Need for Speed SHIFT becomes a team sport

Electronic Arts revealed an all-new Team Racing pack for Need for Speed SHIFT to be released via PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Marketplace. The content pack features a new race mode and five racing cars - all for free. The Team Racing pack is the first downloadable content for Need for Speed SHIFT and will be available worldwide on December 1st on the Xbox 360 and on the PlayStation 3 on December 3rd in Europe and on December 10th in North America.

The Team Racing mode allows two teams of up to six racers race against each other for online supremacy. As part of the new content, players will also get access to some legendary racers including the 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 427, 1967 Shelby GT-500, 1969 Dodge Charger R/T, 1971 Dodge Challenger R/T, and the 1998 Toyota Supra Mark IV.

Look for it on your favorite console system in early December.

Resident Evil 5 DLC, Gold Edition details

Capcom revealed a variety of details on the downloadable content and a brand new Gold Edition of Resident Evil 5 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The downloadable content will be released as two new episodes, along with new costumes, and a new mode called The Mercenaries Reunion. The Mercenaries Reunion mode will offer 8 new playable characters and some weapon load outs. The DLC along with the original game will be released at retail as Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition. Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition will be available for $49.99 as a single Blu-ray disc for the PlayStation 3 or as a DVD with a token for the downloadable content for Xbox 360.

The first new episode, “Lost in Nightmares, finds BSAA agent Chris Redfield and partner Jill Valentine investigating Ozwell E. Spencer’s hideaway. Spencer, the evil mastermind and co-founder of Umbrella Corporation, has been hiding a new evil deep within the basement of his mansion. Chris and Jill discover this and enter into the catacombs beneath the mansion. To be released at about the same time, are new costume for Chris and Sheva. They don’t do anything other than make you like poretty,

The new mode, reimagining of Mercenaries Mode, gives players new playable characters and weapon load outs which provide additional challenges. Each piece of downloadable content will contain two new playable characters, while the Gold Edition will offer all eight.

Lost in Nightmares and Costume Pack 1 will be released Feb. 17, 2010 in Europe and the U.S. on Xbox 360 and Feb 18 on PS3. The Xbox 360 versions of Episode 2 and Costume Pack 2 will be released on March 3, 2010 in both regions; while the PS3 versions will be released March 4, 2010. Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition hits North America on March 9 and Europe March 12, 2010.

Dragon Age DLC in Dec.

Most of us haven’t even scratched the surface of BioWare’s Dragon Age: Origins, and yet BioWare seems overly anxious to gives us more content to play. The company is kind of like an overly excited parent rushing their child through presents on Christmas morning. Meanwhile, we’re still trying to enjoy the original game’s various nuances and secrets.

But despite that, BioWare is moving forward with downloadable content in Dec. The first bit of DLC, Return to Ostagar, allows players to go on a quest to collect the mighty arms and armor of the once great King Cailan in Ostagar, the site of the Grey Wardens’ darkest hour. Besides these mythical arms and weapons, players will learn the secrets of Ferelden’s fallen king. Players will discover King Cailan’s secret political agenda and go behind enemy lines to revisit a place that many believed was forever lost to history. This location is particularly forboding because it was here that the Grey Wardens were almost wiped out.

Return to Ostagar will be available for $4.99 on the PlayStation Store, for 400 BioWare Points on the PC (yeah, BioWare points. Really) and 400 Microsoft Points on the Xbox 360 in North America. Return to Ostagar will be released this Holiday season worldwide.  Figure out what BioWare Points are by visiting dragonage.com.

Diner Dash makes a mad rush to Xbox Live Arcade

Hudson Entertainment’s Diner Dash is now on Xbox LIVE Arcade for a mere 800 MS points. The game features updated HD graphics and 8-person multiplayer mode. Like the casual games on which it is based, this XBLA version of Diner Dash lets players take direct control of Flo as she runs around like a crazy person to seat patrons, take orders, deliver food, receive payment and bus tables as efficiently as possible within the time limit allowed. Players can also team up with up to seven other players in multiplayer across four diners in Team Dash or go 1 on 1 in head-to-head mode.

For more information on this new game, visit www.hudsonent.com/dinerdash/ or hop on Xbox Live and grab the trial version.

Tropico 3 demo hits Xbox Live

Kalypso Media has released a demo for Tropico 3 on Xbox Live today, giving would-be dictators a chance to rule with an iron fist on Microsoft’s console. The game demo is available for download Worldwide from Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Gold Subscribers and will be available soon for Silver Subscribers.

The demo features two full missions from the Xbox 360 version of the game called “Banana” and “Second Chance.” In “Bananas” the abdication of the old president of St. Helena provides the perfect opportunity for your rise to power. Now as the head of state it is your job to lead this small island nation to a new age of prosperity. In “Second Chance” a band of rebels led by your twin manage to drive you out of your own island. Taking the entire treasury, you hitch a ride on an old fishing boat, seeking refuge in your summer residence on the island of El Acantilado - but your most loyal followers are close by. Your goal in this mission is to build up the island and bring prosperity to it.

Grab the demo from Xbox Live Marketplace now. For more information on Tropico 3, visit kalypsomedia.com. Be sure to check out Troy Goodfellow’s excellent Tropico 3 PC Review before you go.

Gyromancer now on Xbox Live Arcade, Steam

Square Enix and PopCap Games have released their first collaborative game development effort, Gyromancer, on XBLA for 1200 points and on Steam for $14.99. Gyromancer is a strategic puzzle RPG that offers a deep storyline, a multifaceted leveling system and 50 monsters to call upon during battle.

Players assume the role of Rivel, a summoner who ventures through the enchanted Aldemona Wood. Each stage contains its own objectives, from defeating beasts that block the player’s way, to solving puzzles before time runs out. Rivel can learn to summon dozens of the beasts he encounters, bending their power to his will and commanding them in battle. Hidden within each stage are a number of rewards earned for completing feats great and small.

Look for the game on Steam and Xbox Live Arcade today.

Xbox Live Facebook-Twitter update deployed

You have been hearing about it for what seems like an eternity, but today the update to Xbox Live that adds support for Last.fm, Twitter and Facebook integration, streaming HD movies and more is now live on Xbox Live. Simply logging in will give you all these features and more. Hopefully this is the last time we’ll ever have to mention this to you too.

With today’s update Facebook users will be able to update their status to share what they are doing (what movie they are watching, game they are playing, etc.), connect with friends and view Facebook streams, check out status updates and photos, compare Xbox LIVE and Facebook friends lists, etc. in a custom-built interface for Xbox 360. Twitter users can expect similar functionality. allowing you to share tweets and status updates from that popular service.

Microsoft will also launch Zune video in streaming high definition (1080p) with 5.1 channel surround sound - an experience that you can share with up to seven friends. Last.fm support is in there as well, allowing Xbox Live users to explore radio stations, skip, ban or love tracks and more. Finally Xbox LIVE will get News and More, a new section of the Inside Xbox channel that delivers content from MSNBC, The New Yorker and Dilbert.

Get the update by simply logging on to Xbox Live today.