Jump to content

Need for Speed Rivals

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Kandyce 2013 (talk | contribs) at 17:53, 21 October 2013 (Corrected minor error.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Need for Speed: Rivals
Publisher(s)Electronic Arts
SeriesNeed for Speed
EngineFrostbite 3[1]
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 3
PlayStation 4
Xbox 360
Xbox One
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
22 November 2013
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Need for Speed: Rivals is an upcoming racing video game set in an open world environment. Developed by Swedish and British developers Ghost Games and Ghost Games UK (Ghost Games UK is made up of 80% of Criterion Games staff) [3] and developer Criterion Games, this is the twentieth installment in the long-running Need for Speed series. The game is set to be released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in November 2013, it will also be released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as a launch title for both platforms in the same month. Need For Speed Rivals is being created by an 170 man team, 100 from Ghost Games, and 70 from Ghost Games UK.[4]

Gameplay

See also: Gameplay in Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit.

Need for Speed: Rivals will feature similar gameplay to 2010's Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit title in the Need for Speed franchise with exotic cars and high-speed police chases.[5] Players take on the role of a racer or a cop, with each side of the law offering its own set of challenges, risks and rewards.[6] Rivals will feature eleven upgradeable gadgets such as EMPs, shockwaves and the ability to call in roadblocks.[5] The game takes place in the fictional Redview County, an open world area that's host to scraps between cops and robbers.[5] The open world will feature a similar set-up to 2012's Need for Speed: Most Wanted, with several jumps, speed traps and unlockable cars.[7]

Rivals features a dynamic weather system, which makes "the world feel alive in a much bigger sense than any other Need for Speed game". Ferrari also returns to the franchise in full form for the first time in eleven years.

The game uses Autolog, the competition-between-friends system developed by Criterion for Hot Pursuit, and since used in other titles in the Need for Speed series. It will let players compare stats and challenge friends anytime, anywhere and share the accomplishments with both friends and rivals.[6] Rivals features a new social system called AllDrive, which allow players to seamlessly transition from playing alone, to playing with friends, described as "destroying the line between single player and multiplayer". This will allow players to in engage co-op gameplay as well as play against each other.[6] The game also features a dynamic weather system, which is "going to make the world feel alive in a much bigger sense than any other Need for Speed game."[5]

Rivals' progression is by means of Speedlists for racers and Assignments for cops, are sets of objectives which involve dangerous driving, maneuvers, and race standings.

Rivals will also take on some gameplay styles of earlier Underground titles in the franchise with cues on aesthetic vehicle personalization, as paint jobs, decals, rims and license plates can be modified. The customization confirmed so far seems limited to texture-based changes (essentially livery decoration).[7] With the exception of the Aston Martin Vanquish, other vehicles will only be available in either racer or police variant.[8] Ferrari will officially return to the franchise in full form for the first time in eleven years since Hot Pursuit 2 in 2002 (although they've appeared in 2009's Shift as Xbox 360-exclusive downloadable content) with the F12berlinetta, 458 Spider, FF, Enzo, LaFerrari, F355 Berlinetta and 599 GTO being the only Ferrari vehicles confirmed so far.[9]

Development

Origins

Former Need for Speed developer EA Black Box was set to develop the 2013 installment in the franchise.

In 2010, Criterion Games revived the series with the release of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, a remake of the 1998's Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit, as it won several awards, became the highest rated game in Need for Speed's history, and sold more than 8.5 million copies.[10] Criterion Games executives stated that they wanted to draw from the series' roots and re-introduce old Need for Speed ideals (exotic cars, beautiful scenery, police pursuits, etc). However, in 2011, EA Black Box released Need for Speed: The Run, which got mixed reviews.[11][12][13][improper synthesis?] In 2012, EA Labels president Frank Gibeau said although he was proud of the Black Box-developed installment, but clarified that "I don't want a 60, I want an 80+".[14] On the subject of EA Black Box, Gibeau said the publisher would not be changing its alternating studio strategy.[14] At Electronic Entertainment Expo 2012, Criterion vice president Alex Ward announced that the days of random developers churning out yearly Need for Speed instalment were over. Ward wouldn't confirm that all Need for Speed titles for the future would developed wholly by Criterion, but did say that the studio would have "strong involvement" in them. Ward was clear that Criterion would have control over which Need for Speed titles would come out in the future.[15][16]

New studio

File:Ghostgameslogo.png
Logo for the newly founded Ghost Games, developer for Need for Speed: Rivals. Ghost Games took sole ownership of the franchise with the release of Rivals.

With EA Canada and Black Box restructured and refocused towards online and free-to-play games in February 2012,[17] EA had already formed a new studio in 2011, EA Gothenburg. Based in Gothenburg, Sweden, it was reported that the studio would focus on development games using the Frostbite game engine.[18][19][20] Also reported was that the studio was developing a game "in the Need For Speed franchise".[21] According to the CVs of employees, much of the studio's staff had worked previously on major racing titles, including Forza Horizon, Need for Speed: The Run, Project Gotham Racing and RACE Pro.[21] On 22 October 2012, the series main developer Criterion Games confirmed that EA Gothenburg was working on a title in the Need for Speed franchise, but did not reveal the level of involvement or when the title would be released.[22] On 15 November 2012, EA Gothenburg was rebranded as Ghost Games. Ghost's website went live around the same time and called for potential staff to apply for a range of open positions.[23][24]

On 23 May 2013, EA confirmed their next Need for Speed game, Rivals, with a teaser trailer,[6] following marketing material tease days before.[25][26] It was also confirmed that Rivals was in the works at EA's Swedish games developer Ghost Games in partnership with Criterion Games.[9] Ghost is headed up by former DICE executive producer Marcus Nilsson, who previously led development on games including Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, Battlefield 2142 and Shift 2: Unleashed.[27]

On 30 August 2013, Ghost Games head Marcus Nilsson stated that the studio had been given complete charge of the Need for Speed franchise and that the franchise being bounced between multiple EA studios wasn't "consistent" with different game types.[28][29] On 16 September 2013, Criterion Games had its staff numbers reduced to 17 people total, as the majority of the studio moved over to Ghost Games UK to work with Need for Speed games.[30] It was a result of that during the development of Ghost Games' Need for Speed: Rivals, a small team at Criterion Games instead began to work on an all-new project.[31]

Marketing and release

Need for Speed: Rivals will be released for PlayStation 3, PC and Xbox 360 on 19 November 2013 in North America and on 21 November in Europe. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions will launch simultaneously on 22 November 2013. As a launch title for Microsoft's new consoles, it will join DriveClub on PS4 and Forza 5 on Xbox One.[32]

All pre-orders of the game grant the purchaser with an access code for the Ultimate Cop Pack at no additional cost. It includes "exclusive access to a powerful collection of items", including the Nissan GT-R Black Edition cop car, advanced pursuit technology, and a custom livery.[9]

During E3, Need for Speed started a poll in which people could participate and vote for the car they wanted to be named "King Of The Streets". The winning should be playable both as a cop and racer in Need for Speed: Rivals. On a timed basis, two cars would be put head to head on Facebook and Twitter, and the car with the most votes would advance against another car. The Aston Martin Vanquish was named the winner of the poll, as result, it will play both sides of the law in Need for Speed: Rivals.


References

  1. ^ "Next-Gen Racing". Need for Speed. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  2. ^ Scamell, David. "The Ghost Of Criterions past".
  3. ^ Scamell, David. "The Ghost Of Criterions past".
  4. ^ Scamell, David. "The Ghost Of Criterions past".
  5. ^ a b c d Robinson, Martin (15 May 2013). "How Far Cry 3 and UK racing veterans are helping bring Need for Speed to the next generation". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d "News: Need for Speed Rivals announced for current and next-gen". ComputerAndVideoGames.com. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  7. ^ a b "How Ghost Games hopes to put itself on the map with Need for Speed Rivals". Polygon. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  8. ^ "Vote and Decide which Car will Play Both Sides of the Law". Need for Speed. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  9. ^ a b c "Need for Speed Rivals lands on PS4, Xbox One in November". VG247. 28 January 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  10. ^ "Electronic Arts' CEO Discusses Q4 2011 Results - Earnings Call Transcript". Seeking Alpha. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  11. ^ munkee (15 November 2011). "Need for Speed The Run Review for PS3". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  12. ^ Bramwell, Tom (14 November 2011). "Need for Speed: The Run Review". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  13. ^ Petit, Carolyn (16 November 2011). "Need for Speed: The Run Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  14. ^ a b Robinson, Andy (15 June 2012). "News: EA: NFS The Run 'didn't come together' but Most Wanted will 'dial it up'". ComputerAndVideoGames.com. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  15. ^ Yin, Wesley. "Criterion takes full control of Need for Speed and Burnout franchises • News •". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  16. ^ Jackson, Mike (22 June 2012). "News: Criterion in control of entire Need for Speed franchise". ComputerAndVideoGames.com. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  17. ^ Robinson, Andy (6 February 2012). "EA confirms Vancouver studio layoffs". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  18. ^ "What We Do – EA Gothenburg". EA Gothenburg. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  19. ^ "EA Gothenburg studio to focus on Frostbite development". VG247. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  20. ^ "EA Gothenburg hiring for new Need for Speed". CVG. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  21. ^ a b "Confirmed: EA Gothenburg developing unannounced Need For Speed". Videogamer.com. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  22. ^ David Scammel (22 October 2012). "Criterion confirms EA Gothenburg is working on Need For Speed". Videogamer.com. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  23. ^ Yin, Wesley. "EA Gothenburg is now Ghost, working on Need for Speed". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  24. ^ "Ghost – EA's Gothenburg studio hiring for Frostbite 2 game development". VG247. 28 January 2008. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  25. ^ "News: New Need for Speed game teased with screenshot". ComputerAndVideoGames.com. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  26. ^ "News: Need for Speed reveal teased for today". ComputerAndVideoGames.com. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  27. ^ Ivan, Tom. "EA's new Gothenburg studio rebranded as Ghost". ComputerAndVideoGames.com. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  28. ^ http://www.computerandvideogames.com/427030/ghost-games-takes-charge-of-the-need-for-speed-franchise/
  29. ^ http://www.vg247.com/2013/08/30/need-for-speed-franchise-now-owned-by-ghost-games-wont-bounce-back-to-criterion/
  30. ^ http://www.vg247.com/2013/09/14/criterion-games-staff-reduced-to-17-as-60-65-people-move-over-to-ghost-games/
  31. ^ http://www.computerandvideogames.com/429454/criterion-voluntarily-reduced-to-17-staff/
  32. ^ Mike Jackson (12 June 2013). "News: Need for Speed: Rivals aims to be 'out at launch' on PS4/Xbox One". ComputerAndVideoGames.com. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Need_for_Speed_Rivals&oldid=578141981"