Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box Announced, Options Added

238w ago - This February, Electronic Arts will release Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360, an edition of Criterion's open-world racer that packs all of the game's downloadable content along with a new offline multiplayer mode and other tweaks.

Dubbed Burnout Paradise Party, the offline multiplayer mode enables up to eight players to compete in challenges, one at a time, by passing the controller. For those that already own Burnout Paradise, the offline multiplayer mode will be sold as DLC.

The Ultimate Box will also add a number of oft-requested features, such as a restart option added for racing, easier control of the early vehicles, and a PS3-only social networking tool referred to as Burnout Paradise Network.

EA did not specify if those changes will be available to those that already own Burnout Paradise, which arrived on PS3 and Xbox 360 this past January. The Ultimate Box release will mark the game's promised debut on PC.

Press Release: EA Announces Burnout Paradise The Ultimate Box
Friday October 31, 7:00 am ET
Experience the Ultimate Social Driving Game in One Box

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Criterion Games, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) studio announced today Burnout™ Paradise The Ultimate Box - a special edition release that includes the award-winning Burnout™ Paradise game plus the previously-released Burnout™ Paradise Cagney and Burnout™ Paradise Bikes content updates, and the brand new Burnout™ Paradise Party content.

Burnout Paradise Party is an offline multiplayer mode designed to allow up to eight friends to "pass-the-pad" in dozens of Burnout challenges. For players that already own Burnout Paradise, Burnout Paradise Party will be sold separately as downloadable content.

Burnout Paradise Party brings the social fun of Burnout Paradise into an offline environment where friends can pass the pad to play competitively. There are dozens of quick-fire, turn-based challenges where players compete in different stunt, speed and skill events.

In addition to Burnout Paradise Party, Burnout Paradise The Ultimate Box will include a host of new features including a restart option added for racing, easier control of the early vehicles, and for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system the new Burnout™ Paradise Network. Burnout Paradise Network is another Burnout Paradise social innovation that enables players to keep track of friends and keep up with all the latest Burnout news from either inside or outside the game.

"Whether you're an experienced player or a gaming novice, Burnout Paradise is a game that anyone can enjoy," says Pete Lake, Senior Producer at Criterion Games. "With The Ultimate Box, we aimed to deliver the most fun, high quality and high value experience possible to players both online and in the living room."

Burnout Paradise Party will be on display and available for free play at EA's booth during the London Games Festival in Trafalgar Square from Oct 31 - Nov 1, 2008.

Developed at Criterion Games in Guildford, England, Burnout Paradise The Ultimate Box is rated E10+ by the ESRB and 7+ for PEGI. Burnout Paradise The Ultimate Box will be available in February 2009 on the PLAYSTATION 3 and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and marks the debut of the game on PC. For more information about the game, please go to http://www.criteriongames.com or http://info.ea.com.