Criterion implemented some nice Features with the Microsoft Kinect in Need for Speed Most Wanted.
Let's say you're being chased by cops and want to add mods through the EasyDrive menu. With Kinect you don't have to navigate through the menu, you can just say what you want.
For example "Mods, Nitrous, Burn Nitrous" will equip your car instantly with an extra boost that you need.
Need some slicks for the asphalt? Just say "Mods, Tires, Slicks" and done.
The Criterion Sound Crew was recently at the Bruntingthorpe Airfield in the North of England to record some sounds of a few choice cars for Need for Speed Most Wanted:
We strapped microphones to the exhaust pipes, engine bays and cooling ducts of some of the world's fastest cars to try and capture every decibel of authenticity.
Then we persuaded a couple of guys from the team to stand still while we ripped past them at 150mph+ in high-end sports cars. These guys risked life and limb to bring you the very best car sounds, and survived the day intact. We do NOT recommend you try this home!
We know Need for Speed fans love cars, but we wonder if you can guess which car was involved in this high-speed drive-by. If you scrutinize the video, there are some big clues.
The eagle-eyed among you will recognize the distinctive colors of this car's famous livery despite our best attempts to mask them.
Need for Speed Most Wanted is available for preorder at Origin, where EA published the current system requirements for the game on PC. These requirements can still change, but they might give you a clue whether you might upgrade your PC or not: ;)
Minimum System Requirements (PC)
OS: Windows Vista SP2 32-bit CPU: 2 GHz Dual Core (Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHZ or Althon X2 2.7 GHz) Memory: 2 GB HDD: 20 GB Graphics (AMD): DirectX 10.1 compatible with 512 MB RAM (ATI RADEON 3000, 4000, 5000 OR 6000 series, with ATI RADEON 3870 or higher performance) Graphics (NVIDIA): DirectX 10.0 compatible with 512 MB RAM (NVIDIA GEFORCE 8, 9, 200, 300, 400 OR 500 series with NVIDIA GEFORCE 8800 GT or higher performance) Sound: DirectX compatible Input: Keyboard and Mouse
DVD ROM Drive
Recommended System Requirements (PC)
OS: Windows 7 64-Bit CPU: Quad-Core CPU Memory: 4 GB HDD: 20 GB Graphics Card: DirectX 11 compatible with 1024 MB RAM (NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 560 or ATI RADEON 6950) Sound: DirectX compatible Input: Keyboard and Mouse
DVD ROM Drive
Need for Speed World receives a new update, which brings Valentine's Day into the game!
To get you in the mood there will be a Valentine Aftermarket Card Pack with exclusive Valentine’s Day Neons and License Plates. Additionally there will be two new "Beauty and the Beast" editions - the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition “2012 Beauty” and Lexus LFA “2012 Beast”, along with the beauty and beast cars from 2011.
Additionally two new Team Escape events have been added to the game: “High Stakes” and “Underground”.
You can find the changes of the update here:
New Features:
- Chat enhancements:
- Players are now able to chat while in the Safehouse
- When sending a whisper to another Driver, a separate chat filter is created to allow the player to see a record of the conversation between two players
- A notification icon will appear when receiving updates to specific chat filters
- Two new Team Escape events have been added to the game: “High Stakes” and “Underground”
- For a limited time only, A Valentine Aftermarket Card Pack is available for purchase and includes exclusive Valentine’s Day Neons and License Plates
- The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 “2011 Beast” has been reintroduced to Need for Speed World and is available for purchase from the Car Dealer
- The Lexus IS F “2011 Beauty” has been reintroduced to Need for Speed World and is available for purchase from the Car Dealer
- An all new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition “2012 Beauty” has been added to the game and is available for purchase from the Car Dealer
- An all new Lexus LFA “2012 Beast” has been added to the game and is available for purchase form the Car Dealer
Bug Fixes/Changes:
- Existing Team Escape events have been adjusted for difficulty. Time limits are now shorter, while Rep and Cash rewards have increased
- The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 has undergone retuning to increase the car’s top speed and enhance its handling
- The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 bumper cam has been adjusted
- The Lexus LFA’s engine sound has been changed to match the real-life acoustics of the LFA’s V10 4.8L engine and multi-stage exhaust system
- The Lexus IS F has undergone retuning to increase the car’s top speed and enhance its handling
- A 7th gear has been added to the Lexus IS F
- The Lexus IS F’s bumper cam has been adjusted
- The “/f” friends chat functionality has been fixed
- Fixed an issue that caused exhaust tips to clip into the Lamborghini Countach 5000 QUATTROVALVOLE’s body when equipped with visual packages
- Fixed an issue that caused 2 steering wheels to appear on the Nissan 200SX while in minimum level of detail
- Some missing vinyl thumbnail images were added for the Koenigsegg CCX “Elite”
- Some minor world/environment fixes were made
- Some missing mouse-over SFX were added when highlighting elements in the Aftermarket Shop
The UK Retailer GAME slipped some confidential news on Twitter, about a new Need for Speed game in 2012:
"EA presentation was great, had mentions of a new Medal of Honour and Need for Speed 13! EA have an exciting year ahead"
The tweet isn't online anymore, but since GAME tweeted about a presentation at EA, the story sounds real.
Last year EA Black Box finshed the latest NFS with Need for Speed The Run, which means we might can expect Criterion Games wokring on a new NFS title. We will see...
NFS World: Porsche 911 Carrera S "Snowflake" Edition
Thursday, 22.12.2011
The Porsche 911 Carrera S "Snowflake" Edition brings a lot of winter style in the Tier 3 fleet in Need for Speed World. Get your prestigious racer as a bonus, when loading up with SpeedBoost.
Description: This year’s Snowflake will definitely resonate through the snow covered golf course. With the trademark burble of the horizontally opposed flat 6 echoing in the distance, you won’t just look cool, you’ll also sound amazing while flying by your friends.
This custom Porsche takes design and performance to a whole new level. Outfitted with a snowflake projected neon and custom winter livery sets the perfect mode for racing over this holiday season!
Criterion Games working on the next Need for Speed?
Friday, 18.11.2011
Need for Speed The Run was just released and while EA Black Box was still working on the game, it seems like Criterion Games might be developing the next Need for Speed title.
Gamerzines found a suspicious job advertisement, where Criterion is looking for a "temporary Cinematic Artist". Apparently the job offer is described as working on the "world’s number one, multi award winning, arcade racing franchise"...sounds quite like Need for Speed.
We will see, how much can be interpreted in this job listing, but as it seems it might not be so far fetched, that Criterion Games is developing a successor of last year's successful Need for Speed Hot Pursuit.
The soundtrack of Need for Speed The Run was announced, which you'll be listening to as you speed across the United States.
However, it's worth noting that unlike previous Need for Speed titles the soundtrack offers an interactive experience and seamlessly blends into the current events:
The soundtrack reflects our main character Jack's experiences and races. It's an integral part of the story of the game. The songs are seamlessly combined with a full score by Hollywood composer Brian Tyler ("Fast Five, Battle for Los Angeles") to create the ultimate Need for Speed music experience. The soundtrack is strongly influenced by American regional styles, reflecting the San Francisco to New York race.
In other words, depending on where you are in the game, you'll hear different songs to match the location, intensity, and mood of The Run!
The official system requirements of the PC version of Need for Speed: The Run has been announced. You will need the following minimum specs to run the game:
Minimum System Requirements (PC)
OS: Windows Vista SP2 32-bit
DirectX: DirectX 10
CPU: 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or equal AMD
Memory: 3 GB
HDD: 18 GB
Graphics (AMD): 512 MB RAM ATI Radeon 4870 or better
Graphics (NVIDIA): 512 MB RAM NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT or better
Sound: DirectX compatible
Input: Keyboard, Gamepad or Wheel
DVD Rom
Online: 512 KBPS Internet connection or better
Recommended System Requirements (PC)
OS: Windows 7 SP1 64-bit
DirectX: DirectX 11
CPU: 3.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad or equal AMD
Memory: 4 GB
HDD: 18 GB
Graphics (AMD): 1024 MB RAM ATI Radeon 6950
Graphics (NVIDIA): 1024 MB RAM NVIDIA GeForce GTX560
Sound: DirectX compatible
Input: Keyboard, Gamepad or Wheel
DVD Rom
Online: 512 KBPS Internet connection or better
With the Producer Insights videos EA gives us a short glimpse of the development of Need for Speed: The Run. In the new video "Experiencing The Sound" Audio Director Rich Adrian shows a bit of his work:
It's great to have thousands of audio files to play with, but how do you get them to mesh in a hyper-realistic way? Need for Speed The Run Audi Director Rich Adrian takes you under the hood of mixing and matching sound effects to create a true audio soundscape.
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Criterion implemented some nice Features with the Microsoft Kinect in Need for Speed Most Wanted.
Need for Speed World receives a new update, which brings Valentine's Day into the game!
The soundtrack of Need for Speed The Run was announced, which you'll be listening to as you speed across the United States.