Burnout Paradise To Introduce Planes

Once was a time Burnout was all about the cars. Then they went and brought bikes into the mix, and everything changed. Criterion got a little...crazy. Started thinking less about the vehicles and more about the pure speed. That doesn't make it any less surprising to hear Criterion is thinking about moving beyond terrestrial vehicles altogether, though, and has announced that, after it's done with the Cagney update, it'll begin working on introducing planes into Burnout Paradise. Yeah, planes. No idea how that will work, but the prospect of crashing a plane into a car at high speed, then going into crash mode, is no doubt an appealing one to the game's core userbase.

[Criterion Games]

The confirmed list of Trophy-ready PlayStation 3 games may not blow your hair back, but at least one more third-party title is pledging support for the 2.40 firmware feature — Burnout Paradise. Simon Phipps, designer at Criterion Games, writes on the PlayStation.blog that Trophies are coming, but not in the Codename: Cagney update.

Best part? "Trophies will be retroactive, so, if you’ve achieved something today, the day the update arrives (not Cagney, we want to emphasise) that will be reflected in your Trophies," Phipps writes in the posts comments. Nice!

Trophies, Timed Challenges for Burnout Paradise [PlayStation.blog - thanks, Tw3nty0ne!]

Burnout Paradise Cagney Update Dated

Criterion continues to roll out their giant content patches for Burnout Paradise. Hot on the heels of the Bogart patch, which mainly consisted of bug fixes and a few minor features, the company has announced the official release date for the more ambitious Cagney update. On July 10th at 9AM UK time, Burnout Paradise owners will gain access to three new Freeburn modes, over 70 new Freeburn challenges, two new vehicles, 3 new liveries, and the long-awaited ability to create custom soundtracks on your PlayStation 3. Hit the link below to see a full rundown of the changes coming with Cagney.

I finally bought the game this weekend ($40 at Walmart) and I must say I am not disappointed with my purchase. A whole lot of game for a rather nice price, and with August bringing the addition of motorcycles to the game it only gets better.

Criterion Games Announces Date for Cagney Software Update [The Criterion Games Blog]

Burnout Paradise 360 Bogart Resurfaces

Well that was certainly one hell of a long week. After Criterion recalled the Bogart patch for Burnout Paradise on the Xbox 360 due to the update causing frame rate issues with the game, the suggested somewhat wishfully that the fixed version would be available the following week. The process wound up taking a bit longer than expected after they submitted it to Microsoft on April 29th, but now it's finally online and working fine. Once again, Bogart is pretty much the patching and bug-fixing update that lays the foundation for the upcoming Cagney, Davis, and Eastwood content packs, which introduce new game modes, motorcycles, and a host of other nifty features to the game.

360 Bogart is online now! [Criterion]

Burnout Paradise PC In Ultra Widescreen

Burnout Paradise Coming to PC

Burnout Paradise is coming to the PC, Electronic Arts announced today.

The game, the first ever in the franchise to come to the PC, is being "rebuilt specifically for the PC" and will include expanded multiplayer, enhanced online feature and new "community driven content."

Criterion will be holding a press conference on their website later today to talk more details about the upcoming game. Hit up the jump for the full release.

Criterion Games

Burnout Paradise To Introduce Motorcycles, Night, General Bad Assness

Criterion has just announced a major addition to Burnout Paradise. Planned for their "Davis" update this August, the download will include motorcycles (a first for Burnout) along with "their own game modes, challenges and even some new locations tailored to fit their unique performance and handing characteristics." From that statement we're assuming that cars and bikes will not race side-by-side, but you can take it as you will.

In addition, the Davis update will bring night time driving to the game—adding a bit of realism to freely racing around public streets without getting constantly arrested and frisked. Here's the full Criterion announcement:

Criterion Recalls 360 Burnout Bogart Update

Criterion Games is in the process of recalling the recently released Bogart update for the Xbox 360 version of Burnout Paradise, with all updated version due to be rolled back by this Friday. The recall is due to a issue in the patch that cause the frame rate of the game to suffer, noticeably stuttering at high speed, which really are the only speeds in Burnout you need to concern yourself with. The patch is due to be reissued next week, with all of the promised fixes in place. Meanwhile the Criterion blog continues to count down to the PlayStation 3 release of the Bogart patch, slated for release tomorrow. Kudos to Criterion for rolling things back rather than having players suffer through issues while waiting for a patch for the patch.

Bogart 360 latest news [Criterion Games Blog]

Criterion really wants to prove that they understand the desires of the Burnout Paradise community with their forthcoming Cagney update. Not only are they adding three new multiplayer modes and changing the way standard definition is rendered in order to deliver crisper graphics to those of us not blessed with HD, they've even gone as far as implementing custom soundtracks for the PlayStation 3 crowd. PS3 owners will be able to access the XMB custom soundtracks menu from with the EasyDrive menu in the game, allowing them to shuffle or repeat their tracks to their heart's content. If you haven't already, I would highly suggest bookmarking the Criterion Games blog. They're constantly updating it with fresh new information about what is shaping up to be the ultimate Burnout experience.

Criterion Games announces custom soundtracks for Burnout Paradise on PlayStation 3 [The Criterion Games Blog]

While Criterion is getting ready to unleash their Bogart Update for Burnout Paradise, they're already lining up new content for the dead movie star patch. The Cagney Update will see the introduction of three new FreeBurn multiplayer modes to the game: Online Stunt Run, Marked Man or Road Rage. Online Stunt Run sees up to 8 players simultaneously competing for the highest stunt score within 2 minutes, with eliminated players sticking around to screw with the survivors' combos. Road Rage features two teams, one that must race to a checkpoint and then the finish line, while the other tries to stop them, which sounds like an interesting recipe for strategic thinking. Finally Marked Man is pretty much tag, where the one marked gets points for survival and the other players get points for taking him down. All three new modes sound like a hell of a lot of fun...now I'm regretting not picking the game up. Might have to rectify that shortly.

Three new FreeBurn game modes unveiled for the Cagney Update!!! [The Criterion Games Blog]

Burnout Paradise Gets Massive, Trenchcoat-Wearing Update

Burnout Paradise Sells A Million

Wyclef Jean Makes Sweet Synergy Love To PlayStation, Burnout Brands

You know what's great? Cross promotion! It's something we don't dedicate enough blog time to. That's why I was thrilled to learn about Columbia Records recording artist Wyclef Jean teaming with Sony Computer Entertainment America and Electronic Arts for his latest video, "Fast Car." Not only does it feature a fantastic toe tapper of a number by the multi-platinum musician, but the video, directed and conceived by Wyclef—Clef, as I and Columbia Records Mark DiDia call him—but PlayStation 3 and PSP product placement.

The video is packed with footage from Burnout Paradise, which my man Clef says "helps us get the attention of youngsters." See, he thinks "Fast Car' is like life - the pace of life is moving so fast, where you can burn yourselves out at times." Burn. Out. Did you just have your mind blown too at how expertly this all fits together?

If you haven't yet, maybe you will when the high-def video is added to the PlayStation Store! Units will be shifted, my friends. Shifted like a "fast car" going from first to second as it burns up the charts! Or some metaphor that makes sense!

New Burnout Paradise DLC Will Be Free

Not so long ago, Criterion promised that some of their DLC for Burnout Paradise would be free. It was good news, but who really knew if we'd get any of the decent stuff without paying for it? On the Criterion message boards, creative director Alex Ward revealed that a new map expansion including multiple islands of city expansion will be free for everyone.

So does this means that all new Burnout Paradise maps will come free so that all users can partake in the multiplayer? No, but it's a good sign that Criterion may focus their paid DLC on individual items like cars rather than collectively shared add-ons like maps. We'll see how this unfolds, but so far, so good.

GT Concept,s new livery OH YEH ITS SWEET [Criterion via Shacknews][image]

Zero Punctuation Burning Out

Zero Punctuation: Burnout Paradise [The Escapist]

More Skate, Burnout, Mass Effect Coming From EA

From the Duh Files comes news that EA plans to ship "extensions" to its financially successfully Skate and Burnout series, by way of EA Games prez Frank Gibeau. He also says that a proper Mass Effect sequel is already in the works. What those extensions may be wasn't defined, GameSpot reports, but could easily mean proper sequels or handheld spin-offs. And while downloadable content most likely isn't out of the question, Skate producers have gone on record in the past saying the title wasn't built with DLC in mind.

Another Burnout wouldn't come as a shock to just about anyone, but it would appear that EA is not going to give up trying to unseat the current Madden of skateboarding, Tony Hawk. He told investors "these are the fights that EA knows how to win," which I'm sure has Activision execs losing control of their bowels in fear. You're welcome for the imagery.

New Burnout, Skate on the way [GameSpot]

Burnout Paradise DLC Won't Lock Out Cheapskates

It's our intention to extend the life of Burnout with additional DLC in the near future. As mentioned, we don't want to split the online community between those that have content and those that don't. Our intention is to offer both free and paid for DLC in a way that enables everyone to 'see' the content, even if they have not paid for it.