With only 12 days to go until the game’s release, EA has decided to release the demo version of Need for Speed Shift…. Just kidding, below are two new videos, showing a producer walkthrough of Shift including plenty of gameplay footage and career mode info.
By the way, here’s a fun fact for those of you following the hype around Shift, this is the 80th Shift news posting on EA’s upcoming title since the announcement in January.
Developed by Slightly Mad Studios (former Blimey! Games) and distributed by EA, Need for Speed Shift will be released on September 15th (North America) & 17th (Europe) for the PC and all major consoles. A demo of Shift is expected to be released any day now.
F1Racer
September 3rd, 2009 at 02:43
Cool ! A Shift video. Been missing these sooo bad.
eddiespag
September 3rd, 2009 at 02:49
I’m so detatched and numb now, that it really doesn’t matter if they release the demo now or never. Just like at home in the private intimacy moments… too much stimulation. Is it going to be anticlimatic in the end? We shall see.
F1Racer
September 3rd, 2009 at 02:55
I think what will happen for some is that they will get their hands on it and first time out the novelty of it will be right there at the forefront. Then.. a while later, what you see on screen will look like all thoe videos you’ve watched in the last few months and suddenly it will feel old really quick – almost as if you’ve had the game for months already.
carbonfibre
September 3rd, 2009 at 03:04
Brilliant engine bug in the 2nd video. These must have been filmed a while back… at least I hope they are, or they are in serious beta testing trouble.
scca1981
September 3rd, 2009 at 03:05
I don’t even have the game yet and i’m already tired of it. I’ve been pro-shift this whole time but its getting difficult to stay that way with 5,000,000 previews and no demo or full game out yet. Previews are a good thing to have, but there is a such thing as too much.
I’m reminded of a smiley on a forum i’m a member of. Its a pissed off face making the “jerking” motion. That would come in handy here.
DeadStar
September 3rd, 2009 at 03:08
My conspiracy theories:
1. I think the PC Versions physics is totally different from the console versions and if they release the demo for the PC version many console people who test the demo on PC but buy the game for consoles will be turned off by the extra realism and complex UI of the PC version that is why they are avoiding the demo altogether.
or
2. They are still polishing the PC version after completing the console versions because they care about us Sim Racers and instead of wasting time on making a demo they are adding extra layers of polish to the PC versions Physics so that we are not disappointed by NFS Shift.
TopChancer
September 3rd, 2009 at 03:32
“With only 12 days to go until the game’s release, EA has decided to release the demo version of Need for Speed Shift…. ”
Heyyyyyyy, that wasn’t funny!
scca1981
September 3rd, 2009 at 03:37
IMHO its all a bunch of BS. The game is due out in less than two weeks. If they are honestly still working on the PC version it won’t be ready for release on the said date as it will still have to be sent for testing and then sent for printing and shipping to stores.
DeadStar
September 3rd, 2009 at 03:52
I have got 3 words “day one patch”.
Couth
September 3rd, 2009 at 04:04
I don’t think thats a conspiracy. I read an interview a while back with one of the developers of NFS shift (not this producer guy) that stated there were 4 NFS games coming out this year (PC, PS3, 360 and PSP right?) and Slightly Mad Studios was chosen to develop the PC version only.. I don’t know if that was just a misinterpretation or what. But I’m still expecting the PC version to have better physics, if not a better FRAMERATE (the consoles are locked at 30fps) that translates into better physics? Although from videos they look the same, it’s hard to judge the feel of the game.. Need that demo
stabiz
September 3rd, 2009 at 04:06
80 news items since January … thats 10 each month, or more than twice each bloody week for eight months. Cooome oooon!
Btw, I think they will hit 100.
DevonK
September 3rd, 2009 at 04:31
Have to wonder – why is VR pandering to EA by giving site play to every bit of marketing crap EA pushes out about Shift? Could the site admin not exercise a modicum of editorial restraint and simply refuse to play along any more with this parade of self-promotion? Surely VR is not that desperate for content. One has to wonder what possible under-the-table deals are happening here…
DeadStar
September 3rd, 2009 at 05:02
These Promos are not for us but for those gamers who are still unsure if they want this game or not. As for me I will get this game day one regardless of any demo or not or they shower us with a trailer after another I can’t wait to play NFS Shift on my PC. I hope it is what we have been waiting for even though the promotional campaign was a little overdone
JAGUAR1977
September 3rd, 2009 at 05:52
Console demos are released when the respective stores are updated, which is Thursday for the PS3. Dirt 2’s demo was released last week, the game itself is released early next week.
ForzaBarca88
September 3rd, 2009 at 06:53
Oh you are evil, had me excited for a sec
scca1981
September 3rd, 2009 at 07:36
I have no interest in the Console demo but I have one main reason for a PC demo before purchase and that’s to ensure my pc can run the game decently. Otherwise not a big deal as the previews and videos i’ve seen are enough to get me to purchase the game.
zudthespud
September 3rd, 2009 at 09:49
I’m torn on this. It looks like I would enjoy it but I can’t be sure. I want the demo.
tingri
September 3rd, 2009 at 09:59
Search for: Need for Speed Shift 2009 3310
It is in RapidShare, there are 21 parts of it each one aproximately 200mb good luck
gtrNL
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:03
Good one, I laughed, and had to read that first part 3 times only then to find out it was a joke.
gtrNL
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:06
**keeps on waiting**
Jack_NL
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:14
thanks for the heads up tingri ! ;)
ok 21 people dl each a part, then put in on another site then rapidshare :)
downloading part 5 now
mauricetgol
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:26
ok 22 people don’t, but I do!
Give it to us baby!
I like your first line. See what you do to the 22 up here… :)
With every video the fun gets bigger. I have the feeling back from the time I was a young boy, and was counting the days to X-mas. Now I am 42 and I am really excited! We sure gonna have a lot of fun with this one online.
Hope we’ll meet there gentlemen!
steve30x
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:41
I see in video 2 that the car is either slipping the clutch , burning rubber with aceleration or there is a bug that needs to be fixed. Anyway I have enough of the promo videos now . If I watch any more it will ruin the game for me when I play it. I am 90% sure I will buy this after watching those two videos. Also this isnt released for two weeks tomorrow here in Ireland as games dont get released until fridays here.
Jack_NL
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:44
41 years here and as excited when the leaked GTR Press Demo came out ! lol
first day release and whe picked up GTR in Germany ;)
carlosy
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:01
The Rapidlinks are not Shift. Its a fake. Found it in an italian forum.
You are wasting your rapid traffic.
f0xx
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:11
Not quite that… SMS is doing the PC/360/PS3/PSP versions while Blackbox is working in the Wii title NFS nitro.
BTW better framerate dont translate in better physics..(correct me if Im wrong).
scca1981
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:12
lol… Enjoy your virus or some other game.
tingri
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:15
Sorry gays it is fake but I had an information that the demo and the full game are on the warez sites already and was just hoping. I was not able to download all the files but inside the archive it says Fuel not Shift
Jack_NL
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:21
F*ck
in part 01 it refers to Fuel
to bad tingri, the hunt continues ;)
f0xx
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:33
lool I knew :P Well I understand its EA/SMS’s fault they dont give us the demo :P
I already preordered the game but till then, the demo would be appreciated.
Jack_NL
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:43
Ofcourse its their fault :P
in the preview of yesterday here was a good point made why they dont release the Demo.
It could be that many people that pre ordered the game
will cancel their pre order having played the Demo :P (JOKING!)
It can’t be that bad, will it?
Mark
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:34
German (p)reviews are all extremely positive (87% and higher scores), so doubt that there’s a problem with the game.
During GamesCom, SMS devs talked about just finishing the console version, because they needed to go through MS/Sony certification and they were now polishing the PC version. I seriously doubt that SMS has a bunch of programmers extra to work on the demo when they still work on the full game. Short, I do not expect a demo this week or next, maybe same week as release or even later, but that’s just me guessing ;)
,
Gelink
September 3rd, 2009 at 13:08
According to this guy in vid 1 the BMW M3 is mid engined
And what is wrong with the car on vid 2? Like the clutch is depressed all the time 
Montoya
September 3rd, 2009 at 14:04
I can assure you there are no under-the-table deals, do you really think EA gives a crap about a sim racing blog?
The thing is, there are people out there who enjoy every single preview video and screenshot, the Shift articles are always among the most popular stories of the day.
With the massive amount of visitors this site is getting now, it’s impossible to please everyone. What some people find interesting, others consider it boring or useless.
Since nobody forces you to read these stories or watch the videos, I don’t think it’s too much trouble to scroll down to the next story and let those who enjoy this material do it.
Hompe
September 3rd, 2009 at 14:33
My heart revved to 8000rpm before i read that it was a joke!
damn
Jos
September 3rd, 2009 at 15:33
the promoter guy sounds tired, which is understandable.
Tatti
September 3rd, 2009 at 17:42
Either the clutch bug problem in auto-shifting is present in the video or the person driving is doing so manually (and very badly!).
Maybe the person driving is the person who is also commentating at the SAME time, this would explain the bad driving! I want to race 20 of these drivers all the time haha
Sommergemüse
September 3rd, 2009 at 20:21
OMG dont talk about downloading? Is VR a pirate source now?
F1Racer
September 3rd, 2009 at 21:06
I hope we can turn off some of that screen display too. The HUD has more writing than a page in a novel. Particularly want to turn off those annoying msgs popping up telling you that you’ve earned this or that or got this bonus etc..
That’s no way to be sim-racing. Tell me that crap at the end.
scca1981
September 3rd, 2009 at 23:58
+1
I prefer nothing on the screen while racing.
captain_underpants
September 4th, 2009 at 02:57
Nothing? Surely you at least want to see the road? ;)
scca1981
September 4th, 2009 at 07:03
Nope pitch black.
Yeah. I’m that good.
f0xx
September 4th, 2009 at 12:56
Official minimum requirements of NFS: Shift released yesterday (yes I thought they were released before but these ones are different):
With Need for Speed SHIFT launching in just over a week’s time, we’ve had a lot of people ask about the minimum system requirements for PC. You guys ask, we deliver!
Here is the Minimum System Requirements:
Required – Internet Connection
OS – Windows XP (Service Pack 3) or Windows Vista (Service Pack 1) / Windows 7
Processor – Intel Core™2 Duo 1.6 GHz or faster
Memory – XP: 1 GB RAM; Vista/Windows 7: 1.5 GB RAM
Hard Drive – 6 GB
DVD Drive – 8 SPEED
Video Card – 256 MB Video Card, with support for Pixel Shader 3.0*
Sound Card – DirectX 9.0c compatible
DirectX – DirectX 9.0c compatible
Online Multiplayer – 512 Kbps or faster; 2-12 Players
Input – Keyboard, Mouse
Optional – USB Steering Wheel / Dual Analogue Gamepad
*Supported Video Cards: ATI Radeon X1800 XT 512MB or greater; NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT 256MB or greater. Laptop versions of these chipsets may work but are not supported. Updates to your video and sound card drivers may be required.
Remember that Need for Speed SHIFT launches September 15 in North America and September 17th in Europe. To pre-order NFS Shift, go here.
- NFSDrew
Jos
September 4th, 2009 at 16:55
Bekim
September 4th, 2009 at 18:58
It’s becoming a bloody joke now. Videos, screens and SPECS. WOW. Maybe if there were a demo you wouldn’t have to wait for EA to release system requirements, you would just install and see for yourself! god dammit EA. It’s like there trying to piss us off. “aww looks like our customers want a demo really bad, fuk em lets just release more videos to screw with em” bunch of ……..
Would so much rather this game be fully SMS and no EA involved what so ever. Just take out the “need for speed” and keep “Shift”
Wouldn’t you rather see an announcement like this…
“Slightly Mad Studios to release the successor to GTR2, called SHIFT” Would of had none of the annoying EA touches.
What’s even worse is that I know I’ll buy this 100%, but wish there was someway to stick it to EA.
Ok my rant is over, just very annoying.
hypertek
September 4th, 2009 at 20:04
im sorry but this is gonna be the same as Need for speed prostreet, you have to suffer and force yourself to play thru the game in hopes to unlock more cars/tracks in hopes that the game gets better.
It looks the same as prostreet with just more features… Too much hype around this game.
f0xx
September 4th, 2009 at 21:17
Dont exagerate…
YOu can cheat if you want all the cars and no fun getting them ^^
Its hilarious…. we can see clearly that the quality of Shift is way higher than any of its predecessors and yet theeres still ppl saying ‘oh no this is Pro street 2′ ^^
Bekim
September 5th, 2009 at 07:01
Pro Street was developed by Black Box and Shift is developed by Slightly Mad Studios who also developed GTR2. There’s a big difference there, how can they be the same? EA’s attempt at “sim” was just embarassing.