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Need for Speed World opens up July 20

by Randy Nelson on May 27th 2010 5:00PM

EA has announced a July 20 date for the official launch of Need For Speed World, its racing MMO developed by EA Black Box. The game has been in closed beta for quite some time, with Joystiq getting a look at it back in March.

NFSW will be released as a free game client which will let players advance their driver up to level 10 before being asked to purchase a "starter pack." The game can continue to be played without it, but players won't be able to level up to earn new vehicles and power-ups.

EA is accepting pre-orders for a $19.99 starter pack, which allows for progression up to level 50 and includes an exclusive car, beta access, the ability to play NFSW a week before release and a selection of power-ups. Unfortunately, our suggestion for a "back-seat driver" power-up -- which would play the game for you to grind levels -- doesn't appear to have made the cut.

Source

Tags: black-box, ea, ea-black-box, Electronic-Arts, mmo, need-for-speed, need-for-speed-world, racing, release-date

Reader Comments (31)

Interesting. I will keep this on my radar. $20 isn't bad at all. Anyone know if this is like TDU or a true MMO?

Awesome. Could be fun man. Now I am starting to wonder if I should lean more toward this or TDU2. I suppose time will tell as we get more information and gameplay footage.

It tries to be like TDU; but there's only AI in the 'game world' until you try to enter a race Most Wanted style; then wait for other players.

Also, keyboard only at present.

"Starter Kit" sounds scary. I don't want to pay another $20 every two months for DLC/The ability to continue my game...but I guess that's a MMO for ya..

Basically.

I don't mine DLC gouging for MMOs especially if there's no monthly fee. I, in fact, prefer it that way since I have ADD when it comes to MMOs - I only seem to maintain interest for a couple months at best due to fall off in creativity, interactivity, and the fact that soon after starting it's just another BS grind fest. and I'm not hardcore enough to be truly involved with them.

For me, gaming really is a HOBBY for me, not lifetime dedication. It's blasphemy for some, but hey I tried it and I ended up enjoying games a lot less as I grew up so now it's back to second/third place in my to do list.
So, should I actually enjoy it enough to reach the limit it may be worth another $20 investment to continue on since, after all, most games start at $60.

They key is that they don't do a million little $1-$5 packs, except maybe for cars, and the rest of the actually gameplay features be rolled out into expansion or level packs.
However, DLC gouging should stay with MMOs and leave the rest of the gaming world alone.

If I can't get the Epaulets of the Asian Ricer before level 10 I'll be very sad.

mmm RX-7...

I miss rotary engines, despite them being crap after 100k miles.

The RX-8 has a rotary...

I was not aware the RX-8 used a Wankel engine. Thank you for educating me.

thats what i thought.

if i could only have one drifting car a rx7 it would be.

Almost made a NSFW joke, but then I realized that I'm stupid and can't read...

Glad you noticed, I thought I was the only one. I'm not sure if a car MMO is going to be any good. Are they going to have the typical classes? If so I got dibs on a tank.

Took me a minute, but then I saw what you did there.

i was gonna say it was right up my alley, then make a joke about the right up my alley :(

Nice, will definately try it out. But will there be any fees?

Previous articles about this game say it is free-to-play.

Free to play AFTER the 10 dollar single use online play coupon

I really like the idea of this game, mostly because I am a huge racing fan. Too bad my computer probably wouldn't be able to play it.

NFSW: Not For Safe Work

With our new brand Identity of "NFSW", Not For Safe Work, we intend to show who's into our racing simulators. Our "video electronic games" aren't for 9-5 office drones, they're for "bad asses" who live on the "edge"! Stunt drivers! fighter pilots! lumberjacks! congressmen! Are you interested? Do you think your "JOB" can "HANDLE" it?? Are you a bad enough dude to pay a recurring fee???

SPECIAL OFFER: If you pre-order now, there won't be any unrealistic extrapolations of urban iconography in the game!*

*Offer will not be honored.

$20 and no monthly fees for an MMO? Alright!

Did anyone ever find out about racing wheel/controller support? Be nice to dust off my G25 for this.

I could have continued about being "tire-d" or "burnout", but I care about you guys and didn't want you to suffer through terrible puns.

Seriously, I think I'll just stick to Test Drive Unlimited 2. It's been years since I've enjoyed the Need for Speed series. I think I'm gonna "steer" clear of this one. Okay, Okay, I'm done for real, I'm switching gears to being serious now.

Apparently you think that motoring through so many automotive puns is a real gas. Spoiler alert: you're talking out your tailpipe. I'm serious, if you don't SHO some safety restraint, you're just greasing the wheels for somebody to overheat and jack you up. Hell, if you don't come to a complete stop I'll deck you myself, then you'll really be green in the gills. If I gave you a full battery of blows you'd tumblehome soon enough.

And if that hasn't got you speeding to modulate your oily behavior, just remember that I could brake every bone in your trunk.

I guess I did rake you over the coals, but what you're doing is just exhausting.

"Man, I've been looking for the 'Asreals Suspension Kit of Disbelief' for, like, months now."

"Yeah, those things are pretty rare."

"Yeah, but it's +7 to all drift based skills, and it functions as part of Asreals set. It's great for a Drifter class Import character."

The two terms 'racing' and 'MMO' together in one sentence make my skin crawl. Persistent worlds with variable amounts of online players are usually way, way too laggy to do anything as precision as racing.

thats what i thought.

if i could only have one drifting car a rx7 it would be.

Is it just me or does that car look a little... surprised?

If it ends up supporting my PS2 Driving Force Pro, then I'll bite. God knows I need to get SOME use out of that thing.

If you want to play this game, go get NFS: Most wanted.
I was in the beta, it's the same game with extra human players driving around the open world city between races.

It's not worth paying for.

Seriously.

Oh yeah, no gamepad support either.
Enjoy driving with your keyboard.

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