Days of Thunder: NASCAR Edition Message Board

We feel you. You've been waiting all year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the formative "romantic drama" Days of Thunder. Well, hang tight, your opportunity is coming -- just maybe not before 2011: Paramount Digital Entertainment and Piranha Games today assured patient fans that Days of Thunder: Arcade will be released on Xbox Live Arcade "this winter" (which means it could show up on a late-December Wednesday, or it would otherwise debut in early 2011).

Days of Thunder: Arcade is, naturally, an arcade-style romantic drama -- er, make that: racing game. Under the guidance of Rowdy Roddy Burns (was that the name?), players compete in an unlicensed racing circuit, careful to watch for "reckless, aggressive driving" by the movie's star, Cole Trickle, who is not voiced by Mr. Cruise in the game.

The PS3-exclusive licensed version, Days of Thunder: NASCAR Edition, adds a bit more authenticity to the "pedal-to-the-metal, adrenaline-fueled arcade racing" with the likes of modern day wheelmen Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart, among others. Earlier this month, NASCAR Edition was dated for release on PSN this fall -- that's right, in time for the anniversary! We figured we'd save the best news for last. You're welcome.

Get into the head of Rowdy Burns.

Let's hit the tires and light the fires.

Let's get this out of the way: I've never seen Top Gun nor Days of Thunder. I know, I know -- I'll turn my Man Card in at the door. The point I'm trying to make is: If there are in-jokes or sly references in either game, I wouldn't notice.

That said, Paramount Digital has recruited Jack Epps Jr., screenwriter of both films, so the company certainly seems serious about fan service. Setting aside their cultural significance -- emphasis on "cult" -- what I saw were two simple, playable arcade experiences.

Paramount Digital Entertainment and NASCAR give players their shot to take on characters from the film and today's top NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers.