With weekly News Wrap-ups and special in-depth editorials on Xbox.com, GameDAILY keeps you up to date on the latest Xbox and video game industry news as well as hot game announcements.

GameDAILY Xbox News Wrap-up:

Xbox Shifts into High Gear with Forza

By James Brightman, GameDAILY News Editor

Forza Motorsport™ has crossed the finish line and is now in stores, just waiting to rev its engine in your Xbox® console.

The amazingly realistic and extremely customizable racing game features 230 damageable models from more than 60 automotive manufacturers. Aspiring tuners can customize their rides with new paint schemes, body kits, rims, spoilers, fender flares, scoops, and decals from more than 150 aftermarket partners.

Forza Motorsport also includes a robust online mode that offers online downloadable ghosts, race replays, car setups, clubs, and trading. Aspiring drivers can track their progress against the competition on more than 1,400 online leaderboards. If you love racing games and own an Xbox, you should give Forza a test drive.

Also available from Groove Games and developer Digital Extremes is the first-person shooter Pariah™, which has a single-player campaign and several multiplayer modes. The much-touted Make-And-Play (MAP) Editor allows for the sophisticated sort of level creation typically only available to developers, but is still simple enough for anyone to use.

"We're really excited to see gamers get their hands onPariah this week," said Jon Walsh, CEO of Groove Games. "It's a great year for the first-person shooter genre.Pariah is a must-have for any gamer who loves the rush of fast-action fun gameplay, and with Pariah's MAP Editor, the replay-ability is infinite."

Fans of the tactical warfare game Full Spectrum Warrior™ will be happy to hear that THQ is preparing a sequel for late 2005. Full Spectrum Warrior™: Ten Hammersfeatures the same modern-tactical warfare of the first game, and adds player-controlled coalition forces, mechanized units, enhanced character abilities, and improved enemy A.I. An enhanced multiplayer mode includes head-to-head and co-op objective-based missions.

"We're proud of the technological and design innovation that has fueled the success of the Full Spectrum Warrior brand," said Pandemic Studios CEO Andrew Goldman. "Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers will build on that innovation with features like interior environments, sniper units, player-controlled mechanized vehicles, and a robust multiplayer experience, all while maintaining the authenticity of infantry squad command."

A new installment in the popular SSX snowboarding franchise is due to shred some trails on Xbox this winter. SSX On Tour (working title), currently in development at EA Canada, allows players to create a snowboarder or skier, then take the character on "the Tour" and compete against the SSXcast. "SSX On Tour is a completely fresh take on theSSX franchise," said Steve Barcia, senior producer on the game. "Building on the core speed and trick gameplay that has been so successful in the past, you can now choose your way to become a mountain rock star."

And that's a wrap. See you next week!

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