Electronic Arts has teamed up with GAME to create the ultimate videogame driving challenge, the Need For Speed SHIFT UK Championships, offering race fans the chance to win a Nissan 350gt. With heats taking place from 28th August to 20th September, the final rounds took place this weekend.
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With the initial buzz about the release of Need for Speed Shift slowly easing off, clever PC modders have started looking for ways to further improve Slightly Mad Studio's newest title.

Basis for all modding is a tool named QuickBMS that allows packing and unpacking of Shift's files. More info on the tool and support can be found in the XeNTaX forums.

One of the first guys to take advantage of the new possibilities is Tobias Kluge who has released two Need for Speed Shift mods. The first one reduces or completely removes the depth of field blur at high speeds as you can see on the comparison shots below. The second reduces the AI aggression to 55%, resulting in much cleaner racing. Optionally, the mod also reduces the grip level for those who feel that the cars in Shift are too grippy.

Those of you who are still struggling with the right settings for their wheels might want to try Techade's FFB profile. The guys knows what he's doing, being the author of the RealFeel plugin for rFactor. And if you have other issues with Shift, EA has posted a Q&A that provides solutions to the most common problems.
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The first patch for Need for Speed Shift is now available. It covers a LAN-mode for the PC version.
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Nine Over Ten 9/10 has posted up details on Mission One for the Need for Speed M3 Mission Sweepstakes, held by EA and Need for Speed.

There will be 34 daily winners today and 33 will get a copy of Need for Speed SHIFT, while one lucky winner will walk away with an Xbox 360 console AND a wireless racing wheel.
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EA's Need for Speed Shift has driven its way to the top of the UK All Formats Chart, with the PS3 version taking the top position.

Topping last week's new entry Guitar Hero 5, Need for Speed: Shift, which marks a departure for EA's racing series, debuts at number one this week.

Developed by the London Studio, Slightly Mad, the game brings a simulated feel to the series, rather than its previous arcade roots.
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The demo for Need Need for Speed Shift is now available for PC. It's 1.1 GB big.
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Nine Over Ten 9/10 has posted up a new Need for Speed trailer and details on how to get invites to an exclusive Need for Speed: Shift event on the 17th of September in The Geisha House, Hollywood Boulevard.

Not only do participants get to try out the game, but they have the chance to speak with members of the Need for Speed team.
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Electronic Arts Inc. Today announced the track list that will propel players to the finish line in Need for Speed SHIFT when it hits retail stores in the UK on September 18. The SHIFT soundtrack features some of today's most influential hip hop and rock artists including Kanye West, The Prodigy, Kasabian, and MSTRKRFT. Each song was hand selected to provide a pounding score that matches the intensity and bone-crushing power of this year's Need for Speed.
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Need for Speed SHIFT, the all-new authentic Racing game in the Need for Speed series, will hit stores on September 18th 2009. And for those who can't wait until then, Electronic Arts have revealed a very special treat.
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Slightly Mad Studios' Andy Tudor has suggested that Gran Turismo 5's damage modelling isn't "quite so realistic" as Need For Speed: Shift's.
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