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Criterion Has A Need For Speed

Added by Jeff Gerstmann on June 10, 2009

43 comments

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.

Filed under : Criterion Games, Need for Speed

43 Comments

morningdrive
on June 10, 2009

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?

Rinkalicous is online
on June 10, 2009

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.

innacces14 is online
on June 10, 2009

True.

TheBigBopper
on June 10, 2009

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

MattyFTM is online
on June 10, 2009

Criterion should be able to do the series justice.

RHCPfan24
on June 10, 2009

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

kitsune_conundrum
on June 10, 2009

NFS:BO or BO:NFS?

Aaron_G
on June 10, 2009

A good Need for Speed game finally?

LordAndrew
on June 10, 2009

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

Bigandtasty
on June 10, 2009

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

Beabo_83
on June 10, 2009

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

GreggD
on June 10, 2009

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

Gamer_152
on June 10, 2009

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.

SuperMooseman
on June 10, 2009

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

Jimbo
on June 10, 2009

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.

agentboolen
on June 10, 2009

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!!!

TOYBOXX
on June 10, 2009

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.

Nadril
on June 10, 2009

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

bcrt2000
on June 10, 2009

Sounds like a TDU competitor.

PlatypusPlatoon
on June 10, 2009

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?

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