NFS: Shift 2 Unleashed Isn't Competing with ‘Scientific’ Gran Turismo 5

The upcoming Need for Speed: Shift 2 Unleashed racing simulator won't necessarily compete with Gran Turismo 5, as the racing simulator from Polyphony Digital takes a very scientific approach, while Shift 2 is focused on entertainment, according to the game's producer, Jesse Abney.

Need for Speed: Shift 2 Unleashed will be the second installment in Electronic Arts' racing simulator Shift spin-off series, and is slowly branching out from under the Need for Speed banner.

The game was confirmed with the release of last year's Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit arcade racer, and EA executives went on the offensive against established simulator series like Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport, calling them "sterile and bland".

Now, Shift 2 producer Jesse Abney talked with VideoGamer and confessed that because of their main focuses, his game and Gran Turismo 5 can never really compete, because of GT5's scientific approach to racing simulation.

"I've never really considered GT5 a game," Abney said. "A game to us equals fun, equals entertainment - and Need For Speed has always been about entertaining and fun."

"You play GT5, you get a scientific approach to driving. Physics simulations are often subjective, and again - we find we're not presenting the same kind of physics simulation in the race day environment that GT5 is doing in their driving simulation."

Shift 2, on the other hand, will be about making the player feel the thrills and the excitement of driving in motorsport races.

"We've never really professed to compete against them, we've just said that we want to deliver a fun, exciting, visceral, entertaining racing experience."

Need for Speed: Shift 2 Unleashed wants to improve on the original Shift title, and deliver one of the most exciting racing experience in the industry, putting players in the shoes of professional racing drivers competing in various championships all over the world.

The game is developed by UK-based Slightly Mad Studios and will arrive on the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on March 24, in Europe, and March 29, in North America.