NFS Shift UK Championship announced

Ahead of the release of Need for Speed: Shift on September 18th, publisher EA has teamed up with the UK’s leading games retailer GAME to run a nationwide competition that takes place in key GAME outlets.

Kicking off on August 28th, heats will take place in 49 stores across the country with the winners gathering for a head-to-head face off at Thorpe Park on September 26th.

The winner stands to walk, or drive, away with a brand new Nissan 350Z GT sports car, though spot prizes at individual stores are also up fro grabs.

With Need for Speed: Shift, we set out to create a racing game that pushes the genre and delivers something never before seen in a Need for Speed title,” EA UK marketing director Stuart Lang stated.

GAME’s customer and brand director Martyn Gibbs added: This is a great chance for GAME customers to come in store and try an exciting new game before it’s released. The gameplay is fast and incredibly realistic. Lots of budding racers are going to be really excited to come in and test their racing skills against other racers around the country.

And to top it all, the prize is amazing. It’s another example of GAME going the extra mile for customers.”

Here’s the where’s and when’s for the UK heats:

LONDON and SOUTH EAST
Tunbridge Wells, Royal Victoria Place – 28th August
Maidstone, Week St. – 29th August
Bluewater, Upper Rose Gallery – 30th August
Thurrock, Lakeside – 31th August
Chelmsford, Exchange Way – 4th September
Ilford, Exchange Shopping Centre – 5th September
Romford, Liberty 2 Centre – 6th September
Chatham, Pentagon Centre – 11th September
Bromley, The Glades – 12th September
Beckton, Gallions Reach – 13th September
London Oxford St, Oxford St – 18th September
Brent X, Brent X – 19th September
Walthamstow, Walthamstow – 20th September

SOUTH
Plymouth, New George Street – 28th August
Taunton, Fore Street – 29th August
Cardiff, Queen Street – 30th August
Carmathen, Greyfriars – 31st August
Bedford, Midland Road – 4th September
Luton, Arndale Centre – 5th September
Slough, Queensmere Centre – 6th September
Basingstoke, Festival Place – 18th September
Reading, The Oracle – 19th September
Swindon, Regent Street – 20th September

MIDLANDS
Banbury, Castle Centre – 28th August
Coventry, Arena Park – 29th August
Merry Hill 123, Brierly Hill – 30th August
Merry Hill 217, Merry Hill Shopping Centre – 31st August
Walsall, Park St – 4th September
Wolverhampton, Dudley Street – 5th September
Chesterfield, Vicar St – 6th September
Hanley, The Potteries – 11th September
Telford, Telford Shopping Centre – 12th September
Lichfield, Spires Shopping Centre – 13th September
Nottingham 2 569, Victoria Shopping Centre – 18th September
Nottingham 1 524, Listergate – 19th September
Sheffield Meadowhall, Meadowhall – 20th September

NORTH
Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh, Kinnard Shopping – 28th August
The Fort, Glasgow, Provan Walk – 29th August
Braehead, Glasgow, Braehead – 30th August
Silverburn, Glasgow, Silverburn – 31st August
Burnley, James Street – 4th September
Stockport, Princes Street – 5th September
Ashton Under Lyme, The Arcade – 6th September
Bradford, Darley Street – 11th September
Trafford 144, Manchester, Trafford Centre – 12th September
Manchester 231 The Fort, The Fort – 13th September
Manchester 502 Arndale, Arndale Centre – 18th September
Middlesborough, Linthorpe Road – 19th September
Metro Centre, Gateshead – 20th September