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Report: 'Need for Speed: Most Wanted' listed on E3 booth schedule [Update: Yup!]

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:30:00 EST

That mysterious Need for Speed game mentioned during EA's fiscal 2012 investors call may become slightly less ethereal during E3, as TwitchTV's booth schedule lists "Need for Speed: Most Wanted" as one of the games it'll be showcasing, according to IGN.

If that name sounds familiar, that's because it should: The original Need for Speed: Most Wanted (above) was released on nearly every system in existence way back in the ancient caveman days of 2005. It's possible that this may be the Criterion-developed Need for Speed game the rumor mill was churning over a couple weeks ago, but that's just rampant speculation on our part.

It's also possible that TwitchTV could merely be showing off the Game Boy Advance port of the original or something, we're going to go ahead and assume that isn't the case since we don't live in a Far Side cartoon.

Update: We have also received the schedule in question and can confirm that Need for Speed: Most Wanted is indeed among TwitchTV's on-site programming for E3, along with "TBA" titles from Ubisoft, Capcom and Warner Bros.

Report: 'Need for Speed: Most Wanted' listed on E3 booth schedule [Update: Yup!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 May 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit devs working on Vita title

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:00:00 EST

UK studio Criterion Games is apparently prepping a project for release on the PlayStation Vita. Superannuation spotted a job listing for a software engineer that at one point reportedly listed "optimising and tuning the game resource system for the PS Vita" as part of the position's overview. The listing was seemingly altered since, as it now reads, "Optimizing and tuning the game resource system for other platforms."

Aside from the bite-sized Burnout Crash launched on XBLA last year, Criterion Games has been rather quiet for the past couple years. The team's last console release was the fantastic Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit in 2010, and many expect that the next Need for Speed entry will be handled once again by Criterion. We've yet to hear a peep from the studio in 2012, but E3 isn't too far away.

We contacted Criterion's parent company, EA, for comment.

Report: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit devs working on Vita title originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Burnout Crash coming to iOS

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST

EA has announced that it will bring Criterion's latest, tiniest iteration in the Burnout franchise, Burnout Crash, to the iOS platform this holiday season. The punishing puzzle game, which originally launched on the PSN and XBLA, seems like a perfect fit for handheld devices -- though we don't suggest playing it while driving in real life.

A post on EA's blog makes the upcoming version of the game sound true to the original, including "three game modes, 18 traffic junctions and six unique locations." As long as Dr. Beat and his nitroglycerin-infused ambulance make an appearance, we'll be satisfied.

Gallery: Burnout Crash (iOS)

Burnout Crash coming to iOS originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch David Hasselhoff shill for Burnout Crash

David Hinkle — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST

We're not quite sure we understand the motivation behind this union of 'hoff and Burnout Crash. Is it because Burnout is a game about cars, and Hasselhoff just wants you to jump in his car?

Watch David Hasselhoff shill for Burnout Crash originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Burnout Crash review: Accident prevention

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:40:00 EST

As anyone who possesses the required documentation and vehicular means can attest, it is not terribly difficult to crash a car. There are countless laws and infrastructural guidelines designed to keep your automobile from touching anything but the ground beneath it -- ignoring just one is enough to cause a horrific, steel-twisting wreck. If impulse, not reason, guided your hands-on-wheels and feet-on-pedals, then the act of safe driving would be exponentially more difficult than the dangerous variety.

Perplexingly, Criterion Games has centered the focus of Burnout Crash on a task that's even more difficult, and more obscure than avoiding collisions with other automotive objects: In Burnout Crash, you must collide with all the other automotive objects. Harsh penalties await for players who let chunks of traffic slip through their grasp, bringing you to a haunting realization: You're not orchestrating symphonies of coordinated property damage, you're committing automotive genocide.

Gallery: Burnout Crash! (8/31/11)

Continue reading Burnout Crash review: Accident prevention

Burnout Crash review: Accident prevention originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Burnout Crash! preview: Kinect Party on the Autolog

David Hinkle — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:20:00 EST

Forgoing the usual AAA disc release, Criterion decided the next entry in its Burnout franchise would be a downloadable title featuring Kinect integration. My initial preview of Burnout Crash!, following its unveiling at EA's summer showcase, focused on how the main modes and how gameplay works.

The game has come a long way just over a month later -- as it should have, since it's kinda launching soon. My experience with the Kinect Party mode and Autolog earlier this week showed me that Burnout Crash! stands out as a fun party game.

Gallery: Burnout Crash! (8/31/11)

Continue reading Burnout Crash! preview: Kinect Party on the Autolog

Burnout Crash! preview: Kinect Party on the Autolog originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Burnout Crash! collides with XBLA and PSN on September 20

David Hinkle — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST

During a recent preview session for Criterion's Burnout Crash!, creative director Richard Franke revealed that a launch date and price had finally been set. On September 20, Burnout Crash! will be available for download on Xbox Live Arcade for 800 MS Points ($10) and $9.99 on PSN.

We've got a preview of the game's Kinect Party mode and new Autolog features coming later today, so keep an eye out for that.

Burnout Crash! collides with XBLA and PSN on September 20 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Burnout Crash trailer hits the road, terrifies us

Justin McElroy — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST

We were really enjoying the first trailer for Burnout Crash, until it occurred to us that, statistically speaking, there are almost certainly some babies in those cars. Maybe even a whole baby family, going to volunteer at a baby soup kitchen or donate blood or something. Oh, and they have one of those cute suction cup Garfields hanging on the window. ... No! It's a baby suction cup Garfield. And he's just finished a 10-year prison stint for a crime he didn't commit, and he was driving to meet his son, Baby Suction Cup Garfield Jr. that was born while he was in lock-up. Also? It's his birthday.

...You should totally watch the trailer though. It's cute. Just try not to think about the ... well, you know.

Burnout Crash trailer hits the road, terrifies us originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Burnout Crash hits home in August, was once a Wii game [update: now '2011']

JC Fletcher — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:55:00 EST

Burnout Crash! will bring its top-down pileups, Kinect collisions and titular exclamation point to PSN and XBLA in August, according to an announcement on EA's UK news site. EA originally announced the downloadable auto pinball title as a "fall" release.

Another revelation about Crash! was provided by Criterion creative director Alex Ward at EA's summer showcase. Ward told Giant Bomb that the project started on Wii before it became Crash!. "It was a user-created game where you drew a road with the wand, and we thought, if we made Crash Mode, you could make it all yourself." Criterion worked on that until discovering that it was "quite boring."

Update: The announcement on EA's site has replaced all references to "August" (and the one out-of-place reference to "Winter") to just "2011."

Burnout Crash hits home in August, was once a Wii game [update: now '2011'] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Burnout Crash! preview: Pinball wizard

David Hinkle — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:55:00 EST

Ever since I was a young boy
I've played the silver ball
From Soho down to Brighton
I must have played them all
But I ain't seen nothing like him
In any amusement hall
That deaf, dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball

Right about now, I imagine you're wondering what The Who's "Pinball Wizard" has to do with a downloadable title about crashing cars -- but with the Kinect functionality, it's those last two lines that really linger. Burnout Crash! in motion with Kinect is like some foreign ballet that my brain just doesn't have the faculties to understand.

It's also apt because the team at Criterion working on this had two clear influences: pinball and game shows. Richard Franke, game director, explains that Criterion took the "depth, strategy and features" of pinball and combined them with the "lights and sounds that generate excitement" from game shows. If you close your eyes and just listen to the game in progress, it sounds like you're at the local arcade, pinball machines blaring.

Gallery: Burnout Crash (XBLA/PSN)

Continue reading Burnout Crash! preview: Pinball wizard

Burnout Crash! preview: Pinball wizard originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Burnout Crash! spins series off to XBLA, PSN, and into traffic this fall

JC Fletcher — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:42:00 EST

We first heard about "Burnout Crash" this spring through ESRB and Australian ratings, but EA has kept mum about the downloadable racer -- until now. The publisher officially announced Burnout Crash! for PSN and XBLA, coming fall 2011.

The downloadable top-down racer is based on previous Burnout games' Crash Mode, and offers rewards for "causing traffic chaos by crashing into cars, triggering explosions and destroying everything in sight." 18 different "crash junctions" will challenge players' ability to wreck stuff.

And should you desire a new way in which to wreck stuff (like your living room), Burnout Crash! will include a Kinect mode on XBLA, in which "two teams use gestural controls to play on one television in a party battle!"

Gallery: Burnout Crash (XBLA/PSN)

Continue reading Burnout Crash! spins series off to XBLA, PSN, and into traffic this fall

Burnout Crash! spins series off to XBLA, PSN, and into traffic this fall originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFS: Hot Pursuit patch, Achievements hint at Porsche vs. Lamborghini DLC pack

David Hinkle — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 23:30:00 EST

A new DLC pack for Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit will deal with the eternal struggle between Porsche and Lamborghini, it seems. The 1.2 patch for the game reportedly brings with it several new Achievements and Trophies, accidentally discovered by one of Eurogamer's readers -- since then, Xbox 360 Achievements has posted a full list of the new Achievements.

It's pretty compelling evidence. The Achievements list cites specific events geared around the Porsche and Lamborghini. Also, this shouldn't be confused with EA's previous marketing stunt to give users DLC for the game which, it seems, is still ongoing.

We've contacted EA for comment and will let you know what we find out.

NFS: Hot Pursuit patch, Achievements hint at Porsche vs. Lamborghini DLC pack originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steam Holiday Sale discounts Left 4 Dead 2, GTA IV, NFS: Hot Pursuit

David Hinkle — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 17:30:00 EST

The Steam savings keep on coming as today's deals offer up another bevy of digital wares on the cheap. There are plenty to choose from, including Left 4 Dead 2 at a very reasonable $6.79, the GTA IV collection (which includes both The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony) for $10, and hefty discounts on Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit, Singularity and Transformers: War for Cybertron. Hit the jump for the full list.

Continue reading Steam Holiday Sale discounts Left 4 Dead 2, GTA IV, NFS: Hot Pursuit

Steam Holiday Sale discounts Left 4 Dead 2, GTA IV, NFS: Hot Pursuit originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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From the VGAs Red Carpet: Criterion's Craig Sullivan

Mike Schramm — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 20:30:00 EST

We just saw Criterion's creative director Craig Sullivan at the launch for Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit a few weeks ago, and so when he showed up on this weekend's VGAs red carpet, we congratulated him on the game and its addictive Autolog feature. "It's been phenomenal," he agreed. "It does change the way people play. People are playing the same event ten, fifteen, fifty times, and you don't get that in racing games. It's a very big deal for us and we're really glad that people are embracing it and having fun."

The social service doesn't do what most implementations have so far done and share stats out to Twitter or Facebook. Instead, it keeps the sharing inside the game, and Sullivan says that's the way Criterion designed it. "You get information about Need for Speed when you're playing Need for Speed," he says. "That was really key to us." Criterion is also seeing in-game comments used more than expected, though it "usually degenerates into a load of swearing."

As for what's next, Sullivan says DLC is the current focus, though Criterion wouldn't mind making either another Need for Speed or Burnout title, or any other genre for that matter. "We made Black before, and everybody wants us to make Black 2. As long as it's fun and it suits the strengths of the studio, we're interested in making any kind of game. We always joke and say we'll make a game about jelly, or make a game about horses, or tennis or whatever it is. If it fun and it fits with what Criterion stands for, then we'll pretty much make anything."

From the VGAs Red Carpet: Criterion's Craig Sullivan originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 Dec 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit PC patch to bring law-breaking bugs to a stop

Mike Schramm — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 04:00:00 EST

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit's dev team has been combing the code of the game for some additional features and bugfixes, and both of those are set to peel out in the title in a patch next week. The patch should lay down an EMP on issues with multi-core CPUs, pop a spike strip on some runaway rain and snow effect issues, and set up a roadblock for a few other crashes and problems, stopping them in their tracks.

One issue that won't get fixed: the obsession born from the game's Autolog feature as you tryto beat your friends' times by just a few more seconds. The developers have decided that it's a personal problem, so you'll have to patch yourself on that one.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit PC patch to bring law-breaking bugs to a stop originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit demo downloaded over two million times

David Hinkle — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST

In case the flood of promotional messages from your friends hasn't tipped you off yet, here's some news: a lot of people have checked out the Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit demo on Xbox Live and PSN. According to some stats from EA, "more than" two million consoles downloaded the demo within the span of two weeks, making it the most successful demo for the series yet.

Throughout their time with the demo, players have raced across 54 million miles of road in Seacrest County, resulting in over 20 million busts by law enforcement. If you were looking to get in on either side of the conflict, we're afraid you can no longer download the demo. But! We've got the next best thing: our review of the game!.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit launches on November 16 for the PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Windows PC.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit demo downloaded over two million times originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit review: More than satisfies the need

Randy Nelson — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST

It's been a good year to be a fan of arcade-style racing games, with Blur and Split/Second neck-and-neck in the race to be the year's best. Unfortunately for them, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit from Burnout Paradise creator Criterion Games just took first place.

For the reboot of this Need for Speed sub-series, which saw two installments across PS1 and PS2, Criterion has created a racer that not only lives up to expectations of thrilling speed and pristine visuals but blows past them with a cops-and-robbers career mode.

Gallery: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (review)

Continue reading Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit review: More than satisfies the need

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit review: More than satisfies the need originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit trailer tours Seacrest County

David Hinkle — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 19:45:00 EST

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit wants you to believe Seacrest County is a "driver's paradise," but we feel this latest trailer ignores the best thing Seacrest has to offer: Señor Guapo's Bakery on Alameda boulevard. Seriously, don't visit just to drive around, go have the churro of your life.

Continue reading Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit trailer tours Seacrest County

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit trailer tours Seacrest County originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit limited time demo coming Oct. 26

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 10:55:00 EST

We've got a need -- a need for temporarily available demos of racing games that'll be available publicly in a few weeks, anyway. EA's bringin' it, with a Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit demo that will be available on Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network from tomorrow until November 9 (the demo goes live on PSN in Europe on the 27th). The publisher didn't explain the reason for the demo's temporary availability, instead focusing on the details of the forthcoming trial.

Both "Dark Horse" and "Roadster's Reborn" game modes will be included. The former is the standard cops and robbers/cat and mouse scenario, while the latter offers ghost car time trials to compete against. The game's "autolog" social networking feature plays heavily into the second game mode, only unlocking after players add friends into their "Need for Speed friends list." We look forward to reevaluating our "friends" once it becomes impossible to beat some of their track times.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit limited time demo coming Oct. 26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit trailer captured [update: demo on October 26]

JC Fletcher — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 09:45:00 EST

The latest trailer for Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit provides lots of footage of implausibly fancy police cars chasing similarly precious private-owned vehicles, for what most be the most serious speeding citation the Seacrest County police can offer. If they have to get a helicopter on you for speeding, that's going to be a rather pricey ticket.

This trailer also gives some attention to Hot Pursuit's "Autolog" feature, which helps connect players to one another, and displays a bunch of stats about your friends' performance. In case you thought you were doing well!

Update: as noted in the video, a demo will be available October 26. We're following up with EA about the timing of the demo release for each platform.

Continue reading Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit trailer captured [update: demo on October 26]

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit trailer captured [update: demo on October 26] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit trail(er)s its Most Wanted

James Ransom-Wiley — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:40:00 EST

The Seacrest County Police only drop their spikes and break out the road block for the most wanted. But for all we know, this guy's just got one of those stuck accelerator pedals. Didn't you hear? It's spread to Porsches now.

Continue reading Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit trail(er)s its Most Wanted

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit trail(er)s its Most Wanted originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 'four times bigger than Burnout Paradise'

Mike Schramm — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

The EA blog had a chat with Criterion's Matt Webster the other day, and he says that Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit will be about 'four times bigger' than Criterion's last big racing hit, Burnout Paradise. There are a few reasons for that. First and foremost, Criterion wanted the cars going upwards of 250 miles per hour, so more speed means more room needed. There will also be more elevation in the levels, as well as more space to do things like hide your car in the bushes and find off-road shortcuts. Webster says there are over 100 miles of tarmac, and lots of other space to explore as well.

He also talks about the game's "Autolog" system, which will allow for ghost competitions between players, and what he's calling the "Speed Wall," a set of leaderboards which shows how close you are to overtaking your friends, even if they're not online. And finally, Webster says that Criterion has been hard at work replicating real cars for the game -- they had to fine tune the wheels of a McLaren out 2 mm just to get it to hit the right top speed in-game. Sounds like the game is coming along well -- it's scheduled to hit the lights and punch it this November.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 'four times bigger than Burnout Paradise' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Criterion once pitched 'Need for Speed: Split Second,' worked on Skate or Die remake

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

In the latest issue of GamesTM, Criterion Games creative director Alex Ward dishes news on a Skate or Die remake that EA offered his studio back in 2002, which was eventually canned by Criterion. This, Ward says, soured relations between the developer and EA for some time, effectively killing Criterion's pitch on a Need for Speed title -- titled "Need for Speed: Split Second," if you can believe it. "We called a meeting with the EA guys, told them we were walking away [from Skate or Die] and they went mad," Ward said. "threatening to sue us, put us out of business ... there was a lot of anger and frustration. Then we got a call from the Need For Speed guys and they said 'we can't work with you guys any more; you just walked away and there's a shame on your company, so we can't talk to you.'"

Though the pitch was killed, Criterion instead got to work on developing its Burnout series and is now developing another reboot for EA: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. It also appears that the direction in which Skate or Die's remake was going -- a more realistic, simulation-style skateboarding game -- eventually became EA's Skate franchise. "I wanted to explore what it was like to just go out for a skate and have that feeling of just doing whatever you want. There was that experience from when I went skating in real life that just wasn't captured in videogames. I wanted to be able to get off the board," says Criterion dev Craig Sullivan. There are said to be many more interesting tidbits in the issue, which hits newsstands on September 5.

Criterion once pitched 'Need for Speed: Split Second,' worked on Skate or Die remake originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit gameplay footage will get your heart racing

Randy Nelson — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:40:00 EST

This freshly released gameplay trailer for Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit from Burnout vets Criterion Games has us in a hot pursuit of a controller with which we can play more of this blistering-fast racer. The footage features cops versus racers in both day and night settings, the latter we're pretty sure was put in the game just to show off the police car lights bathing passing cars and scenery in their red and blue beams.

The video begins and ends with a peek at the game's "Autolog" player vs. player challenge system. There are also some shots that'll be familiar with anyone who played Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 in the PS2 era, including roadblocks, spike strips (dropped from helicopters!) and the cops calling in high-performance backup when their cruisers just aren't getting the job done. It looks fast-tastic. Now, if only November 16 could get here faster.

Continue reading Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit gameplay footage will get your heart racing

Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit gameplay footage will get your heart racing originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Preview: Need for Speed Hot Pursuit

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST

I'm a Criterion fanboy. I've explored nearly every nook and cranny of Paradise Island and clocked a lot of mileage with the myriad DLC available for Burnout Paradise. Yet, the team's reboot of the Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit series simply didn't click with me. Of course, what I played was an early build and one limited to a 1-on-1 versus mode -- hardly indication of what chaos to expect in a larger multiplayer match -- but that's not necessarily a recipe for a bad first impression.

Criterion's approach to Hot Pursuit, I was told, is to focus on the basis of the franchise: the thrill of the chase. However, the 1-on-1 chase that I played wasn't thrilling at all; despite being based on a solid concept: you play as either cop or racer (escaping the police) and utilize a number of weapons to slow down your opponent. The racer, for example, can jam the cop car's radar, while the cop can summon a barricade.

Gallery: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (first screens)

Continue reading Preview: Need for Speed Hot Pursuit

Preview: Need for Speed Hot Pursuit originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crysis 2, Sims 3 on consoles, NBA Jam due Holiday 2010

Justin McElroy — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:25:00 EST

Thanks to today's EA earnings report (EArnings?) we're starting to get an idea of how the company's holiday season is going to shape up. This is all subject to change, of course, but as of right now it would appear you can look forward to Crysis 2, NBA Jam and EA Sports MMA sometime between October and December of 2010.

Filling out the holiday quarter are some yet-to-be-formally-announced titles like The Sims 3 on consoles, a new Need For Speed game (perhaps the Criterion-developed one?) and a new Harry Potter game (likely tied to this November's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I). Want to come up with your own wild speculation? Peruse the list here.

Crysis 2, Sims 3 on consoles, NBA Jam due Holiday 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Criterion puts the brakes on hopes for more Burnout Paradise DLC

David Hinkle — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:00:00 EST

You probably got that idea already, considering nothing but the sound of crickets and tumbleweeds have emerged from Criterion HQ since the release of the last bit of Burnout Paradise DLC, Big Surf Island. A tweet from the company account confirms our fears, stating there will be "no more" DLC and that the company "did WAY more than everyone else." That's all well and good, but it doesn't slake our need for more amazing DLC!

So there you have it. The world is a colder and darker place today. If you need us, we'll be Freeburning our troubles away online, pining for what could have been.

Criterion puts the brakes on hopes for more Burnout Paradise DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Criterion details Burnout Paradise DLC that never was

David Hinkle — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:30:00 EST

You gotta give it up to Criterion Games. Throughout the lifespan of Burnout Paradise, the developers at Criterion worked their buns off to give us all kinds of juicy DLC, from a new island to explore, a new game mode, right down to motorcycles and many, many car packs. Now, the company has prepared a lengthy diatribe documenting some of the updates that never got off the ground.

For one, did you know that Criterion initially planned to have motorcycles vs cars? Yep, sure was planned -- and did you know that Criterion wanted to create a whole series of islands, not just the one? The devs even wanted to give players the ability to go to the moon, complete with lunar challenges for Freeburn addicts. Also: the planes thing wasn't an April Fool's joke -- the dev actually wanted to add them (and other vehicles) into the game.

Overall, it's a pretty great read, if only to show you just how committed the studio was to the game and raising the bar for DLC in general.

Criterion details Burnout Paradise DLC that never was originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suda 51 plays Burnout Paradise (a lot) more than you

Randy Nelson — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:00:00 EST

Grasshopper Manfacture boss Goichi "Suda 51" Suda likes to do everything to the extreme, whether it's the ultra-violence of No More Heroes or -- as we now know -- playing other developers' games, specifically Criterion's Burnout Paradise. The British dev's head honcho, Alex Ward, issued a tweet revealing that Suda had recently popped by his studio (likely after the recent Nordic Game Conference) and is a "hardcore Burnout fan."

"Hardcore" may be an understatement, as Ward disclosed that server logs show Suda has played more than 700 hours of Burnout Paradise. So, there it is: Even more proof that Suda 51 knows great games and takes everything to the extreme. It may also explain why we haven't heard anything more about the horror title he's working on for EA alongside Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami.

[Via VG247]

Suda 51 plays Burnout Paradise (a lot) more than you originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Surf Island still closed to tourists, Criterion working on a fix [update]

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:22:00 EST

Fans of Criterion's beloved Billy Joel driving/crashing simulator, Burnout Paradise, were hit hard by the events of yesterday's Xbox Live Marketplace implosion -- frequent Burn-ers have been unable to download the game's long anticipated territorial expansion, Big Surf Island. According to Criterion, "unforeseen technical problems caused this content to be to be removed from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace." Fortunately, the Burnout team is all up on it, working with Microsoft to get a fix out as soon as possible. We'll let you know when they're successful!

Update: Success! Just like that, Criterion's got Big Surf Island online. If you've got $12.99 to drop, Burnout Paradise has a new landmass for you explore.

Big Surf Island still closed to tourists, Criterion working on a fix [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Criterion thinks if you've maxed out the 360, you're not trying hard enough

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST

Apparently the company that owns Criterion (EA -- duh!) and the company itself don't agree on whether or not the Xbox 360 has been "maxed out." Speaking to Eurogamer, Criterion's technical director Richard Parr said, "That's proof that you're not the best ... it means you're out of ideas."

Dedicated Joystiq Biomass[TM] members will remember when, just three days ago, vice president of EA Europe Patrick Soderlund said, "I think that we've maxed out the 360 but we haven't maxed out the PS3." So, what is it, folks? Is the 360 already meeting its limits? Will the rumored new Xbox console of Fall 2010 help to assuage Mr. Soderlund's claims? Will Criterion get in a slapfight with EA Europe? We'll just have to wait and see.

Criterion thinks if you've maxed out the 360, you're not trying hard enough originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 13 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Battlefield 3, Criterion-developed Need for Speed underway

Ludwig Kietzmann — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:15:00 EST

During a William Blair Growth Stock Conference presentation, EA's COO (John Pleasants, FYI) noted the existence of two unannounced titles -- neither of them particularly surprising if you've been keeping up on your spurious internet rumors. The first, Battlefield 3, is said to be in good shape and, even better, in good hands over at developer DICE. Unfortunately, it appears fans of frenzied first-person shootery will have to wait until the next fiscal year before returning to the field.

According to G4TV's Patrick Klepek, the second title is yet another Need for Speed game, this one developed by the team behind Burnout. Pleasants allegedly praised the team for being "online-centric and notably high-quality game developers that we have out at Criterion." There's little else to go on at the moment, but we're certainly intrigued by the collision of those two racing franchises. There will be collisions, right?

Source -- Need for Speed
Source -- Battlefield 3

Report: Battlefield 3, Criterion-developed Need for Speed underway originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Burnout Paradise: Big Surf Island hangs ten (and then some) in debut trailer

Kevin Kelly — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:25:00 EST

We warmly invite you to watch this first video of the upcoming Burnout Paradise DLC, Big Surf Island, in action, but please don't try any of these stunts at home. That's just silly. No one lives in a ginormous fun park! Now, if you'll excuse us, we're off in search of a colossal doughnut to launch our car through. Preferably with sprinkles.

Big Surf Island will be available for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC on ... oh, right, we promised Criterion we wouldn't spoil it. Just watch the video ...

Continue reading Burnout Paradise: Big Surf Island hangs ten (and then some) in debut trailer

Burnout Paradise: Big Surf Island hangs ten (and then some) in debut trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 May 2009 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Surf Island adds 15 events, 10 freeburn challenges to Burnout Paradise

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:45:00 EST

With Cops and Robbers out of the way, Criterion is free to finish up the last of the announced Burnout Paradise premium DLC -- Big Surf Island. This is the first new locale to be introduced into the ever-evolving racing game, and it'll add 15 events and 10 online freeburn challenges to the game. Criterion is promising big air for the expansion, and completionists will want to look for all 45 Billboards hidden on the island. For comparison purposes, the original game featured 120 events and 350 freeburn challenges.

These early details come courtesy of an early look at the DLC's Trophies. (Check out the new Trophies after the break.) One particularly intriguing achievement involves getting a whopping 4.5 seconds of air time in a single jump. Who needs Burnout Planes when you have massive jumps like that?

Our very own Randy Nelson got some hands-on time with the DLC pack, but he can't report on the details quite yet. Expect a full preview on May 28.

Continue reading Big Surf Island adds 15 events, 10 freeburn challenges to Burnout Paradise

Big Surf Island adds 15 events, 10 freeburn challenges to Burnout Paradise originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 May 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joystiq Review: Burnout Paradise Cops & Robbers

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:45:00 EST

Gamers are in the middle of a love/hate relationship with Criterion. Costly and often-underwhelming "premium" DLC has tarnished the goodwill earned by Burnout Paradise's free Cagney and Bikes updates. The $10 Party pack was a misstep for the series, but does Cops & Robbers steer the game back in the right direction? The answer, thankfully, is a resounding "yes."

At its core, Cops & Robbers is a simple retooling of the game's already-existing online Marked Man mode. However, some key tweaks make it a much more focused and entertaining experience. While the $10 price point will give some sticker shock, the addition of more than 30 repainted vehicles makes it an easier buy than Criterion's "Toys" and "Legendary Cars" packs.

Gallery: Burnout Paradise: Cops and Robbers

Continue reading Joystiq Review: Burnout Paradise Cops & Robbers

Joystiq Review: Burnout Paradise Cops & Robbers originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 May 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Burnout Cops and Robbers DLC hits the streets, new trailer

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST

Just a reminder folks, the latest DLC for Burnout Paradise, Cops and Robbers, is now available. The new game mode, surprisingly, pits cops against robbers in a mad dash for some sweet, sweet gold. Alongside the newly released DLC, we have a trailer of the new game mode in action. You can also find the latest episode of Crash TV, which explains the mode in great detail, after the break.

The Cops and Robbers DLC is available now for $10 / 800 on PS3 and Xbox 360.

Continue reading Burnout Cops and Robbers DLC hits the streets, new trailer

Burnout Cops and Robbers DLC hits the streets, new trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Burnout Paradise: Cops and Robbers is a steal at $10

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:30:00 EST

It looks like Criterion has finally figured out how much to charge for its upcoming Cops and Robbers DLC. The multiplayer-only premium DLC for Burnout Paradise will release this Thursday and will cost $9.99 / €9.99 / £7.99 / 800. The expansion not only adds the CTF-inspired online mode, but will also add 33 new international police cars to your Junkyard.

At $10, Cops and Robbers looks to be a much better value than all of Criterion's previously released DLC. The price is (finally) right -- let's hope the trend continues for the upcoming Big Surf Island.

Gallery: Burnout Paradise: Cops and Robbers

Burnout Paradise: Cops and Robbers is a steal at $10 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Criterion has too much fun playing Burnout Paradise: Cops and Robbers

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:55:00 EST

A lot of Burnout Paradise's "premium DLC" packs have left gamers out in the cold. The "Party" DLC didn't add much to the Burnout experience. The movie-inspired DLC cars were fun, but a bit pricey. However, Criterion may have crafted a truly worthwhile add-on with its upcoming "Cops and Robbers" pack, available next week.

The latest episode of CrashTV (after the break) shows the Burnout team enjoying three rounds of their upcoming multiplayer expansion. Essentially, "Cops and Robbers" is the Paradise version of Capture the Flag, with cars trying to capture a floating collection of gold. The gold will spawn at random points on the map, and teams will have to reclaim the treasure and drive back to their designated checkpoint. Expect tons of Takedowns.

The team at Criterion looks to be having a lot of fun with this new expansion -- maybe too much fun. As generally grumpy people, we always keep a suspicious eye on people that appear to be happy. We're watching you, Criterion ...

Continue reading Criterion has too much fun playing Burnout Paradise: Cops and Robbers

Criterion has too much fun playing Burnout Paradise: Cops and Robbers originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cops and Robbers coming to Burnout Paradise April 30 [update]

David Hinkle — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST

Update: We've heard back from EA, and a company spokesperson said no details on pricing are available right now. EA will reveal those details "soon."

We admire Criterion Games' dedication to its racer, Burnout Paradise. Countless updates have added tremendous value to the game, and on April 30, the next update will be rolled out for one and all to enjoy: Cops and Robbers.

There's no word on a price as of yet, but we've put in word to Criterion Games for clarification on that. We'll be sure to update you as soon as we hear back.

Gallery: Burnout Paradise: Cops and Robbers

Cops and Robbers coming to Burnout Paradise April 30 [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Burnout Paradise teases 'Cops and Robbers'

Jason Dobson — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST

We're not exactly sure what they stole, but judging by the teaser trailer for Burnout Paradise's looming Cops and Robbers mode, criminals will have their jobs cut out for them outrunning the Paradise City fuzz.

As a latest move to "change the way people think about and experience" the chaotic racer, much of Cops and Robbers' details remain behind bars, including the premium DLC's as-yet-unannounced release date. Still, if nothing else, this early look shows that Paradise City's police force is more than equipped to keep pace with lead foots on the wrong side of the law.

Continue reading Burnout Paradise teases 'Cops and Robbers'

Burnout Paradise teases 'Cops and Robbers' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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