Holiday-season TV ads would have you believe that lots of people
get brand-new cars for Christmas. With giant bows on top.  I
hate to play Scrooge, but you're probably not one of those
people. But why settle for one real car when you can buy one
video game with dozens of virtual rides? Plus, when you take
these vehicles out on the highway, you don't have to worry about
insurance, gas prices or speed limits.  — "Need for Speed: Most
Wanted" (Electronic Arts, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3,
$59.99; PC, $49.99) is the most gleefully irresponsible of this
year's racing games. It was developed by Criterion Games, the
British studio best known for the "Burnout" franchise, and it
shares that series' obsession with vehicular mayhem.  "Most
Wanted" is set in an open-world environment called Fairhaven
City, which is more of a playground for speed demons than a
plausible place to live. While cruising the streets, you'll come
across signs inviting you to participate in an assortment of
events. In sprint and circuit race