Eurogamer: "A job listing, spotted by VideoGamer, asks for an AI programmer. "Our current ambition requires an innovative programmer to deliver killer entertainment experiences with believable, open world AI Racing Drivers," it says"
There has been significant changes at EA's Criterion studio following the departure of five of its longest-serving leaders.
Matt Webster, VP and GM of Criterion, has left the studio. Webster has been with Criterion for over 23 years, and has been working for EA since 1990. He was part of the initial team responsible for the first FIFA game.
Also departing is executive producer Pete Lake, who first joined Criterion back in 1996 as an artist. He leaves alongside senior technical director Andrei Shires, a 16-year Criterion veteran. Head of studio development Alan McDairmant is also moving on after 17 years with EA, while Steve Uphill, head of content, leaves following his latest 10-year stint with the developer. All five have left to "explore new opportunities outside of EA", and comes after the release of Need for Speed Unbound.
MOST of the OG devs left years ago. They are now at Media Molecule or Hello Games.
Burnout hasn't has a game for over a decade we need to get over it. For most of the last 20 years, Criterion has been nothing but a support studio, providing assistance on the crappy driving sections of Battlefield games. They're dead, long gone.
5 or 6 years ago at E3 they announced a new Criterion racing IP but this bellend of a CEO has destroyed the work John Riccitiello did to try and restore what little reputation EA had.
Im not surprised. The game debut at #17 on the UK game charts. It seems the people they let go were long term and senior employees. NFS unbound felt rushed. It a good game here but EA clearly rushed the title out. There was very little marketing and the game itself is lacking features that were in previous games. EA is to blame for this game failure, not Criterion.
The lack of sales could be the whole urban hip-hop, and cartoony characters designs. Two reason why I didn't buy the game.
Same here. Just not my thing. I’ll play it when it gets on EA pass or whatever it’s called.
The way the game looks graphically would be my issue. Weird cel shade look to it. Big eh
Nothing wrong with the theme its Need for Speed after all. Least they tried something different instead of the standard. I think it looked good. Haven't got it yet though, waiting on a price decrease.
The lack of sales could be ASAP Rocky's pending criminal court case and 0 advertising from EA that the game is out lol
Not to mention the NFS brand no longer carries weight.
It's a name that use to mean you were about to experience the next best racing game after the last NFS game blew your mind, and it kept going for over a decade until the wheels fell off and the franchise lost its way (you can thank EA for that one).
Now, if there's even an ounce of enjoyment in a new game, hardly anyone will want to try it because they got burned by one too many mediocre entries.
Someone will come along to fill the void eventually. Bugbear (creators of Wreckfest) would probably make a great fast paced destructive car game like Burnout.
There is a market for what Burnout did.
Two development studios will now operate as one working on the future of Need For Speed
No, no, no, no, no... Burnout Paradise was amazing! Just let them make another one of those.
As part of the EA Play show, EA showcased a short EA next-gen sizzle reel teasing what the publisher's studios are doing. Check out the trailer now.
Greg Miller was an awful host. He’s very shouty so EA probably think he’s entertaining but his smiles and laughs are strained and he appears dead behind the eyes. EA needs help to mend its branding but Miller’s insincerity does not help.
Yeesh, yeah this was pretty bad.
Didn't they do a sizzle real last time? If not last time, then I know for sure last time a new-gen was starting.
Hate that, just don't bother showing it tbh
Still, those are some pretty impressive visuals, and that Battlefield segment looked to have well over 100 characters running around
Was such an annoying and irritating presentation. So much talking and YouTube influencer type bull$#!+ from the Kinda Funny guy and the rest. So much CGI. So much fast editing of game clips where you couldn't really get a bead on what you were seeing unless you have ADD. You'd have to slow the YouTube video down after the show to see something. It was like that terrible thing they added to poorly made choreography action movies. The "shaky cam." It was like that. I HATE that. Ugh! Shaky cam. Ugh.
And someone said "safe space" in the video. I almost threw my phone..well not really. Lol. But that's how I felt. I watched because of Squadrons and it was alright when they finally got past the fluff.
But got d@mn! I hate EA. Maybe that was it. But I think it was definitely the show. Lol!
They showed nothing basically, the exception being Squadrons, which was a complete reveal.
I thought being a full VR game would make you happy! I'm pretty sure it will give VR gamers an advantage online(wait is VR supported in multiplayer?).
Exactly, 11 secs of 2 car renders and 6 secs of two loading gauges, Representing NFS
10secs of Dragon Age concept show case
12 secs of Battlefield including 6 secs of building collapse + eyes and 6 secs of untextured soldier models + a creepy smile
and 8 secs of EA Motive's pre-Alpha 3rd person Half Life
The Kinda Funny guy is a fake and a sell-out always has been. He whore's himself out lol. Greggy rolls
Cant get away from him... no doubt he will be on all the upcoming streams too lol.
new Burnout!, great:)
Could it be ... Burnout 6?
Buuuurrrrnnnnn Ouuuuut.....
Burnout!!!!