EA's Need for Speed Shift Puts Racers In Control With All New Driver Profile

Driver profile is a tailor-made career mode based on four key game play components

By News Staff (Jun 20, 2009)

Electronic Arts announced details on the exclusive driver profile system in Need for Speed SHIFT. Driver profile is the ultimate extension of the true driver’s experience. Extending through the single player career and online multiplayer modes, driver profile gives each player a unique game experience based on the way each player drives on the track. This exclusive driver profile system pushes the entire racing genre forward.

During this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, EA invited attendees to participate in a Need for Speed SHIFT Hero Car Competition that showcased the driver profile. Competitors raced around the Autopolis track in the BMW M3 GT2 hero car generating the highest number of driver profile points. The winner of the Need for Speed SHIFT Hero Car Competition, Mitchell Francis, from Los Angeles won a brand new 2009 BMW M3 Coupe.

Driver profile is a tailor-made career mode based on four key game play components:

Personality - a player’s driving style determines whether they are an aggressive or precise driver.
Success - as in every race, the ultimate goal is to finish at the top of the podium.
Profile points - every car passed, every corner mastered, every opponent taken out generates profile points.
Badges - these unique icons bring individuality and style to each player’s driver profile, as each player races and completes top achievements.

As a player’s driver profile develops through the course of the game, it creates rivalries, triggers specific challenges and even unlocks vehicles and customization options. Need for Speed SHIFT’s multiple reward systems keeps players in each race regardless of their position.

Need for Speed SHIFT is being developed by Slightly Mad Studios in collaboration with Black Box and Patrick Soderlund. The PSP version is being developed by EA’s Bright Light studio.

Need for Speed SHIFT is scheduled to ship in Europe on September 17 and in North America on September 22 on the PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360, PC and PSP. More information can be found at www.needforspeed.com.