Great Scott!

Criterion Games has announced that as part of their 2009 additional content assault for Burnout Paradise, four new Legendary Cars will be available for purchase as separate vehicles, or as a discounted pack.

The first details and screenshots have been announced, and any "Generation X" gamer should recognize the Jansen 88 Special immediately as a knock-off of the famous DeLorean DMC-12 modified by a certain Doc Brown.

Further evidence that Criterion knows how to market content to our stereotype, hitting the Boost button will leave twin trails of fire (but you won't disappear).

Hit the "Read More" link for another screenshot and more details...unless you're chicken.

Read More...

As promised, Criterion has posted details of the next downloadable content coming to Burnout Paradise. This new mode is called Burnout Paradise Party, and to be brutally honest, I really don't think it will appeal to very many gamers. (The above image is a real screenshot of the updated interface for the Party mode...blech.)

To begin: this new mode is what Criterion calls "pass the pad"...meaning that up to eight players will try challenges one at a time, then hand over the controller as the game picks the next random player. No splitscreen nor online co-op here...

And worse: this will be the first downloadable Paradise content that will not be free. A price point hasn't been set yet, but how can you put a price on...well, never mind - you'll see what I mean...

Click here for a gallery of flowery Partyness...if you dare!

8 Player Co-Op racer Burnout Paradise is getting four new DLC updates -- "packs" -- next year. Presumably, they will carry the same price as the last three packs, but Criterion is keeping mum on that note.

Speaking of Criterion, their official site/blog has been updated to accomodate this announcement. While the new iteration isn't much more appealing to the eye than the previous, at least the stats are working now.

Details for the first DLC pack will be posted on October 31st. Be sure to check back here for an update!

UPDATE: Sure enough, the next set of content was detailed today, October 32st. See the new post here.

Criterion Games has announced on their blog that the Burnout Paradise free update originally codenamed "Davis" is now available on the Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network.

With it, you get:

• Pick from 2 motorcycles featuring male or female characters and start on a whole new progression to earn your Bike License.

• 38 new against-the-clock race events – Burning Ride and Midnight Ride.

• A brand new in-game 24 hr day / night cycle that impacts traffic density and available events.  (It's fully customisable – you can make it day/night/change the clock speed – it's up to you.)

• Dynamic weather brings an all-new look to Paradise City

• And if that's not enough, we've got 70 more Freeburn Challenges too

The update clocks in at 445 MB for Xbox 360, and 120 MB for Playstation 3 (thanks, Rogue_hunter!).  Of course there's plenty of co-op challenges to be had in the game, and with 70 more hopefully there are some new unique ones.

The free goodies just keep coming!

Evil Avatar has their review up for Burnout Paradise on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.  The game features and 8-player co-op mode available online. 

Online freeburn with 8 people is a blast with over 300 challenges for online play, not to mention the ability to create your own races with or without checkpoints.

Those few complaints aside the online mode is a friggin blast to play. With a ton of unique and fun challenges to complete with friends, it'll keep you entertained for hours. The other great thing is the mug shot aspect of the game. If you have the Vision Cam on 360 or Eye Toy on PS3 you'll be able to send a picture to an opponent online when they take you down. It's a fun little way to increase the banter that goes on.

Once you get online with a bunch of friends Paradise becomes a totally different experience that you lose hours of time to. I personally can’t remember another game that was so much fun to play online. Some of the guys from Evil Avatar and I were doing barrel rolls at the beach and we just kept doing them. Sometimes someone would accidentally hit someone else just as they were ready to attempt the roll, but everyone laughed it off and just enjoyed the experience.

Sounds like this is one you won't want to miss online.  I know from personal experience that the online challenges definitley require teamwork to accomplish, and some are very unique and inventive.  My personal favorite challenge?  Jumping from opposite ends of a bridge and colliding in mid air!