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Surprise: Criterion bringing Burnout Paradise to PSN for $29.99 this fall

3:36 PM on 08.14.2008, Nick Chester 28 comments

     Electronic Arts

Well here's an interesting and pleasant surprise: Criterion Games has announced that it will be bringing Burnout Paradise -- yes, the entire game -- to PlayStation Network for download at a price point of $29.99 this fall. 

There's not much more to say other than "wow." If anything, this certainly proves that Sony are most definitely willing to make PSN a viable platform for digital delivery of what would normally be considered full retail titles. I know many of you prefer the feel of a box in your hands or the papercuts that come with an instruction manual. But many people -- myself included -- are looking for ways to cut down on clutter, and digital distribution on this level is an interesting step.

I personally loved Burnout Paradise, giving the game a solid 8.5 out of 10 in our Destructoid review when the game's launch. Since then a number of free-to-download improvements have been made to the game, including new vehicles, challenges, and more.

Criterion are promising to continue supporting the game on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3; later this year, they'll be adding Trophy support on Sony's console as well as motocycle gameplay for both platforms.

BURNOUT PARADISE LAUNCHES ON PLAYSTATION NETWORK

’Year of Paradise’ Heralds Direct to Consumer Revolution as Criterion Games Introduces

PLAYSTATION®3 Trophy System and Motorcycles

Redwood City, CA – Aug 14, 2008 – Criterion Games, a studio of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that the Platinum-hit driving game Burnout™ Paradise will be available to download from the US PLAYSTATION®Network via the PLAYSTATION®Store for $29.99 this Fall. Winner of over 55 awards worldwide, the downloadable version of Burnout Paradise will incorporate all of the recent updates that Criterion Games has delivered directly to consumers.

Burnout Paradise offers hours of intense, high action driving in a stunning open-world that can be experienced both in single player and socially online with your friends -- but the fun does not end there. Earlier this year, Criterion Games kicked off ‘The Year of Paradise’ at www.criteriongames.com. The Year of Paradise is a year-long direct-to-consumer program where Criterion Games regularly releases new game-changing downloadable content that is designed to evolve the game beyond its initial retail release. The first update is available now (August), free of charge* through the PLAYSTATION Network and Xbox LIVE® Marketplace, and includes three new game modes, new cars and 70 new multi-part challenges, extending the game with hours of new gameplay.  The download pack also introduces a live news page where players can track their game progress and find out news on upcoming online multiplayer events. More game-changing downloadable content is coming this Fall for Burnout Paradise, including trophy support and motorcycles free of charge* through the PLAYSTATION Network and Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

Fiona Sperry, Studio Manager for Criterion Games said, “Our mission at Criterion is to provide the most entertaining gaming service possible. In order to do that, it’s key that we have the ability to deliver content to players in ways that work for them – through quick and easy download or via traditional bricks and mortar. For us, the fun is in playing the game with friends and constantly discovering new surprises in the world. Download packs with meaningful new gameplay are the perfect way for us to keep entertaining fans and keep them playing, even months after launch.”

Burnout Paradise is now available on the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system for the greatest hits/classics price of $29.99 in North America. The game is rated E10+ by the ESRB and 3+ by PEGI.  For more information about Burnout Paradise, please visit http://criteriongames.com.

Next page: More PSN stories




galagabug 's Avatar
galagabug at 08/14/2008 15:40
wonder how big a d/l it is.
dtomek's Avatar
dtomek at 08/14/2008 15:40
To put it more accurately Pendleton, people would be bitching because it wasn't 800 points. But there's a lot of logic to that because data is worth precisely 6x as much when it is on a DVD. (allowing for +/- $.01 of error, obviously)
Electro Lemon's Avatar
Electro Lemon at 08/14/2008 15:46
How the hell did that argument transcend into this article, guys?

But seriously, that's fucking insane! And awesome.
CelicaCrazed's Avatar
CelicaCrazed at 08/14/2008 15:52
I think I need to go buy a bigger hard drive first. I've really been impressed by the support Criterion is providing this game so will definitely be buying it.
Alexradl's Avatar
Alexradl at 08/14/2008 15:52
Woah...that's surprising. It's definitely worth the future $30 download. Great game is great.
CALkulon's Avatar
CALkulon at 08/14/2008 15:58
Big surprise, full of win though.

But if ANYONE bitches about the price being too high at $30 (thats less than the price of platinum games where I am) I'll hurt them.
dawimp523's Avatar
dawimp523 at 08/14/2008 16:13
Can't even believe this right now! I had to go to Criterion's website & Sony's blog to make sure this wasn't a joke, but it seems pretty legit. August is going to be the best month EVER on the PSN! First, you've got R&C: Quest for Booty, and now this! Glad it comes with all of the updates so far! But how big is it? I've got about 56 Gigs of space left on my 80 Gig PS3, so that should be PLENTY of space. I don't even know how I've used that much space! Maybe it was all of the demos I've downloaded, but I've deleted them all now! Are themes saved to the hard drive?
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 08/14/2008 16:31
gotta love that price point
Samit Sarkar's Avatar
Samit Sarkar at 08/14/2008 16:33
Oh WOW, that's awesome! I'll definitely consider picking this up at half price...but I, too, am wondering how big the download is.
linuxguy's Avatar
linuxguy at 08/14/2008 16:41
if it ends up being 5GB all that blu ray bullshit will be exposed lol
j/k sony
PixelJunky's Avatar
PixelJunky at 08/14/2008 16:56
@Nick Chester- what would you guys rank the game now taking into consideration the updated price point and free downloads?
casualweaponry's Avatar
casualweaponry at 08/14/2008 17:07
I own the 360 version, but may grab this one too. The price is certainly right.
Toad's Avatar
Toad at 08/14/2008 17:17
I just bought it for $40 ;_;
I have the buyer's remorse...
TrailerParkJesus's Avatar
TrailerParkJesus at 08/14/2008 18:04
How many gigs? HOW MANY GIGS?!!
SLiFE's Avatar
SLiFE at 08/14/2008 18:13
Hot damn... no way I can pass it up for 30 bones.
Gameboi's Avatar
Gameboi at 08/14/2008 18:17
I love the idea. As time passes and older games become harder to find, this will rock.
ninjikiran's Avatar
ninjikiran at 08/14/2008 18:31
convenient yes, awesome yes, want it now? well Gamestop is also selling it for $29.99.

Great idea though, one day someones going to be browsing PSN and see this. Perhaps they missed it before but having it at your instant fingertips might get interested.

Personally though wipeout hd is whats getting my moolah.
Dan CiTi's Avatar
Dan CiTi at 08/14/2008 19:12
HOLY SHIT.
manta's Avatar
manta at 08/14/2008 19:39
I'll definitely pick this up when it gets released.

But not off PSN.

I'm sure the hard copy will drop down to $30 as well. That's where I'll be.
Bond's Avatar
Bond at 08/14/2008 20:10
^^^ Already is. I just bought it at Best Buy for $40 CDN thinking that was ok. Saw it this evening at EB for $30 CDN and thought it might be an error so I bought thinking I'd return the one I bought from Best Buy. Then I get home to read this. Son of a...

I'll be way more likely to play the game if I don't have to switch the disc.
Deckard's Avatar
Deckard at 08/14/2008 20:16
We just went to DEFCON 4 toward the Great Retailers vs. Publshers war.
GohanGVO's Avatar
GohanGVO at 08/14/2008 20:55
I expect more games to be released this way, and joint digital/retail releases to be an eventuality.
GohanGVO's Avatar
GohanGVO at 08/14/2008 20:56
Ack, lack of an edit button. ;_;

I meant to add that it will be more common for a variety of developers and publishers instead of just Sony (and now EA).
hpv's Avatar
hpv at 08/15/2008 01:07
It'd be more exciting if the game weren't already $29.99 new on Blu-Ray. Also, going to need a major hard drive upgrade if they're planning on having people download all these full-sized games.

In some ways I'm glad to see that they're pushing digital distribution, but I'd be a lot happier about it if there were actually an advantage over buying physical copies or if there were any chance that new games would be standardized at $30. But if they're moving toward a model that has digital copies costing as much as physical I'm not interested and this will make at least two games that are the same price on disc as they are to download (Warhawk Greatest Hits being the other).
Takeshi's Avatar
Takeshi at 08/15/2008 11:07
If Sony can release PS3 games in the store then why the hell aren“t they releasing all those great PS2 games?
Emrah's Avatar
Emrah at 08/15/2008 11:34
@linuxguy: Why would blu-ray be 'exposed'? Because Burnout paradise is PS3 exclusive?? Yeah, right..
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