Need for Speed: World (previously known as Need for Speed: World Online) is the 15th installment in the long-running racing video game Need for Speed series published by Electronic Arts. This iteration has been co-developed by EA Black Box and EA Singapore. It is the first free-to-play MMORG (Massively Multiplayer Online Racing Game) in the Need for Speed series (though Motor City Online was originally conceived as a Need for Speed game) and is available exclusively for Windows-based computers. World was released worldwide on July 27, 2010. However, people who ordered the Need for Speed: World Starter Pack had an early head-start in the game, which started on July 20, 2010.
Starter Pack
The Starter Pack is a small bundle that costs $20. Players who purchased it before the release got a favoured login, a free orange and black Mazdaspeed 3, removed level 10 cap, and 8000 Speedboost points. This pack is only purchasable until December 31, 2011.
Before September 8, 2010, the Starter Pack had to be purchased in order to remove the level 10 limit. Although many gamers felt that they had been ripped off after the level 10 cap was removed on September 8, 2010. EA gave those who purchased a Starter Pack a free one-week rental of the Audi R8, Lamborghini Gallardo, and BMW M3 GTR as consolation.
On January 21, 2011, a new Starter Pack became available. For the same price as the earlier pack, players get the Toyota Supra, BMW Z4, and Porsche Cayman S. Also included is 8000 Speedboost, $60,000 in-game cash, 10 day 2x Rep Amplifier, and a favoured login.
Gameplay
The game's enviroment is a mixture of of Rockport from Need for Speed: Most Wanted and Palmont City from Need for Speed: Carbon. Player advance through the game by participating in race events and engaging in police pursuits.
Cars handle in a similar manner as Need for Speed: Most Wanted, although vehicles will loose significantly more speed if they collide with an obstacle.
The players progress is measured by their current level with a cap upon reaching level 50. Players can unlock more events by reaching higher levels.
Players are offered reward cards after completing an event or finishing a police pursuit. This is similar to the reward card scheme in Need for Speed: Carbon. Players can only choose one of five cards. The rewards given to the player can be either power ups, additional in-game currency, additional reputation, or high level performance parts.
Reputation
Reputation (aka Rep) is the amount of experience the player has in Need for Speed: World. The amount of reputation a player has is indicated by a large blue bar along the top of the screen. A player will increase their driver level by earning a certain amount of reputation.
Players can earn reputation by completing Circuit, Sprint, Pursuit, Team Escape, and Treasure Hunt events. The amunt of reputation a player earns differs depending on the specifics of each event type.
- Circuit - Players earn more reputation by completing the race in a high finishing position and successful use of power ups.
- Sprint - Same as Circuit
- Pursuit - Players earn more reputation depending on the total amount of disabled police vehicles, cost to state, pursuit length, and infractions when they evade.
- Team Escape - Players earn reputation depending on how many players cross the finish line. Players earn maximum reputation if all 4 players cross the finish line.
- Treasure Hunt - Players earn reputation by collecting all 15 gems that have been hidden around a certain location. Gems are hidden in a different location every day.
Free Roam
The roads in World are a mix of Rockport and Palmont City. Both cities and their districts are connected by highways. The weather system in World doesn't feature rain or nighttime racing but does cycle daytime from sunrise to sunset.