3 new NFS games

pyrre · January 30, 2009

Need for Speed: Shift will launch on PC, Xbox 360, PS3 and PSP this autumn - as will Need for Speed: Nitro on Wii and DS. Need for Speed: World Online will be released to the Asian online PC market this summer, before heading West in the winter.

Need for Speed: Shift will be made by Slightly Mad Studios of GT Legends and GTR 2 fame, with help from EA Black Box producer Michael Mann and EA Games Europe bigwig Patrick Soderlund.

Shift focuses on simulation racing - not just the realistic movement of cars, but also driver behaviour. This, EA marketing boss Keith Munro told Eurogamer, is what will set the game apart. Also, less baggy jeans and hip-hop.

"The urban underground was a manifestation of style in some past Need for Speed games for sure, but Shift focuses less on these style cues and more on mirroring the driver experience, that athleticism of being in a wickedly-intense race, and what it really feels like to be behind the wheel," Munro told us.

A flashy 3D HUD that mimics driver head movement, inertia and G-force will help achieve this. There's a cockpit view that lets players freely look around using the right thumbstick, too.

Munro reckons serious car enthusiasts will "love" Shift, and that mainstream racers will also get on board. He's quite excited.

"Need for Speed Shift is amazing and I think it will blow people away," said Munro. "The tech behind that game, the details that only a team with such racing pedigree could accomplish, and the ability to make you feel the intensity of a race is unprecedented. I can't wait for our fans to begin experiencing it!"

And, he added: "Regarding any new Need for Speed girls I can't comment, but I'll definitely mark down one enthusiastic vote for Josie Maran." Steady on.

(Update: An EA spokesperson has been in touch to comment on the response to the first screenshot. "That is an untouched screenshot captured from gameplay footage," we're told.)

Need for Speed: Nitro will be created by EA Montreal. Fast and fun arcade racing tops the bill, and will be matched by vibrant and eye-catching visuals, we're told.

"Need for Speed Nitro on the Wii and DS will not be a Mario Kart clone - Nintendo already does an excellent job with that," said Munro.

"Instead, we are evolving the arcade racer with a fresh and unique visual style that is very Need for Speed. The game will be rich and deep and will appeal to experienced arcade racers as well as casual players."

"What you'll see is that Nitro in no way resembles any other previous Need for Speed title," he added.

Specific details are scarce, and apparently it's "still too early" to talk about multiplayer plans for the Wii and DS game.

Need for Speed: World Online is the 'Play 4 Free' wild-card, and will be co-developed by series regular Black Box and EA's online studio in Singapore. Released to Asia first, this online PC game will let players pick and customise their choice of licensed vehicles and take on the rest of the world - well, Asia, before heading West after a thumbs-up there.

"This is not so much a proof of concept - it is a full-fledged launch in a market that we are very ambitious toward," explained Munro. "This Play 4 Free action racing game will give Need for Speed fans the most licensed cars, parts and game modes ever in Need for Speed's history.

"Players will prove their racing supremacy through the sophisticated online matchmaking features and fully customise their profile and their ride.

"Once Need for Speed World Online has been successfully deployed in Asia, we will expand the game's reach by offering the service to PC gamers around the world," he said.

Drawing inspiration from Battlefield Heroes and the free FIFA online games, World Online will no doubt adopt a micro-transaction model, but that's Munro has said he will discuss in the future.

Head over to our Need for Speed: Shift, Need for Speed: Nitro and Need for Speed: World Online galleries for the first screenshots.

Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/revamped-nfs-series-launches-this-year

Shift and World Online seems interesting and Shift's cockpit view looks really good. I haven't liked NFS series for many years, but hopefully these will change that.

SLRRR · January 30, 2009

Just readed that somewhere else. They cant even make one good NFS game (the last game's were horrible) so now they are going to make 4 :confused:

It sounds like milk

pyrre · January 30, 2009

Just readed that somewhere else. They cant even make one good NFS game (the last game's were horrible) so now they are going to make 4 :confused:

It sounds like milk

Well yeah, although Shift is done by a different studio. And these seem to be totally different style games

Immelmann · January 30, 2009

Milk?

Anyway, I'm curious as to how Shift will turn out

[e] It might be decent seeing as it's not done by EA themselves. The change from the "hip hop and baggy jeans" sounds good too.

CarMadMike · January 30, 2009

I will most probably buy them all, but i know they arent going to be good.

CobraDBlade · January 30, 2009

that shot from Shift looks like it was lifted directly out of GRID (possible fake). anyone with GRID able to confirm/deny?

also, if World Online is freeroam, we could possibly be looking at a spiritual TDU successor (provided it doesn't captain the failboat)

Nige · January 30, 2009

HANG ON :confused: !!!!!!!!!

Did I read simulation and Need For Speed in the same sentance ??????

Just a minute while I recover :confused: .......

So can we expect a decent NFS then ????? Never thought I would see another decent NFS again but hey it seems to be going into that direction judging by what I have read ... interesting ....

January 31, 2009

I'll buy all three! Well, maybe not Nitro. I'm imagining you throwing fruit at your opponents in your Zonda or Skyline as part of the gameplay.

The Shift screenshot is... :drool:

ScaR · January 31, 2009

woo they are finally doing what they should have all along :D hopefully its not a letdown

January 31, 2009

Let's hope the games don't flop. Prostreet and Undercover sounded good on paper.

HavockJoker · January 31, 2009

have some faith left in EA, will wait until demo and then will wait until game is released and then decide after ratings are done.

*sorta looks promising seeing they are getting help from GT Legends.

ScaR · January 31, 2009

Well its been officially announced by EA:

http://www.needforspeed.com/portal/site/nfs/news/details/?contentId=813d3b692862f110VgnVCM100000100d2c0aRCRD

ShadowGT · January 31, 2009

Oh wonderful We get need for speed: GRiD now >_>. I ain't buying it. I didn't buy pro street & i ain't buying this crap either.

CobraDBlade · January 31, 2009

will wait until demo

Don't forget that EA dropped the idea of a demo for Undercover, forcing people to buy it in order to know what it was like

Car Freak · January 31, 2009

I'm thinking we should just give up on NFS. After all, sales figures for NFS games have been on a slide...

NFS Underground 2: 4.5 million

NFS Most Wanted: 3.9 million

NFS Carbon: 3.1 million

NFS ProStreet: 2.1 million

source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/6203924.html?tag=latestheadlines;title;1

ShadowGT · January 31, 2009

In my mind Most wanted was the last good Need for speed game.

KoenigseggBG · January 31, 2009

The last proper NFS I played was Carbon. Even though the realism was so minimum it was still fun. After trying Pro Street in an Internet club, I just couldn`t care less what new things EA can do. NFS era is sooo over. I have Hot Pursuit 1/2, Porsche Unleashed, Underground 2, MW and Carbon and I still think MW is the best. ;)

RRacer · January 31, 2009

i think they are test versions

shift= prostreet nitro= ??? world online= carbon

they just left those details out of the game

HavockJoker · January 31, 2009

Don't forget that EA dropped the idea of a demo for Undercover, forcing people to buy it in order to know what it was like

OO yeah. Hopefully, The GT legends producers make them release a demo.

Camel · January 31, 2009

Oh joy, we all know that this will just turn into another cash cow for EA.

Don't quote me on that though ;)

Gunned_Down666 · January 31, 2009

that nfs world pic with the 350z in it looks like carbon with a render done to it? dont you reckon or is it just me

Andreas¹ · January 31, 2009

Wow, looks and sounds nice. ;) I read somewhere that Undercover was going to be the last NFS :S Thanks god that I was proven wrong ;)

hpluls · January 31, 2009

I remember reading that Criterion (the Burnout guys) were to take over the development of the NFS series... :confused:

CobraDBlade · January 31, 2009

I don't care who takes over the development of the NFS series, so long as they make games that don't suck and recapture the magic that NFS used to hold for me.