Posts Tagged ‘black box’
NFS Online Screenshots Shows Customizable UI
Seems like NFS developer Black Box is betting a lot on Need for Speed World Online, as they are still working on the project despite massive layoffs and the closure of its central office. They released a new screenshot from the upcoming free PC racing MMO, showing off the customizable user interface.
"Instead of a traditional console view of a game, we’re using a user-selectable gadget interface designed specifically for the PC," explained producer Scott Henshaw.
“A lot of gamers now have more than one monitor so you could keep the game window entirely clean and then have all the gadgets sit in the other monitor. We think it’s about time PC gamers had games that allowed them to arrange their information their way.”
The game will launch in Asia this summer. North America will get it later in winter.
4 NFS Games in the Pipeline
The Need for Speed series has gone down the drain in the last couple of years, with each installment lowering the standard more than its predecessor. Despite all this, and the recent layoffs at series developer Black Box, EA has not given up on the franchise and is going to push out three titles this year, with four titles in the development.
First up is NFS Shift, which is being billed as a “hardcore racing simulation”. It is being developed by Slightly Mad Studios, which was founded by veterans of SimBin and Blimey who are responsible for the GTR racing simulation series. Production is being overseen by Black Box executive producer Michael Mann and DICE co-founder Patrick Soderlund.
The second game will be an arcade racer dubbed NFS Nitro. It is being developed for Wii and DS by EA Montreal and is said to feature a more “mischievous” look. Both games are due out this fall.
Finally, the third game is NFS World Online, a free-to-play racing MMO that will launch this summer in Asia, before being released in North America in winter. Black Box and EA Shanghai are working on it.
Lastly, the fourth game is a “secret NFS game” that is in the works at Black Box.
Black Box Hit Heavily by EA Layoffs, Madden Developer Affected Too
Following word of layoffs at Black Box, Gamasutra reports that over 200 people have been affected by the massive job cuts at the Skate series developer.
The site points out that the studio’s 350-strong workforce has essentially been halved by the move. It was previously reported that EA would close the studio and move its staff to nearby office to work on associated franchises.
Meanwhile, in more bad news, The Orlando Sentinel reports that Madden developer EA Tiburon recently laid off an undisclosed number of employees.
EA has been implementing its cost-cutting strategy as of late, noting that it will reduce its workforce by 10%.
EA Lays Off Skate, Madden Developers
EA is currently implementing its cost-cutting plan, which will see the company shed 10% of its global workforce due to the deepening recession. The latest victims of the plan are Madden developer Tiburon and Skate 2 developer Black Box, according to recent reports.
Kotaku reports that while EA has said that it will close Black Box, the studio’s teams and “associated game franchises” are being moved to a nearby office, with the site noting that all of Black Box’s staff won’t be able to make the jump.
Meanwhile, Gamasutra reports that “multiple staffers” have been let go at Tiburon, though no additional details were offered.
The megapublisher is said to cut more jobs in its lineup of studios, with Mythic Entertainment and Pandemic Brisbane rumored to also be affected.