Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[VIDEOS: Need for Speed SHIFT track guides for Road America, Willow Springs and Laguna Seca]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/03/videos-need-for-speed-shift-track-guides-for-road-america-will/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/03/videos-need-for-speed-shift-track-guides-for-road-america-will/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/03/videos-need-for-speed-shift-track-guides-for-road-america-will/#commentsFiled under: ,

Click above to watch the videos after the jump

Make no mistake about it: the racing games are coming. But while it may be all to easy to get lost in all the hype over the latest from Microsoft's Forza or Sony's Gran Turismo franchises, Electronic Arts has a trick of its own up its sleeve. (We're just kidding, everyone knows gamers don't wear sleeves.) And they've just given us a glimpse of what to expect. Three of them, actually.

The benchmark of any good racing game is how faithfully it reproduces some of our most favorite race tracks. And if that's the gold standard, then Need for Speed SHIFT is shaping up to be a great one. If you'll follow us after the jump, you can enjoy three new videos outlining EA's take on three of America's best circuits: Laguna Seca, Willow Springs and Road America - complete with run-downs of each track's histories and intricacies. The game launches in North America on September 15, but you can check out the videos now.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEOS: Need for Speed SHIFT track guides for Road America, Willow Springs and Laguna Seca

VIDEOS: Need for Speed SHIFT track guides for Road America, Willow Springs and Laguna Seca originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>driving gamedriving simulatorDrivingGameDrivingSimulatoreaelectronic artsElectronicArtsgamelaguna secaLagunaSecaneed for speedneed for speed shiftNeedForSpeedNeedForSpeedShiftracing gameRacingGameroad americaRoadAmericawillow springsWillowSpringsThu, 03 Sep 2009 12:29:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEOS: <i>Need for Speed SHIFT</i> includes Lexus LF-A, BMW M3 GT2, lots of awesome]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/05/videos-i-need-for-speed-shift-i-includes-lexus-lf-a-bmw-m3/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/05/videos-i-need-for-speed-shift-i-includes-lexus-lf-a-bmw-m3/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/05/videos-i-need-for-speed-shift-i-includes-lexus-lf-a-bmw-m3/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above to watch videos after the jump

The holidays come for auto freaks several times a year, and we call those times auto shows. But with the motor show calendar on break for the summer, we got an unexpected injection of octane from this year's E3 video game expo. As if it weren't enough to catch a glimpse at such promising upcoming releases as Forza Motorosport 3, Gran Turismo 5 and Codemasters' FUEL, we've now got another one to add to our shopping lists: Need for Speed SHIFT.

Although previous installments of the NFS franchise focused on outrunning the po-po and tricking out imports, as our thumb-cramped compatriots over at Joystiq found out just this past March, SHIFT promises to deliver a pure racing simulator. EA has now released the full list of cars (including such highlights as the Lexus LF-A, Pagani Zonda R, Nissan GT-R SpecV, BMW M3 GT2 and Audi R8 LMS) and tracks (including the Nürburgring, Laguna Seca and Willow Springs) that'll be included in the game, along with a pair of videos that we've posted after the jump. Check 'em out, and prepare to lose sleep.


Gallery: Need for Speed SHIFT

Continue reading VIDEOS: Need for Speed SHIFT includes Lexus LF-A, BMW M3 GT2, lots of awesome

VIDEOS: Need for Speed SHIFT includes Lexus LF-A, BMW M3 GT2, lots of awesome originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above for a high-res gallery of screenshots from coming Need for Speed titles

Electronic Arts, the folks who recently brought us Need for Speed: Undercover, are now working on three (possibly four) new titles in the franchise. According to EA, they're just trying to "keep the game fresh and the players entertained." If you're a cynic, you're getting another plate of something that hasn't tasted good since Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit.

Your three options will be NFS: Shift, NFS: Nitro, and NFS: World Online. Shift is "built for racers by racers" and will "deliver a true driver's experience that reflects contemporary motorsports." Nitro is an arcade take on the game with "a fresh and unique visual style." World Online is a free web-based player that "takes the race into the largest open world in the history of Need for Speed."

And if you believe the skinny from Eurogamer, EA is working on a fourth NFS that will continue the work of "crafting different games for different audiences and their unique tastes in the driving category." As for the ones we know about, Speed and Nitro will hit shelves this fall, with World Online following in winter. For now, you can can read the press release after the jump, and check out the high-res screenshots below.

Gallery: Need for Speed Shift, Nitro, and World Online


[Source: Joystiq]

Continue reading Need for Speed franchise splitting into trio

Need for Speed franchise splitting into trio originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic artsElectronicArtsgamegamesneed for speedneed for speed nitroneed for speed shiftneed for speed world onlineNeedForSpeedNeedForSpeedNitroNeedForSpeedShiftNeedForSpeedWorldOnlinepcps3videogamevideogameswiixboxxbox 360Xbox360Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Free gas promotion for video game goes awry in UK]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/06/free-gas-promotion-for-video-game-goes-awry-in-uk/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/06/free-gas-promotion-for-video-game-goes-awry-in-uk/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/06/free-gas-promotion-for-video-game-goes-awry-in-uk/#commentsFiled under: ,



Automakers and car dealerships have used the old "Free Gas" promotion to good effect, so it's not surprising that companies outside the industry might try it, too. Electronic Arts gave it a go recently to promote its new Mercenaries 2 video game in the UK by taking over a gas station in North London and giving away £20,000 ($35,000) worth of free gas. The free fuel was pumped by actors wearing military garb (with bandoliers!) in £40 increments to any who drove up. While those receiving the priceless petrol were thrilled, area residents and motorists just trying to drive by called the PR stunt "irresponsible and dangerous". Locals had their driveways blocked for hours and were forced to listen to a symphony of horns from exasperated drivers trying to negotiate the giant queue of cars. Beginning at 6:30 in the morning, the promo was supposed to go on until all £20,000 worth of gas had been pumped, but authorities shut it down just four hours later. While EA may have peeved the locals, news of its blunder has spread across the web like wildfire and given Mercs 2 more free exposure than it would've gotten otherwise.

[Source: BBC via Joystiq]

Free gas promotion for video game goes awry in UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Sep 2008 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAEA free gasEaFreeGaselectronic artsElectronicArtslondon free gasLondonFreeGasmercenaries 2Mercenaries2Sat, 06 Sep 2008 09:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Coming to a console near you: Need for Speed: Undercover]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/03/coming-to-a-console-near-you-need-for-speed-undercover/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/03/coming-to-a-console-near-you-need-for-speed-undercover/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/03/coming-to-a-console-near-you-need-for-speed-undercover/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above to view video after the jump

The trailer for Need for Speed: Undercover is out, and it is 60 straight seconds of "We want." The in-game texture looks primo and the storyline sections are a nice mix full-motion and rendered video. We have no idea what the game involves yet, so we can only hope that EA has restored some of the buck-wild madness that was missing from Need for Speed: ProStreet. We do know, however, that not only have police chases returned, but the boys in blue appear to be driving... R34 Nissan GT-Rs. So if as the sultry voiceover in the trailers says, "This is all going to come crashing down," it looks like you'll have a whole lot of fun making rubble. Follow the jump for the video, and check out the Need for Speed site for a couple more. Thanks for the tip, catgirlshyla!

[Source: EA]

Continue reading Coming to a console near you: Need for Speed: Undercover

Coming to a console near you: Need for Speed: Undercover originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic artselectronic arts gameselectronic arts inc.ElectronicArtsElectronicArtsGamesElectronicArtsInc.need for speedneed for speed undercoverneed-for-speedneedforspeedNeedForSpeedUndercovervideovideo gamevideo gamesvideogamevideogamesvideosWed, 03 Sep 2008 19:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Need for MAZDASPEED? New EA game to feature hot hatch]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/26/need-for-mazdaspeed-new-ea-game-to-feature-hot-hatch/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/26/need-for-mazdaspeed-new-ea-game-to-feature-hot-hatch/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/26/need-for-mazdaspeed-new-ea-game-to-feature-hot-hatch/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The new MAZDASPEED3 will be featured in the upcoming Electronic Arts video game Need for Speed Carbon, which will be in stores across North America on November 1. Leading nontraditional marketing company Channel M worked with Mazda and EA, as well as retailers GameStop and EB Games, to create a campaign around the car and the game. Not only will the MAZDASPEED3 be integrated into the game, but Channel M is going to have the car featured at the game's debut in GameStop and EB Games stores nationwide.

Channel M CEO David Teichner explained today that besides heavy in-game exposure, Mazda will be a big part of an in-store pre-order campaign in GameStop and EB Games stores, that will give customers a chance to win a real MAZDASPEED3 car for themselves. During the month of November, mall events will be held in 16 cities. Besides the obligatory car displays, an organized tournament will take place with the winners getting an invite to compete in the finals in Las Vegas, where the winner will drive off in a new MAZDASPEED3 .

"The 263-hp, 155-mph MAZDASPEED3 kicks asphalt and takes names, and Need for Speed Carbon is the perfect way for us to bring this exciting new vehicle to market in an all-new way," said Jim Jordan, Alternative Marketing Manager for Mazda North American Operations. The all-new MAZDASPEED3 is one of our favorite new offerings. With a six-speed manual transmission and the turbocharged 2.3-liter direct-injected four making 263-horsepower and 280 lb/ft of torque, it can do 0-60 mph in under six-seconds and is electronically limited to a 155 mph top speed.

For more details and contest rules click here.

[Source: Mazda]

Need for MAZDASPEED? New EA game to feature hot hatch originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Oct 2006 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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