Need for Speed: Underground

Multiplayer

EA astonished the entire gaming world by supporting online gameplay in the Windows version of Need for Speed UndergroundNFSU, but leaving out LAN play. Often, games only get LAN play because developers don't want to deal with latency issues and different networks. EA on the other hand, developed a "Cross Platform Online Gaming" feature, which allows gamers to compete online on different platforms (e.g. PS2 vs PC), but there's a catch: no LAN play on PC. This means that players have go through an external network connection just to join a server sitting right next to them.

Soon after the game's release,a tool making LAN play possible appeared on various fansites. It also features an option to play over the Internet without using EA's server.

Server shutdown

As of 13th January 2006, The EA servers for the game are no longer in service. Of course this does not effect peer-to-peer games. The PS2 servers were closed on 1st November 2007.

Awards

• 4Players
  • 2003 – Best PC Racing Game of the Year
• Computer Gaming World
  • March 2004 (Issue #236) – Racing Game of the Year
• GameStar (Germany)
  • February 13, 2004 - Best PC Sports Game in 2003 (Readers' Vote)
• PC Games (Germany)
  • Issue 02/2004– Best Sports/Racing Game in 2003 (Readers' Vote)
• Shacknews
  • 2003 - WTF!? Award (more details in "Multiplayer" section)

Information also contributed by Mr._Sefe.