Microsoft has just made available new games for the Zune HD. These aren’t the same old simple games that were launched with the Zune HD, but make full use of the power of Nvidia Tegra. A welcome addition to the Zune HD gaming catalogue are Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition as well as Vans Sk8: Pool Service and Audiosurf. Hopefully, this is the beginning of the making of Zune HD as a portable gaming console.

As usual, these games are free for download. Just fire up the Zune desktop software and navigate to Marketplace > Apps. From here, you can download which ever game you want.

Here’s more information about the games from the Zune HD website:

PGR: Ferrari Edition

Tear through the streets of London, Tokyo, and New York using intuitive tilt and touch controls. Choose from 12 Ferrari cars and test your skill in 33 events in Career Mode. Go head-to-head against three other players in a wireless network race. Share your records with your friends and race their ghost cars in Time Trial mode. Earn kudos for racing with style—it’s not just winning, but how you win that counts.

Audiosurf

Ride your music! Choose any song from your music collection and watch Audiosurf turn it into a unique roller coaster track for you to ride. The song you choose determines the shape, the speed, and the mood of each track. Tilt your Zune like a steering wheel to collect colored blocks and avoid speedbumps. Unlock more than 30 designs, each with its own special theme and color palette.

Lucky Lanes Bowling

Bowl in three different game modes: exhibition, blackjack, or golf. Play in five different bowling alleys with unique themes. Choose from 20 bowlers and 22 ball styles. You can play against the computer or play with up to four friends.

Vans Sk8: Pool Service

Whether it’s the swanky rooftop of the Admiral, or the old abandoned rec center pool, Bucky Lasek and Omar Hassan know a good bowl when they see one. Hit the pools and put these Vans skaters to the test with all the tricks in their bag. Achieve hero status once you unlock their pro model skateboards. Compete in 10 different events with 20 different board designs, including skaters’ official boards from Black Label and Element.

Piano

Play your own tune, or play along with your favorite music on this electronic piano that includes 88 keys, plus a dampen and sustain pedal. Choose standard mode, or choose learning mode in which the keys are labeled with each note.

Checkers

The classic board game can now be played on the go. Play against the computer on your Zune HD or against a friend through a wireless connection. The game features the ability to undo as many moves as you want, different colored pieces, and a beautiful outdoor park setting for the menus and game board.

Related posts:

1. Microsoft releases 3 new apps for the Zune HD
2. Zune HD firmware 4.3 released – Supports upcoming Games and Apps
3. 64GB Zune HD seen on the official Zune website
4. Microsoft going the Steam distribution way for games
5. Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition in action on Zune HD (Video)

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