smashing cars in next Need for Speed
Now would be the ideal time to compare EA to The Incredible Hulk in one of your slightly aloof forum debates on the death of innovation in the gaming industry. If there's one thing the gigantic publisher and mass churner is saying in the above video, it's "EA SMASH!" The teaser seems to indicate that the next Need for Speed title (no platform specified) will feature extravagant damage modeling, as well as an array of enormous balloons -- the former is likely the one EA intended to highlight. Car damage would be a logical addition to the franchise in its current state, though if it wasn't for the Need for Speed branding in the trailer, we might have gotten it confused with EA's other smashing success, Burnout. We'll find out more on May 31st.
Newest Need For Speed trailer displays advanced car damage
Another Need for Speed game is coming and this early trailer displays the main focus of this entry: car damage. From the trailer, you can see a lot of paint scratches from multiple types of encounters (a love tap, trading paint, brake checks, etc) and a lot of weird stitches on the car. We're not sure if stitching your car is a very effective method of piecing a car back together, but this more realistic approach to the genre may point to a whole new style of play to the franchise. Let us know what you think: will the game go more simulation, or extreme explosions a la Motorstorm?[via CVG]
EA continues to exploit, charging $50 for Need for Speed unlockables
EA is determined to be the bully of Xbox Live Marketplace. Once again, the world's biggest games publisher is offering pay-don't-play content, inviting gamers to buy Need for Speed Carbon's unlockables.EA and Microsoft will argue that this is simply a matter of choice: choose to buy content; or choose to unlock content by playing. But this new set of choices defies our learned experience.Gamers want instant access to unlockables for all sorts of reasons (some are too busy to "earn" unlockables; some to lazy; others are inferior; and still others just have more fun when it's easy). There used to be a simple solution: cheat codes. But EA wants us to forget codes ever existed; wants to punish our wallets for not approaching its games with the Protestant ethic. All told, you'll burn an additional $49.25 if you want accelerated access to Carbon's goodies. Hey, you don't get to the top of the industry by offering handouts.See also:EA's premium ripoff: football tutorial videos on XBLMEA charging gamers to access unlockable contentEA charging twice for downloadable content
EA seeking extra cash from collectors
EA is getting into the Collector's Edition racket with an upgraded version of Need For Speed: Carbon on sale October 31. Here's what you get for $69.99: 3 new cars 10 specially tuned cars 6 new races 10 exclusive vinyl kits Code to download Mazda RX-7 off XBLM Bonus DVD containing behind the scenes footage on the making of the game. What? No cat helmet? Couldn't they have thrown in a Match Box Car or a spare tire? Notice that unlike Gears of War and Halo 3, two games far more likely to attract the rabid fan, EA thinks they can get away with charging extra for actual game content -- stuff that could easily be included on the regular disc or thrown up on XBLM. Is this a fair deal, or are you starting to get that Lumines Live content gouge feeling?
Need for Speed Carbon demo vrooms onto XBLM
Been looking for something to fill up that free space on your increasingly crammed 360 hard drive? Download the demo for the latest Need for Speed, dubbed Carbon, and watch 1GB disappear. Of course, this only applies if you live in an area that's not Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Sinagpore or Taiwan ... but we know what to do about that, don't we?Promotional blurb from the Dashboard hidden after the break.
New Need for Speed Carbon video released
I gotta admit the Need for Speed franchise has come a long, long way since I first played it on the Playstation. I can still remember its god-forsaken turning sensitivity that just about drove me crazy. Thankfully, those days are long gone, and the series is still going strong, which is proven by the upcoming release of Need for Speed Carbon: Own the City. While the video is light on gameplay, it does show what appears to be the game's cutscenes that may have been stolen borrowed from the Twisted Metal series. It also sheds some light on the story line. In the game, players must take control of their rivals' territories by outracing them. But watch out because you'll also have to keep an eye out for the "fuzz" who are always looking to spoil the fun. Carbon ships Nov. 1.
Sega sends us Deep Fried goodness
Sega's support of the PSP so far has been pretty pathetic in the US. But that looks like it's all about to change. We're excited about their upcoming games, though: Sega Genesis Collection and Sonic Rivals being their two most noteworthy titles heading to our system. Today, they announced a partnership with Vancouver-based Deep Fried Entertainment to work on PSP games. We don't know what they're working on, but the staff has worked on games such as MDK2, NFL Gameday, Baldur's Gate, and the Need for Speed: Underground series. Having a team dedicated to the PSP is a great idea: it means we'll see more games from Sega, and that's always a good thing.[Via Gamespot]
EA jumps on the in-game ad bandwagon [update 1]
Reuters is reporting that Electronic Arts has signed deals with Microsoft-owned Massive Inc. and IGA Worldwide to put in-game advertising in up to seven games, including Need for Speed: Carbon and Battlefield: 2142. EA Vice President for Online Commerce Chip Lange promised that this is just the beginning, saying that EA is negotiating with other providers to put ads in many future titles.While sideline billboards in Madden or racing games won't look out of place, it might be a little jarring to see an ad in the middle of Battlefield's battlefields. It might be worth it if the ads lead to lower prices for games, but we're not holding our breath on that count. How do you feel about ads in your games?[Update: the AP is reporting that the ads will be automatically updated over broadband connections on the PC and Xbox Live]
EA's launch lineup
Before we break out the goods, let's just clarify: these are launch window titles. Meaning they'll come out within the first few months of the Wii's release. They may or may not be taking up shelf space on launch day. That said, Electronic Arts is supporting the Wii launch window with six titles, including a few offerings from wildly popular franchises like Madden and Tiger Woods PGA Tour. These titles were already announced for the Wii, but EA confirmed all six for the launch window at in Leipzig. The full list: Godfather Harry Potter Madden NFL 2007 Need For Speed: Carbon SSX 5 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007
Six from EA
Electronic Arts generally releases games for more platforms than we even knew existed. Thus, when they announce support for the Wii, we have trouble acting surprised, even for the benefit of our readers. When they announce that their tried-and-true franchises are being given unique control schemes by a dedicated team, however, we then tend to pay a bit more attention. Everyone knew, of course, that Madden 2007 was getting a specialized Wii treatment. In a press release earlier today, however, they have announced similar plans for five more games: Harry Potter, Need for Speed, Tiger Woods: PGA TOUR, SSX, and The Godfather. Whoa. Need for Speed: Carbon was indeed known to be coming to the Wii, albeit we had no idea what playing it would be like. Chances are, it will utilize a similar control scheme as Excitetruck, the Wiimote aligned horizontally. Tiger Woods will offer a more intense golf simulation over that of the Wii Sports incarnation, Harry Potter will certainly use the controller as a wand for some excellent spell-casting, and SSX will most likely revamp their trick system. And The Godfather? Is anyone else seeing an intense cigar-smoking simulation?[Thanks, John and Cabbage!]
NFS Carbon race modes revealed
EternalGaming scored some details on Need For Speed Carbon from the same source who leaked early deets on NFS Most Wanted: Race modes include the now classic Drift, Sprint, Speedtrap, and Circuit modes as well as the brand new Canyon series of events that include the Canyon Duel, Canyon Race, and Canyon Drift. These Canyon series of events will have you hanging around tight turns that force you to dent the guard rail as you speed by at breakneck speeds.They also report that the police will be several times stronger than in Most Wanted, and that you'll have the ability to customize your crew's rides.[Thanks Aaron]
Need for Speed drops the Carbon bomb
The monopoly company Electonic Arts has recently announced its newest street racing title, Need for Speed: Carbon and will monopolize release it on multiple systems this November. When I say multiple systems, I mean all current gen consoles, next gen consoles and the handhelds. So, what's different in this mod n' drive n' shift n' turn racer than previous installments?The gents at IGN had the street cred to get some information from executive producer Larry LaPierre. His response was: canyon racing. Yep, now we take our races from the city streets into the nearby canyon roads and wind around mountains to victory. Sounds tough, since actually driving around a canyon in real life can be fairly unnerving. According to LaPierre, "Canyon Racing is a real test of a driver's skill and we think it provides a fantastic game play opportunity to lean into." Yeah, probably. Is that all?
