Released on 18/09/2009

• More Need for Speed: Shift on the way

  EA has announced that the publishing giant has yet another Need for Speed game in the works, with Need for Speed: Shift 2 scheduled to screech into UK stores somewhere between the beginning of January and the end of March next year. According to Eurogamer, the game will be squarely aimed at the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

  This is great news, frankly, given that 2009's Need for Speed: Shift was an absolutely top quality racer, taking the street-driving series away from its arcadey roots and throwing it into the world of simulation, with detailed handling models, glorious HD visuals, and jarring, eye-watering crashes which put your senses through the tumbledryer as they conjured up a real feeling of impact.

  As with the original game, Shift 2 will be made by the British developer Slightly Mad Studios, so quality shouldn't be a problem.

  Shift 2 is lining up on the starting grid just behind Criterion's forthcoming Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, which sees the Burnout developer taking EA's franchise back into the territory of cops and robbers. It looks wonderful, and is out for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on 16th November.

• EA announces NFS Shift 2 Unleashed

  EA announces NFS Shift 2 Unleashed

  With Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit hitting the Xbox 360, PC, and PS3 this Friday, EA's making sure the franchise's sim fans are as well taken care of as the arcade fanatics by announcing a sequel to the more realistic racer Need for Speed Shift.

  Need for Speed Shift 2 Unleashed will be hitting shelves in the spring of 2011, according to the publisher, and will be taking on the likes of Forza and Gran Turismo as it offers an authentic racing experience with an emphasis on the in-cockpit view.

  The first Shift was a massive hit, and Unleashed brings a new engine to bear to make the ride even bumpier than ever. "With an innovative helmet camera view simulating the physical experience of driving at 200mph, the thrilling experience of night racing and authentic degradation of tracks and cars, this is tomorrow's sim for today's adrenaline fuelled racer," said EA.

  Videos suggest the game will offer unparalleled realism as your head bobs around in the car, instrument panels blur as you're thrown about, and crashes offer a frightening sense of impact. Based on what we've seen so far, then: yep, we're convinced. Bring it on.

  Need for Speed Shift 2 Unleashed will be available for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.

• Need for Speed: Shift Tour

  The Need For Speed Tour Grand Final!

  It's not very often members of the public get to put their gaming skills to the ultimate test and compete for a 0,000 sports car, but on Saturday 26th September 50 lucky GAME customers got to do just that in the Grand Finals of our nationwide Need For Speed Tour!

  Hosted in the grandiose, bustling confines of the Thorpe Park Dome, this was an event to rival the spectacle of the awesome Nemesis and Colossus, or the tension of a first ride on the park's signature attractions SAW and Stealth.

  Fast, flashy and full of sharp twists and breakneck turns, the gameplay of the new Need For Speed, SHIFT, felt instantly at home in the theme park atmosphere, and it wasn't long before Thorpe's Saturday thrillseekers were stopping by on their way to the rides to sample the delights of EA's latest, greatest racing game.

  There too were the finalists. Apart from the winner of our online competition, each one had earned their spot with the fastest lap time from one of the 49 GAME Stores which had participated in the competition over the summer. And so, quite rightly, each equally fancied their chances of walking away with the coveted prize - a GAME and NFS-branded sleek silver Nissan 350z.

  

  To paraphrase George Orwell, however, it suddenly became clear that some racers were more equal than others. Three pro gamers had made the final 50, and were regarded as the men to beat - but the competition format still left it wide open for an upset.

  See, this wasn't about straight-up racing. Instead, each competitor stepped up to the stage to put down one practice lap and one official lap time on the Brands Hatch cicuit. Racing the same virtual car they were competing to win in real life, the winner wasn't decided by the fastest lap on the day, but instead in knockout format; meaning only the top drivers were left in, round after round. Out on the track on their own with nowhere to hide, and with their whole day potentially turning on one badly-taken corner, the competitors were understandably edgy.

  Despite this, they were still happy to find time to chat to us about the game, their chances in the competition, and the other games they were into.

  One of the hopefuls was Crewe Store winner Lance Knight, who we caught up with after the morning's heats, as the competition was whittled down from 50 to the elite last 16.

  "I've had SHIFT since it came out last Friday, but for my first three laps I was shaking! I'm alright now though. My mate who won the heat at the Romford Store had his go then we went on a ride, then I had my go, had another ride, and that calmed me down". Asked about his chances, however, he didn't look it; "I'm seventh at the moment, but it's gonna be close. All depends who puts it down on the day."

  One man who seemed confident in his ability however was ex pro gamer Nick Townsend, who was happy to discuss his gaming roots. "I was a big PGR3 player" he explained "and luckily I was able to impress at an event in Birmingham and joined the London Mint team. Being a pro gamer is another way of life. I used to be one of the people who'd go to LA and compete with people from all over the world. So when CGS (Championship Gaming Series) folded I felt lost, but I'm still vaguely good at games so here I am!"

  Curiously however, Nick wasn't so much interested in the 0k-valued prize as he was in the glory. "I've always been underrated against the Dignitas players", he confessed, "So I really want to prove I'm good enough to win. The car would be a nice bonus, though!"

  Despite setting the pace after the first round with a speedy 59.906 time, Nick was up against some stiff competition. Pro gamers Ben iveMorris from eSports team The Imperials and Steven tuneEmbling of Team Dignitas also made swift and steady progress through the rounds, and as 16 became 8, and eight became a semi-final of four players, all three [pro gamers] were still in contention.

  Last 8

  Pos.	Name	Time
  1	Edward Dunford	0:59.612
  2	Ben Morris	0:59.789
  3	Steve Embling	0:59.868
  4	Nick Townsend	1:00.244
  5	Adrian Dymitrow	1:00.551
  6	Ben Boss	1:00.707
  7	Lance Knight	1:00.880
  8	Aly Bart	1:01.829

  
  Before the final we took the chance to catch up with one of the contestants who'd been knocked out in the earlier rounds. "The day's been brilliant", enthused Thom Tyler, the winner from our Basingstoke store. "GAME and EA have done a really good job, it's been a great day out and I don't think anyone goes away from here a loser." With a final lap time of 1:00.94 and an overall position of 12th, he was happy with his performance. "Believe it or not the last day I played the game was when I qualified. To do as well as I did, I can't complain - and full credit to these guys here, they've put in a lot of time."

  But it was those all important lap times which mattered most, and in front of a growing crowd it was Nick who cracked first; the one-time pace-setter putting in a 1:00.51 lap and looking instantly deflated. "I didn't deserve to be in the final. I messed up on a corner and couldn't get it back," he winced as Lady Gaga blared out of the PA system.

  

  So Nick was out, as too was his fellow semi-finalist Andrew Dunford, who was incredibly unlucky to clock a sub 1-minute time - 0:59.888 - and still not make the final. And so we were left with the two favourites in the final; both pro gamers; both desperate to take home the top prize.

  Considering he'd just proven himself one of the two best Need For Speed players in the country, Steve Embling had a right to feel cocksure. Instead, he actually came across as quite humble and full of praise for his competition Ben, who had trumped him in the final by a meagre four thousandths of a second. "It was always going to be tough; we've had some really great players here today, so getting this far is fantastic. I know Ben; he was nearly a world champion in PGR4 so he's going to be very, very hard to beat."

  Ben meanwhile was pulling out the fighting talk ahead of competing for the highest valued prize in his pro gaming career. "Steve's got some experience, but I have as well so it's pretty even. I tell you what though, he looks a little nervous. I am too, but looking at him I think I may have the mental edge."

  Before the final, EA rolled out their big guns in the form of future F1 driver Bruno ephew of AyrtonSenna and chart sensation Tinchy Stryder - much to the delight of the crowd of screaming teenage girls, who drowned out even the PA system with their own rendition of his hit 'Never Leave You' (vids are on Facebook). And after watching Tinchy defeat the potential future F1 champ, Steve and Ben made the long walk to the stage to a deafening cacophony of noise and excitement!

  

  It can't have been easy, being on stage with a frenetic circus of celebrities, camera crews, baying screams of encouragement and audible gasps at every potential loose corner. It was hardest for Ben, who seemed to have developed a fan club throughout the day. His lap time of 1:00.334 was evidence of that. He reacted like he'd already lost.

  Steven stepped up, knowing a sub 1-minute time would win it. But he looked nervous. An edgy start and a couple of less-than-perfect turns set up up for a tight finish, and as he entered the final straight, the clock ticking down, it looked tight. Very tight. In the end, it came down to hundredths of a second - but Steven had just shaded it, crossing the line in 1:00.111!

  Final Times

  Pos.	Name	Time
  1	Steven Embling	1:00.111
  2	Ben Morris	1:00.334

  Bedlam ensued, as Steven was pulled this way and that for pictures with the two big names and his prize, the Nissan 350z - not bad considering he'd driven to Thorpe Park in a Renault Clio! But between the celebrations and photos, he managed to find a few words to sum up the event. "The pressure was really on, and I think our times showed that. I'm feeling really great - I was quite consistent throughout the tournament, which I was pleased with, but there were a lot of really good people here who poured their heart and soul into this - I'm just glad to come out on top!"

  

  Congrats to Steve, who walked (well, drove) away with the Nissan 350z sports car - and many thanks to Thorpe Park, EA, Tinchy Stryder and Bruno Senna for what turned out to be a day to remember. Keep watching our Competitions page for more opportunities like this in the near future, folks!

• Need for Speed: Interview with Bruno Senna

  F1 hopeful and nephew of an F1 legend, Bruno Senna was at Thorpe Park for our Need For Speed Grand Final. We caught up with him to talk F1, Jenson Button and his thoughts on the new Need For Speed...

  So, Bruno. You're the nephew of Ayrton Senna...
  Yeah, I'm his nephew from his sister's side.

  Did you feel like you were growing up in his shadow?
  Not really. I mean, when I started racing I was always the nephew of Ayrton. As soon as I got success of my own I got recognised for my achievements and this only gets better and better, so it just depends how much I can achieve.

  Did it not create more pressure having the name?
  It did! It did in the beginning. I could feel more pressure in the beginning when I hadn't proven myself to the world, and to myself to be honest, but now I'm more confident and I know what I'm capable of so the pressure is not a big deal because I can cope with it. It's been a good learning school for formula one, that's for certain.

  What was your route to becoming a potential F1 star?
  In terms of racing I did three races in Formula BMW in 2004. 05 and 06 British Formula 3; 07 and 08, GP2. And that's pretty much my path to Formula 1. I got a really close shot to Formula 1 last year, almost got a Braun seat this season which would be a pretty good deal but didn't quite manage that, and this year I'm trying again.

  You're here at Thorpe Park for our Need For Speed SHIFT finals. They just announced your arrival on the stage as a uture F1 Champion- is that feasible?
  That's the intention. My intention was never just to go in Formula 1 and drive, it's to win and be successful; so the concept of success for me is to be champion at least once.

  Did you have a track that you grew up on?
  The circuit that I used to drive when I drove Go-Karts was on my family-s farm; a track that Ayrton drew. It was more of a clean track like Silverstone, and these are the tracks where I excel. The learning curve there was quite interesting.

  The whole Braun and Jenson Button thing - what's happened there? He started out so well; do you think he'll be champ?
  I think Jenson will be champion. He's got a big pressure from Rubens [Barrichello] but it is going to be quite tough towards the end of the year. I think Jenson has just enough advantage now that he can administrate it and hopefully we'll see if he can keep it together. In the beginning of the year they had such a big advantage, he also was driving quite well. Pressure is something people take in different ways and sometimes he's just been a bit too careful not to have a big loss and has lost a lot of points because of that.

  What's your take on the whole controversy surrounding the technology of the Braun cars?
  That's Formula 1! It's how it goes; sport is always like this. There's always people happy and not so happy with what's going on. If you pay more attention to it it's always happened in one place or another.

  Obviously mentioned Need For Speed earlier - are you a big gamer yourself?
  I am, I've been playing race sim games since I was 10 years-old and always loved it. I think the first one was Stunts, on DOS; you used to make your own tracks with loops. That was the beginning for me.

  Ever play Micro Machines?
  Naaah I didn't play that one - I like the games where you're inside the car.

  Ever go for a more light-hearted game or is it always more realistic?
  I love the realism. I played R-Factor, when the GP4 game was released I was playing it a lot, and I've been driving some of the Formula 1 team's simulators, which is quite interesting - pretty close to reality I tell you.

  What do you think of SHIFT?
  I love it! It's a great game - it's quite interesting to get the hang of the controls. I think with the steering wheel it should be quite realistic, the cars seem to be pretty good. And the most impressive thing for me with the game is the circuit models. Brands Hatch is really really good, you can really feel the gradient of the track, you can go up and down, and you only realise how bad it is when you go there live, but on SHIFT they've done a pretty good job.

  How does it compare to being behind the wheel in real life?
  You're lacking the G-Force and all the adrenaline of knowing that if you make a mistake like you do in the game, you're in big trouble.

  I suppose for the guys competing in there, that's the nearest they'll feel to that kind of pressure...
  Well the winner's in there's got a Nissan 350z, he can take his car to Brands Hatch and have a go - hopefully he'll be a bit more careful than he was being on his winning lap!

  Do you think he'd get anywhere near your times on the track in real life compared to your time on the track in Need For Speed?
  I think he'd struggle to keep up - it's probably not a fair question though that one! [laughs]

  Haha, probably not. So what are your other fave games?
  Need For Speed is one of them now, I've only played it a little bit...

  Do you play any games that aren't racers?
  The thing is, every game I get, I finish. I played Prototype and I really love it, but I lost my life playing it because I was just addicted to it completely! BioShock is amazing and I'm waiting for BioShock 2. I'm also waiting for Gran Turismo 5 to come out - that is going to be really good.

  You mentioned Prototype taking over your life - does gaming seriously get in the way for you?
  If you let it, it will. Fortunately this year has been a bit of a quiet year for me so I had some time to play a little bit, but ideally I wouldn't be buying new games when I'm in an important championship decision time because I'd probably lose a bit of focus. [laughs]

  And are those championship decisions possibly going to be happening in F1 next year?
  Certainly hope so. [knowing grin]

  Nothing you can say about that then?
  We're negotiating, it's getting closer and closer, but Formula 1 is as you know in a complicated moment, quite a few things going on, the driver's market is really going up in the air, so I have to push hard to make sure no-one falls into my spot.

  Do you anticipate going straight in and taking it by storm like Lewis Hamilton?
  It is very difficult to come into Lewis's situation where he was in a championship-winning car in his first year, and have been really well prepared. He's done a really good job obviously, Lewis is an outstanding talent, but I think more realistically with the teams I[m negotiating with, I'll be more happy if I can score points regularly.

  Would you have loved to have been driving next to Michael Schumacher, had he come back and stayed?
  I would definitely. The bigger the challenge, the bigger the pleasure.

  I don't suppose you'd like to give people your PlayStation Network ID?
  I think it'd get a bit... err... crazy. And I don't play online much because I'm not playing games a lot. I played Gran Turismo 5 Prologue a few times and I got a lot of abuse from other people, saying bad things because I was pushing them off the track. It's just fair racing, you know? Rubbing is racing! Although having said that, people can follow me on Twitter.

  I guess in Need For Speed you'd be an aggressive driver!
  I would indeed! [grins]

  Not so much with F1?
  Aggressive? Definitely!

  Thanks Bruno, good luck with your career!

• Need for Speed: Interview with Andy Tudor

  GAME fires your Twitter questions directly at Mister Need For Speed himself...

  
  

  Hi Andy, can you tell us who you are and who you work for?
  My name's Andy Tudor, I'm from Slightly Mad Studios who are developing Need For Speed SHIFT. I'm the lead designer, and we're working in collaboration with the Black Box team who were responsible for the previous NFS titles.

  What have you guys previously made?
  Slightly Mad Studios used to be Blimey Games, and Blimey Games were responsible for GTR, GTR2 and GT Legends. Traditionally we're seen as more authentic racing specialists, and that's what we're bringing to Need For Speed: SHIFT.

  Our first Twitter question is from iKiddo, who asks hat makes it different to the past... Terrible versions?
  Haha, pulling no punches!

  The first thing to bear in mind regarding quality is that Need For Speed reinvents itself every year, and you can't please everyone every single year!

  In terms of quality, those guys do a tremendous job, I think, of getting a high-quality Need For Speed release out every twelve months; it's killer on them trying to work out what to do, get it done, then hopefully come up with a finished product that's absolutely awesome.

  We've had a bit more time than that, and it's helped that the franchise has been split three ways now into SHIFT, Nitro and World Online.

  With more time we've been able to go back to basics on what makes it fun to drive; what is that eed for speed what new can we bring to the table; how can we play online better. Hopefully iKiddo will see that SHIFT is a complete reboot of the franchise it's an all-new Need For Speed.

  So out of the three-way split the series has taken, SHIFT is the more simulation focused?
  Yeah, we've also got Nitro which a more action experience for the Wii, and World Online which is a free-roaming arcade experience for PC.

  I guess that half answers our next Twitter question from SuicidalSteve let's hope he isn't suicidal! who asks hat's the reason for choosing the name SHIFT?
  The name SHIFT covers a few areas. There's been a shift in developers from Black Box over to Slightly Mad. It's a shift in the franchise, splitting into three different titles. And the word shift makes you think of a stick-shift gear system, which is the epitome of where we're taking you with this game into the cockpit, making you feel every single bump and the clunk of the gearshift.

  And that goes into my next question, which is one I had about the underpinning ethos of the game, and how it compares to other racers out there?
  There's no more Project Gotham this year, and Forza and Gran Turismo are both fantastic in the areas they excel in; high-end technology, and being an encylcopedia of race gaming lots of tracks; lots of cars; slick presentation; but ultimately very exclusive.

  The ethos of Need For Speed was to capture that excitement for cars, but make it inclusive as opposed to exclusive to let your 14 year-old nephew play the game, and let a pro tournament sim driver play the game; so, capture the imagination and excitement of racing by making it really fun, but also keep the authenticity and realism there as well.

  It's interesting you say that about PGR have you seen anything of Blur?
  I have, but I don't think I'm allowed to talk about it! I don't think it's anything like our game.
  
  So what's the first thing players will see when they load up Need For Speed: SHIFT?
  Traditionally Need For Speed games have thrown you into the mix straight away, which is really good because those games come out at Christmas you've just unwrapped it, so you want to put the disc in the drive, with your family and friends round, and just be blown away straight away.

  For SHIFT, because it's such a diversion from the existing Need For Speed games, we need to just make sure people are happy with the product. So one of the first things you'll do is be tested and evaluated on the experience and abilities you've got. You'll do that with a Test Lap, which will say how many times you went off; whther you're following the racing line; did you get a good lap time; did you crashbasically gauging your ability. After you've done that, it'll recommend settings for you, so regardless of what kind of player you are you're guaranteed a fun, challenging experience.

  And then you go into a full race, start earning cash, and play your career from there.
  
  How is the career structured?
  It's classic zero to hero, but instead of putting you in duff cars we're putting you in the race-spec versions of decent cars, and through career we're taking you all the way through to the hyper cars like the Veyrons and the Aston Martin DBR9s. The career mode is divided into tiers, and each tier unlocks brand new gameplay so whether it's Time Attack, Drift or Endurance races, Eliminators or Hot Lapswhatever it is, you're always getting something new in NFS SHIFT on a regular basis.

  You've got stars to earn while you drive is that designed to be a bit like Kudos points in PGR ?
  Stars are just one part of it.

  The big thing is your Driver Profile, which analyses everything you do on the track. Obviously you're trying to get into first place, but you're also trying to put on a performance. SHIFT analyses whether you're a precise or aggressive driver. PGR's Kudos did something similar, but that was more about style; sliding round corners and getting Kudos Points for it; doing more arcadey things as opposed to the real-life things real drivers do.

  With SHIFT you're talking things like drafting, being on the racing line, overtaking at the right time. Did you overtake cleanly? Did you knock the guy out of the race? SHIFT analyses all of that and opens up new opportunities and rewards you for all of it.

  The stars you earn are for completing side objectives as you're racing, like beat a lap time; knock ten guys out of the race; that kinda thing. The more stars you have, the more events unlock, and that's how you progress through the career.
  
  Obviously you're doing that across a variety of race types
  There is a LOT of variety. We've got over 15 tracks in Need For Speed: SHIFT. A number of game modes too; the traditional Race, Time Attack and Drift, we then do variations on those like Hot Laps and Eliminators

  We're also doing Car Battles, which are classic showdowns between two rival manufacturers like Subaru and Mitsubishi, or Bucatti and Koenigsegg. You've got manufacturewr battles where everyone's in the same car. Everyone's in the same machine, so it's all about driver skill at that point.

  And then we've got different tracks that give you different experiences; so a big crazy crossover figure of 8, or a NASCAR-style ovalthere's a bunch of different gameplay types in SHIFT.

  And car customisation is still a big feature?
  There's been customisation both performance and aesthetic-wise in every previous Need For Speed, and because we are taking a more realistic approach we decided to go with this idea of race-converting your car; taking it from a showroom model, stripping out the interior, putting a real-world body kit on it, upgrade the engine, add race conversion partsthe final goal being to works-convert your car, which basically gives you the ultimate edition of that car.

  You've also got some cool online integration in there can you tell us a bit about it?
  Absolutely! As well as standard modes like Drift, Race, Time Attack and Endurance, we've a new online mode called Driver Duel Championship. It's a classic arcade-style winner-stays-on experience. You hit the Driver Duel Championship button, get seeded against other guys, and take them on on-on-one. If you win you progress to the next stage. There are seven stages, and if you get to the top of the ladder, it's King of the Hill, with other guys taking you on, and you trying to get as many crowns as possible and boasting to your mates about it.

  When you're playing normal career as well, those events can be wned' by you or your friends. If they're owned by your friends then the career events themselves will have your friends' names above them, and you're just gonna want to take those guys out and put your name on their screens. It's a cool little piece of friendly rivalry which race gamers love.

  Another Twitter question now, this one from Tillerjnr, who asks hether a demo will be released on PSN and XBL
  Yes, there will. The demo will be released either on launch soon after, on PSN, Xbox and PC.

  And GazahSCD wants to know if the series will be returning to Underground at any point?
  [looks nervous] Errrmmaaayybe?

  Hahaha, you look like you don't quite know how to answer that properly!
  I think it's been made aware that Criterion are making a Need For Speed title, and with their previous pedigree of the Burnout games, I'll leave it to your imagination what that kind of game may be!

  Interesting! And finally, Wicket2005 asks can he have a copy?
  Hah. He can indeed if he buys the game on 18th September!
  
  Lol! Thanks Andy.
  

• EA dates Shift 2: Unleashed

  EA dates Shift 2: Unleashed

  Hear that revving of engines? It's EA announcing a European release date for the simulation racer Shift 2: Unleashed. It seems that the latest title in the Need for Speed series will be screeching onto shelves in UK stores on 25th March. Hooray!

  The sequel to the brilliant Need for Speed: Shift, Unleashed takes realism even further, throwing players right into the helmet-cam of a racing driver, and delivering the shock of each impact.

  Speaking to Eurogamer last year, Shift 2's designer Andy Tudor explained what it's all about: "The fun is behind the wheel, feeling you're on the edge, pushing it to the limit, putting in the cars that are relevant and cool to drive, allowing you to completely customise those from factory to the works level we had in Shift 1, and giving you the chance to then play against your friends in a social way," he said.

  If you're a fan of Autolog, the race-tracking social network from Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, good news, it's back and better than ever, and there's also a limited edition in the works, promising three unique cars and 40 unique career events.

  Shift 2: Unleashed will be hitting the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

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