For all of you PC Burnout players (and if you’re not one, you should be), Criterion have released a patch allowing you to download the previously announced DLC for the game from the Burnout Store. The patch can be downloaded directly from here, and players with the EA download manager should already have it.

The DLC includes the Jansen 88 Special, the Hunter Manhattan Spirit, the Hunter Cavalry Bootlegger, the Montgomery Hawker Mech, the Carson Extreme Hotrod, and the Carson GT Nighthawk. Also available is the Toy Cars pack, with tiny versions of existing cars. Just head tot the Burnout Store to access them.

Criterion haven’t finished with the free stuff, after all. The PC version of the acclaimed racer Burnout Paradise, due for release in February 2009, will be released completely free for a trial period (although there is no word on how long you’ll be able to play). Not happy with a demo, Criterion have decided that they “want all [their] PC players to be sure it runs perfectly on their system, before they commit to buying it. [They] also love the game and feel confident that if you try it, you’ll want to sign up for more.”

The trial is pretty much the whole game on a timer, although there are obviously a few cutbacks to save for the full game. However, the game does feature the 8-player “Freeburn” multiplayer mode and around 120 races and events. Perhaps “Paradise” was a better name choice than we first anticipated.

It’s Friday, and of course this means that Criterion have announced another awesome addition for its acclaimed racer Burnout Paradise. This time it’s the Carson Hotrod- Criterion say “it’s the fastest car in Paradise City – a stripped down, ultra low, overpowered straight line monster.” Not content with that, they also explain that “it handles more intuitively and drifts more realistically than any other car,” adding that it will be the first of two cars to revamp the boosting system in the game. No details as to how, but it certainly seems that this is a car Burnout fans are going to have a lot of fun with. Hit the jump for the another image.

Criterion have announced a brand new set of downloadable cars for their acclaimed racer, Burnout Paradise, following last week’s announcement of a hover car. The Toys available include the Carson GT Concept P12, the Kreiger Racing WTR, the Hunter Takedown 4×4 and the Hunter Manhatten. There are a further five unnanounced cars in the pack, Criterion reports.

After the hover car, was this really that much of a surprise? Criterion are really going overboard with excellent looking downloadable content for this game, and this pack is no exception- a toy monster truck? What self-respecting racing fan doesn’t want to drive one of those around Paradise City? We look forward to the next DLC update from Criterion next week!

That’s right, a freaking hover car. This one’s called the “Jansen 88 Special”, and it is very special indeed. Criterion have modified a “Jansen P12″, and my, does it look snazzy. Not only can it hover at head height, but it has clearly been modeled on the DeLorian DMC-12 featured in the iconic “Back to the Future” trilogy, making it twice as cool. One more pic after the jump.

The car comes as part of a new pack of DLC set to be released in 2009. The pack features four cars but sadly there is no information on them yet other than their names: The Cavalry Bootlegger, Manhattan Spirit and the GT Nighthawk. Criterion say to keep watch for updates on their website. Hopefully they’ll be as awesome as this.

Obama is not just campaigning for the president of these United States in the real world, but in the virtual word as well. First his ads appeared in Burnout Paradise, but there are actually 18 games you can find him campaigning in.

Through the Xbox LIVE service, Obama is campaigning in games such as Guitar Hero III, The Incredible Hulk, NASCAR 09, NBA Live 08 and NFL Tour. Ads are not found in the PlayStation 3 versions of these games since they are through Microsoft’s ad service.

Look out for Obama during your next gaming session. You never know where he’ll pop up.

Source: reuters.com

Haven’t bought Burnout: Paradise yet? Have a Playstation 3, an internet connection, and $29.99 you’re willing to part with? Try to hold on to them until a to-be-determined date in the Fall, when Burnout: Paradise in its entirety will be available for download.

And when we say in its entirety, we mean it. It’s reportedly going to come with all the updates pre-loaded. Those of us who’ve owned Playstation 3 for a length of time are aware of how painfully annoying update after update can be, even if they do add significant features.

For those of you who don’t mind running out to your local brick-and-mortar, you can buy a regular old boxed version of Burnout: Paradise for the same price of $29.99. You should probably also be aware of the sweet updates Criterion is planning, like trophy support and the inclusion of motorcycles and planes. Yeah, that’s right, friggin’ planes in Burnout, eventually!

You can also read the changelog of their latest update, Cagney, available here.

Criterion Games love code names, and here are a few you’ll be hearing more of in the coming weeks and months: Cagney, Eastwood, Betty Davis. Aside from sounding like a crazy film cast, they should be every bit as exciting in their own right. Read on to crack the code.

Cagney is penciled in for around late June and includes a slew of new features, such as custom in-game soundtracks, 70 new freeburn challenges, plus a new homepage featuring local time, paradise city weather (including real cities), a calendar, and streaming player. Eastwood is set to expand the already sizeable city by adding a huge skyscraper-filled area.

Betty Davis is looking to be one of the first ‘paid for’ packs and is due for release in August. For the first time in Burnout history, you will be able to ride around Paradise City on motorbikes. Another major addition is the ability to drive around at night, which will feature realistic diminished traffic as the sun sets.

Criterion also gave away one last tasty little tidbit by hinting that planes may eventually find their way into Paradise City. However Criterion was quick to stress that they may or may not actually make it into the game. All the same, it’s an exciting prospect.

Source: Criterion Games

Looking at the official website for Burnout Paradise, to hit the Playstation 3 and Xbox360 early next year, we can spy some exciting news. We knew a demo was coming, but it’s nice to see it coming so early.

On Criterion’s official website there is a newly revealed “Countdown to Demo Day” which has 8 days remaining. This would place the demo on Thursday Decemeber 13th. Thursday – a typical Playstation Store update day, and since Burnout Paradise has the PS3 as it’s lead platform it should be coming there first.

Whether the demo will also be on Xbox LIVE is a question I can’t answer. It depends on how vigorous talks between Criterion, Sony and Microsoft have been. Bring on the crashing!