Burnout and Need for Speed developer Criterion has released six gamejam titles for free to raise money for charity.
The games are available to download on Criterion’s website alongside a message of encouragement to donate to the British Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and The Red Card.
The games are Rock Hardcore, which is described as “a roguelike Rick Dangerous”; Steak 4, a voxel-based endless runner; QuaranTea (“make bubble tea and throw it to your customers”); Purrfect Cleaning Company (“program robot vacuum cleaners to clean a house without crashing into each other.”); Daydream (“Mr Zuzu makes a run for it during nap time, but what’s waiting for him in the garden?”); and Arcadron Arena, a drone flying simulator.
Criterion boss Matt Webster told Eurogamer the Guildford-based studio has held gamejams for years and have always thought about releasing its gamejam titles, but simply assumed the powers that be at EA would block such a move, so didn’t ask. This time, however, Criterion decided to ask the question – and the answer was yes.
“When the question was asked two or three months ago, it felt like the world was changing,” Webster said. “And I think EA has been changing. EA has been changing for a long time.”
Criterion has had to be mindful of the reality of publishing a video game in releasing these gamejam games to the public. For example, there are implications for a developer releasing software that has not gone through the rigours of testing players will be used to. And you have to be sure you’re only using software you’re allowed to.