- Need for Speed: World
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Need for Speed: World 
Developer(s) EA Black Box
EA SingaporePublisher(s) Electronic Arts Series Need for Speed Version 5.31 Platform(s) Microsoft Windows Release date(s) July 27, 2010[1] Genre(s) MMORG Mode(s) Multiplayer Rating(s) - ESRB: E10+
Media/distribution Download System requirements Microsoft Windows-
- Windows XP (Service Pack 3) or Windows Vista (Service Pack 2) / Windows 7
- Intel® Pentium® 4(HT) @2.4 GHz (Windows XP)
- Intel® Core™2 Duo @ 1.8GHz (Windows Vista/7)
- 1.0GB RAM (Windows XP)
- 2.0GB RAM (Windows Vista/7)
- NVIDIA® GeForce® 6800, ATI Radeon™ X1300, or Intel® GMA 950 (Windows XP)
- NVIDIA® GeForce® 7600, ATI Radeon™ HD 2000 series, Intel® GMA 950 or better (Windows Vista/7)
- 4GB of free space
- 128 Kbps for Normal Gameplay or 512kbps for Multiplayer or Faster
- DirectX 9.0c compatible
Need for Speed World (previously known as Need for Speed: World Online) is the 15th installment in the long-running racing video game Need for Speed franchise published by Electronic Arts. This iteration has been co-developed by EA Black Box and EA Singapore. It is the first freemium MMORG in the Need for Speed series (though Motor City Online was originally conceived as a Need for Speed game) and is available exclusively for Windows-based PCs. World was released worldwide on July 27, 2010. However, people who ordered the Need for Speed: World Starter Pack had an early "head-start" in the game, which started on July 20, 2010.[1][2]
Contents
Gameplay
Need for Speed: World combines role playing elements with illegal street racing.
World takes on the gameplay style of Most Wanted and Carbon, focusing on illegal street racing, tuning and police chases, and adds classic MMO elements to the mix such as special abilities. World also features the cities of Rockport and Palmont, the cities of Most Wanted and Carbon into its map design. The game currently features 66 licensed cars consisting of tuners, muscle cars and exotics.
On December 2010, car performance customization was made available to players. On March 16, 2011, visual customization was also made available. On March 31, 2011, Electronic Arts introduced a new game mode called Team Escape,[3] a co-operative version of a police pursuit where up to four players must race as a team driving from point A to point B while avoiding numerous cops. For this mode, two co-op versions of the game's powerups have been released.[4] On July 26, 2011, a new game mode called Treasure Hunt was released. In this mode, played during free roam, players collect 15 gems around a randomly selected area once a day in the World to earn boosts of reputation and in-game cash.[5]
Before September 8, 2010, after reaching level 10 and access to only tier 1 and certain tier 2 cars, the player would not be able to progress further in the game and would cease to earn any more experience points or cash. To continue the game, the player had to purchase the Need for Speed World Starter Pack. Without it, the player was allowed to play the game for as long as he or she wants, but he or she would cease to earn experience and cash.[6] On September 8, 2010 World had passed 1 million registrations. To celebrate that, the game was made free-to-play and the level cap was removed.[7]
Cars
Some cars are not free and require spending real money (known in the game as SpeedBoost) to purchase. Some free cars may have a special edition that requires SpeedBoost to rent or buy. Juggernaut cars are specially heavy cars made for Team Escape and also require SpeedBoost to buy. Treasure Hunt Edition cars can detect the 15 gems on the main map making the Hunt easier; these also require SpeedBoost to buy.
^a Car is not free and requires SpeedBoost points
^b Car was previously a free gift
^c Car is currently a free gift
^d Car has a Juggernaut variant
^e Car has a Treasure Hunt variant
^f Car has a Cop variant with flashlightsDevelopment
The game was first announced to be free-to-play. In October 2009, World was opened to public beta-testing limited to residents of Taiwan. There have been seven closed beta sessions in total. Except the first one, all were available worldwide to residents who sign up, meet admission criteria, and get accepted. An open beta was started on July 2, 2010 at 10am PDT. The Beta was scheduled to close on July 6, 2010 but was extended to July 9, 2010. A stress-test was opened from July 13 through 14th, 2010. Players who purchased the starter pack were able to play the game one week before the official release. Players who did not purchase the starter pack were able to play on July 27, 2010.
Reception
Reception Aggregate scores Aggregator Score GameRankings 63.83%[8] Metacritic 62[9] Review scores Publication Score 1UP.com C[10] Eurogamer 6/10[11] GamesRadar 6/10[12] GameTrailers 5.6[13] IGN 6/10[14] Need for Speed World has received generally mixed reviews by critics. On GameRankings, the game holds a score of 62.14%,[8] while on Metacritic, World holds a score of 62, meaning "mixed or average reviews".[9]
The highest praise of the game came from GamingXP, which commented that "The game feels like a combination of previous Need for Speed games except the single player has been cut off. Add some role-play elements and you have a racing MMO."[15] PC Format gave a somewhat mediocre review in their October 2010 issue, concluding that the game "feels like a missed opportunity."[16] Eurogamer commented that "It's a real shame that the MMO aspect of World is effectively a needlessly elaborate lobby."[17]
See Also
References
- ^ a b "Need for Speed World Launches July 27". Electronic Arts Inc.. July 9, 2010. http://www.needforspeed.com/post/need-speed-world-launches-july-27. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ "Impulse Driven: Need for Speed World". Stardock Corporation. February 8, 2010. http://www.impulsedriven.com/nfsworld. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
- ^ "NFS World Patch Notes (Patch 5.16)". 2011-03-29. http://world.needforspeed.com/news/article/24433. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
- ^ "Team Escape Takes Pursuit to Epic Levels". 2011-03-29. http://world.needforspeed.com/news/article/24274. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
- ^ "Treasure Hunt is Here". 2011-06-27. http://world.needforspeed.com/news/article/27669. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
- ^ Hahn, Drew (2010-05-18). "What is the Need For Speed Starter Pack?". http://www.needforspeed.com/web/nfs-na/blogs/need-for-speed-news/-/nfsblogs/2426314?authorId=21501. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ Hahn, Drew (2010-09-09). "Need for Speed World Goes Free to Play". http://world.needforspeed.com/news#9298. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ a b Need for Speed World for PC. Game Rankings. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ a b Need for Speed World Critic Reviews for PC. Metacritic. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
- ^ NFS World Online Reviews. 1UP. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ Need for Speed World MMO Review. Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ Need for Speed World Review, PC Reviews. Games Radar. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ Need for Speed World Video Game, Review. GameTrailers.com. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ (2010-08-06). Need for Speed World Review. IGN. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ "NFS World Review". GamingXP. 2010-07-27. http://www.gamingxp.com/bericht-3899-electronic_arts-electronic_arts-pc-need_for_speed_world.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
- ^ "Need for Speed: World - Critic Reviews". Metacritic. 2010-12-24. http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/need-for-speed-world/critic-reviews. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
- ^ Jon Blyth. "Need for Speed: World review". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/need-for-speed-world-review. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
External links
Need for Speed First era The Need for Speed (1994) · Need for Speed II (1997) · Hot Pursuit (1998) · High Stakes (1999) · Porsche Unleashed (2000) · Motor City Online (2001) · Hot Pursuit 2 (2002)Second era Underground (2003) · Underground 2 (2004) · Most Wanted (2005) · Carbon (2006) · ProStreet (2007) · Undercover (2008)Third era Shift (2009) · Nitro (2009) · World (2010) · Hot Pursuit (2010) · Shift 2: Unleashed (2011) · The Run (2011)Branded Related Categories:- 2010 video games
- Electronic Arts games
- Need for Speed games
- Massively multiplayer online games
- Open world video games
- Windows games
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
