Burnout Paradise demo live

By Tom Bramwell Published 13 December, 2007

On XBL and PS3 today.

Good news, Burnout Paradise demo fans! There's a Burnout Paradise demo on Xbox Live!

The PlayStation Network demo is also due today, although our office PS3 is at the menders (Tom got jam in it) so we can't check if it's gone live yet. Has it, Eurogamers? Has it?

Either way, the demo allows you to explore the Motor City, Big Surf Beach and Ocean View neighbourhoods of Paradise City, tackling three events (including a Stunt Run), and generally gearing yourself up for the game's release on 25th January.

Paradise - as you will know if you have read our extensive Games Convention first impressions and today's updated impressions - is an open-world evolution of the Burnout concept, which looks spangly on both PS3 and 360.

No really, it does. We saw the PS3 version at GC in August and actually wrongly remembered it being the 360 version because it looked so slick, and we're TEH BIAESED.

There are certainly changes for the series' fans to come to terms with, but as senior producer Nick Channon explains in today's write-up, the "three rules" laid down by Criterion mega-man Alex Ward were "'Seamless World', 'Online gaming' and 'Still Burnout'".

Let us know you reckon Criterion's done in the comments below.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000. Follow him on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (61) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • gamesport #1 5 years ago

    Can you guys do a write up for Top Spin 3, i haven't heard anything about that game in ages, and while you are at it. Find out if Top Spin one is going to be one of the Old xbox games available with the new Original Xbox games thingy on the 360

    btw sorry for hijacking the thread, LOL
    Edited by gamesport at 13/12/07 @ 09:58

  • old_man #2 5 years ago

    it's only on xbl if you've got gold.

    It's not on uk PS 3 store yet.

    Dam.

  • DonnieDarko333 #3 5 years ago

    Out Jan 25th 2008 for Xbox360! Cannot wait!

  • MBar #4 5 years ago

    You are also TEH BASTED.

    Don't worry, it's cranberry though. Very Christmasy.

  • Beano #5 5 years ago

    EU PS Store is usually updated on thursday evenings... and a few hours later for the US Store. No panic folks ;)

  • betahoven #6 5 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:36:16 17-12-2011

  • Beano #7 5 years ago

    Btw... have the PS3 demo been confirmed for the EU Store also or just the US Store ?

  • Kill_Crazy #8 5 years ago

    "its only on xbl if you've got gold."

    xboxlol

  • BBIAJ #9 5 years ago

    Loving the use of the LIVE Vision cam for your Learner's Permit photo, haha!

  • wakka2k5 #10 5 years ago

    we get PSN updated hours before the yanks..where as they get stuff updated on the mornin we have to wait ...for less content as well, well its always been the same for europeans

  • muscleblade #11 5 years ago

    I loved Burnout revenge and cant wait too try this demo. Im a little concerned about the new open city setup though.

  • susurrus #12 5 years ago

    Im actually looking forward to this added freedom.. i always feel that the immersion factor is stripped away when i have to flick through all those menus.. instead i can make decisions and watch the gamplay unfold without interruptions. i think this is the step in the right direction. Fingers crossed

  • GamesConnoisseur #13 5 years ago

    Excellent! Not to stir up anything but looking forward to trying out both X360 and PS3 demo as this is supposed to lead on PS3 and we should goddamn by now see something constructive for PS3 compared to X360 or even if more or less the same.

    If that is the case then when devs focus on PS3 first then X360 would be better for both instead of other way round benefitting only one format but before I go on, just need try out the demos first.

  • Ghettomurph #14 5 years ago

    Played this a few hours ago. The tiny bit of the hooge map you get to run around on doesnt have that much going on but its very slick, no noticeable slowdown or pop up or anything really...just looks really good.

    The stunt challenge was a bit crap tbh though, you're just left to your own devices to rack up the score rather than being directed to jumps etc.

    Even if this game is/was supposed to lead on PS3 i dont really see how much better it can be overall. 360 will potentially have some good achievements with this game such as hunting down all the breakable bill boards, shortcuts & super jumps etc.

  • monkie_king #15 5 years ago

    Yeah, Criterion have been tacitly saying the PS3 version has the edge. The money quote is "Xbox owners won't be disappointed".

    Hopefully the engine tech will work its way to EA's other PS3 teams.

  • Hypnopedia #16 5 years ago

    "We saw the PS3 version at GC in August and actually wrongly remembered it being the 360 version because it looked so slick, ...."

    Heh, read that - made me chuckle - so EG were taken aback because the PS3 was as good as the 360 version - shouldn't that be the other way round??!

    ;D

  • sharpfish #17 5 years ago

    @Hypnopedia > no, where have you been for the past year. This sounds like one of very few x-format games that is 'as good on the ps3' as it is on the 360, maybe even better (marginally).

    Still glad I didn't buy into the PS3 hype and waste a ton of cash pre-emptively. Next year will be PS3's year if they release GT5 and some more decent exclusives (plus a price drop) then I may be interested, until then 360 is a better choice (unless you really, really want blu ray right now)

  • Beano #18 5 years ago

    The lead platform is PS3 and 1UP has said on several occations (based on their hands-on experience) than the PS3 version is the best looking... but the 360 version is very close behind. Only some effects and lighting is better on PS3 according to them. We will know for sure tonight ;)

    Tried the Xbox 360 a few minutes ago and it looks very good... solid framerate, no tearing or slowdown... a tad jaggy though... but overall VERY nice looking.

    And the crashes are amazing... damn!!

  • Ryze #19 5 years ago

    Whoooo!

  • Darren #20 5 years ago

    I'll try out both versions before I decide but I was leaning toward the PS3 version now that I've got a Dualshock 3 controller (the game apparently supports rumble out of the box). However, the Xbox 360 controller has far superior triggers, which is how I prefer to play my racing games, so I may well opt for the 360 version. It all depends on how the games compare technically and how they feel to play.

  • Beano #21 5 years ago

    Burnout games only need digital throttle (full gas always!) ... so the 360 superior triggers does nothing in this case ;)

    On the other side, the crappy Xbox d-pad is really anoying for navigating the in-game menues (accessing friends, games, etc.) in Paradise... :(

  • Darren #22 5 years ago

    Beano - "Burnout games only need digital throttle (full gas always!) ... so the 360 superior triggers does nothing in this case ;) "

    Actually, they do... for me! ;)

    I detest playing racing games using the face buttons, have done ever since I played SEGA Rally 2 on the Dreamcast using its controller's triggers. Triggers feel so comfortable and natural compared with buttons so they are my preferred control scheme for ALL racing games. And since the PS3's Dualshock 3/SIXAXIS triggers are so horrible (who thought convex-shaped triggers were a good idea?!?), which version I buy might ultimately come down to that alone. Assuming that the PS3 version isn't massively superior technically that is (in which case I'll endure those iffy PS3 triggers for the sake of a better looking/playing game).

  • Ryze #23 5 years ago

    @Kill_Crazy

    No friends list, messages or status unless you quit to the XMB.

    PS3lol!!!!

    Shit spongy triggers and convex sticks with a stupid deadzone

    PS3lmfao!!!

    Only 100 odd meg of free RAM for games

    PS3rofl!!!!

  • T4RG4 #24 5 years ago

    Racing games should be played with the right stick being both brake and throttle (back and forwards respectively) and left stick steering. Trigger right change up, and trigger left change down.

    Tsk ;)

  • septimus #25 5 years ago

    Ryze: He was taking the piss of the usual PS3lol crap comments.

    And stop making shit up. Don't bother replying I won't see it. Cockbite.

    ---

    Will try both versions before deciding, though achievements for this game could be good and quite the time killer.

    @T4RG4: I used to prefer that way too, but it makes the pseudo 'left-foot breaking' next to impossible.
    Edited by septimus at 13/12/07 @ 16:32

  • GamesConnoisseur #26 5 years ago

    Since Dreamcast controller, always prefer triggers for racings, and buttons may be ok for arcade game but to play next gen GT in HD on PS3 with only face buttons for simulated driving? Triggers is the next best thing to the full pedals and steering wheel set.

    I got it for X360 but sometime cant be arsed to pull it out of cupboard and play with X360 controller with triggers instead. Throw your shocks and horrors at me but its work reasonably enough.

    Tried X360 demo its indeed smooth as baby bottom, and loved when you try to smash the car up as much you can but may still able to do 'DRIVE AWAY!' if not that so destroyed, and I chuckled as was its so mangled but still able to get to finishing line against sleek racing cars.

    Other than that, beautifully realised environment and great HDR skylights, and where is PS3 demo? X360 is great enough on its own but looking forward to the PS3 version 'with the edge'.

  • susurrus #27 5 years ago

    hmmmmm where is the demo ffs!

  • Ryze #28 5 years ago

    @septimus

    Good. I don't like dicks anyway, and you signed your message appropriately.

    Nothings made up - how much memory out of 256Mb is left after the reserved non-XMB portion?

    I'd have bought one by now if there was some memory, games and a decent data transfer rate from the optical media. Oh yeah, then there's the rip off games, the shit online where you can't find anyone...

    Should I continue? Oh, the truth hurts?! Oh, you spent £425 plus £100s on games and now you're bitter!?

    Gutted for ya - you prick.

    Plus ditto with the left foot braking. Right stick throttle / brake makes the damn thing play like a bumpercar.
    Edited by Ryze at 13/12/07 @ 17:39

  • cyber_nicco #29 5 years ago

    "Racing games should be played with the right stick being both brake and throttle (back and forwards respectively) and left stick steering. Trigger right change up, and trigger left change down. "

    You're joking, right? How would one apply brakes and throttle at the same time with that setup?

  • ploom2 #30 5 years ago

    the ps3demo is in the demo section, not in "latest"
    about800meg
    Edited by ploom2 at 13/12/07 @ 19:29

  • pista888 #31 5 years ago

    wohooo its there...finally (PSN)

  • Beano #32 5 years ago

    ...and it's actually better looking as the Xbox 360 version as promised... less jaggy, sharper, less blooming, overall better lighting and some of the very minor pauses in the 360 version has yet to be seen in the PS3 version. No MAJOR differences so far though - both version looks great :)

  • AOFanboi #33 5 years ago

    Ryze, go take a basic math course to see that the PS3's 256+256 megs equals the XBox 360's 512 megs. Even though yes, half of it is not as fast as the other half which is as fast as the 360's.

    The rest of your tirade is just trolling shit. Ignoring you will feel just great.

  • f01re #34 5 years ago

    Can we just have a moments silence and give Criterion proper respect for their achievement. How much frikkin work went into getting a simultaneous demo release across two platforms and all territories !?!

    Other games companies, THIS IS HOW TO DO IT.

  • Cheboury #35 5 years ago

    Played both versions and it is hard to tell any difference. Both XBOX & PS3 connected via HDMI. I have to say though that if you look hard enough the PS3 has more JAGGIES and the INTRO STUTTERS. I do prefer the XBOX 360 controller. BUT MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVERYTHING ELSE I THOUGHT THE DEMO SUCKED LIKE A PILE OF HOT DUNG!

    Criterion has raped this once so awesome FRANCHISE. Come on I dont wanna roam this boring PARADISE CITY looking for challenges. THESE DEVS SHOULD PAY BETTER ATTENTION AND PLAY SOME GAMES BEFORE THEY MAKE ANY FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES TO THE GAME. All they had to do is look at what happened to NFS. Most Wanted being the best of the series!

    THE KEY TO THE BURNOUT SERIES HAS ALWAYS BEEN: CRASHES, FUN & EASY TO PICK UP AND PLAY!

    They turned BURNOUT PARADISE into a chore!

    I am passing and getting PGR4 instead!
    Edited by Cheboury at 14/12/07 @ 07:59

  • monkey-ken-wizard #36 5 years ago

    Burnout 2 is one of favourite games.
    Is it me - or is this new offering proper shit?
    Who cares which version is best
    For some EA reason I had to find a garage and then a petrol station before I could race - WTF
    Then when I actually found a race I found myself staring at the map instead of where I was actually going???!!!
    Burnout was all about fun, fast arcade action and not driving around a grim GTA map without any to do.
    Somebody tell me I'm wrong!!!!????
    Edited by monkey-ken-wizard at 14/12/07 @ 00:54

  • Ryze #37 5 years ago

    @AOFanboi

    Again, another idiot who knows nothing about the architecture of the PS3.

    Stay blind.

  • Cheboury #38 5 years ago

    AT LEAST MOST OF YOU AGREE THAT THEY FINALLY KILLED THIS AWESOME FRANCHISE!

    GOOD JOB CRITERION! NOW BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD FOR BURNOUT 5!

  • Beano #39 5 years ago

    " I have to say though that if you look hard enough the PS3 has more JAGGIES and the INTRO STUTTERS."

    Strange... It's the other way around in my setup.

    360 version have more jaggies and stutters/pauses slightly sometimes while the PS3 version looks slightly better.

    I'm going for the PS3 version this time :)

  • Beano #40 5 years ago

    "Burnout was all about fun, fast arcade action and not driving around a grim GTA map without any to do.
    Somebody tell me I'm wrong!!!!???? "

    You are wrong ;)

    I also loved the previous Burnout games (3 was the best ;) ) but the series need something new and the open-world direction is the right one IMO.
    Remember most of the events in the demo are locked (only 3 are available) and might give the impression that there's not much to do - but the full version seems to be littered with events to do.
    Also the game is more about exploring and discovering new shortcuts and know the environments to find the fastest routes.

    Paradise feels like a Burnout game to me while still new and fresh... can't wait ;)

  • Cheboury #41 5 years ago

    PS3 appears to have more JAGGIES to me bro!
    http://images.gamersyde.com/gallery/publ...

  • Beano #42 5 years ago

    Well I trust my own eyes more that some screenshot ;)

    The link doesn't work btw.

    EDIT: Link works now - common, that a very poor screen shot and doesn't really show anything.

    EDIT2: Looking at the other screenshots at their site (http://www.gamersyde.com/news_5656_en.html) the two version look very similar. But again how was these screenshots taken and was they both tru HDMI on the same screen ?
    Edited by Beano at 14/12/07 @ 08:17

  • Cheboury #43 5 years ago

    I REALIZE I am being a bit childish here! The fact is that both games look very GOOD! For once the two disparate groups of concole owners should be happy that either version will make them a proud owner of either the PS3 or the XBOX 360.

    The fact remains that everybody hopes Burnout Paradise will turn out to be much better than how the Demo played!

  • afghan_jones #44 5 years ago

    Its quite toss really.

    And yeah, does involve far too much looking at the wee map rather than the road. Maybe in time you wont have to but considering how long it took to fully learn something very characterful like vice city, I think this may be difficult.

    Feels a lot like skate in as much as you seem to spend a lot of time just dicking around a fairly bland city then get the chance to 'race to the country club!!!!'





    Which is over in about 30 seconds flat.

    Hope the full game offers a bit more but the demo seems to be a large stretch of dullness punctuated by 30 secs of excitement before going back to the dullness. Compared to the non-stop blistering action of previous titles this just felt weak as piss.

  • swisstony #45 5 years ago

    Cheboury:

    "Criterion has raped this once so awesome FRANCHISE. Come on I dont wanna roam this boring PARADISE CITY looking for challenges. THESE DEVS SHOULD PAY BETTER ATTENTION AND PLAY SOME GAMES BEFORE THEY MAKE ANY FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES TO THE GAME. "

    You don't have to roam, you pull up at any set of lights, or just take down rivals you see in the world, or go online seamlessly....

    As for the devs playing games, you're being naive. They made the game they wanted to make, they innovated further on Burnout. No it's not Burnout 2, ah well, never mind. If they had made Burnout 2.5 you'd all be slagging EA off for not innovating and churning stuff out anyway. Like any decision they made they could ever avoid a slagging off for...

    The devs have been making big changes to the Burnout franchise in almost every iteration, or don't you play it? How could you not expect them to innovate this time round, how could you not expect them to want to being creatives? Oh yeh, it's not all about you is it :)

    "THE KEY TO THE BURNOUT SERIES HAS ALWAYS BEEN: CRASHES, FUN & EASY TO PICK UP AND PLAY! "

    You can crash your car, spectacular crashes are still there. It is fun and easy to play, within seconds I'm in and driving and drifting and burning and getting events etc. etc.

    The full version is littered with events. For a game that cost millions of dollars to make it would make loads of sense to give half of it away in a free demo wouldn't it. I do hope you're never the CEO of a games company (notwithstanding the myriad other qualifications it's apparent you lack judging by your ill informed comments)

    With regard to having to look at the map, you do realise you're only going to master this game when you learn the city and won't need to!

    Edited by swisstony at 14/12/07 @ 09:06

  • Beano #46 5 years ago

    "The fact is that both games look very GOOD!"

    I agree completely!

    Grab either versiion... both looks VERY good and most people won't notice anothing different :)

  • Beano #47 5 years ago

    "Feels a lot like skate in as much as you seem to spend a lot of time just dicking around a fairly bland city then get the chance to 'race to the country club!!!!'"

    You have a point... hopefully a "retry race" option will be available or a way of starting events directly from the map (like TDU).

  • Cheboury #48 5 years ago

    @swisstony

    You might be right in your comments. This is simply my first impression on the Demo. It didn't feel like Burnout! The fact that the open city could work in the end is something we will have to see when the game is out.

    I guess it's like wanting to play the NEW Street Fighter and finding out they changed almost everything. Some times a change can be revolutionary and innovative but NOT serve the game in a positive way!

    Time will tell...:-) If the game turns out to be the great hit the Devs proclaim it to be, I will be the first one to admit it!

  • Beano #49 5 years ago

    "...just a big empty city to sandbox in."

    Bacause it's a demo and only 3 events are available... the full game will be littered with events. No worries ;)

  • Artemis_Matsas #50 5 years ago

    Downloaded it yesterday on my PS3, and it certainly is fantastic to look at. I got a little lost in the city, and i agree with the "staring at the map for too long" crowd.
    Maybe when you are familiar with the city, this problem will go away.

    To tell the truth i really liked the demo, so i think that i'm going to pick it up.

  • bivith #51 5 years ago

    i hate it.

    Poor poor burnout.

    beautiful graphics, and amazing tech, but such a hollow hollow experience. There's no game there, and I miss crash mode. I couldn't even try the alternative in the demo ( showtime or whatever ).

  • LiquidViolence #52 5 years ago

    Co-ops pretty fun but why is DJ Atomica there, he irritated me in SSX3 and he irritates me still.
    No matter what it says he is my true revenge rival for the constant auditory assault.

    The fact that you cant invite friends via the friends list seems weird although the D-pad thing works okay it just seems to go against every other live game.

  • Fuser #53 5 years ago

    DJ Atomica needs shutting up permanently. I tried pausing and looking for an option but it wasnt there. And what a stupid idea having him actually interrupt - pausing the game while he does so - while you are trying to complete a challenge. Idiotic.
    Similarly daft was disabling 90% of the challenges.

    I've loved all Burnouts to date, but the demo of this has convinced me NOT to buy it.
    :(

  • susurrus #54 5 years ago

    Played the 360 version last night at my mates house till 5 in the morning, enjoyed myself alot. I think it has some very strong thigns going for it, and the better i got and the more i experimented it quickly became the burnout i know and love, equally the seamless online modes are great having some fun mash ups with others instantly without having to traul through server lists and getting told the server is full or some crap like that.

    Got back home this morning feeling slightly rough, my ps3 had finished d/l the demo so i decided to have a quick game. Now i wont say this lightly but the performance on the ps3 far excels the 360, as does the clarity of the graphics.... i feel pretty screwed up now for saying that.. but its fact. Obviously the difference is relativly minor at a quick comparison but after playing it for so many hours and then quickly switching the difference seemed stark. My imagination? who cares.

  • susurrus #55 5 years ago

    Oh yeah........ BRING ON THE FULL GAME! Ill happily part with my cash for some paradise.

  • monkie_king #56 5 years ago

    deeply meh. amazing tech and the full city will be huge, but the free-roaming/exploring doesn't really work for me. the speed and wide camera mean that you can't really see where you're going in the later burnout games, which is fine when you're constrained to a track. not so much fun when you're just trying to get somewhere and keep crashing every fifteen seconds because those 10 tiny pixels in the center of the screen turn out, about 25ms later, to be a concrete barrier.

    can't really judge the racing from the one event in the demo, but i'm not really keen on the idea of finding your own route. it basically makes the game into a test of how well you can memorize the map (as does stunt run). and not being able to retry unless you drive back to the start again is pretty idiotic, given how annoying it is getting from A to B. why not just have an instant restart button?

    so for me it's too free-roamy to work as a burnout game, and to burnout-y to work as a sandbox. but then i always thought the burnout series went downhill after the first one. it'll be worth waiting to see how the full game reviews, though.

  • Kill_Crazy #57 5 years ago

    @Ryze

    Your quote "@Kill_Crazy

    No friends list, messages or status unless you quit to the XMB.

    PS3lol!!!!

    Shit spongy triggers and convex sticks with a stupid deadzone

    PS3lmfao!!!

    Only 100 odd meg of free RAM for games

    PS3rofl!!!!"

    LOL. That is all.

  • GamesConnoisseur #58 5 years ago

    I have both PS3 and X360 running the demo side by side on one HDTV (switches it over and back).

    The gameplay of both are excellent, but key difference is the visual quality.

    The X360 demo is in warm colour tones, looks very pretty and nice.

    PS3 is in cool colour tones, therefore that is the biggest difference in how the game come across. Also has a lot more lightening effects in PS3, lights reflects off the road far more than on X360 and generally looks better.

    DS3 works nice on PS3 demo, ebraking is a bit too sensitive compared to X360 controller and thus I spin outs a bit more than I have on the same section of road for the same race.

    However PS3 do have the clear visual edge.
    Edited by GamesConnoisseur at 14/12/07 @ 15:11

  • NthSimulachum #59 5 years ago

    Burnout Paradise? The demo is rather dull.

  • old_man #60 5 years ago

    I really want to like this.

    I've played it a few times now and I think because of the free roam game play it reminds me of Crazy Taxi.

    As for PS3 or XBOX 360 version, I’m poor so I’ll probably buy the version that’s cheapest on the day.

  • Ryze #61 5 years ago

    I'd like to think that they'll include those green chevron lights during races that guide you round the bends and corners.

    If they don't - then some of the races will become utter shite.

    They'll depend on who memorises the map - and I've got too much life to live, and too many other games to play to memorise the map better than some tosser gamer geek kid - regardless of who drives better.