EA is having a big day today, with 3 major releases in Dragon Age: Origins (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC), Need for Speed Nitro (Wii), and Lego Rock Band (Xb360, PS3, Wii, DS). Dragon Age: Origins is an epic Fantasy-RPG with diverse choices and quests. One interesting “hook” of the game is that players’ starting positions in the story and location in-game will be based on their character design choices. The game is developed by BioWare (Mass Effect, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic), a company that has built a very respectable reputation for aiming for ambitious targets in their games and hitting them. Need for Speed: Nitro is a Wii-exclusive racing game where players can race at various locations around the globe. This is the first Need for Speed title in recent years for Wii developed by EA Montreal. Fans of the series have considered the past few iterations to be less than stellar, and look for EA Montreal to output a better version this year. After seeing Need for Speed: Shift’s innovative new approach and success, hopefully Nitro will carry the torch just as well. Following up on the Rock Band centering on The Beatles from September EA is today releasing Lego Rock Band, a title intended for younger gamers. Lego Rock Band’s music library includes E-rated pop songs from Elton John, The White Stripes, and Bon Jovi.

The other big music game hitting stores today is Activision’s Band Hero (Xb360, PS3, Wii) which is seen as LEGO Rock Band’s direct competition. Band Hero also features a pop-heavy library with songs from Taylor Swift, No Doubt, and 3 Doors Down.

Another title which may or may not be considered a “new” release is the Star War Force Unleashed Ultimate Sith Edition (Xb360, PS3, PC) from LucasArts, which includes two extra missions from the Original Trilogy set in Tatooine and Hoth and retails for $39.99. Additionally, PSP owners will also be able to experience the Star Wars universe today in Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron.

Dirt 2 for PC is coming out today, a few weeks after the consoles versions. The reason for this is that Codemasters took time to develop the game for Windows 7 and DirectX 11.

When considering how many copies of Guitar Hero have been sold during the life of the franchise, 1 million seems like a paltry number. Activision has moved 38 million copies within the franchise, with 7 million alone sold this year. However, no other game or game franchise can claim to have 1 million certain fans.

A large part of the appeal of Guitar Hero’s Facebook page is the amount of GH content that people can access while logged into the social networking platform. The page includes the latest information on the Guitar Hero games, fan stories about their Guitar Hero experiences, as well as exclusive info on past, current, and future games.

Two vehicles outfitted with 13 TVs and 120GB PS3 systems will travel the west and east coast, where fans will be able to try out FIFA Soccer 10 and possibly win prizes at each stop. One prize is Sony’s new PSPgo handheld.

The tour will have an integrated marketing component, with live Twitter feeds, updates from Facebook fan pages and for Playstation.com.

See if the tour will stop at a city near you:

FIFA Soccer 10 Tour List

For more information on the EA Sports FIFA Soccer 10 Tour, visit http://www.facebook.com/EAFIFA10Tour or at the Tour’s Twitter Feed at http://twitter.com/EAFIFA10Tour.

North Americans gamers will have to wait for this football er, soccer, game until October 20th, 2009. Fans across Europe have been drawn to experience FIFA 10’s deep online feature set in record numbers. Since launch, more than 10 million gaming sessions have been played online, with over 155,000 gamers playing online simultaneously during peak playing hours.

For more information about FIFA 10 visit www.FIFA.easports.com.

· 2Pac – “All Eyez On Me” vs. The Aranbee Pop Orchestra – “Bittersweet Symphony (Instrumental)”

· 50 Cent – “Disco Inferno” vs. David Bowie – “Let’s Dance”

· 50 Cent – “Disco Inferno” vs. InDeep – “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life”

· Afrika Bambaataa – “Zulu Nation Throwdown” vs. Freedom Express – “Get Down”

· Beastie Boys – “Here’s A Little Somethin’ For Ya” vs. DJ Shadow – “The Number Song (2009 Version)” (Produced and mixed by DJ Shadow)

· Beastie Boys – “Intergalactic” vs. Blondie – “Rapture”

· Beastie Boys – “Lee Majors Come Again” vs. Daft Punk – “Da Funk” (Produced and mixed by Cut Chemist)

· Beck – “Where It’s At” vs. DJ Shadow – “Six Days (Remix ft. Mos Def)”

· Bell Biv DeVoe – “Poison” Beat Juggle

· Bell Biv DeVoe – “Poison” vs. Beastie Boys – “Intergalactic” (Produced and mixed by DJ AM)

· Bell Biv DeVoe – “Poison” vs. Cameo – “Word Up!”

· Benny Benassi – “Satisfaction” vs. Tiësto – “Elements Of Life”

· Billy Squier – “The Big Beat” vs. N.E.R.D. – “Lapdance” (DJ-Guitar mix)

· Black Eyed Peas – “Boom Boom Pow” vs. Benny Benassi – “Satisfaction”

· Bobby “Blue” Bland – “Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City” vs. 2Pac – “How Do You Want It”

· Bobby “Blue” Bland – “Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City” vs. Connie Price & The Keystones – “Fuzz And Them”

· Boogie Down Productions – “Jack Of Spades” vs. David Bowie – “Let’s Dance” (Produced and mixed by DJ Shadow)

· Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers – “Bustin’ Loose” vs. The Zombies – “Time Of The Season” (Produced and mixed by DJ Shadow)

· Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers – “Bustin’ Loose” vs. Young MC – “Bust A Move”

· Common – “Universal Mind Control (U.M.C.)” vs. Masta Ace – “Jeep A** Gutter (Aaron LaCrate & Debonair Samir RMX)” (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)

· Cypress Hill – “Insane In The Brain” vs. Classics IV – “Spooky”

· Cypress Hill – “Insane In The Brain” vs. David Axelrod – “The Edge”

· Daft Punk – “Around The World” vs. Young MC – “Bust A Move”

· Daft Punk – “Da Funk” vs. N.A.S.A. – “Strange Enough ft. Karen O, ODB & Fatlip”

· Daft Punk – “Megamix 1”

· Daft Punk – “Megamix 2”

· Daft Punk – “Robot Rock” vs. Hashim – “Al Naafyish (The Soul)” (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)

· Daft Punk – “Robot Rock” vs. Queen – “We Will Rock You”

· Daft Punk – “Short Circuit” vs. Boogie Down Productions – “Jack Of Spades”

· Daft Punk – “Technologic” vs. Gary Numan – “Cars”

· Daft Punk – “Television Rules the Nation” vs. No Doubt – “Hella Good”

· David Axelrod – “The Edge” vs. Eric B. & Rakim – “Eric B. Is President”

· Dizzee Rascal – “Fix Up, Look Sharp” vs. DJ Shadow – “Organ Donor (Extended Overhaul)”

· Dizzee Rascal – “Fix Up, Look Sharp” vs. Justice – “Genesis”

· DJ Shadow – “Six Days (Remix ft. Mos Def)” vs. D-Code – “Annie’s Horn”

· Eminem – “My Name Is” vs. Beck – “Loser”

· Fedde Le Grand – “Put Your Hands Up For Detroit” vs. Sandy Rivera and David Penn – “I Can’t Stop (David Penn Remix)”

· Foo Fighters – “Monkey Wrench” vs. Beastie Boys – “Sabotage” (DJ-Guitar mix)

· Foreigner – “Juke Box Hero” vs. DJ Z-Trip ft. Murs – “DJ Hero” (Produced and mixed by DJ Z-Trip)

· Foreigner – “Juke Box Hero” vs. DJ Z-Trip ft. Murs – “DJ Hero” (DJ-Guitar mix, produced and mixed by DJ Z-Trip)

· Gang Starr – “Just To Get A Rep” vs. Mobb Deep – “Shook Ones, Pt 2” (Produced and mixed by J. Period)

· Gorillaz – “Feel Good Inc.” vs. Blondie – “Atomic”

· Grandmaster Flash’s – “Boom” vs. “Tap” (Produced and mixed by Grandmaster Flash)

· Grandmaster Flash, DJ Kool, DJ Demo – “Here Comes My DJ” vs. Gary Numan – “Cars” (Produced and mixed by Grandmaster Flash)

· Gwen Stefani – “Hollaback Girl” vs. Gorillaz – “Feel Good Inc.”

· Gwen Stefani – “Hollaback Girl” vs. InDeep “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life” (Produced and mixed by DJ AM)

· Gwen Stefani – “Hollaback Girl” vs. Rick James – “Give It To Me”

· Herbie Hancock – “Rockit” Beat Juggle

· Herbie Hancock – “Rockit” vs. N.E.R.D. – “Lapdance” (Produced and mixed by Grandmaster Flash)

· InDeep – “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life” vs. Cameo – “Word Up!”

· Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back” vs. Gang Starr – “Just To Get A Rep” (Produced and mixed by DJ Yoda)

· Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back” vs. Third Eye Blind – “Semi-Charmed Life” (DJ-Guitar mix)

· Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back” vs. Third Eye Blind – “Semi-Charmed Life”

· JAY-Z feat. Pharrell – “Change Clothes” vs. 2Pac – “All Eyez on Me”

· JAY-Z – “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” vs. Eminem – “My Name Is”

· JAY-Z – “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” vs. Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back”

· JAY-Z – “Excuse Me Miss” vs. Rick James – “Give It To Me”

· Jean Knight – “Mr. Big Stuff” vs. Masta Ace – “Born To Roll”

· Jurassic 5 – “Jayou” vs. Billy Squier – “The Big Beat”

· Jurassic 5 – “Jayou” vs. Herbie Hancock – “Rockit”

· Kid Cudi – “Day ‘N’ Nite” vs. Black Eyed Peas – “Boom Boom Pow”

· Kool Moe Dee – “How Ya Like Me Now” vs. Reel 2 Real featuring The Mad Stuntman – “I Like To Move It”

· Little Richard – “Tutti Frutti” vs. Shlomo – “Beats” (Produced and mixed by DJ Yoda)

· M.I.A. – “Paper Planes” vs. Eric B. & Rakim – “Eric B. Is President” (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)

· M.I.A. – “Paper Planes” vs. Wale – “Lookin’ At Me”

· Marvin Gaye – “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” vs. David Bowie – “Let’s Dance”

· Marvin Gaye – “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” vs. Gorillaz – “Feel Good Inc.”

· Motörhead – “Ace Of Spades” vs. Noisia – “Groundhog” (DJ-Guitar mix)

· N.A.S.A. – “Strange Enough ft. Karen O, ODB & Fatlip” vs. Isaac Hayes – “Theme From Shaft”

· Noisia – “Groundhog” Beat Juggle (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)

· Paul van Dyk – “Nothing But You” vs. Sandy Rivera and David Penn – “I Can’t Stop (David Penn Remix)”

· Public Enemy – “Shut ‘Em Down” vs. Beck – “Where It’s At”

· Public Enemy ft. Zakk Wylde – “Bring The Noise 20XX” vs. Justice – “Genesis” (Produced and mixed by DJ Z-Trip)

· Public Enemy featuring Zakk Wylde – “Bring The Noise 20XX” (DJ-Guitar mix)

· Q-Tip – “Good Thang” vs. Billy Squier – “The Big Beat” (Produced and mixed by J. Period)

· Queen – “Another One Bites The Dust” vs. Beastie Boys – “Brass Monkey” (Produced and mixed by DJ Z-Trip)

· Queen – “Another One Bites The Dust” vs. Daft Punk – “Da Funk”

· Rihanna – “Disturbia” vs. Kid Sister – “Control”

· Rihanna – “Disturbia” vs. The Killers – “Somebody Told Me” (DJ-Guitar mix)

· Rihanna – “Disturbia” vs. The Trammps – “Disco Inferno”

· Shlomo – “Beats” vs. Billy Squier – “The Big Beat”

· Street Sweeper Social Club – “Fight! Smash! Win!” vs. Beastie Boys – “Intergalactic” (DJ-Guitar mix)

· Tears For Fears – “Shout” vs. DJ Shadow – “Six Days (Remix ft. Mos Def)”

· Tears For Fears – “Shout” vs. Eric B. & Rakim – “Eric B. Is President” (Produced and mixed by DJ Jazzy Jeff)

· Tears For Fears – “Shout” vs. Eric Prydz – “Pjanoo”

· The Aranbee Pop Orchestra – “Bittersweet Symphony (Instrumental)” vs. LL Cool J – “Rock The Bells” (Produced and mixed by DJ Jazzy Jeff)

· The Scratch Perverts Beats and Pieces (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)

· The Killers – “Somebody Told Me” vs. Eric Prydz – “Pjanoo”

· Vanilla Ice – “Ice Ice Baby” vs. MC Hammer – “U Can’t Touch This”

· Vanilla Ice – “Ice Ice Baby” vs. Paula Abdul – “Straight Up”

· Wale – “Lookin’ At Me” vs. Black Eyed Peas ft. Tippa Irie – “Hey Mama”

· Weezer – “Beverly Hills” vs. Evidence, The Alchemist, Aceyalone, Rakaa & 88 Keys – “Fresh Rhymes And Videotape” (DJ-Guitar mix)

· Wild Cherry – “Play That Funky Music” vs. Gang Starr – “Just To Get A Rep” (DJ-Guitar mix)

Queens Of The Stone Age Track Pack – October 1

- “Mexicola”

- “Avon”

- “How to Handle a Rope”

Billy Squier Track Pack – October 8

- “The Stroke”

- “Everybody Wants You”

- “When She Comes to Me”

Wolfmother Track Pack – October 15

- “Pilgrim”

- “California Queen”

- “Cosmic Egg”

Classic Rock 2 Track Pack – October 22

- The J. Geils Band – “Freeze Frame”

- Peter Frampton – “Show Me The Way (Live)”

- Triumph – “Lay It On The Line”

All Hallows’ Eve Track Pack – October 29

- GWAR – “Gor Gor”

- Marilyn Manson – “Beautiful People”

- The Misfits – “Astro Zombies”

Queens Of The Stone Age and Wolfmother sound like a good addition to Guitar Hero 5 but I don’t know if I want to be playing along with GWAR. Then again it will be fitting with Halloween just around the bend.

This brings Rock Band’s song catalog number to roughly…alot. If you cannot find a song to like in Rock Band, then something is seriously wrong with you. I mean really, there is like a bajillion songs. Ironically, EA’s Brutal Legend comes out the same day as the Metal Track Pack. I am sure there is a joke or “cool saying” to be made here (I think EA is already calling the month “Rocktober”) but I am too slow on the uptake to know.

Nonetheless, here is what the Metal Track Pack brings:

All That Remains – Two Weeks
At the Gates – Blinded by Fear
Black Tide – Shockwave
Blue Oyster Cult – Transmaniacon MC*
Bullet For My Valentine – Waking the Demon
Children of Bodom – Are You Dead Yet
Evile – Thrasher
Godsmack – I Stand Alone
The Haunted – DOA
Hawkwind – Master of the Universe*
I Mother Earth – Levitate*
In This Moment – Forever
Judas Priest – Screaming for Vengeance
Lacuna Coil – Closer
Lamb of God – Laid to Rest
Motörhead – Killed by Death*
Nazareth – Hair of the Dog*
Queens of the Stone Age – 3’s & 7’s
Rage Against The Machine – Bulls On Parade*
Yngwie Malmsteen – Red Devil

*Denotes exclusive track

Why is that one dude about to play soccer in a zipped-up pullover? Is is street soccer in winter? I’m so confused.

In other news:

• MotorStorm Arctic Edge – A Behind-th…
• EA announces Skate 3
• Brandon Roy the faceman for NBA 10:…

Ok, I can’t really explain the concept of the Guitar Hero music library better than Activision can, so I’m just gonna give ya what they say:

Beginning September 1, Guitar Hero® fans can consolidate many of their favorite songs into one place and play them with the latest Guitar Hero® 5 features. The Guitar Hero Music Library will allow fans to create unique set lists from among the hundreds of songs that will be available when Guitar Hero 5 launches on September 1. In addition to the 85 tracks on Guitar Hero 5, fans will immediately be able to import select songs from Guitar Hero® World Tour. Later this month, select tracks from Guitar Hero® Smash Hits will also be available for the GH Library. In addition to the 150 downloadable songs currently available, new songs will be added each month.

So, it looks like you’ll be able to set up your own song lists so that you can keep rockin’, song after song. And the ability to add some of the songs from GF: World Tour and GH: Smash Hits is pretty sweet.

“Got all that? Good.” If you don’t, you’re the one who loses. Haha!

Check out the schedule of what’s going down.

Downloadable
Content – September 3

The
Rolling Stones Live Track Pack

• “Prodigal Son
  (Live)”
• “You Gotta Move
  (Live)”
• “Under My Thumb
  (Live)”
• “I’m Free
  (Live)”
• “(I Can’t Get
  No) Satisfaction (Live)”

Downloadable
Content – September 10

Street
Sweeper Social Club Track Pack

• “100 Little
  Curses”
• “Fight! Smash!
  Win!”
• “Somewhere in the
  World It’s Midnight”

Downloadable
Content – September 17

AFI
Track Pack

• “Beautiful
  Thieves”
• “Girl’s Not
  Grey”
• “The Missing
  Frame”

Downloadable
Content – September 24

• Editors – “Munich”
  
• The Faint – “Geeks
  Were Right”
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs -
  “Dull Life”

Guitar Hero World Tour Song Imports

• 30 Seconds To Mars -
  “The Kill”
• The Answer – “Never
  Too Late”
• At The Drive-In -
  “One Armed Scissor”
• Beastie Boys – “No
  Sleep Till Brooklyn”
• Black Label Society -
  “Stillborn”
• Blink-182 -
  “Dammit”
• Blondie – “One Way
  or Another”
• Bob Seger & The Silver
  Bullet Band – “Hollywood Nights”
• Bon Jovi -
  “Livin’ on a Prayer”
• Coldplay -
  “Shiver”
• Creedence Clearwater
  Revival – “Up Around The Bend”
• Foo Fighters -
  “Everlong”
• Hushpuppies -
  “You’re Gonna Say Yeah!”
• Interpol – “Obstacle
  1”
• Jimmy Eat World -
  “The Middle”
• Lacuna Coil – “Our
  Truth”
• Lenny Kravitz – “Are
  You Gonna Go My Way”
• Lynyrd Skynyrd -
  “Sweet Home Alabama (Live)”
• The Mars Volta -
  “L’Via L’Viaquez”
• Motörhead -
  “Overkill”
• Nirvana – “About a
  Girl (Unplugged)”
• No Doubt -
  “Spiderwebs”
• NOFX – “Soul
  Doubt”
• Pat Benatar -
  “Heartbreaker”
• Rise Against -
  “Re-Education (Through Labor)”
• Silversun Pickups -
  “Lazy Eye”
• Smashing Pumpkins -
  “Today”
• Steely Dan – “Do It
  Again”
• The Steve Miller Band -
  “The Joker”
• Sting – “Demolition
  Man”
• The Stone Roses -
  “Love Spreads”
• Stuck In The Sound -
  “Toy Boy”
• Sublime -
  “Santeria”
• Ted Nugent -
  “Stranglehold”
• Wings – “Band On The
  Run”

Guitar
Hero Smash Hits Song Imports

• AFI
  - “Miss Murder”
• Anthrax
  - “Caught In A Mosh”
• The
  Exies – “Hey You”
• Extreme
  - “Play With Me”
• Foo
  Fighters – “Monkey Wrench”
• Iron
  Maiden – “The Trooper”
• Joan
  Jett & The Blackhearts – “I Love Rock ‘N Roll”
• Kiss
  - “Rock And Roll All Nite”
• Living
  Colour – “Cult Of Personality”
• Lynyrd
  Skynyrd – “Free Bird”
• Mötley
  Crüe – “Shout At The Devil”
• Nirvana
  - “Heart-Shaped Box”
• Pat
  Benatar – “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”
• Poison
  - “Nothin’ But A Good Time”
• The
  Police – “Message In A Bottle”
• Queens
  Of The Stone Age – “No One Knows”
• Reverend
  Horton Heat – “Psychobilly Freakout”
• Rush
  - “Yyz”
• The
  Sword – “Freya”
• Twisted
  Sister – “I Wanna Rock”
• Wolfmother
  - “Woman”

• Top 5 video game articles on The Onion

The game will include Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and a special, previously unreleased live recording of “Lithium” when it comes out September 1st.

I’d also like to see Novoselic as a character. Maybe he could chuck his bass up in the air…

In other news:

• XBOX 360 Elite drops $100 in price