With more than 100,000,000 copies sold worldwide, Need for Speed is the world’s number one racing video games published by Electronic Arts (EA). The series released its first title, The Need for Speed in 1994. Initially, Need for Speed was exclusive to the fifth generation video game consoles, eventually featuring in all seventh generation consoles by 2008. The titles consist of racing with different cars on various tracks, with some titles including police pursuits in races .
Considering the history of creation of the NFS series, it was originally developed by Distinctive Software, a video game studio based in Vancouver, Canada. Prior to Electronic Arts' purchase of the company in 1991, it had already created popular racing games such as Stunts and Test Drive II: The Duel. After the purchase was made, the company was renamed Electronic Arts (EA) Canada. In late 1992 it began developing the Need for Speed series . EA Canada continued to develop and expand the Need for Speed franchise up to 2002, when another Vancouver-based gaming company, named Black Box Games, was contracted to continue the series with the title Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2. Black Box Games was acquired by Electronic Arts shortly before the game's publication and the company was renamed Electronic Arts (EA) Black Box and became a subsidiary of EA Canada. Since its renaming, EA Black Box has been the series primary developer . In June 2012, it was announced that Criterion Games are in full control of the Need for Speed franchise , following Black Box's restructuring. However, in August 2013, it was announced that Swedish developer Ghost Games will be in control of the Need for Speed series .
So, first released in August 31, 1994, Need for Speed (NFS) was the game that started it all, when tracks in NFS were created with Soft Image. Need for Speed was released on the fledgling 3DO console, - and later for PC, Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn, - it was the first true 3D racing game. The NFS series was developed by several studios including Canadian company EA Black Box and British company Criterion Games.
Like all racing games, the Need for Speed series features an extensive list of cars divided into four categories: exotic cars, muscle cars, tuners, and special vehicles. Originally the series took place in international settings. But beginning with Underground, the series has taken place in fictional metropolitan cities. Starting with Underground, traffic is a fixed obstacle added during a race.
As racing games, the Need for Speed (NFS) series employ the same fundamental rules and have similar mechanics. In spite of this, the tone and focus of the games have varied significantly during the history of their development. For example, in some games the cars can suffer mechanical and visual damage, while in other games the cars cannot be damaged at all. Since Need for Speed: Underground, the series has integrated car body customization into game-play. The concept of car tuning has evolved with each new game since then. While in the earlier games in the series, it focused mainly on the mechanics of the car rather than the looks of it. Besides, with the release of Need for Speed: Underground, the series shifted focus from the racing of exotic sports cars on scenic point-to-point tracks, evocative of open road racing to import/tuner subculture, and street racing in an urban setting. To-date, this theme has remained prevalent in most of the following games.