Next GRiD? Joystiq gets hands-on with Need for Speed SHIFT
Need for Speed SHIFT - Click above for image gallery
Any day of the week between 10 PM and 12 AM EST, you can probably find me on Xbox Live playing GRiD (FYI... my gamer tag is simply Autoblog), and Autoblog Executive Editor Chris Paukert often jumps in for the fun as well. We love this driving game from Codemasters for its balance of accuracy and arcade-style fun. GRiD, however, may have some new competition from a franchise we thought, based on its recent spate of titles, was on its way out. As we reported last month, the Need for Speed franchise is being split into a trio of games: one for the consoles called Need for Speed SHIFT, a free one for PCs called Need for Speed World Online and a Wii-exclusive version called Need for Speed: Nitro.
Joystiq recently had time to play an early version of Need for Speed SHIFT and came away mighty impressed. "The game is 95% pure racing simulation, with a bit of arcade feel thrown in," is how they described it. What may set NFS Shift apart from similar games like GRiD and the Project Gotham Racing series is its interior view. Developers specifically designed the game to be played using the interior view, though other outside-the-car views are available. As such you get things like reflections of the driver in the side windows and – get this – the driver actually clutches the wheel harder during tricky maneuvers. There's also an effect at high speeds that blurs the screen so all your focus is on the track.
Joystiq only got to play two tracks using a Pagani Zonda and we're still in the dark about which tracks will be featured in the game and what the list of playable vehicles will be, but the early word is that Paukert and I may be playing a new game on Xbox Live very soon.
Gallery: Need for Speed SHIFT
[Source: Joystiq]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
slicecom 8:04PM (3/06/2009)
I hate this trend toward "throwing in some arcade style" to appeal to a larger audience. It alienates hardcore sim fans. I hope Codemasters doesn't pull the same crap with the F1 game they're working on.
Reply
Hamud 8:18PM (3/06/2009)
Not every game must aim hardcore sim fans. GRID is a lot more enjoyable to play than Forza.
Just my 2 cents.
aaron 8:23PM (3/06/2009)
It's extemely unlikely that Codemasters will give their F1 title an "arcadey" feel. They know F1 titles sell well in Europe b/c that genre for the most part is one of the most (if not the most) hardcore simulators ever to be on consoles. It's hardcore enough where sometimes these games only come out on Sony systems overseas, a brand that has a much more loyal following in Europe. To my knowledge, these games do not come out on XBOX at all, and not on any consoles in Japan. Of course they're exceptions when it comes to releases but you know what I mean.
Aprime 7:05AM (3/07/2009)
NFS is a sim? What?
jcar302 10:04AM (3/07/2009)
Sim, a term used very often on xbox forums related to sinBins newest game called "race pro". It's really a shorter way of saying "this game sucks".
If 90% of the purchasing public wants a game mixed with some sim and arcade, why would you make a 100% sim game?
If race pro proves anything, sim racing games fail miserbly.
Dave Ellis 10:58AM (3/07/2009)
To be fair, whilst this is an EA Need For Speed game there is some debate on how arcade it will be. SHIFT is developed by Slightly Mad Studios, which was previously known as Blimey! Games. Under the name Blimey! they developed GTR2. The Blimey/SMS team is the team that was previously part of Simbin (before the politics started) and under that name they developed GTR and GT Legends, 2 of the best and most hardcore simulations to date.
slicecom 11:43AM (3/07/2009)
@jcar302 - I would consider the Gran Turismo series to be a sim series, though not as hardcore as some PC sims, it's one of the most realistic driving experiences that can be had on the consoles and it's also one of the top selling game series of all time. Gran Turismo 3 was the second best selling game on the best selling system of all time: PS2, so there goes your theory that sims don't sell.
LoneWolf 8:12PM (3/06/2009)
..and there's the PC Version?
Reply
TTownEP 8:37PM (3/06/2009)
It will probably still come out before GT5...
Reply
Zlimness 7:39PM (3/07/2009)
You know, I wonder whats up with Gran Turismo. I don't think Gran Turismo 5 even have been officially announced yet. Does it mean there's so much left in development they can't even put a year down? If it doesn't show up on E3 this year in any shape or form, then I seriously doubt we'll see a GT5 before 2011.
I know Yamauchi is a perfectionist and all, but jesus christ... Sony isn't exactly doing too well in this economic crisis and how long can they support the staff on Polyphony without them releasing the damn game soon?
Richard Lawler 9:02PM (3/06/2009)
Ahhh man, I can't do GRiD, that center pivot turning kills the feeling for me. I'd love to like it, it has a Detroit track, but no go. Pick up PGR4 man, and then we can play, that's a truly fun game with a good physics system to play.
Reply
ermax18 3:43PM (3/07/2009)
SimBin originated as a group of guys that donated their time to make add on cars (GTR2003) for the EA F1 series which was developed by ISI. They found an investor (Ian Bell) and formed a company which then licensed ISI's engine for there own dedicated game. That game was called GTR, then they went on to develop GTL and GTR2. Mid development the core guys decided to spin off and form a new company called Blimey! Games. They completed GTL and GTR2 under SimBin's name. SimBin worked on their own games (WTCC06/07,GTR Evo) which also use ISI's engine. Blimey! started working on a Ferrari game (which is dead I think) and also created a game for BMW to market the E90 M3 which can be downloaded from BMW's website. The BMW game is also built on ISI's engine. Blimey! recently got absorbed by Slightly Mad Studio's which and is developing SHIFT which finally uses there own in house engine.
I suggest going to the source, ISI, and get rFactor to hold you over until rFactor2 arrives. :)
Rhawb 9:33PM (3/06/2009)
Race Pro already knocked it out of the park as far as serious sims go. I highly recommend it to any of you GT/formula racing freaks out there - the physics are incredible, easily besting both Gran Turismo and Forza, but there's not much of a game to be had. There's a career mode, but it's basically to teach you about all the cars and tracks in the game more than actually creating something fun or interesting. This game is the perfect choice if you want to have super-realistic, close races with a largely courteous online crowd - and you can deal with the drab presentation.
NFS had their chance with Pro Street and blew it, this volley of 3 games just reeks of desperation and has done nothing at all to renew my faith in the series. Maybe if it turns out really, really good, maybe then I will rent it for a weekend.
Reply
ConeDodger 11:07PM (3/06/2009)
Are you aware that sim bin, creators of race pro..are also creating need for speed shift?
Chris 11:34PM (3/06/2009)
Cone Dodger,
It's Slightly Mad Studios developing SHIFT, not Sim Bin, They also developed GTR (and i believe GTR2) with Sim Bin.
why not the LS2LS7? 12:12AM (3/07/2009)
I recommend GTR2 or GT Legends. It's a sim, and on top of being a great sim, you can use a good racing wheel like a G25 instead of the cruddy MS wheel. Then you can get to some real racing.
Rhawb 1:12AM (3/07/2009)
I agree that GTR2 and GT Legends are better, but Race Pro has done in their "first" (not counting PC) iteration what the big-time players in the console sim business still have yet to do. To this day, I feel like Gran Turismo handles on rails and Forza handles like you're driving ice racers - Race Pro actually feels correct. The cars don't slip too easily, but they don't grip forever either. It's a really natural balance that actually allows you to drive as if you were actually behind the wheel. It's great.
Pokey 5:56AM (3/07/2009)
I went and bought Race Pro, what a waste of money. It is a complete joke. There's no replay value, it is not challenging at all, and the cars don't look realistic The physics were not too bad, but the presentation just kills any chance Race Pro had at being evenly remotely enjoyable.
I'm sorry, but Race Pro is lackluster at best. I went right back to FM2 after less than a week.
I should have listened to my gut, and just waited for Forza 3 to come out. I will probably be taking Race Pro back to GameStop soon to sell it back to them and put the money towards my pre order of FM3.
ConeDodger 10:33AM (3/07/2009)
The point being that they are using a very similar physics engine to gt legends according to rumor, not 100% sim, but as close as you will see on console.
But if you really wanted a true sim racer you'd be on PC, theres little point in them making a pure sim for console.
EEL 9:59PM (3/06/2009)
Say, John Neff: Any chance of sharing some pointers as to what adjustments to make to a Xbox 360 driving wheel?
Reply