The free ride ends? Burnout Paradise pay DLC coming
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Oct 31st 2008 at 8:30AM }
The free ride may be ending soon, though. The first pack of 2009 for BP will be called Burnout Paradise Party, and it will feature 8-player pass-the-controller multiplayer. Players will compete in a party-themed challenge. Interestingly, not only will Party add more gameplay, it will also revamp the visuals. "We've overhauled not just the presentation screens but also the in-game visuals, which are now brighter and more colourful in recognition of Burnout's new party theme."
No word on price yet, but Party will be available as DLC next year. It will also be included in a new retail disc called Burnout Paradise The Ultimate Box, which will include all the free packs released so far and the Party pack.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Phil @ Oct 31st 2008 8:40AM
Doesn't sound too bad if it's reasonably priced - they've done a big credit with the current free DLC and hopefully at least half of these new DLC packs will be free.
Popfrogs @ Oct 31st 2008 10:15AM
I was about to say...with all the freebies they've handed out so far (big ones that significantly change the game), charging for DLC at this point seems fair. Not like the Megaman DLC rapeage that Capcom is so fond of. Paid themes? Come on now.
hurricane @ Oct 31st 2008 11:04AM
Yeah, let's just put it this way: seeing as they've had all these free updates, and I got the game for less than $20, the only thing that will keep me from getting this update is the weird style they chose for the menus or the fact that I will be broke by the end of 2008 due to all the games coming out. (however a slight replenishing of funds will likely occur around Christmas...)
Lars @ Oct 31st 2008 2:08PM
Is that really how the visuals are going to look? It looks like a photoshop joke.
coasterswim @ Oct 31st 2008 4:54PM
I would pay another $60 for split-screen multiplayer.
Jake @ Oct 31st 2008 8:51AM
they've done a great job with the free dlc so far
but i remember 2weeks back that they were talking about 5 more free dlc packs to keep people going back to the game
i personally don't buy dlc unless its fair priced and worth it, neither of which i have found yet
Kspraydad @ Oct 31st 2008 9:09AM
No...they never said that the upcoming content was free. http://www.criteriongames.com/packs/coming_soon.php
Criterion has been smart...roll out small but significant free content all year (keeps you from selling the game into the rental market and thus more new sales are made), rolls out a DL version to can't be resold and engenders alot of good will amongst its fan base. Then...paid content.
Very good move on their part...I won't be downloading PARTY but I do look forward to the other offers.
Question though...is each expansion going to have its own trophies like this seems too?
dicknjane @ Oct 31st 2008 12:21PM
hell, if they're still creating great DLC over a year past the release, i have no problem paying for it, especially since after how great they've been with this recent DLC. keep it up Criterion!
dan @ Oct 31st 2008 9:18AM
i can see that trophy in the corner, does that mean i lose my 100% trophy collection if i don't get the expansion packs?
Andrew Yoon @ Oct 31st 2008 9:23AM
Yes. You'll lose 100%, but you'll still have Platinum.
Laurens Holst @ Oct 31st 2008 10:12AM
Your percentage will go down, but your total trophy level will stay the same of course, and you’ll have the opportunity to gather more trophies.
Jerses @ Oct 31st 2008 11:37AM
Then that means i must hurry to finish this game 100% then sell it so it doesnt download a patch lol
Jonathan @ Oct 31st 2008 11:57AM
^^^Wow, is it really that serious?
spyder @ Oct 31st 2008 9:37AM
it looks like Barbie Paradise with those graphics..
adolson @ Oct 31st 2008 10:25AM
I'll play Burnout Barbie Party with you, but I get to be Ken!
Juthan @ Oct 31st 2008 12:40PM
I was thinking the same thing. Ugh!
Tom @ Oct 31st 2008 9:50AM
Europe still doesn't have PSN cards out, so I won't be buying this, not that it looks like I'd get it for free anyway.
Juthan @ Oct 31st 2008 12:40PM
Do they not have debit cards in Europe?
JaffaBoy @ Oct 31st 2008 12:53PM
To Juthan... yes we do (of course), but this guy may not be old enough to get one? You can get a card as a teenager (my sone has one) but this cant be used for credit card purchases online.
Nick @ Oct 31st 2008 1:29PM
You can't use debit cards for online purchases in Europe? That seems pretty bogus. I'm 17 and I have a debit card that I use to purchase things online.
Tom @ Oct 31st 2008 4:16PM
Some people just aren't comfortable with using them online. What with all the media coverage on trojans and similar, it's very easy to be scared out of using the things altogether.
G @ Oct 31st 2008 10:25AM
With all the free content thus far i actually don't mind paying for content
Livi70590 @ Oct 31st 2008 10:20AM
Awesome, yay!
Gumby @ Oct 31st 2008 10:55AM
Looks like fun. I remember back before I got my own PS3 that my friend and I would go over to a friends house that had HighDef TV and a PS3 and we would spend hours taking turns playing Burnout Paradise. After we both got our own systems and games we started playing online, but I missed hanging out and seeing the crazy stunts and races first hand. I don't care for the Barbie-esque graphics, but I will give this pack a try. With as much great DLC the the Burnout team has given us, I have no problem throwing them a few bucks here and there.
hurricane @ Oct 31st 2008 1:00PM
As long as it has something other than redesigned menus and pass-the-controller multiplayer, I'll likely get it (that is, of course, assuming it's decently priced, although I might give them a LITTLE leeway seeing as they shelled out all the updates so far for the low, low price of free...).
Josh @ Oct 31st 2008 11:07AM
Just a few things to add to the discussion here and on Joystiq:
- The entire game is not kitted out in the Party aesthetic, so for Burnout purists don't panic!
- After launching with red, the changing elements of the UI to orange, looks like the un-Party Burnout is now changing colour highlights to blue, I like how they change up the UI to keep it interesting.
- BURNOUT GODDAMN STORE!
All from the fourth image in the gallery.
ModeMan101 @ Oct 31st 2008 11:09AM
Methinks I'd better stick my disc in tonight and update to the latest version in case the previously free DLC suddenly becomes not-so-free... who knows, maybe I'll play the game a bit too!
linebeginstoblur @ Oct 31st 2008 11:52AM
I'd love to give Criterion some money for all the hard work they've been doing on all the free patches they've been handing out... but Party doesn't sound too intriguing to me. Oh well. Looking forward to hearing about the next DLC. :)
JaffaBoy @ Oct 31st 2008 1:00PM
Like most people, I've been a big fan of Criterion and their free DLC and what a good move to keep people playing and avoiding the flood of 2nd hand copies.
It's going to be real interesting to see what pricing they do for this paid for DLC. Anything over £5 would be too much for this sort of addon for me (thats about $9)
iamkid @ Oct 31st 2008 1:45PM
too bad i didnt get the game yet...at least when i get it, i can have all this stuff right away, and upgrade to this party pretty quickly
sumario @ Oct 31st 2008 5:21PM
Do you even realise why the others are free and this is not?
They could of charged us for all the previous packs, most of use will paid but CG did not want to divide the Burnout community of who has what content. They said they wanted everyone to play together no matter what. The original plan was to charge for some things such as cars but allow everyone to view them for free but to play with them only if you pay up. But they not done that yet strangely enough. The Island pack is a def free pack as you either have it or you don't so to not split the community, its free. This pack, is in regards to offline play so they can charge us :)
So in summary, any GCC that effects online play will be free so not to divide the community. Stuff that will not divide the community will not be free.
As for the look, that look is ONLY in party mode. It might be useful if people get the real news off CG's own website....
Keef @ Nov 2nd 2008 12:50PM
Who put Joel Schumacher in charge of the visual update?