NFS Carbon demo speeds out

A few Electronic Arts franchises have already made their second round in the next generation--NBA Live, Madden NFL, NHL, and FIFA. But come the end of the month, one series outside of EA Sports goes for a second lap on Microsoft's Xbox 360. Need for Speed Carbon, the follow-up to Need for Speed Most Wanted, will be released on October 31.

To give gamers a taste of what's to come, EA today released a demo of NFS Carbon on Xbox Live Marketplace. Speed freaks will get a chance to sample three rides--Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 1X MR Edition, Chevrolet Camaro SS, and Lamborghini Gallardo--in the 1.06GB download.

Racers will also be able to try out the new auto sculpting feature, which lets gamers tinker with hoods, bumpers, spoilers, and other knickknacks. There are three types of races to burn rubber on: drift races, circuit races, and an unlockable head-to-head canyon race with the trash-talking Kenji.

Need for Speed Carbon is rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older and will also be released on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, PC, DS, and Game Boy Advance. PlayStation 3 and Wii versions are also currently in development. For more information, read GameSpot's previous coverage.