short circuits

A brief look at new and noteworthy experiences among DVDs, video games, gadgets and the Web.

GAME

Ready for more football? Another NFL season is gearing up, and you know what that means. No, not more on- and off-field drama from the Vikings. It's time for the annual release of the video-game world's flagship football title. "Madden NFL 2010" comes out Friday, but stores such as Best Buy, Wal-Mart and Gamestop will have midnight sales Thursday night. "Madden NFL 2010" will be available for all home consoles and the Sony PSP ($40-$60), but maker EA Sports is touting a rebuilt Wii version with "a unique art style that will define the look of sports games" on the Nintendo system.

RANDY A. SALAS

DVD

Blu-ray gets a boost Paramount has announced it will release "Dance Flick" on Sept. 8 in two versions: a movie-only DVD available solely for rental and a Blu-ray edition loaded with extras. You won't be able to buy a standard DVD until four to eight weeks later. This tactic follows a similar move by Disney to release its upcoming special edition of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" exclusively on Blu-ray on Oct. 6. A standard DVD won't be available until Nov. 24, although Disney's family-oriented Blu-rays all include a DVD copy of the film. While sales and rentals of DVDs are dropping, Blu-ray sales continue to increase. Blu-ray recently accounted for 36 percent of the total sales of "Watchmen" in its first week, a record for the format. A movie as inconsequential as "Dance Flick" won't have much impact on Blu-ray sales figures. A much more interesting test will come if Paramount tries pulling the exclusivity deal on a major catalog title such as "The Godfather" or a hot new release such as "Star Trek." What if Disney made Pixar's "Up" a Blu-ray exclusive for the holiday season?

RENE RODRIGUEZ, MIAMI HERALD

Out today: "Adam-12" (Season 3), "Alien Trespass," "The Class," "Designing Women" (Season 2), "I Love You, Man," "The Last Resort," "90210" (Season 1), "Road Trip: Beer Pong," "17 Again," "Super Friends: The Lost Episodes."