Interview - NFS: Underground

A few weeks ago, I asked you (the reader) what you wanted to know about Need for Speed: Underground. A short interview was held with EA Black Box' Online Community Manager, Jonathan Long. In just 9 questions, we got a lot to know about a game of which little info ever reached the public...

A few weeks ago, I asked you (the reader) what you wanted to know about Need for Speed: Underground. A short interview was held with EA Black Box' Online Community Manager, Jonathan Long. In just 9 questions, we got a lot to know about a game of which little info ever reached the public...

Q. How many different cars will be available in this version? A. We will have 14 of the most popular tuner cars available, all will be fully customizable. My last customizing calculations put us over a million possible combinations per car, and then my calculator broke. Q. How many tracks will be available, and will these feature multiple routes or mirroring? A. There will be a total of 23 tracks available; all are also able to be driven in reverse and some tracks will also feature shortcuts. So really 46 Tracks. (Ever seen that on the GBA?) Q. The console versions will feature gamemodes such as 'Drag Racing'. Does the Advance version continue with these? A. Yes the GBA is made to resemble the console versions in every respect, from Game Modes all the way down to customizing your car. It?s actually quite amazing what we?ve managed to accomplish. We will feature Circuit Races, Sprint Races, Drag Races and Drift Races. We will also have a Dynamic Underground Mode that changes every time you create a new game, basically battling random opponents in a leader board to be the best underground street racer. Q. Are there any multi-playing options? A. We will support 4 player GBA Link. Q. Will the GameCube and GBA feature link-up possibilities? (Such as unlocking new cars/tracks, or a new game mode) A. We will not be supporting the GBA to NGC link. Q. Is a collision engine planned, so that damage can be seen on the cars? A. There will be no damage on the GBA. Q. Will the game be a 3D rendered game like all the 'regular' NFS games, a semi 3D game (not actually using 3D models for the cars) or an entire new concept (such as using an isometric view)? A. We will be using an advanced 3D engine developed for the GBA. This was the only way we could support all the part swapping on the cars. Q. If the game will be in 3D: is perspective correction considered? A. On floors and walls, but not on 3D objects. Q. Quite recently, some images of NFS: Porsche Unleashed Advance 'leaked'. Do you see this game as a real competitor and what are your thoughts about these images? A. Porsche Unleashed looks great, it should do quite well. However, Underground provides quite a different driving experience from PU. I believe that PU and NFS:U will both be MUST haves this Christmas. Oh yeah, NFS:U has more cart space for textures tracks, cars, music and game modes...

My personal comment on these answers is this is even more than I expected. 23 different tracks (compared to 5 in NFS:PU), at least 5 different gamemodes, 4 player multiplaying capabilities.

We'd like to thank Jonathan Long and the entire development team for taking time and for their efforts to answer our questions.

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Comments

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  I just can't wait until the first screens appear <img src="images/smileys/5.gif">

  Dennis, 30-11--0001 at 00:00