Giant Bomb News

Criterion Has A Need For Speed

by Jeff Gerstmann on June 10, 2009

A brief mention on a conference call confirms a rumor as the Burnout guys get officially tied to EA's other racing series.

You know, maybe it'd be cool if you put this guy in it? I don't know, just spitballing here.

G4's Patrick Klepek listens to webcasts so you don't have to. Or, really, so I don't have to. And for that, I salute him! EA's COO, John Pleasants, spoke at the William Blair Growth Stock Conference this morning, and in the process, he confirmed the previous rumor that placed Burnout developer Criterion on another game in the long-running Need for Speed series.

Here's what Pleasants had to say:

"We've taken the Burnout team and combined it with our Need For Speed franchise. So we now have that in our favor because that Burnout team is probably one of the more online-centric and notably high-quality game developers that we have out at Criterion."

Back when EA announced a pile of Need For Speed games to denote the game's different directions, a secret fourth NFS game was mentioned with no detail behind it. Looks like we now know who's working on that one. But what sort of game will it be? Surely they won't just make another Burnout game and slap the NFS name onto it, right? Right? No, seriously, they won't, right?

The specific mention of the "online-centric" nature of Criterion seems like it could make for an interesting non-crash-focused driving game. Those online features in Burnout Paradise and the team's persistent dedication to downloadable additions are a big part of why I've probably spent more hours playing Burnout Paradise than all of the Need For Speed games combined.

But if I may get cynical for a moment and jump the gun on a game that hasn't even been announced, let alone detailed, a Burnout-style game without a heavy focus on crashing doesn't sound like much fun.

44 Comments First to Last Latest

Posted by Jeff - June 10, 2009 at 12:15 PM

Here's what Pleasants had to say:

"We've taken the Burnout team and combined it with our Need For Speed franchise. So we now have that in our favor because that Burnout team is probably one of the more online-centric and notably high-quality game developers that we have out at Criterion."

Staff

Posted by morningdrive - June 10, 2009 at 12:21 PM

the last good need for speed game was most wanted. If criterion is working on a new need for speed game what is going to happen to the burnout license?

Posted by Rinkalicous - June 10, 2009 at 12:21 PM

I guess it's time to find out if I dislike need for speed because of the people who made it, or i simply dislike need for speed because the game mechanics do nothing for me.

Posted by innacces14 - June 10, 2009 at 12:22 PM

True.

Posted by TheBigBopper - June 10, 2009 at 12:25 PM

i doubt they will make another burnout game in next 2 years or so criterion takes there time with sequels e.g. black

Posted by MattyFTM - June 10, 2009 at 12:40 PM

Criterion should be able to do the series justice.

Moderator

Posted by RHCPfan24 - June 10, 2009 at 12:40 PM

I don't know about you, but I just want to play Big Surf Island.

Posted by kitsune_conundrum - June 10, 2009 at 12:41 PM

NFS:BO or BO:NFS?

Posted by Aaron_G - June 10, 2009 at 12:43 PM

A good Need for Speed game finally?

Posted by LordAndrew - June 10, 2009 at 12:45 PM

Doesn't EA have enough Need for Speed titles in the works?

Posted by Bigandtasty - June 10, 2009 at 12:45 PM

not very excited, not sure how criterion will make the transition and not sure what this will do to the burnout series

but i guess i'll just wait until the final product comes out

Posted by MrBeabo - June 10, 2009 at 12:47 PM

I'd prefer if they just added the option of cop pursuits in Burnout.

Posted by GreggD - June 10, 2009 at 12:47 PM

@RHCPfan: Yeah, I concur. Though, it will be interesting to see what they do with the Need For Speed license.

Posted by Gamer_152 - June 10, 2009 at 12:47 PM

I'm a bit skeptical about this one. Burnout Paradise was an excellent driving game but I'm not as into the NFS series, it'll be interesting to see how this one works out.

Moderator

Posted by SuperMooseman - June 10, 2009 at 12:47 PM

I just want Need for Speed to go back to how it should be.
Huge, varied open world.
Police chases.
Razor Callahan.

Posted by Jimbo - June 10, 2009 at 12:48 PM

Need For Speed: Razor's Revenge - Totally Burnout Edition

Why not just let 'Burnout' become their flagship racing brand? 'Need For Speed' is totally Top Gun... and not in a good way.

Posted by agentboolen - June 10, 2009 at 12:48 PM

EA is trying too hard to keep the Need For Speed license a live, let it die already most of those games suck anyway. Rather be playing Burnout!!!

Posted by TOYBOXX - June 10, 2009 at 12:52 PM

I've personally lost interest with the Need for Speed franchise when they implemented driving for pink slips. It seemed that they were trying to cash-in on the The Fast and the Furious craze at the time which killed it for me. Burnout, on the other hand, was what I wanted and Paradise delivered. Whatever they do with NFS I don't care. I've got Burnout and that's all that matters right now.

Posted by Nadril - June 10, 2009 at 12:54 PM

A burnout style game with cop chases in an open world would be very, very awesome.

Posted by bcrt2000 - June 10, 2009 at 12:56 PM

Sounds like a TDU competitor.

Posted by PlatypusPlatoon - June 10, 2009 at 12:58 PM

I hope to God this doesn't mean the end of the Burnout series. EA wouldn't go so far as to mess that up... right?

Posted by SilverShadow - June 10, 2009 at 1:02 PM

Razor Callahan + Criterion = Best NFS ever

Posted by Coleslaw893 - June 10, 2009 at 1:27 PM

What is this? A possibly good Need For Speed game on the horizon?

Posted by torus - June 10, 2009 at 1:32 PM

Totally Speed, Totally Burnout.

Posted by 1_879_116_9420 - June 10, 2009 at 1:59 PM

Burnout Paradise cops/robbers expansion seemed to please you guys in the quick look. I trust these guys to make a good Need For Speed game, and if there is one thing Burnout is lacking it is characters like Razor and Cross (in place of DJ Annoy and Annoyer)

Posted by Kohe321 - June 10, 2009 at 2:03 PM

Awesome, the game will probably awesome. NFS needs that.

Posted by Rio - June 10, 2009 at 2:04 PM

Criterion with licensed cars? Im on board.

Posted by idiotic_genius1 - June 10, 2009 at 2:04 PM

Man I just want a new Burnout game. The Need for Speed games are not for me, I have tried them but never liked any of them. In fact the only racing games that I have been able to enjoy in recent years have been the Burnout games, mainly because when you crash it looks fucking awesome!

Posted by iAmJohn - June 10, 2009 at 2:17 PM

I'm glad Burnout is taking a break. I don't need a new Burnout Paradise any time soon, and I know for certain that Criterion isn't going to give me what I really want with the next Burnout (Burnout Revenge 2). I hope Criterion is going in the more ridiculous, white-knuckle run-from-the-cops style of NFS, though, since that's the only Need For Speed I like (or rather, Hot Pursuit 2 and Most Wanted are the only Need For Speeds I like).

Posted by lordofultima - June 10, 2009 at 2:18 PM

This blows. Stay with Burnout, Paradise was the best racing game in existence.

Posted by iAmJohn - June 10, 2009 at 2:21 PM

@lordofultima: They shouldn't try something new and different from their wheelhouse just because their last game was awesome? That's an incredibly stupid thing to say.

Posted by Media_Master - June 10, 2009 at 2:49 PM

Burnout should stick to its crashes

Posted by hagridore - June 10, 2009 at 2:59 PM

We need more Razor Callahan.

Posted by insanejedi - June 10, 2009 at 3:21 PM

We need a Need for Speed that isn't some bolt on wonder boy looking to get smoked by reviewers.

Posted by Krisgebis - June 10, 2009 at 4:22 PM

The last good NFS was Underground (1). Everything from there has been shit. The last good before NFS:U was Porche Challenge. And up until that, every main title was a hit.
I don't know if they can bring it back, or if the world has just evolved past the NFS franchise.

Posted by Jackel2072 - June 10, 2009 at 4:23 PM

EA is just throwing everything at the wall and seeing if something sticks! To be honest i have not enjoyed a need for speed game in quite a while. the last NFS game i played and enjoyed was Underground, but mainly because the Fast and The Furious just came out, and the game satisfied that tuner craving i had after seeing that movie. I will remain optimistic though, i mean its criteron games. The news does make me a little sad, i really do want them to take another shot at making a Black game again.

Posted by kuddles - June 10, 2009 at 4:45 PM

Guys, this is actually a good thing if you think about it. You might prefer Burnout but the average consumer doesn't. Even with the last Need for Speed having the most disappointing sales ever, it still sold much better then Burnout Paradise. This move just lets Criterion make another great racing game but find a bigger audience due to the more popular brand name.

Edited by ghostNPC - June 10, 2009 at 4:50 PM

Great. Now the cursed NFS franchise will infect Criterion with it's mainstream blandness and irritating Fast and Furious hiphop bullshit. Oh well, it was a good developer while it lasted.