Autoblog

Need For Speed Rivals announced for Xbox One and Playstation 4 [w/video]

Seyth Miersma — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Ferrari, Toys/Games

Fresh from critical praise for the last installment in the series, Need For Speed: Most Wanted, Electronic Arts has formally announced that Need For Speed Rivals will be the next title in the series. Set to hit stores on November 19, the game will also be the first Need For Speed to be available on next-generation consoles Xbox One and Playstation 4, as well as the current Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

The "rivals" in question for this NFS title are, of course, cops and street racers - nothing new there - but the gameplay is apparently getting a makeover. Players may choose to be racers, and live the life of evading cops, gaining infamy, videoing their slipperiest moves and earning Speed Points. They might also choose to play on the side of law enforcement; attaining higher ranks and faster police cars with more and increasingly challenging busts.

One big innovation in Rivals will be the use of a new play system called AllDrive. The concept is that a player can seamlessly move from playing in single player mode, to playing online with friends, without having to wait in a lobby or move through a menu interface. The game will merge one's play from single to multiplayer as your friends across the web go on and offline, and you can choose to interact with them or not, as you like.

One more item of note: Ferrari will be making its return to the NFS world in Rivals. The following press release mentions that the game has booked Ferrari for this new title, specifically calling out the F12 Berlinetta as being invited to the party. Continue on below for the official press release, as well as a short video teaser of the new game.

Continue reading Need For Speed Rivals announced for Xbox One and Playstation 4 [w/video]

Need For Speed Rivals announced for Xbox One and Playstation 4 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 May 2013 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Need For Speed: Most Wanted [w/video]

Seyth Miersma — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Toys/Games

The Follow-Up To One Of Racing's Biggest Franchises Is A Thrill-A-Minute Hit

Need For Speed is one of the longest-running and most popular franchises in the history of arcade-style racing titles - actually, you can ditch the qualifier, it's simply one of the biggest automotive video games, period. So, when the newest iteration of the game, Need For Speed: Most Wanted was announced, we knew immediately that we'd have to give it a run.

The new game arrives in the wake of critical praise for Forza Horizon, a challenger for racing-gamer dollars that shares quite a lot with Most Wanted. Both games offer open-world, sandbox-style driving environments for players to explore, both boast a seriously good-looking selection of vehicles, and both offer the ability to casually top 200 miles per hour while looking for stuff to crash into and/or jump over. In other words: The emphasis in both games is on driving fun, rather than a true-to-life racing experience.

Of course, Most Wanted is far more "arcade" in its style of gameplay than even the newly released Forza title. While the team at Criterion has actually done a rather nice job with the driving physics that power this new Need For Speed - steering, braking, acceleration and the like all feel nicely sorted (if not as realistic as can be found in Gran Turismo, for instance), the best parts of the experience all involve crazily acrobatic maneuvers, and reality-defying racing.

Continue reading Review: Need For Speed: Most Wanted [w/video]

Review: Need For Speed: Most Wanted [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Need for Speed: Most Wanted commercial pits cops versus cars

Zach Bowman — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

It would seem Turn 10 has outdone the Need For Speed franchise on it's own turf with Forza: Horizon with one glaring exception. No matter where you turn or what sort of mayhem you unleash on the countryside, there is no law enforcement. Fortunately, EA Games is ready to serve up the newest foray into the Need For Speed universe with NFS: Most Wanted. As you might suspect, the gameplay focuses on illegal street racing and the law's attempts at maintaining order. EA Games has turned out the first ad for the title, and if the game play is as entertaining as the clip below, we'll want a turn at the controller.

The add pits an array of would-be lawbreakers against the boys in blue in a little real-life showdown, but it takes one hooligan in a Ford Focus ST to get the party started. Check out the clip below to see what we mean.

Continue reading Need for Speed: Most Wanted commercial pits cops versus cars

Need for Speed: Most Wanted commercial pits cops versus cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Oct 2012 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dreamworks will make Need for Speed film

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Toys/Games, Celebrities

It's official: Need for Speed is going to be a movie, and it's been "fast-tracked" to arrive in theaters in 2014. Paramount-owned Dreamworks had been talking to Electronic Arts about a cinematic treatment of the video game franchise, and the two were able to close a deal. The script is ready, penned by George Gatin, the brother of Real Steel screenwriter John Gatin.

The movie is based on the entire NFS franchise, not one particular series. So what can you expect? According to the love-fest press release, you'll get "a fast-paced, high-octane film rooted in the tradition of the great car culture films of the 70s while being extremely faithful to the spirit of the video game franchise," which makes it sound like there'll be Lamborghinis, Nobles and Shelbys driven by middle-aged dudes with mustaches and huge sunglasses, and at least one afro.

A more accurate synopsis might be from a commenter at Joystiq, who wrote, "It's going to have the live-action sex doll disguised as a female cop, the snarky white guy who is the fashionabl[e] anti-hero, the token black sidekick and the bad guy who has no idea he's going to become a good guy. Oh, and hip-hop music, hip-hop music everywhere."

A potential saving grace is that it's being directed by Scott Waugh, who is just off doing the restrained and very dramatic Special Ops flick Act of Valor. A definite saving grace is that EA is letting fans suggest cars for the film cars on EA's Facebook page. Scroll down for a press release on the big-screen NFS coming your way.

Continue reading Dreamworks will make Need for Speed film

Dreamworks will make Need for Speed film originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Bay takes a whack at Need For Speed: The Run trailer

Chris Shunk — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: Videos

Video games are big business. Titles like Call of Duty can reach a billion dollars or more in sales, but racing games typically don't fare quite as well. Maybe that's why the Need For Speed team developed The Run; a cross-country thriller that combines fast cars, beautiful-yet-pixelated women (with real-life swimsuit model voices and Christina Hendricks) and abundant out-of-the-car action.

To show just how serious Electronic Arts is about Need for Speed: The Run, the franchise went to box-office ATM machine Michael Bay to cut the game trailer. Bay may not make the most critically acclaimed movies of all time, but they make serious bank, and he knows how to whip up the pre-release excitement with killer trailers.

Hit the jump to watch the action-packed trailer he cut together for The Run, then stay for a second video that gives a behind the scenes look at how Bay and his team assembled the teaser.

Continue reading Michael Bay takes a whack at Need For Speed: The Run trailer

Michael Bay takes a whack at Need For Speed: The Run trailer originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Nov 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Faster Downloads: Exotic Racing Series DLC coming to NFS Shift [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

Need for Speed SHIFT Exotic Racing Series DLC - Click above for high-res image gallery

Playstation3 gamers: If you were disappointed that only XBox 360 players got the Ferrari DLC package for Need for Speed SHIFT, take heart, because the next one's got your name on it, too. The Exotic Racing Series pack is being released by EA for both platforms (though not for PC, PSP or mobile platforms) on March 18, with some of the most alluring machinery this side of Maranello.

Included in the downloadable content package are the McLaren MP4-12C and SLR Stirling Moss, the Alfa 8C Competizione and Maserati GranTurismo S, BMW M1 Procar, Gumpert Apollo and Acura NSX. The DLC costs $10 (or equivalent points) on either XBox Live or PlayStation Network, and also includes an array of new events and track layouts. Video and press release after the jump, screen shots in the gallery below. Thanks for the tip, Andrey!

Gallery: Need for Speed SHIFT Exotic Racing Series DLC

[Source: EA via rpmgo.com]

Continue reading Faster Downloads: Exotic Racing Series DLC coming to NFS Shift [w/video]

Faster Downloads: Exotic Racing Series DLC coming to NFS Shift [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA releases new Ferrari Racing Pack for Need For Speed SHIFT on Xbox 360

Noah Joseph — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:26:00 EST

Filed under: Ferrari

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano on Need For Speed SHIFT - Click above for image gallery

Just a couple of weeks ago, we had the chance to review the latest driving game from the venerable Need For Speed franchise, and found NFS Shift to be a worthy rival to the likes of Forza 3 and the upcoming Gran Turismo 5. The one thing it was missing? Ferraris. But a new downloadable content pack on Xbox Live aims to fix that shortcoming.

Available for download on February 16, the Ferrari Racing Pack features 10 absolutely drool-worthy Prancing Horses. Included in the package are the FXX, F50 GT, 599 GTB Fiorano, California, 575 Superamerica and five variants of the F430: Spider, Scuderia, 16M Scuderia Spider, Challenge and GTC.

The gamesmiths at Electronic Art have also devised an array of challenges designed specifically for these ten Maranello monsters, including hot laps, eliminators, endurance races and a world tour. The 46 challenges are included as well in the download pack, which costs $10 or 800 Microsoft Points. You're also going to need a copy of the game, an Xbox 360 console and an Xbox Live account to make it happen. Full details are available in the press release after the jump, with a batch of screen shots in the gallery below.

Gallery: Ferrari Racing Pack on Need For Speed SHIFT for Xbox 360

[Source: EA via rpmgo.com]

Continue reading EA releases new Ferrari Racing Pack for Need For Speed SHIFT on Xbox 360

EA releases new Ferrari Racing Pack for Need For Speed SHIFT on Xbox 360 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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0-60 builds its own Need For Speed racing cabinet, tells you how

Jonny Lieberman — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Toys/Games

For the first time in a long time, we sat down and played a racing game the other night. Fine, it wasn't a racing game -- it was the VirtualGT racing simulator. What did we learn? Georgia ought to pass a law against letting us onto Road Atlanta in a Porsche 997 Cup car. Also, instead of sitting on our buddy's couch and stuffing our face with Collisions: Pizza Cravers and Ranch flavored Doritos (a real flavor -- we swear!) while mindlessly hitting everything on the streets of Monaco in GT4, being in a race cabinet (and having a Cup instructor barking instructions in our ear) allowed us to pop off a 1:43 run around a 2.54 mile course. Not too terrible. And we're totally sure the cabinet added a second or two. Ahem.

Sadly, those high-falutin' racing rigs cost a fortune -- $18k at the low end, and that's without a display of any sort. You'd have to be a Porsche Cup racer to afford one. Not so fast, say our pals over at 0-60. In fact, they built a cabinet for Need For Speed: Shift and they're calling it the D.I.Y. R-Cade. First of all, how much will it cost you? $500, minus all the electronic stuff (which you probably already own anyhow). How long does it take? Not sure, but there are about 60 pages of instructions. We figure pretty long. Still, the end result is pretty cool looking, and you'd have your own racing cabinet.

[Source: 0-60mag.com]

0-60 builds its own Need For Speed racing cabinet, tells you how originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Noah Joseph — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:27:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

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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VIDEO: Nissan 370Z in Need for Speed: Undercover

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Nissan

Click above to watch video after the jump

We can't remember the last time, if ever, a video game made us really want to check out a car, but we have to see the new Nissan 370Z now. In the Need for Speed: Undercover teaser video it looked neat, but in the official shots a few days later the car looked like it was suffering from bloating and cramps. For some reason, however, the Z in motion -- and with, of course, perfect lighting -- does it for us. The perhaps overly teased front and rear lights make a certain sense now, but the truncated rear end still gives us pause. We're not yet settled on how we feel about it, but we can't wait to see it in person. Check it out video of the 370Z in Need for Speed: Undercover for yourself after the jump, and stay tuned for live coverage from the LA Auto Show.

Gallery: 2010 Nissan 370Z

Gallery: Nissan 370Z in Need for Speed: Undercover

[Source: YouTube via Autoblog Spanish]

Continue reading VIDEO: Nissan 370Z in Need for Speed: Undercover

VIDEO: Nissan 370Z in Need for Speed: Undercover originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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