Once upon a time, the only console racing game serious car nuts would even consider playing was Gran Turismo. But then, just six years ago, Microsoft's Forza Motorsport blew the market wide open.

Forza Motorsport 4 (Microsoft)Though similar in their realistic themes, focus on car customization and immense stable of vehicles, the two series quickly settled into different niches: the scalpel-like Turismo, precise, rewarding, and perhaps a little cold, and Forza, the chainsaw, noisy, reeking of gasoline, and full of the thrill of a barely controllable, highly-tuned machine.

Now Forza 4 is ready for the public, tearing its way towards store shelves as you read this -- and it's already off to an incredible start. Set to capitalize on the rather muted reception of the latest Gran Turismo, numerous reviewers are already calling it the greatest simulation racer of its generation. Yowza.

By TOMOKO A. HOSAKA, Associated Press

Sony's Tokyo HQ (AP)TOKYO — Sony said Wednesday intruders staged a massive attempt to access user accounts on its PlayStation Network and other online entertainment services in the second major attack on its flagship gaming site this year.

The Tokyo-based company temporarily locked about 93,000 accounts whose IDs and passwords were successfully ascertained by the blitz. Sony sent email notifications and password reset procedures to affected customers on the PlayStation Network, Sony Entertainment Network and Sony Online Entertainment services.

Pet Powers Activate!A house isn't a home until it's filled with barks, meows, chirps and, uh, whinnies. The Sims 3: Pets delivers just that by letting you adopt, cuddle, and breed a variety of animal companions.

But if simply letting Mr. Whiskers wander around your Sim house isn't very compelling, check out the game's new Karma powers. The new expansion (releasing Oct. 18) will let you toy with your fuzzy new world in all sorts of ways: sometimes helpful, sometimes destructive. Just like Mr. Whiskers.

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Nolan Bushnell (Getty Images)Nolan Bushnell is a man with big ideas.

In 1972, he founded Atari, laying the foundation for the video game industry we know today. Five years later, he bought a pizza chain from Warner Communications and built it into Chuck E. Cheese.

Now, the serial entrepreneur and tech visionary says mind control could be the next big step for video games.

Plenty of people are celebrating Netflix' decision to scrub plans to separate its DVD-by-mail and streaming services, but nowhere are the cheers louder than at the corporate HQ of leading video game rental company, GameFly.

In his note announcing the reversal of the controversial decision, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings made no mention of earlier plans to add video games to the company's rental collection -- and many think the plan might have been abandoned.

"We are going to keep Netflix as one place to go for streaming and DVDs," he wrote on the company's blog. "This means no change: one website, one account, one password… in other words, no Qwikster. … We value our members, and we are committed to making Netflix the best place to get movies & TV shows."

Notice that video games were distinctly left out of that message.

The Need for SpeedIt's been a bit of a slow year for racing game fans, but things are about to shift into overdrive. Microsoft's long-awaited Forza 4 arrives next week, with new Need for Speed and Mario Kart games not far behind. What other racing games deserve a spin in your console?
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Has Pictionary stopped being a pleasure? Trivial Pursuit lost its thrill? We hear you. Popular though they are, classic board games can be, in fact, pretty boring.

The good news is that for every classic game taking up space in your games closet, there's a suitable upgrade waiting at the local store. Switch things up with these five games that capture the appeal of the classics, but throw in twists that make all the difference.

Electronic Arts, which has struggled with its basketball titles for the past couple of years, now has another hardwood woe: One of the game's all-time greats.

Bill Russell (Getty Images)Former Boston Celtic center Bill Russell has sued the company over the use of his likeness in its "Tournament of Legends" feature in the NCAA basketball franchise.

Russell, who was named NBA MVP five times and remains the winningest player in history with 11 championship rings, alleges his image was used without permission and without compensation. He's seeking to block future sales of the game and receive a share of the profits from previous ones.

His beef isn't solely with EA. Russell, 77, is just as upset at the NCAA itself for licensing out his likeness from his college days without paying him. Russell led the University of San Francisco to championships in 1955 and 1956.