The only positive thing about Tony Hawk: RIDE is its soundtrack, which is lengthy and includes tracks from Murs, Santigold, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Wolfmother, The Commodores, and more, including that "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" song from The Big Lebowski. Obviously that's not enough to make Tony Hawk: RIDE feel like it's worth anything close to its $120 price tag. While the Tony Hawk franchise has been down on its luck lately, and was probably in need of a reboot as dramatic as this, the execution is such a miserable failure that it manages to splash even more mud on Tony Hawk's legacy. I'm left with a firm belief that whichever side of the Tony Hawk/Activision partnership has the out clause in the contract should just exercise it and part ways for good. Enough is enough.

The Tony Hawk franchise was in dire need of a reboot, and hopping on the peripheral craze generated by Guitar Hero and Wii Fit wasn't a bad idea. The board itself is solid, which leaves only the execution to blame. Tony Hawk Ride never came together. It straddles an uncomfortable line between casual and hardcore without being satisfying in either respect and it lacks the polish and presentation necessary to cover up the gameplay shortcomings. Kids might have fun hopping around on the board and watching the game play itself on casual mode and the soundtrack is indeed a great one. If you're looking for a realistic skating experience, you'd be better off buying a skateboard and heading outside. This one just doesn't cut it. File this one under "gimmick."

Using the Wii console’s popular motion controls, Nintendo Holiday Mall Experience participants can play activities like archery and basketball in Wii Sports Resort™, explore the four-person multiplayer excitement of New Super Mario Bros. ™ Wii, step onto the Wii Balance Board™ accessory to experience new activities and enhanced features in the fitness-themed Wii Fit™ Plus, and more. They can also pick up a Nintendo DSi system to sample hand-held games such as Style Savvy, which lets players manage their own virtual boutique, the puzzle-based Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box™ and the highly anticipated The Legend of Zelda™: Spirit Tracks after its launch on Dec. 7.

Electronic Arts Inc. today announced an all-new Team Racing pack for the critically-acclaimed Need for Speed SHIFT. The content pack takes online racing to the next level with an action-packed new race mode and five renowned racing cars - all for free (Need for Speed SHIFT and Xbox LIVE or PlayStation Network account required). 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 video game and entertainment system. The pack will be released for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system on December 3rd in Europe and on December 10th in North America. The Team Racing mode brings a fresh new challenge to SHIFT by completely redefining online racing. In this mode, two teams of up to six racers will battle against each other for online supremacy. Individual driving strategy and playing it safe won’t work as team tactics and 200 mph split-second decisions are required to push your team to the podium. As part of the new content, players will also get access to these legendary racers: • 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 427 • 1967 Shelby GT-500 • 1969 Dodge Charger R/T • 1971 Dodge Challenger R/T • 1998 Toyota Supra Mark IV The Team Racing content pack is custom-made for Need for Speed SHIFT, a spectacular racing game originally released in September 2009. The game introduces a brutal first-person crash dynamic and a signature cockpit view that delivers a true driver’s experience. The game further personalizes the experience through the all-new driver profile -- a unique persona based on the driving skill and style of each player. With a perfect ‘10’ score from GameSpy.com and G4TV.com, and 90+ scores from IGN.com, Official Xbox Magazine, PlayStation: The Official Magazine, Team Xbox.com, Game Daily.com, Gametrailers.com and more, Need for Speed SHIFT is the highest rated Need for Speed game in years. Need for Speed SHIFT is now available on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, mobile and coming soon on the iPhone. More information can be found at www.needforspeed.com or follow us on Twitter at NeedforSpeed.

Team17 can confirm that “Worms 2: Armageddon” has just received a title update on Xbox Live Arcade. The former no.1 selling title has benefitted from an extensive range of improvements, fixes, feature requests from the community and additional play balancing. The update is available now and is free of charge to all owners of the game.

The PC version of licensed shooter Aliens vs Predator will support dedicated servers, according to a new statement made by British developer Rebellion. "Despite rumours, Rebellion has always been planning to support dedicated servers for Aliens vs Predator PC and we can now officially confirm that this is the case. Rebellion has always appreciated fan support," said Rebellion CEO Jason Kingsley. "We're really looking forward to the release of Aliens vs Predator as much as you guys are!"

SCEA announced today that Brazilians will finally be able to get their hands on a PS2 along with 14 gaming titles. Get this – the console will run folks R$799 ($445) and games will cost R$119 ($66) and R$99 ($55).

Content: Jurassic: The Hunted Demo Price: Free Availability: United States Dash Text: Jurassic: The Hunted is an epic, story-driven first-person shooter set on a dark, mysterious island that connects the modern world with the age of dinosaurs. Players take on the role of Craig Dylan, a weapons and survival expert, hired to protect a research team sent to study the strange temporal energy of the island and recover whatever is left of the expedition lost on the island over twenty years earlier. Every minute is a fight for survival as Dylan must scavenge weapons, defend barricades, and battle titanic dinosaurs to return to his own time.

Yes, PC is the smallest percentage in terms of how much sold on each platform but that hardly means anything other than the PC is just the smallest market. The PC version of Modern Warfare 2 has actually outsold the PC version of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare in it's first week. Making it the most successful PC version. Essentially, all this percentage proves is that the console versions sold great, not that the PC version sold poorly, because that's actually not the case. The PC version has done tremendous in it's first week, better than our previous game.

Atari, Inc., one of the world's most recognized videogame publishers, and Cryptic Studios(TM), creators of the acclaimed Champions Online, City of Heroes and City of Villains, announced today the open beta dates for the highly anticipated Star Trek Online for PC. Starting January 12, 2010 thru January 26, 2010 fans will be able to explore the Star Trek Universe and play the first-of-a-kind massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). Open beta keys will be given out on a first come first serve basis. Players and fans can access the open beta by visiting www.startrekonline.com. "We are excited to announce the dates for the open beta phase as this is one of the final steps in launching Star Trek Online to the public," said Craig Zinkievich, Executive Producer on Star Trek Online. "We are looking forward to the launch of our first-of-a-kind MMORPG with anticipation and excitement and we expect Star Trek Online to explode onto the scene, giving fans and gamers a Star Trek experience like no other." Taking place in the year 2409, Star Trek Online boasts extraordinary features and lets fans both new and old experience unparalleled adventures. Players will have the opportunity to become a high ranking Starfleet officer and will participate in missions that will take them into the depths of space, across exotic planets and even inside other starships. Star Trek Online offers total customization, where every ship players command can be customized, from color to construction. Additionally, anyone can create their own species in Star Trek Online, as well as customize the look of their avatar's uniform. For more information, please visit: www.startrekonline.com

For those who already own the game, the Lost in Nightmares episode and costume pack will be downloadable starting February 17 on the Xbox 360 and February 18 on the PS3. A second, as-yet untitled episode and costume pack will follow for the 360 and PS3 on March 3 and 4, respectively. The additions will also include a new Mercenaries Reunion mode that will add eight new characters to the action-heavy RE5 feature, each with their own weapon loadouts. The publisher today also announced Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition, a $50 package set to launch March 9. The Gold Edition includes the acclaimed survival horror game and all of its add-ons, as well as the newly announced updates set for early next year. Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition will be released on a single Blu-ray disc for PS3 owners, while the Xbox 360 edition of the game will come with a code to download the extra content.

Today's giveaway (Day 2):
A retail copy of Need For Speed: SHIFT for the XBOX 360.

What do you have to do?
Tell us your favorite make/model of car, pictures if you have them too!

The weekend is here - time to plan out the games you are going to play, as well as plan on the games you are going to buy as gifts before next weekend. What is the hot gifts you want to get/give? What are you going to play?

Kaz Hirai said the company is "studying the possibility of introducing a subscription model, offering premium content and services, in addition to the current free services."

Updates Get Uno for new low price of $7.99 Applications adhocParty Play Ad Hoc PSP games online via your PS3! Downloadable Games Peggle ($9.99 to purchase) PSOne Classics Resident Evil 2 ($5.99) Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver ($5.99) Game Demos (free) Smash Cars Demo Add-on Game Content Peggle Nights ($4.99) PAIN: Flavor Flav ($1.99) High Velocity Bowling: Psychedelic 60’s Ball Pack ($0.99) High Velocity Bowling: Techno Modern Ball Pack ($0.99) Way of the Samurai 3 Accessories (free)

The first gametype – “gtnw” – is Global Thermonuclear War. To play, simply capture the objective: a nuclear bomb. When captured, the bomb detonates… The second gametype – “oneflag” – is One Flag CTF. To play, capture the flag in the middle and bring it back to your base. The third gametype – “vip” – is VIP. To play, defend the VIP. Or, if you’re on the other team, kill the VIP. These gametypes were only tested on Afghan and Favela. They may not work for all maps.”