Burnout Paradise's Big Surf Island now premium DLC

by Ross Miller { Dec 1st 2008 at 1:30PM }

Criterion has announced that its upcoming Burnout Paradise downloadable content Big Surf Island, contrary to previous statements in the developer's podcast, will no longer be offered gratis. Said the developer, "Big Surf is the culmination of everything we learned creating Paradise City, and we want it to bring you a truly spectacular new experience – the highlight of a year of incredible premium content."

Surf Island will focus heavily on stunts -- in Criterion's words, the mantra is, "If you can see it, you can drive it." What we don't know at the moment is how much it will cost, or when it will be made available. The car shown in the images, the Dust Storm, will also be available the same time as Surf Island, although there is no indication if it will be free or premium DLC. If you haven't jumped on the Burnout Paradise bandwagon (and subsequently rammed it into a busy intersection, sending the bandwagon flying into a nearby construction site), the Ultimate Box edition is coming in February 2009.

Gallery: Burnout Paradise: Big Surf Island

Tags: burnout, burnout-paradise, criterion, criterion-games

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Shadow Hog @ Dec 1st 2008 1:44PM

Considering how TF2's updates are being handled, I'll bet Microsoft is forcing this change.

DigDug @ Dec 1st 2008 2:03PM

I suspect so. Wouldn't it kill, if this was free on PS3, and cost points on 360. I mean it's bad enough for 360 owners to pay for a peer-peer gaming service crammed with adverts.

Jakka ( The Order of Haters of Balance) @ Dec 1st 2008 2:20PM

lol @ TF2 on consoles.

I'm sorry but knowing Xbox Live's ADD-stricken community that renders all-but-the-most-important-games completely empty and unplayable barely months after the release, I'm surprised that there are still people who play this game especially after how Valve handled everything...

wise_old_bird @ Dec 1st 2008 2:28PM

Wow, such ignorance.

@Shadow Hog
Didn't you notice the multiple free updates the game has gotten already? Odds are EA PAID (a relatively small fee) for those to be put up for free. Now EA's going to be getting money instead. MS probably does still charge developers for content that is put up, but Valve is frankly probably trying to secure the PC gaming market because of all the money they make on Steam. Sure Valve could reward the millions of console buyers of The Orange Box, but they choose not to. Hopefully they'll change their attitude with Left 4 Dead, especially considering how the game has sold more on 360 than PC.

@DigDug
Has there been any content that was up for free on PSN but charged for on Live? I don't think so.

@Jakka
People still play TF2 on Live. I think Live games actually retain more players than other platform's games, but there's simply more online games available on Live. On PC you still have a handful of people playing old classics like Quake 1, but smaller tier titles get abandoned even more quickly.

RiccochetJ @ Dec 1st 2008 2:42PM

@Wise: L4D is selling better on the XBox? I haven't seen any sales figures yet and don't trust VG. If it is, I hope Valve will release X-Pacs for it. Right now my friends and I are completely addicted to the game on Live.

zero2dash @ Dec 1st 2008 2:56PM

"Wow, such ignorance" is right.

@ wise_old_bird
"MS probably does still charge developers for content that is put up, but Valve is frankly probably trying to secure the PC gaming market because of all the money they make on Steam. Sure Valve could reward the millions of console buyers of The Orange Box, but they choose not to."

Because Microsoft won't let them.
Microsoft is in charge of the Live marketplace, period. Developers have to earn certification to publish things on the marketplace. A part of that certification is charging for premium content.

Valve has already said numerous times now that TF2 on the 360 will receive the class updates, in a giant megaupdate that will be premium content DLC (ie costs money). Do you honestly think Valve WANTS to charge for it when they DO NOT charge for it on the PC?

Any doubt of this was squashed when Geometry Wars was first announced, which Bizarre Creations wanted to be FREE. They asked Microsoft, who in turn told them they had to charge something for it. So they chose the smallest amount they could charge - 400 MS points. $5.

I guarantee you that if Gabe Newell wasn't such a Ps3 hater, the same update on the PSN would be free of charge because Sony doesn't have the same checks in place in regards to their online marketplace.

Doesn't bother me either way; if a FPS is available on the PC, I buy the PC version. Free content is one of the reasons; mods is the other reason.

Strategy_Panda (the artist formally known as Titanium_Orchid) @ Dec 1st 2008 3:18PM

@wise_old_bird

From what I understand, EA and criterion used Burnout Paradise as a test to see how combining in-game advertising and freely distributed content would work out.

Microsoft has some kind of that goes, for every two items you distribute freely, you must charge for one. Or something similar to that.

I also find it hard to believe that L4D sold more on PC than 360

Strategy_Panda (the artist formally known as Titanium_Orchid) @ Dec 1st 2008 3:42PM

Fuck, its typo day.

I find it hard to believe that Left 4 Dead sold more on the 360 than PC.

Sorry for spamming your inbox Shadow

SilverFireshot @ Dec 1st 2008 1:46PM

For how well they support their games with free content, I don't mind sending a little more cash their way.

More developers should learn from Criterion on supporting their games.

Ignatius @ Dec 1st 2008 1:49PM

I hope they just release a new Burnout soon, I didn't like Paradise as much as Revenge.

Wilson @ Dec 1st 2008 1:52PM

I think their idea is to not make a new game again but to have one game and to constantly update and expand it. I love that idea. They hinted at that in a podcast.

If sports games would do the same, they would satisfy their audience a lot more. All that is needed are updated rosters and bug fixes; no need for a new game every year. Just my opinion.

Lone Starr @ Dec 1st 2008 1:54PM

In terms of sports games, why offer for free (or cheap) what people are willing to pay for again and again?

Dirty @ Dec 1st 2008 2:00PM

I am not a big fan of the open world racing concept, but its still fun.

jon @ Dec 1st 2008 1:57PM

Great,i bet this was more of EA's doing than MS's.

Criterion: So we got this new DLC for Burnout Paradise
It's a new island where you can do stunts and....

EA: Yeah,yeah, so how much you charging the suckers?

Criterion: Ummm....free? Like the rest of our DLC?

EA: Free? Free!!!!(does a exorcist head turn)Free!!
(now in demon voice) Nothing is free from EA!!!!! Nothing!!! Charge them or I'll ban you into the abyss!!!!

Criterion:(whimpering)"YYYYYYeeesss Maaassstteer..."

Noshino @ Dec 1st 2008 2:02PM

Nah, EA already allowed tons of free DLC for Paradise, it is about time we make another contribution to this great studio.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Dec 1st 2008 4:06PM

Once the game hit $30 this was inevitable (IMHO).

IMHO, EA was experimenting with giving stuff away to keep the game fresh and keep copies off the used market. This should keep the purchase price of the game up at $50. But once the price slid to $30 it was clear the strategy had changed to "get you in for $30 and then hook you for some DLC".

I like the former better, because it meant the game was a better value at $60, because the DLC was coming for free. With the new system, those of use who paid $60 up front have to pay again.

But still, I'm not mad, the game is worth some extra money.

epthegeek @ Dec 1st 2008 2:16PM

The island was always going to be paid content. All the other updates they did so far (bikes, new online game modes, etc) were free - but they have always said (on their own blog/forums) that the island would be the first paid add on.

So, unless there's a [citation] that refutes, this article is wrong.