In order to promote the latest iteration of the Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit franchise, EA is hosting a series of parties across the US to give video game heads and car aficionados a chance to get their greasy paws on the game before the rest of the plebes out there. Along with Gran Turismo and Midnight Club, Need for Speed is considered one of the definitive racing video games, so needless to say the anticipation for the latest Hot Pursuit is running high. The parties in New York, Chicago and Seattle have already gone down in some very clever locations (like NYC’s esteemed Classic Car Club), and performers like Z-Trip, Lil Jon, Clipse and Mom Jeans (DJ Danny Masterson) have been elevating the festivities from mere corporate hype fests to legitimate throwdowns (peep the Chicago party video below). Tomorrow night is the San Francisco party with Mix Master Mike and Hieroglyphics’ Del the Funky Homosapien performing, with plenty of free booze and gameplay. It’s a free party, but invite only. So if you’re gonna be in SF and wanna go, email us here [put NEED 4 SPEED in the subject line!], tell us your 5 favorite Lost In a Supermarket posts, and the first 5 responders will get +1s to the festivities. Good luck!

Keep your eye out here for future Need for Speed parties, including Austin, Miami and the big blowout in Los Angeles the night of the release on November 16th.