Criterion reveals Boost Specials Collection for this Thursday

by David Hinkle on Mar 9th 2009 12:13PM

Criterion Games, the nutty folks who just can't stop tinkering with Burnout Paradise, are preparing to unload yet another pile of DLC goodness onto the game in the form of The Boost Specials Collection. If you're finding a lapse in your memory regarding the Boost DLC, then read up on it here.

If you're too lazy to click (it's Monday, we totally understand), then here's a quick rundown: The Boost Specials Collection DLC features two cars -- the Hawker Mech and the Carson Extreme Hotrod -- priced at 240

($3) each. You can buy both in a single download for 400

($5). Look for these new cars on PSN and Xbox Live Marketplace this Thursday.

Essential reading: Joystiq interview: Downloading Criterion's thoughts on DLC

Source

Tags: boost-specials, burnout-paradise, criterion, criterion-games, dlc, ea, electronic-arts, Microsoft, racing, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (48)

I love this support criterion is giving to burnout paradise but my wallet isn't....

I second that, Burnout is cool as, but old news now. Don't get me wrong it's one of my (very few) non-trade-in titles, but still, Crites come on, show us a NEW game.

Unless you want to rename your company to Thatburnoutgamecompany or something.

There's a fine line between a good amount of DLC and too much time/money spent on DLC. Will Crites be the first to cross this line?

They made The Club. IT sucked. Stop bitching and be happy that they're supporting this awesome game. It could be worse, they could just pump out a new one every year and have more profits. Instead, they're letting you choose what you want to pay for. Its an awesome business model.

I'm on the contrary fence. I completely lost interest in the burnout games (and other games) that fall into the yearly release schedule. They just become background noise.

I'm relishing the extended shelf life of this game.

I think you mean Black, which didn't suck.

Black was flat out awsome! Pure gun porn.

They should so do a current gen Black.

I'm really enjoying the fact that Criterion is doing so much with Burnout Paradise, and I hope more development studios do this type of thing (Rockstar should with GTA IV).

My only issue is that it feels like they're doing the DLC backwards--giving away the stuff I'd pay for and charging for the stuff I feel they should be giving away.

Do these car packs add anything besides a different car to drive around town? It'd be one thing if they came with their own unique challenges, but I haven't really seen that mentioned (though I haven't dug for it either).

I agree. I want more to actually DO. In general and specifically for these new cars. Here's to hoping the island adds some of that

I don't like paying for all this new stuff, but I have to keep thinking to myself 'remember all of the FREE stuff they have given away in the past...'

I mean, how much would something as big as the Motorbikes/weather update cost in CoD?

You're right. But three bucks for a car? Thats over a seventh of the total price!!!

They don't need to. Apparently the Paradise Island update is as big as a new game anyway.

I like the Hawker but was gonna pass on it cause I thought they'd be at least $4. At $3 I will probably buy it.

You don't see it on shelves? That might be because its one of the most awesome racing games EVER.

Also, its still on the shelves. You're just not looking hard enough.

I love Burnout, but i second the whole "more to do please" vote, the island cant come soon enough, the cars to be honest are feeling a bit over priced, especially the toy pack.

All this DLC is advertising enough. It got me to buy it recently. bought it off of PSN at the 19.99 price point. best 20 bucks i've spent in a long time.

Looks like they are doing their best to balance out their previous generosity with current greed. Those prices are ridiculous.

Guess it evens out in the end. Sorta.

For them it does. Now that they've got everybody's attention with the free stuff, they can sell more DLC and make some money. It's a pretty good plan, and the prices aren't that unreasonable. Sure beats all the recolored weapon packs in Dead Space.

I agree! Esepecially with the economy the way it is, WTF are they thinking? I love the fact that they continue to add to the game, but why are they making this so expensive? Add up all the DLC and its crazy...

Time Savers - 400 pts - $5.00

Legendary Cars Collection - 640 pts - $8.00

Party Pack - 800 pts - $10.00

Toy Car Collection 1 - 480 pts - 6.00

Toy Car Collection 2 - 480 pts - $6.00

Total so far - $35.00

Cops and Robbers - 800 pts ? - $10.00
Paradise Island - 800 pts ? - $10.00

Total - $65.00

WTF??

Plus, its cheaper to buy the Toy Collections separately, how stupid is that?

Forgot to add the Boost Collection:

Boost Collection - 400 pts - $5.00

Total with upcoming DLC - $70.00!!

...and you have to watch in game advertisements. One would think with the sheer amount of those they're heaped, all of these new downloads would be free.

The toy collection is cheaper separately because the bundle comes with an extra vehicle - the toy motorcycle. In fact the only way to get the toy motorcycle is to buy the bundle.

@required

I didnt think of that. Advertising alone in the game they are probably making $$$$. It sucks that in the end, greed will be the primary result.

Criterion isn't holding a gun to your head.

The more DLC you develop for a game, the harder it is to move on and start over.

Besides, they don't need to, they can just keep upgrading what they have!

God Criterion, you just keep shocking me at every corner! I love it! Keep up the awesome work!

I love the continued DLC!

god i love this game, and all of the dlc, but its starting to get just a bit expensive now. i think ill pass on this one (as well as last weeks toy cars) and only pick up the cop and robbers and island update.

Well, I said I wouldn't buy the Toy Cars, but when I saw them in my Junkyard and realized how omgcute they were, I caved. I'll wait to see these in my Junkyard to decide too.

It is getting harder and harder for me to justify buying all this for the 360 when there's no real benefit to them. Sure, they might help some finish the game or something, but I've been 102% for months now.

There's no achievements on 360 for DLC (except for the 2 lame party achievements), yet PS3 has trophies for every piece of DLC that's come out.

I thought I read awhile back that an update would be released that allows you to restart an event instead of going back to the beginning of the event. Has this been released? I havent popped Paradise City in my 360 since Jan.

Yes, you can restart using Easy Drive now.

Thanks Gfunk. Is it automatically give you the option or is there a special button combo you have to press?

When you hit the Dpad, there's an option that says "Restart Event." Just select that.

At any time during the event (or shortly thereafter) you can press right on the dpad to bring up Easy Drive, select "Restart Current/Last Event" and press right again, and then I believe select "Now" and press right again.

The loading time seems to be very short as well (maybe 2 seconds).

I want the ad free plug-in, because I dislike like being forced to watch advertisements. Or since they are clearly making money off of the in game ads, give us some of these downloads for free.

All they've done the past year is release updates for free, including more stuff to do and more vehicles. Forget about that so soon?

I like many folks bought the game at the end of last year.

Then quit complaining. You only paid $20 for a game that supplies hundreds of hours of gameplay. And it's not as if the advertisement takes up your whole screen for fifteen seconds every minute. Do you honestly get annoyed at having to dodge a Gillette van rather than a plain non-advertising van? It makes no difference!

You're just being stingy. I agree that some of packs are a bit overpriced (especially since they don't add MUCH gameplay wise) but asking for everything to be free is just plain stupid.

Meximanl, you would have a point if the box said game is riddled in advertisements for Gillette, CompUSA, Vizio, Diesel, etcetera. Thing is it didn't. Also, the amount of money I paid for it has no bearing in this discussion. I ended up paying to be sold to with some gameplay, keyword:advertainment.

Like I said, I could understand if the ads would pop up on the screen every now and then and stop you from playing the game and tell you "Buy our product now or we won't let you play anymore!" Thing is it didn't. I don't see how a billboard for Burger King would distract from playing the game any more than a fake billboard for fake advertisement would. If it's so "riddled" with all of this advertisement, why do I and most other people not notice/not care as they're speeding across the highway avoiding oncoming traffic from the like of Diesel?

Because it doesn't affect the gameplay in any way shape or form. Again, if the game had some form of "commercial breaks" interupting gameplay, then you could complain.

Btw, I mentioned the $20 thing because I find it funny how someone who got a great deal on a game can still feel like the developer "owes them one" for ads that don't take away from the game.

"I like many folks bought the game at the end of last year."

You saved $40 compared to people who bought it a year ago and you still get all of the updates for free. They didn't turn off the update server when they lowered the price.

"it doesn't affect the gameplay"

That is a totally subjective comment. I feel they negatively hinder the experience.

""it doesn't affect the gameplay"

That is a totally subjective comment. I feel they negatively hinder the experience."

That's because you're a dick.

So Alex, I'm a dick in your eyes because I unknowingly ended up paying to be sold to by buying a game that turned out to be advertainment. Okay then.

I don't know why people keep bringing up the year's worth of free updates. They already ran out of that good will. $3 for one car? Are you kidding me?

If you still feel obligated to pay these exorbitant prices simply because they gave you free updates for a year, then Criterion has stumbled upon the perfect DLC business model and all other companies should take note.

That's the thing. They did stumble on a great business model. Not only did all of the free updates build up publicity for the title (allowing for a re-release a year later for $60) but the free updates kept people from selling their games and decreased the amount of used copies on the market.

That coupled with the fact that people want to show Criterion support for all that they have supported the game with, and people are willing to buy these "over-priced" packs. The beauty of it is, it's not like they're forcing you to buy these packs. Most of what has been given away for free surpasses these packs by a land slide but anyone who wants to support Criterion will.

I haven't had the opportunity to buy these packs and I doubt I will. The only one that I am buying for CERTAIN is the Island Pack because it adds the most gameplay. If there is some sort of bundle that incorporates all of the packs at a cheaper price then I'll look into it but the Island is the only definite purchase for me.

"The more DLC you develop for a game, the harder it is to move on and start over"

Sssshhh, don't say this too loud or Bethesda may hear you.

"allowing for a re-release a year later for $60"

Don't know where you shop but the PC Ultimate Box version is only $36 on Amazon. The console versions have not been re-released in the US and are still around $20.

I love how everyone acts as if the free updates were so huge. They gave us *four* bikes, *two* non-boost, ONLINE ONLY four-wheeled vehicles, a couple new online modes that no one likes to play, and a day and night cycle. But seriously, there's no reason to finish off the new challenges, especially for the 360 version, because they don't unlock anything, just like the other challenges (unless you count the Carbon Uberschall). Seriously, it adds some more gameplay, but there's no point with little to no unlocks or any reward for your effort.

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Criterion reveals Boost Specials Collection for this Thursday

Reader Comments (48)

Posted: Mar 9th 2009 12:27PM x Prime x said

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