Bikes and planes for Burnout Paradise

By Robert Purchese Published 23 April, 2008

Criterion dates upcoming patches.

Criterion has just revealed that motorbikes are on their way to Burnout Paradise in the upcoming "Davis" update.

The developer aired the news in its latest podcast where it showed the first footage of the two-wheelers and uncovered a day and night cycle to go with it.

Criterion expects the "Davis" update to be available in late July.

We were also shown footage of a biplane flying around Paradise City, which is something Criterion "might put in this year".

The chatty developers revealed that the "Cagney" update will be with us in late June, too.

Inside this will be roughly 35 fixes asked for by the community, as well as a Hunter Olympus SUV and some sort of fancy online calendar to keep you updated with all the online events.

These events should be happening every weekend, and some server-side wizardry means the team can change things with no more than a day's notice. The team has plans to dish out unique car-prizes to people sending in very funny emails or winning competitions. And these vehicles will promote plenty of jealousy, apparently.

Criterion said "Cagney" would add around 70 FreeBurn challenges to the mix, and generally be a "massive" update in every way.

"Bogart" is the next update to go live, which will be available tomorrow on PS3, although some 360 owners will have to wait a week for a revised version without frame rate problems.

In this will be more features asked for by the community, as well as user liveries for the first time ever.

Other promises we heard were 1080i implementation, improved SD support, and custom soundtracks.

Criterion reiterated how serious it was about its on-going support for Burnout Paradise, and urged you to keep sending in suggestions.

"We want Criterion to be known as the most friendly development team in the world," said the person holding the camera, which might or might not be Alex Ward.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (44) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • BiscuitBase #1 4 years ago

    Motorbikes? That's just blatant plagiarism of Mario Kart Wii

  • Quine #2 4 years ago

    Mmmmmm...

    0t0rb1k3s....

  • jonsaan #3 4 years ago

    Sweeeet.

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #4 4 years ago

    Quick, buy the eurogamer motorbikes t-shirt!

  • asphaltcowboy #5 4 years ago

    Crikey... love the sound of all of that... but... motorbikes?

  • towser #6 4 years ago

    Davis eh? Named after the carrot topped cue wizard I supose...

  • kungphu #7 4 years ago

    I didn't like bikes in pgr 4, i'm hoping Burnouts will be better
    Edited by 1 at 23/04/08 @ 17:26

  • Zander #8 4 years ago

    Yeah because Mario Kart is the only game that features bikes... Seriously!? Mario can suck my sweaty nads

  • dsmx #9 4 years ago

    burnout has never had people in it a thought about what the bikes will look like comes to mind.

  • Darren #10 4 years ago

    I take it these motorbikes will actually have riders on them then... unlike the people-free cars and the city itself! ;)

  • monkie_king #11 4 years ago

    There have been drivers in the cars before, for instance the "Euro Circuit Racer" from Burnout had the driver's helmet on show (fnarr).

    These are some pretty big changes, though, the kind of thing you'd usually save for a sequel.

  • Nithron #12 4 years ago

    I actually think it'd be more awesome if the motorbikes were just driving themselves around, mysteriously.

    Actually, you could just go the whole hog and adopt the explanation the Zero Punctuation guy made up as canon.

  • menage #13 4 years ago

    April fools was 3 weeks ago.

  • tobi #14 4 years ago

    "Just bring it!"
    Edited by 1 at 23/04/08 @ 18:01

  • jack_klugman #15 4 years ago

    We want Criterion to be known as the most friendly development team in the world.

    Clap. Clap. Clap.

  • ChaK #16 4 years ago

    "We want Criterion to be known as the most friendly development team in the world,"

    well, it's works, all those implementations...for free.

    Or they changed their mind maybe :)

  • GitSomE_UK #17 4 years ago

    I think this is the best game on the PS3 at the moment, multiplayer with the web cam is great.

    I wasn't impressed by the demo at all and slagged it off, I stand corrected. The full game is a much better experience.

    /Chokes on extra large slice of humble pie.

  • gooners2006 #18 4 years ago

    the bikes in Mario Kart Wii can be a fucking nightmare to handle on some tracks.....lets see if Criterion can do the same lol

  • Tomnd #19 4 years ago

    Just thinking won't this effect the rating. As it stands now it has a low rating because it shows no humans involved in crashes and so isn't that violent, but with bike riders will we see decapitations etc???
    Edited by 1 at 23/04/08 @ 20:45

  • Ryze #20 4 years ago

    Bikes? How about a rotating minimap, and ability to jump straight to locations previously visited?

    Then maybe I'll play the game more often, and for longer without switching off.

    /loads Burnout 3

  • ozallez #21 4 years ago

    nice!

  • KreyAtiv #22 4 years ago

    Adding motorbikes to it just isn't a good idea. Will they even have a rider on it? What happens when you crash??
    Going to be pretty difficult to do take downs with them. Also why add planes? I think it's just being crazy.
    Why not add something like buses you can get rather than bikes? Or even a tow truck, like in the first Burnout??

  • djed #23 4 years ago

    they should add a UFO with nukes, too. To deal with the inevitable snakes, of course!

  • Slipstream #24 4 years ago

    Okay this is a pretty big update, I'm impressed. =)

    Hey ahnd finally a day to night cycle =D About time! I want to see sunsets and rises, for that extreme paradise feel, if you know what I mean =)

  • Davemanz #25 4 years ago

    Okay maybe I'm ignorant on the issue because I haven't played a Burnout game since Burnout 3 (though that's nothing to be ashamed of), but how in the hell can motorcycles work with the whole "takedown" element of Burnout? Is that feature just not really a part of Paradise? Because if it isn't it damn well should be. And what the hell, planes? Even assuming that it won't be cars vs. motorcycles vs. airplanes, how the hell does it even fit into the atmosphere and purpose of Burnout in the first place? Free updates are great, especially when they're substantial like this, but this all seems like it doesn't fit.

  • Milbe #26 4 years ago

    I want a controllable helicopter to spectate online races!

  • Darren #27 4 years ago

    How about adding actual replays?

  • onyx_elite #28 4 years ago

    Yeah! Now we're putting in bikes and planes! Then we're gonna put in a guy who can run around and get in and out of the vehicles, then maybe some guns and stuff! Then some missions where you have to gain respect with criminal gangs. In fact we're thinking of renaming it Burnout: San Andreas!!

  • S.J.Rogers #29 4 years ago

    planes = Cool...

  • wa_uk #30 4 years ago

    all these updates are a fantastic idea. paradise owners seem to be getting a lot for their money and it's made me seriously consider buying the game... IF i can find confirmation that they'll put an instant restart feature in.

  • asphaltcowboy #31 4 years ago

    Well, I suppose motorbike events will be motorbike events - I can't see them getting away with trying to do car vs. motorbike because it will be stupid. Planes... well I imagine that might just be a gimmicky little thing so you can fly around and discover the discoverables a little easier than on foot/wheel.

    Speaking of which, I got my Criterion Elite license yesterday! w00t! Love this game and love the amount of content and support they're packing into it - Criterion rock!

  • asphaltcowboy #32 4 years ago

    @wa_uk: They are absolutely not going to put it in. Seriously, get over it, it's not a big deal. Play the game and enjoy it, it's brilliant!

    EDIT: OH and there is going to be a rider on the bike: http://www .gamersyde.com/news_6366_en.html
    Edited by 2 at 24/04/08 @ 08:51

  • Beano #33 4 years ago

    "...but how in the hell can motorcycles work with the whole "takedown" element of Burnout? Is that feature just not really a part of Paradise? Because if it isn't it damn well should be. And what the hell, planes? Even assuming that it won't be cars vs. motorcycles vs. airplanes, how the hell does it even fit into the atmosphere and purpose of Burnout in the first place? "

    I just listened to their podcast... a few observations based on that:

    - Cars vs. bikes races will not be possible (maybe later)
    - The bikes have animated riders.
    - Bikes will be very different to race than cars - "not just Burnout Paradise with bikes but bike in the Burnout Paradise world"
    - They are very proud of how the bikes handles.
    - Will cost money (not free update)
    - Airplanes are only something they are currently playing experienting with ... far from certain that will be released.

    Personally I'm very impressed how much work Criterion are putting into expanding the game - can't wait for the new areas (free!), bikes and night racing... and the custom soundtrack option on PS3 is very welcome :)
    Edited by 1 at 24/04/08 @ 09:22

  • Blackthorned #34 4 years ago

    I read somewhere that they were talking about opening up a new island in the game as well. All in all I'm really impressed with Criteron's attitude to bringing new content to the game for free. And the plane is a suprising move!

  • The.PLB #35 4 years ago

    From the podcast it was said that currently when you crash the rider dissapears, so no humans tumbling down the street. So hopefully it shoulldn't affect the rating at all.

  • paulf #36 4 years ago

    didn't i read somewhere that all this extra content would be free? or was I dreaming?

  • bivith #37 4 years ago

    screw motorbikes. just put crash junctions in.

  • fruitpunch #38 4 years ago

    are they patching in the ability to restart races yet?

  • xAx #39 4 years ago

    having planes for races in the style of those red bull ones would be good

  • Beano #40 4 years ago

    "didn't i read somewhere that all this extra content would be free? or was I dreaming?"

    Some content will be free (like the new area) while bikes and some cars will cost money.


    "are they patching in the ability to restart races yet?"

    No
    Edited by 1 at 24/04/08 @ 10:24

  • Madafunkola #41 4 years ago

    Am I the only person who DOESN'T want a restart option? If I do screw up a race I really don't mind going back to the start, maybe working out a better route, or picking another challenge which will take me back to the rough area I started. Or - this is for the people who complain that you can't quit an event - just STOP DRIVING and the event cancels, you don't have to get to the end of each event.
    The "I'll buy this game when they put in a restart option" crowd are really quite sad if they can't enjoy a game without an instant retry.

  • asphaltcowboy #42 4 years ago

    "Am I the only person who DOESN'T want a restart option?"

    You are not.

    "The "I'll buy this game when they put in a restart option" crowd are really quite sad if they can't enjoy a game without an instant retry."

    and This.

  • RustyBullet #43 4 years ago

    The game element is Take down or be Taken down. NOT Take down or be Taken down but if you are Taken down just restart. Come on ffs.

  • TuftyMcTavish #44 4 years ago

    Just listened to the podcast this morning. All that stuff just sounds mighty HOT!! I want it now. June and beyond seems so far away. Awesome, awesome game. The restart events things just isn't an issue and I wish peeps could get past that too. Their loss, I say. Superb stuff, and it's nice to see so much love being lavished on their game for the whole of 2008.

    I am very glad I picked this game up now. I hesitated for a bit at first, but the idea of having all those things to find around the world sucked me in. I've ended up spending around half of my 75h in the game online, which is quite remarkable for me. These 'game changing content' updates are going to easily add another 75h to my playtime I suspect. I really hope the biplane thing comes off and they add that. I'd love to be hooning along the underground I-88 sections in a plane!