Need for Speed: Shift (by Slightly Mad Studios)

Frag Maniac · Post by **Frag Maniac** » 08 Mar 2009, 21:55

OK, OK, I know a lot of people are sitting back saying, "This is just another EA NFS title, I need proof it's not going to be another disaster."

Let's look at the facts though. They're hiring one of the best teams in the biz at making SIM racing games, Slightly Mad Studios, formerly Blimey! Games, creators of GT Legends and GTR2. They are introducing via EA Europe's Patrick Soderlund's consulting input, new features never incorporated before in NFS titles such as full side to side cockpit view, G force affected driver, authentic gages that all work, dynamic AI interaction and adaptation, non scripted AI driving that doesn't repeat the exact same line, and authentic braking, AI mistakes, crashes, etc.

To top it off, the screenshots look amazingly well detailed and very realistic. Those whom are skeptical as to whether the final product will look the same, just look at screenshots of previous titles by this developer and you will find they are the same as those taken by end users post release. My only worry is whether Shift will be too hardcore a SIM to play on KB. I'm hoping the handling will be more like GRID than a hardcore SIM, or at least slectable like GRID where you can turn driver assist on or off.

Unfortunately there are only screenshots and a developer interview with Patrick Soderlund so far. I can't even post on the EA forum right now, as there seems to be some technical difficulty where the Reply and New Thread tabs don't show. There are no posts dated past Mar 6.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/46175.html

Post by **maherie** » 09 Mar 2009, 08:08

looks nice man. I've played every nfs game for those who don't remember it's a pretty long list.

The Need for Speed (1994)
Need for Speed II (1997)
Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit (1998)
Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed (2000)
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 (2002)
Need for Speed: Underground (2003)
Need for Speed: Underground 2 (2004)
Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005)
Need for Speed: Carbon (2006)
Need for Speed: ProStreet (2007)
Need for Speed: Undercover (2008)

I can't wait till the next installment. Porseche Unleashed, Underground 2, Carbon and Most Wanted have been the cream.

Frag Maniac · Post by **Frag Maniac** » 09 Mar 2009, 09:38

I've only been getting them since NFS: Underground 2. I had a chance to buy Hot Pursuit and Underground1 cheap, but passed them up due to not liking the HP demo and U1 being too much like U2, with less variety.

I enjoyed U2 up through Undercover, except for Pro Street, and after playing through Undercover again recently I'm finding that is not all that great either, though better than PS IMO.

Where the last two titles are concerned though, some of my dislike for them is no doubt my outdated PC, though they do seem to lack optimization too. I hate the way the view is heavily restricted when changing directions and the way the camera zooms in and out with any change of speed.

I have to say this is the first time I am really excited a lot in anticipation of Shift, more so than any other NFS before. I can't help but think it's because the screenshots remind me of GRID so much. It wouldn't bother me at all if it gets touted as GRID copy, bring it on baby!

I just hope it won't be too hardcore SIM for me. A great feature of Shift is going to be full 180 degree cockpit view. The talk of G forces affecting the driver cam though has me wondering if they'll keep using that damn zooming in and out, hopefully not. I'm also hoping the blur can be disabled, I never use it in GRID, or ANY game for that matter.

Most Wanted has probably been my fave NFS, but GRID blows them all away IMO.

DaFox · Post by **DaFox** » 09 Mar 2009, 11:09

Where the last two titles are concerned though, some of my dislike for them is no doubt my outdated PC, though they do seem to lack optimization too.

The PC ports have been horribly optimised, even MW runs like ass for me :/

Post by **Abram** » 09 Mar 2009, 12:10

THe last one i really enjoyed was Hot Pursuit 2. Mostly for the inclusion of cops.

Underground 1 & 2 were alright, but i really hate the imense focus on how your super cool car looks - and it not making any differnce in how it handles. It pained me to think of how much better they could be if they put that effort into more practical aspects. It never helps that i always play racing games with bumper or dash cam.

I've been so let down by this series that i expect nothing but crap. News of a different developer is nice, but I'm not holding my breath.

FUEL is the next racing game I'm looking forward to. Made by Codemasters and it's a HUGE map. 120x120 km. Apperently takes 2 1/2 hours to drive from one far corner to the other. Free-roam, mountain, desert, city, prarie, snow, rain, tornadoes....

Post by **MobsterOO7** » 09 Mar 2009, 16:10

I came into the scene at Need for Speed: Road and Track Edition

Then I took a very long break from the series and didn't play another one until Need for Speed: Underground 2. I stopped playing that game, I got sick of people calling me "whack".
Need for Speed: Most Wanted was a very fun game, apart from the so-bad-they're-good cutscenes that is.
And then I stopped again because the control dynamics for Carbon and Pro-Street were horrid.

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 09 Mar 2009, 20:13

[quote]Where the last two titles are concerned though, some of my dislike for them is no doubt my outdated PC, though they do seem to lack optimization too.

The PC ports have been horribly optimised, even MW runs like ass for me :/

I'd say poorly designed rather than poorly optimized. No amount of optimization will fix a game that mostly uses 2d surfaces for objects, those are a performance killer right there, especially with any amount of transparency.

After all those titles, it's about time EA realized they needed to split the different styles off. Though I won't believe the result is that good till I've seen it.

Dem Pyros · Post by **Dem Pyros** » 09 Mar 2009, 21:34

THe last one i really enjoyed was Hot Pursuit 2. Mostly for the inclusion of cops.

Underground 1 & 2 were alright, but i really hate the imense focus on how your super cool car looks - and it not making any differnce in how it handles. It pained me to think of how much better they could be if they put that effort into more practical aspects. It never helps that i always play racing games with bumper or dash cam.

I've been so let down by this series that i expect nothing but crap. News of a different developer is nice, but I'm not holding my breath.

FUEL is the next racing game I'm looking forward to. Made by Codemasters and it's a HUGE map. 120x120 km. Apperently takes 2 1/2 hours to drive from one far corner to the other. Free-roam, mountain, desert, city, prarie, snow, rain, tornadoes....

I loved Hot Pursuit 2, for me everything really went downhill from there...

skeeder · Post by **skeeder** » 09 Mar 2009, 22:14

I played 1,2,3,4, some of porsche so...5, 6 was HP2 Underground 1 and 2, and Most Wanted. I did the next one, Carbon and was so disappointed I haven't bothered. Car racing seemed to have lost its edge.

then I found burnout! :lol:

Frag Maniac · Post by **Frag Maniac** » 09 Mar 2009, 23:35

FUEL is the next racing game I'm looking forward to. Made by Codemasters and it's a HUGE map. 120x120 km. Apperently takes 2 1/2 hours to drive from one far corner to the other. Free-roam, mountain, desert, city, prarie, snow, rain, tornadoes....

Actually FUEL is being made by Asobo Studio in France, not Codemasters like DiRT and GRID were. Codies are just the publishers.

I know full well there are a LOT of skeptics despite what they say about Shift. Even long time NFS fans that are not liking their past few titles are skeptical just because EA is publishing it and it has the NFS moniker.

One of the reasons I am hopeful besides this being a new direction of authentic racing however is that I don't really think Blimey! Games (AKA Slightly Mad) will want to damage their reputation of having made great SIM titles like GT Legends and GTR2 by putting out crap, even if EA pays them a lot.

You don't get anywhere in the gaming biz by taking lots of money to cut your own throat, and changing your name won't fool those whom keep up and spread the news. Now had EA bought Slightly Mad like MS did Bungie, then I'd be worried.

Post by **Abram** » 09 Mar 2009, 23:52

Well. That sure showed me!

But nwo I'm a little scared. The list of games that dev has done is pretty lackluster. But i guess you have to start somewhere, right?

PC
Fuel
Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties
Grand Raid Offroad
Sitting Ducks
Special Forces: Nemesis Strike
WALL-E

PlayStation 2
Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties
Sitting Ducks
Special Forces: Nemesis Strike
Super Farm
The Mummy: The Animated Series
WALL-E

PlayStation 3
Fuel

Xbox
Grand Raid Offroad
Sitting Ducks
Special Forces: Nemesis Strike

Xbox 360
Fuel
Grand Raid Offroad

sorry, not tryign to pull the thread off track.

..no pun intended.

Frag Maniac · Post by **Frag Maniac** » 10 Mar 2009, 00:10

Yeah, that's why the screenshots of FUEL don't look quite as good as those of DiRT and GRID. In all fairness though, I played WALL-E, and while short and kid-like, it was entertaining. I actually liked it better than the movie.

With the huge success of both DiRT and GRID, I certainly hope Codies will make more installments of both those games. I read about a DiRT 2, but I'm not sure after Colin's death if they plan to go through with it or not.

No worries about OT, here. Anything about Shift is largely speculation at this point and there is very little info on it so far, thus not much to talk about yet. :wink:

(EDITED)
Just found this, there's going to be a DiRT 2 after all, WOOT!
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/46137.html

I also found this info about a DLC package for GRID. It's not quite what I was hoping for, but maybe there will be a GRID 2 eventually as well. http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/56214

DaFox · Post by **DaFox** » 10 Mar 2009, 09:27

Actually FUEL is being made by Asobo Studio in France, not Codemasters like DiRT and GRID were. Codies are just the publishers.

That explains alot, DiRT2 and FUEL come out rather close to each other. I'm pretty sure its a common misconception that its codies them self thats making fuel.

Frag Maniac · Post by **Frag Maniac** » 10 Mar 2009, 22:13

I'm pretty sure its a common misconception that its codies them self thats making fuel.

Well I was doubtful of it first time I saw the screenshots. It's obviously not as good graphically as DiRT or GRID. Conversely when I saw the screens of Shift I was blown away, wondering if maybe they had Codemasters doing the developing. Blimey! Games has come a long way with their graphics. I just hope it will be as well optimized as GRID. NFS titles haven't been well known for that.

khula · Post by **khula** » 11 Mar 2009, 14:19

looks nice man. I've played every nfs game for those who don't remember it's a pretty long list.

The Need for Speed (1994)
Need for Speed II (1997)
Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit (1998)
Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed (2000)
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 (2002)
Need for Speed: Underground (2003)
Need for Speed: Underground 2 (2004)
Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005)
Need for Speed: Carbon (2006)
Need for Speed: ProStreet (2007)
Need for Speed: Undercover (2008)

I can't wait till the next installment. Porseche Unleashed, Underground 2, Carbon and Most Wanted have been the cream.

How could you forget the wonderful Need for Speed: Road Challenge...
(the one between Hot Pursuit and Porsche Unleashed). I'm still playing that right now..

Post by **maherie** » 16 Mar 2009, 07:49

[quote]looks nice man. I've played every nfs game for those who don't remember it's a pretty long list.

The Need for Speed (1994)
Need for Speed II (1997)
Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit (1998)
Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed (2000)
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 (2002)
Need for Speed: Underground (2003)
Need for Speed: Underground 2 (2004)
Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005)
Need for Speed: Carbon (2006)
Need for Speed: ProStreet (2007)
Need for Speed: Undercover (2008)

I can't wait till the next installment. Porseche Unleashed, Underground 2, Carbon and Most Wanted have been the cream.

How could you forget the wonderful Need for Speed: Road Challenge...
(the one between Hot Pursuit and Porsche Unleashed). I'm still playing that right now..

wow.... I fully forgot, I went off all the ones I owned and never had that one.... but played it and loved it. nice post.

Frag Maniac · Post by **Frag Maniac** » 26 Mar 2009, 02:18

OK, time to get back OT! I just saw this new Shift teaser. It has actual gameplay footage unlike some teasers, but they definitely chopped the heck out of it.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/47022.html

Downloads:

Quicktime
http://www.gametrailers.com/download/47022/t_nfsshift_debut_ts_h264.mov

WMV
http://www.gametrailers.com/download/47022/t_nfsshift_debut_ts_h264.wmv

It has some nice footage, but why they chose to ridiculously chop it up with that horrendous blackout effect is beyond me. It literally ruined an otherwise perfectly good clip. To be honest though, I was skeptical that it wouldn't show any actual gameplay when I read the word teaser. I downloaded the GameTrailers HD version and edited out the blackouts just to view it less cluttered with crap.

I hope the style of the teaser is not an indication they will have player blackout effects in the game. Hopefully it's just stupid teaser fluff. Of what little chopped up play they did show though, it looks mighty good, but BO effects, esp if you couldn't turn it off, would be very annoying. In fact I hope you can turn off blur effects, never did much like them. Maybe they'll even make the head swing adjustable or removable, much like head bob is in some shooters. I'd also like to see non cockpit view options.

I know that all sounds much less realistic to many, but you can never duplicate true real life perspective onscreen. You invariably always have trade offs that limit your perspective more than it would be in real life. I have to admit though, being able to turn your head a full 180 degrees while in cockpit view is pretty cool, IF it's usable via mouse that is. For wheel users they're definitely going to need to have TrackIR support though.

skeeder · Post by **skeeder** » 26 Mar 2009, 05:21

[quote]looks nice man. I've played every nfs game for those who don't remember it's a pretty long list.

The Need for Speed (1994)
Need for Speed II (1997)
Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit (1998)
Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed (2000)
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 (2002)
Need for Speed: Underground (2003)
Need for Speed: Underground 2 (2004)
Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005)
Need for Speed: Carbon (2006)
Need for Speed: ProStreet (2007)
Need for Speed: Undercover (2008)

I can't wait till the next installment. Porseche Unleashed, Underground 2, Carbon and Most Wanted have been the cream.

How could you forget the wonderful Need for Speed: Road Challenge...
(the one between Hot Pursuit and Porsche Unleashed). I'm still playing that right now..

Pretty sure you mean "High Stakes"

EDIT: MAherie, you missed a game! and a good one.

Frag Maniac · Post by **Frag Maniac** » 28 Mar 2009, 22:20

More good news about Shift, this time from some players whom have previewed the gameplay at the Need for Speed Community Day event.

http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/46543.page

What I'm most excited about are these words from one of them whom sampled it on KB.

Forum member question:

1. With Shift being a full on simulation game, will people who use a keyboard and/or joystick be able to enjoy this game without spinning out of control?

KB previewer's answer

as torque mentioned before, I did actually try the game with keyboard. I don't like controllers, I only use them once a year: during Need for Speed community days

so: yes, you will be able to enjoy this game using keyboard. absolutely. the cars are still very drivable, no spinning out of control, nothing like that. during the Community Day, there was a little competition between us on a racetrack with the Audi RS4: the best laptime wins! so, the winner did some 0:50.little with controllers - my best laptime with keyboard was 0:51.09 (I clearly remember this one).

so you can definitely play this game with keyboard, if you prefer to do so.

I have asked this previewer more questions on the subject of car handling in the same thread and am awaiting reply. I mainly wanted to know how the handling in general compares to GRID, if there are driver assists, and if you can fine tune steering and braking saturation, linearity, etc. I also asked all previewers if the blur, head swing and driver blackout effects can be turned off.

Those wanting Shift to play like a hardcore SIM may be skeptical about the above reply, but if the game has driver assists and he had them on, it may still serve a broad range of racing skill levels.

Cynagen · Post by **Cynagen** » 29 Mar 2009, 11:56

OK, time to get back OT! I just saw this new Shift teaser. It has actual gameplay footage unlike some teasers, but they definitely chopped the heck out of it.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/47022.html

Downloads:

Quicktime
http://www.gametrailers.com/download/47022/t_nfsshift_debut_ts_h264.mov

WMV
http://www.gametrailers.com/download/47022/t_nfsshift_debut_ts_h264.wmv

It has some nice footage, but why they chose to ridiculously chop it up with that horrendous blackout effect is beyond me. It literally ruined an otherwise perfectly good clip. To be honest though, I was skeptical that it wouldn't show any actual gameplay when I read the word teaser. I downloaded the GameTrailers HD version and edited out the blackouts just to view it less cluttered with crap.

I hope the style of the teaser is not an indication they will have player blackout effects in the game. Hopefully it's just stupid teaser fluff. Of what little chopped up play they did show though, it looks mighty good, but BO effects, esp if you couldn't turn it off, would be very annoying. In fact I hope you can turn off blur effects, never did much like them. Maybe they'll even make the head swing adjustable or removable, much like head bob is in some shooters. I'd also like to see non cockpit view options.

I know that all sounds much less realistic to many, but you can never duplicate true real life perspective onscreen. You invariably always have trade offs that limit your perspective more than it would be in real life. I have to admit though, being able to turn your head a full 180 degrees while in cockpit view is pretty cool, IF it's usable via mouse that is. For wheel users they're definitely going to need to have TrackIR support though.

Ooo... who wants to buy me Shift for my BDay? 22.09.09 :)

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