Need for Speed SHIFT driver profile details

Electronic Arts revealed first details on the new driver profile system in Need for Speed SHIFT. Extending through the single player career and online multiplayer modes, driver profile gives each player a unique game experience based on the way each player drives on the track.

Driver profile is a tailor-made career mode based on four key game play components: personality (driving style dictates whether you are and aggressive or precise driver), success (whether you finish races and land at the top of the pile at the finish line), profile points (earned for just about every maneuver you perform on the track) and badges (icons that represent various in-game achievements). As a player’s driver profile develops through the course of the game, it creates rivalries, triggers specific challenges and unlocks vehicles and customization options.

During this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, EA invited attendees to participate in a Need for Speed SHIFT Hero Car Competition that showcased the driver profile. Competitors raced around the Autopolis track in the BMW M3 GT2 hero car generating the highest number of driver profile points. The winner of the Need for Speed SHIFT Hero Car Competition, Mitchell Francis, from Los Angeles won a brand new 2009 BMW M3 Coupe.

EA is making a big deal about driver profiles, but is it a gimmick or will it truly impact the overall gameplay? We’ll have to wait and see.

Need for Speed SHIFT is being developed by Slightly Mad Studios in collaboration with Black Box and Patrick Soderlund. Slightly Mad Studios includes developers and designers that worked on GT Legends and GTR 2. The PSP version is being developed by EA’s Bright Light studio.

The game is scheduled to ship in Europe on September 17 and in North America on September 22 on the PS3, Xbox 360, PC and PSP.

EA Races Forward With New Need for Speed Games

Earlier this month, word broke out that EA had cut staff from Black Box in the wake of some major financial restructuring. There were even rumors that the publisher was retiring its Need for Speed franchise after poor sales on Need for Speed Undercover. Well, early this morning, EA put that rumor to rest, announcing the development of not one, but at least three new NFS titles.

“We recognize racing videogame fans are very passionate and unique – they want customized gameplay experiences. Whether it’s more of a realistic driving game with accurate car physics or over-the-top cop chases, we are making different games for different audiences,” said Keith Munro, vice president of marketing, Need for Speed. “Each game provides a deep, engaging and rich racing experience. We’re giving players the option to choose the best racing title that suits their style of gameplay.”

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The Rundown: Jan. 12, 2009

It’s a hard day for some, but for others a fresh start as the fickle fingers of fate tug at the chords and do a little meddling. Also, KOEI’s latest strategy PS2 game is gold, The Maw is in-bound later this month, and the Wii gets at least one downloadable game that isn’t questionable.

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