Need for Speed Unbound

Project: AAA Videogame

Role: Producer

About

I was lucky enough to work as a Producer intern at Criterion games EA on the new Need for Speed game over a period of 12 months. During this time I gained knowledge in the production of a AAA game from inception to release. I was given responsibility to help produce the expansions Volumes 3 and 4 to the online multiplayer component of the game. The biggest contribution being the new Linkups mode, a drop in drop out goal based cooperative mode (a first for the franchise) which requires players to complete tasks together before the time limit runs out. I helped to test and produce the game from inception to completion, even making impacts to the games world, the mode’s design layout and green lighting which goals made the cut in order to get the mode as polished and fun to play as possible.

My tasks included the following:
 

• Creating/updating jira tasks for the team and giving priority order whilst making sure tasks were within scope and accomplished within the time frame
•  Organising Studio wide playtests to test out the software and also organising Team based playtests
• Tracking and logging in bugs found in said playtests 
• Tested the main software for bugs and logged any issues for QV 
• Creating the weekly studio newsletter
• Helping the team to improve by giving suggestions and solutions 
• Presenting to the studio milestone and sprint accomplishments  
• Giving feedback on payout balancing for drift races
• Helping the design team to come up with solutions to issues brought up for player experience
• Tracking quality of life improvements and documenting the patch notes for the Volume 2 release 
• Attending meetings with stakeholders 
• Filling in content briefs for PR (questions and answers to be released to the players)
• Attending the Guildford games festival to host the Need for Speed Unbound stall, this is where I spoke to the public grabbing interest in the game with playtests whilst answering any questions they had. Originally I was slotted for one hour but I enjoyed it so much that I stayed the entire day!
• Worked in Frostbite Engine to create a prototype race route (not used in the final product)