[davidg1230]

Looks like EA are busy with some new versions of the NFS franchise,

Taken from Slighly Mad studios Web site;

Slightly Mad Studios


NEED FOR SPEED FRANCHISE RACES INTO NEW GENRES

Global Studio Teams Drive Quality and Innovation in Three New Games.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – January 30, 2009 – Fifteen years; more than 40 countries; close to 100 million games sold. Need for Speed™ has helped to define automotive culture for millions of fans with its embrace of the car lifestyle and its cool rebellious attitude. Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) unveiled the details of what is in store for the franchise over the next 12 months, as the property expands to new platforms, new categories and new media.


Need for Speed is committed to providing unique and customized experiences for all types of racing fans by establishing three independent series; simulation, action and arcade racing. Each series will be developed by a highly-specialized team dedicated to delivering the ultimate racing experiences to car enthusiasts around the world – whether they be interested in adrenaline action, arcade fun or authentic simulation.


“We recognize racing videogame fans are very passionate and unique — they want customized gameplay experiences. Whether it’s more of a realistic driving game with accurate car physics or over-the-top cop chases, we are making different games for different audiences,” said Keith Munro, vice president of marketing, Need for Speed. “Each game provides a deep, engaging and rich racing experience. We’re giving players the option to choose the best racing title that suits their style of gameplay.”



Need for Speed SHIFT – Fall 2009

Shift into high gear! Designed to deliver a true driver’s experience that reflects contemporary motorsports, Need for Speed SHIFT is built by racers for racers. Need for Speed SHIFT delivers an authentic and immersive driving experience developed by Slightly Mad Studios in collaboration with executive producer Michael Mann at Black Box and senior vice president Patrick Soderlund at EA Games Europe. Slightly Mad Studios includes developers and designers that worked on the critically acclaimed games GT Legends and GTR 2. Need for Speed SHIFT replicates the true feeling of racing high-end performance cars like never before. Players are thrust into the heart of the action with immersive and exciting features including a stunningly realistic first-person cockpit view camera and an all-new crash mechanic, providing an unrivaled sensation of the speed and feeling of racing a car on the extreme edge of control.


Soderlund is also part of a racing team that recently competed in the 4th edition of the TOYO TIRES 24H Dubai 2009, the first major race event of the year. His team ranked #5 in the high-profile race. Soderlund and the SHIFT development team are committed to bringing the on-the-track experience to players across the world.


Need for Speed SHIFT will be released on PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) and PC in fall 2009.



Need for Speed NITRO (Working Title) – Fall 2009

Developed by EA Montreal, Need for Speed NITRO for Wii™ and Nintendo DS™ will have players of all skill levels hooked from the moment they get into the action, while arcade racing fans will be exhilarated by the deep and challenging gameplay. EA Montreal has already established a strong track record of developing for these platforms and will bring their unique creativity and innovation to the Need for Speed franchise.


Gamers can build up their boost as they drift and drag behind their opponents and use it strategically to change the course of the race, but watch out for the cops! Offering a fresh and unique visual style, the game features a variety of licensed cars which can be fully customized to let the game reflect the player’s taste and personality. This evolutionary take on arcade racing, bringing back the best features found in Need for Speed games, comes exclusively to the Nintendo platforms this fall.


Need for Speed World Online – Winter 2009 in North America, (Summer 2009 in Asia)

Co-developed by Black Box and EA Singapore, Need for Speed World Online takes the race into the largest open world in the history of Need for Speed - designed exclusively for the PC. Beginning in Asia, this Play 4 Free action racing game will give Need for Speed fans access to licensed cars, parts and multiple game modes. Players will prove their racing supremacy through the sophisticated online matchmaking features and fully customize their profile and their ride.


EA and Black Box will have more news about the Need for Speed franchise in the months ahead.


For more information on the Need for Speed franchise, please visit: Need for Speedâ„¢ > Home

[Tigerblade]

They need to give the series a rest, pumping out too many that are crap. That screenshot however looks very good but I highly doubt that is the console version.

[davidg1230]

Agreed, but my hope is they develop something closer to GTR Evolution, GTR2 and even GT5P, rather than the arcade approach of games like GRID and other NFS titles.

With the people they have onboard now, i.e. Blimey Games peeps and the legacy of 10tacle Studios, there's always hope

[mudhutts]

I wouldn't be suprised if this becomes one of the games of the year, Blimey are arguably the best in the business, so let's see what they produce with a huge EA budget behind them.

[davidg1230]

Yes, but EA have a habit of forcing developers to release games before they're ready, or dictate content and style.

They don't seem to have a good track record

[pboreham]

Originally Posted by Davidg1230

Yes, but EA have a habit of forcing developers to release games before they're ready, or dictate content and style.

They don't seem to have a good track record

THe fact its scheduled for 'Fall 2009' gives me a bit of hope as judging from that shot, its coming along nicely and who knows what they can do in another 6 months

[BenchyUK]

I don't see EA rebooting the franchise within the usual 1 year development time they seem to spend on these game.

I used to love the old 'Hot Pursuit' games they did but like most games EA make, they've gone down hill.

EA are an odd company. They churn out the same tosh year in, year out yet they all of a sudden go make make a couple of Great new IPS's. Dead Space was my favorite game of last year, yet they then go back to their old ways and charge money for SKATE 2 DLC which should be in the game

[mudhutts]

The game looks to be using Blimey's technology, it looks similar to the proposed Ferrari game. I have more hopes for this than Supercar Challenge.

[davidg1230]

With the image I posted at the start of this thread and these below, I'm very dubious that these aren't 'pre rendered', in the case of the Ferrari game that Blimey were doing, even though they state that these images are actual 'ingame' footage

If it is, the game surely must be very well advanced for someone not to pick up the rights and finish it. They may have now lost the license of course and thus can't publish, it's a pity there's no video footage from these images

I love the last image, how cool would it be to have an updated version of GT Legends on the PS3, full G25 support etc.

I wish

[mudhutts]

The NFS image was queried and EA came back and said it was in game.

If it comes close to GT5 it should look great.

[davidg1230]

Quote taken from the Slightly Mad Studios web site regarding 'Ferrari Project'

5 Jay.W Site Admin Says:
January 31st, 2009 at 12:24 am

We’re working hard to try to resolve some legal issues around the Ferrari title and hope to have some good news in the near future for you...

Looks like this NFS title has become their priority, or that the Ferrari title has now been absolved into a NFS title, maybe due to licence issues with Ferrari.

I reckon EA have come in, looking for a fresh angle on the NFS franchise and seen the ailing Ferrari Project and bought it, and Blimey, lock, stock and barrell.

Am I getting ahead of myself?

[CAS FAN]

It does look good and Blimey have got some good pedigree behind them so here's hoping!

[jonneymendoza]

great news indeed

[jonneymendoza]

[Tigerblade]

That looks amazing.....looks pin sharp too.....1080p anyone?

[mascot]

Keeping a keen eye on this one. EA invited all the major game sites down for a playtest recently, and comments back were extremely positive from just about all of those that tried it. Check the usual sites for their previews.

If it can successfully marry GT5's visuals with GRID's sheer excitement and unpredictable AI, then I will be a very happy bunny.

[mascot]

first in-game footage

Graphically looks a lot like a PGR game on the 360..!

[jonneymendoza]

looks brillient. hard to tell from that vid if its a sim or not

[richmcveigh]

Am looking forward to this. EA have announced the release date as 17th September... EA Dates Need For Speed Shift Release | Edge Online

[mascot]

Originally Posted by richmcveigh

Am looking forward to this. EA have announced the release date as 17th September... EA Dates Need For Speed Shift Release | Edge Online

Yeah - it's at the end of the video I linked to above..!

[richmcveigh]

Originally Posted by mascot

Yeah - it's at the end of the video I linked to above..!

Oh so it is

There's going to be a number of quality racing games later this year; NFSS, Supercar Challenge, GT5. My G25 and Wheel Stand Pro are going to have a lot of use!

[jonneymendoza]

GT5 out this year? yea right! there is a better chance of the recession ending today then GT5 coming out this year

[davidg1230]

Originally Posted by richmcveigh

Oh so it is

There's going to be a number of quality racing games later this year; NFSS, Supercar Challenge, GT5. My G25 and Wheel Stand Pro are going to have a lot of use!

Same here, I'm still waiting for the Supercar Challenge Beta key, NFS looks good and as for GT5

My G25 ands wheelstand Pro has also been gathering dust recently

[Moogle]

Originally Posted by richmcveigh

Oh so it is

There's going to be a number of quality racing games later this year; NFSS, Supercar Challenge, GT5. My G25 and Wheel Stand Pro are going to have a lot of use!

I wouldn't count on GT5 coming out this year at least in the West.

[Usama]

The last few Need For Speeds have been crap, the ones before that tho where great. I have this one is as good as it looks.

[sunnybacon]

Originally Posted by Usama

The last few Need For Speeds have been crap, the ones before that tho where great. I have this one is as good as it looks.

Yeah, but that's what we said about Undercover too

[Usama]

Originally Posted by sunnybacon

Yeah, but that's what we said about Undercover too

True, but you never know....

[Usama]

IGN Video: Need for Speed Shift PC Games Trailer - Intense Trailer

[P-e-G-i]

Originally Posted by Usama

The last few Need For Speeds have been crap, the ones before that tho where great. I have this one is as good as it looks.

The problem is that street racing has come out of the spotlight in recent years and Need for Speed just took too long to adapt to this. It's also noticible in the Fast & Furious series (The first movie was good but the other 2 were utter )

[davidg1230]

Originally Posted by Usama

The last few Need For Speeds have been crap, the ones before that tho where great. I have this one is as good as it looks.

The good thing so far about this title, is the developers, Slight Mad Studios, were members of Blimey! Games , who inturn were part of the Simbin Group and the publishers 10Tacle Studios AG.

They all have a good track record (pardon the pun) with games like GT Legends, GTR, GTR2 and GTR Evo.

Hopefully EA won't bog it up like they usually do