Need for Speed screeches up ProStreet

Need for Speed will be steered in a new direction in its latest iteration, titled Need for Speed ProStreet, which is being developed by Electronic Arts Black Box studio in Vancouver, Canada. The game focuses on racing showdowns against top street racers and promises "impeccable precision and impressively detailed photorealistic graphics."

The new game will show dents, scratches, and crumpled body panels as the gamer's car collides with other vehicles and objects. For the first time in the series, racers will be able to directly impact their car's performance, as well as personalise its appearance, EA says. Need for Speed ProStreet will also feature an online mode and an "aggressive and skilled" artificial intelligence system.

The game's executive producer, Larry LaPierre, commented, "This is a game about building the ultimate performance-tuned battle machine, taking it to multidisciplinary showdowns all over the world and pitting your skills and reputation against the very best street racers."

The first Need for Speed game, also developed by EA Black Box, was released in 1994, and a multitude of other games in the series followed, most recently Need for Speed Carbon in 2006.

Need for Speed ProStreet will be available on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, DS, PC, and mobile platforms, and is slated for release this fall.