New Burnout Paradise Multiplayer Modes Detailed, Many More Promised

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Developer Criterion Games has issued details on the three new multiplayer modes that will be added to its crash-heavy racing title Burnout Paradise (PS3, X360) in the forthcoming 1.3 software update.

Allowing the Stunt Run, Road Rage, and Marked Man modes to be played online, the additions are said to be the first of several across the next year. The update will also bring 1080i resolution support to the PlayStation 3 version of the game.

"We aim to bring you many new Freeburn game modes covering different themes and play styles," read a statement from publisher and studio owner EA. "Over the next 12 months, we're going to transform the Burnout Paradise you know and love into the Burnout Paradise you only ever dreamed of!"

No timeframe has been provided for the 1.3 update, though the 1.2 patch is due out April 24. Specific details on the new modes follow:

Online Stunt Run

  • This is 8-player simultaneous online Stunt Run - everyone competes for the highest score within the 2 minute time limit and you can play anywhere in Paradise City.
  • An on-screen display shows all player scores, so you can easily see how you're doing.
  • Earn multipliers for taking each other out but you lose your combo score, if you're taken down.
  • Eliminated players are greyed out of the scoring area but can exact brutal revenge by chasing after players that have managed to keep their combos alive beyond the time-out.
  • For the first time, you can drive alongside someone as they complete a billion score in Stunt Run - you can absolutely use this mode to try and show off to your friends.
Online Road Rage
  • This is an 8-player online team event.
  • At the start, everyone chooses their team (red or blue).
  • One team of "runners" has to drive to a checkpoint then the finish - they can only see one checkpoint ahead.
  • The other team has to take them down. These guys can see the checkpoint and finish and choose whether to wait and ambush in key locations, shortcut to the action if they get left behind or just follow the pack and cause chaos.
Online Marked Man
  • We randomly choose a "Marked Man".
  • There's an intense few moments, while all players wait for the selection to be made - you want to stay close to other players, so you can hit the Marked Man, as soon as he's selected but far enough away that that you can run like hell if it's you that's the Marked Man.
  • The target is selected and a 90 second timer starts - you get 1 point if you survive and 1 point if you take down the Marked Man. After 90 seconds a new Marked Man is selected at random.
  • If you're the Marked Man, you can't see the attacking players on the map, your car is a little slower and you don't get boost.
  • The session usually consists of around 10-12 minutes of intense gameplay depending on the number of players involved.

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    April 15, 2008 12:33 PM

    No 1080 for the 360?

    • reply
      April 15, 2008 12:42 PM

      I believe it's already in there? Criterion says the latest PS3 SDK update freed up enough memory to let them add 1080i.

      • reply
        April 16, 2008 12:06 AM

        Well, that actually confuses me. because I do see that the majority of X360 support 1080p. I'm assuming that they really aren't native but more upscaled to 1080p. While the majority of my PS3 titles show support only at 720p. Is it safe to say that both systems only upscale to 1080p? Or do some of these games support native 1080p?

        • reply
          April 16, 2008 7:16 AM

          Some games natively support 1080p, but a large majority of games simply upscale.

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