STACK #133 Nov 2016

GAMES

FEATURE

visit stack.net.au

Need For Speed Refuelled It’s been two years since we saw the release of Need for Speed: Rivals . Now, Ghost Games are jumpstarting their engines and returning with the revamped Need for Speed .We caught up with creative director Craig Sullivan to chat about what’s involved in supercharging their beloved franchise.

H aving had a year off from production, the company came at the

revamp with all pistons firing. "The game is built on entirely new foundations so really everything is new or reworked", notes Craig Sullivan. “We’ve improved on things like AllDrive, gone much deeper on visual customisation and performance tuning, and then added huge new features such as Five Ways to Play, the five separate storylines, real-time compositing that allows us to blend real actors with your CG car, new cars, more players in AllDrive, a new garage, and a new messaging system." There has been no chassis unturned in bringing this generation of Need for Speed fans the best game possible. “This is Need for Speed – this is what it stands for – this is the game we and the fans want." The NFS series is notorious for its borderless customisation and the freedom of drivers, and Ghost wanted to ensure that remained in the

...this is the game we and the fans want

• Need for Speed is out Nov 5

them as heavily involved in the game’s production as possible. “It’s clear what the core components should be, let’s make it awesome."

latest game. “People are used to expressing themselves and making something unique... It’s important in NFS because we live in a world where pretty much everything we own can be customised," he says. “I expect to put my stamp on the things I own today. “A game about customised street cars is a perfect fit for modern players, so we had to go deep on customisation and performance tuning options in the game, as well as adding a great wrap editor that allows anyone of any skill level to make something completely bespoke to them in seconds." That is an important element of the appeal of the NFS series; its ability to be picked up and played by almost anyone has been a cornerstone of the franchise since its launch back in 1996. “We’ve been listening to the fans and we want to make something they really want because we’re fans too." Sullivan explains how important it is to get in touch with the NFS community, and have

A part of this was the implementation of a strong narrative. “We knew we were going to do narrative in the next game before we finished the last game. We dipped a toe in the water with Need for Speed: Rivals, but knew we were going to go much deeper on everything." Once the team sorted out where they wanted the narrative to go, they went into production. “It has turned out pretty cool and something that I think is a great fit for Need for Speed ." With the refuelled Need for Speed racing into stores this month, Sullivan is anticipating a new fan-favourite in the series. “We’re really looking forward to getting the game in people’s hands and sharing the experience with them because at the end of day, we took on those challenges to give players something fun, fresh and new."

NOVEMBER 2015

068

jbhifi.com.au