Criterion Games worked on an idea called “Need for Speed: Millionaire,” studio director Alex Ward said today on Twitter.
“Before [Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit], we toyed with an idea called NFS Millionaire. After a lottery win, you purchased all of the Supercars for you and your folks,” Ward said.
“It was speculated to be Freeburn meets Top Gear challenges,” he added. “We struggled with it for just a little before binning it off and make Hot Pursuit instead.”
Ward said Criterion worked in this concept for around six months and had a version of the sport that was playable before it was ultimately tossed out.
“Do not be disturbed, we never threw away anything good,” Ward said. “It was mostly poor. I happily take the blame. Making an analogous game again never interests me.”
Also on Twitter today, Ward revealed other game concepts. He said before Criterion made Burnout Paradise, the developer toyed with the belief of a Burnout game set along Route 66.
“We got so far as renting cars to do it for real,” Ward said.
Lastly, Ward said he worked on a semi-open-world Medal of Honor game that will have allowed gamers to play because the Germans.
“I once spent a month or so writing up a Medal of Honor game where you played because the Germans. For the 1st half. Invading England,” he said. “i used to be a massive MoH fan back within the day. Would have loved a crack at it. Would have gone open world a little bit too. And been very British at core.”
In April, Ward revealed that Criterion Games can be moving faraway from racing games, saying “after over a decade of constructing racing games, it is time to make something new.”