Need For Speed - Out Now!

[detective392]

Need for Speed first look coming May 21st

[Groo The Perverted]

*fingers crossed for Criterion/Ghost Games*

[rajeevalone]

:d

[Groo The Perverted]

From Neogaf:

I think it's Underground, guys.

Redacted identifiable information for privacy—but this person does not appear in the credits for the original game and has only been in this position since 2007 (long after the release of Underground 2).

Also....an updated image:

[Havok83]

Ghost Games? Never heard of them. Hopefully this means Criterion is back on Burnout

[RaijinUT]

Originally Posted by Havok83

Ghost Games? Never heard of them. Hopefully this means Criterion is back on Burnout

Ghost Games is the Criterion... well basically about 80% of the staff left Criterion to start up that studio.

Much like other studios where this has happened, the developer keeps the old studio open and hopes that any future games sell off the name of the defunct studio.

[Blu Ian]

Please be Underground 3.

[Havok83]

Originally Posted by RaijinUT

Ghost Games is the Criterion... well basically about 80% of the staff left Criterion to start up that studio.

Much like other studios where this has happened, the developer keeps the old studio open and hopes that any future games sell off the name of the defunct studio.

Why? It would be one thing if they created this studio to make their own original games but they are still making the same EA games they were doing before

[RaijinUT]

Originally Posted by Havok83

Why? It would be one thing if they created this studio to make their own original games but they are still making the same EA games they were doing before

The studio is usually the reason for the games success, not the developer. People behind the scenes who make the games matter more than just the brands name.

I am fine with Ghost Games making this game since the people behind that studio are the reason for much of my enjoyment of the series over the past 7 years. I would be much less excited it this was being made by Criterion since that studio is now a shell of itself and needs to prove their worth again.

Basically a proven team that understands NFS gets me a lot more excited than a studio by name alone releasing the next NFS. I just have a lot more faith in teams that have a proven track record in created good games than just a brand logo saying this is the next in the series.

[Havok83]

that didnt really answer my question, as to why they would leave their studio to make a new one

[RaijinUT]

Originally Posted by Havok83

that didnt really answer my question, as to why they would leave their studio to make a new one

Oh, Criterion Games announced back in 2013 that studio was planning to steer away from its tradition in developing racing games and are instead focusing on other genres for future projects, then fired 80% (70 out of 87) of it's staff.

Those members where snatched up by Ghost Games.

[Havok83]

Originally Posted by RaijinUT

Oh, Criterion Games announced back in 2013 that studio was planning to steer away from its tradition in developing racing games and are instead focusing on other genres for future projects, then fired 80% (70 out of 87) of it's staff.

Those members where snatched up by Ghost Games.

thats the part that doesnt make sense to me. EA owns Criterion so why would they fire their racing team only to have those fired make their own studio and bring them back to make those same games they were doing before?

[Mavrick]

Originally Posted by Havok83

thats the part that doesnt make sense to me. EA owns Criterion so why would they fire their racing team only to have those fired make their own studio and bring them back to make those same games they were doing before?

Probably has something to do with money in some way.

The way I see it it's like a big retail chain that uses an owned subsidiary to merchandise within their stores.

Do they do the same job as someone that works directly for the store? Yes. Do they get paid the same wage and receive the same benefits? No.

I hope this is new entry into the Underground series, I loved the first one with all the modifications you could make to your car, pretty sure you could even upgrade the stereos in them.

[RaijinUT]

Originally Posted by Havok83

thats the part that doesnt make sense to me. EA owns Criterion so why would they fire their racing team only to have those fired make their own studio and bring them back to make those same games they were doing before?

Must have been an EA and Criterion issue. Unsure if the dirt was ever made public.

It is known that Alex Ward was the founder of Criterion and was the one who announced Criterion's new outlook and changes for Criterion back in 2013. It is worth saying that Alex, along with Criterion co-founder Fiona Sperry, left Criterion late last year to start their own studio.

It is anyone's guess but it looks like the founders of Criterion grew tired of making racing games, wanted to do their own thing, got EA to agree to it, then failed or had some sort of falling out with EA during the process.

[Zivouhr]

Originally Posted by RaijinUT

The studio is usually the reason for the games success, not the developer. People behind the scenes who make the games matter more than just the brands name.

I am fine with Ghost Games making this game since the people behind that studio are the reason for much of my enjoyment of the series over the past 7 years. I would be much less excited it this was being made by Criterion since that studio is now a shell of itself and needs to prove their worth again.

Basically a proven team that understands NFS gets me a lot more excited than a studio by name alone releasing the next NFS. I just have a lot more faith in teams that have a proven track record in created good games than just a brand logo saying this is the next in the series.

Thanks for the info. Looking forward to this.
Ghost Games made NFS Rivals, and that game kicked @ss on PS4. Only thing missing was an interior dash view.

[Mavrick]

Leaked by the German PS blog. Only a few pics remain

@VG_Dave's Tweet: https://twitter.com/VG_Dave/status/6...060999172?s=09

[Blu Ian]

BOOM!

Reboot and the name is simply Need For Speed.

Need for Speed Teaser Trailer - PC, PS4, Xbox One - YouTube

[Spookymulder]

With the truck in the first few seconds, the rainy and gloomy LA-type city, and the cops chasing those cars... it's like Fast and Furious. But with much nicer cars

[Derb]

Originally Posted by Blu Ian

BOOM!

Reboot and the name is simply Need For Speed.

Nice, i hope they reboot it to perfection. Last good time on a NFS game for me was Hot Pursuit Remake. I wouldn't mind a third Hot Pursuit.

[Hayabusa85]

Originally Posted by RaijinUT

Ghost Games is the Criterion... well basically about 80% of the staff left Criterion to start up that studio.

Much like other studios where this has happened, the developer keeps the old studio open and hopes that any future games sell off the name of the defunct studio.

Not totally accurate. Ghost Games UK is who you are talking about so that is true but the main Ghost Games studio is in Sweden and had nothing to do with the Criterion split. More a branch off of D.I.C.E. if anything. Ghost Games UK is also pretty much non-existent now with the major layoffs they were hit with last year. The team that is left at Ghost Games UK is basically just there to provide support which they did with Rivals & BF Hardline. But they don't have a team large enough to be the lead developers of any projects. I think the original plan was for Ghost Games & Ghost Games UK to rotate yearly NFS games before EA pretty much killed Ghost Games UK with the layoffs.

Hopefully this is much better than Rivals. With the racing history D.I.C.E. had and developers from those games at Ghost Games I had high hopes but as a racing game it was a complete turd. There was fun to be had in the pursuits and stuff but hopefully this is good as a racing game this time. The teaser doesn't make me too optimistic that will be the case though.