Ridge Racer 6 off to factory

Earlier today, Microsoft announced its definitive launch lineup of games for the Xbox 360, including Namco's Ridge Racer 6. Now Namco is confirming that the game has gone gold, has entered reproduction, and will be ready to rev up on the new system from the word "go."

With Ridge Racer 6, Namco has taken its popular racing series and added new ways to play, both in single-player and multiplayer modes. Driving solo, gamers can take to the streets in the World Xplorer mode, entering races against computer-controlled opponents to unlock new cars, routes, and other prizes. The single-player mode also gives players a chance to master the game's new nitrous system, tweaked since its debut in the PSP's Ridge Racer. Now racers can save multiple nitrous boosts and use them in succession or ues them all at once to approach ludicrous speed.

For the first time in the series, gamers can take the race online with support for up to 14 players swapping paint over Xbox Live. There's also the ability to download "ghost car" data to race against other players' best times.

Ridge Racer 6 has some competition when it comes to taking home the checkered flag of the 360 launch. Electronic Arts' Need for Speed Most Wanted and Microsoft Game Studios' Project Gotham Racing 3 will both be vying for racing enthusiasts' day-one dollars. For more on Ridge Racer 6, check out GameSpot's latest coverage.