By Brad Cook

Race through Carbon Canyon, where trouble lurks around every corner … The European Union and the Pan Asian Coalition fight for survival in the 22nd century … Dumbledore versus Voldemort: magical melee in the Ministry.

Third-and-long, with less than two minutes to play; down by a field goal … A tense ten-foot putt on the 18th hole will win it all at St. Andrews … Four decades from now, factions vie for control of the few inhabitable places left on Earth.

Need For Speed: Carbon. Battlefield 2142. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Madden NFL 08. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08. Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars. Electronic Arts is back on the Mac in a big way, and six major titles are leading the charge. Madden NFL 08 and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 will even ship simultaneously with their PC counterparts.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Harry recruits members for Dumbledore’s Army (The D.A.).

Learn More: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Genre: Action

As the fifth novel in J.K. Rowling’s popular series opens, our hero Harry has been expelled from Hogwarts for practicing magic outside school. A hearing at the Ministry of Magic clears him, but the attack that forced Harry to use magic has him convinced that Voldemort (a.k.a. “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named”) is back, even though the Ministry refuses to accept his theory. EA’s video game adaptation of the book features a “sandbox” version of Hogwarts, full of missions to complete and hidden places to discover, once you’ve mastered the gesture-based spellcasting system.

The development team relied on the blueprints created for the movies to build their version of Hogwarts. It’s a technique they also employed when recreating Grimmauld Place (headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix), Little Whinging (the town where Harry’s adoptive family lives), and the Ministry of Magic, where the climactic duel between Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Voldemort takes place. In addition to Harry, play as Fred and George Weasley, Sirius Black, and Dumbledore. “Accio!”

Need For Speed: Carbon. Realistic physics offer a unique experience for each class of sports car.

Learn More: Need For Speed: Carbon

Genre: Sports

Soundtrack: Available

It’s not just a racing game packed to the fenders with customization tools: Need For Speed: Carbon challenges you to beat Palmont City’s street-racing crews and take their turf. Split into four territories, each subdivided into a number of zones, Palmont City is home to drivers who can also handle racing in nearby Carbon Canyon with aplomb. Win a variety of street-racing events to take over zones, then challenge crew bosses to showdowns in the canyon and win their territory. Watch out, though: defeated crews often come back for revenge, forcing you to race against them again and retain control of your territory.

Luckily, you won’t be alone in your endeavors. Companions known as wingmen help you by blocking opponents’ cars or zooming ahead to search out shortcuts. They can also let you slipstream behind them, which requires getting close to the other car’s rear bumper, reducing wind drag and increasing your top speed. Between races, gain an edge on the competition by upgrading your vehicles to get even better performance out of them.

Battlefield 2142. Survival of the fittest, in the 22nd century.

Learn More: Battlefield 2142

Genre: Action

Patch: Download

As the Earth reaches the middle of the 22nd century, a new Ice Age forces billions of people to migrate from the northern hemisphere to the southern one, where the laws of supply and demand produce a bleak result: There isn’t enough habitable land for everyone. Two hundred years after the events of Battlefield 1942, the war over the future of mankind once again breaks down to a pair of factions, the European Union and the Pan Asian Coalition. As a member of one side, you must help your fellow soldiers escape Europe and establish a foothold in North Africa. Choose from one of four classes — recon, assault, engineer, or support — and enter the fray.

“Six major titles are leading the charge.”

Use one of more than 40 weapons and pieces of equipment to achieve objectives. Fight on foot or behind the controls of a variety of futuristic vehicles, from hover tanks to mechanical walkers. Accumulate points that unlock new specialties, allowing you to become a more effective soldier as the war rages on. Play with and against computer-controlled troops or head online for furious multi-player battles.

Madden NFL 08. Unbelievable thrills on your desktop.

Learn More: Madden NFL 08

Genre: Sports

Patch: Download

Get ready for another season of hard-hitting action as you embark on your annual quest for the Lombardi Trophy. Take control of one of 32 teams — from the defending champion Indianapolis Colts to the struggling expansion franchise Houston Texans — and set the tone with unique offensive and defensive strategies. Move players up and down the depth chart, execute trades, and make other management decisions before next Sunday’s game. You’ll find all of the NFL’s players here, from long-time veterans to brand-new draftees.

During the game, dig deep into your bag of tricks to confuse your opponent, computer-controlled or human. Line up as if you’re going to run the ball and then pass it, or vice-versa. Show some razzle-dazzle by throwing to a wide receiver behind the line of scrimmage, making him eligible to pass the ball to another teammate. And if you think the referee was wrong with a call, throw the red flag and challenge his decision, just like in real life. Al Michaels describes the play-by-play, while John Madden provides color commentary.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08. Tee time for Tiger.

Learn More: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08

Genre: Sports

Patch: Download

No matter what the weather is like outside, the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series of video games lets you tee up and enjoy a realistic round of golf any time you want. The 08 edition expands on its predecessors’ rock-solid gameplay by introducing a variety of customization options, including the ability to map a photo of your face onto a digital golfer and modify its appearance, from hairstyle to clothes choices.

When you’re ready to hit the links, 15 courses beckon you to test your driving and putting skills. Take your favorite 18 holes and assemble them into your dream course. And when you pull off an amazing shot — off the bridge, off a rock, and in the hole — upload it to GamerNet, challenging your friends to do the same. If they can, they’ll earn points and move up the online leader boards. One enterprising golfer might even improve on your feat, sending the dare back your way.

Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars. Head back to the future for the next chapter in this popular strategy series.

Learn More: Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars

Genre: Strategy

Patch: Download

Soundtrack: Available

Four decades from now, a nuclear missile destroys an orbiting command station, filling the night sky with eerie light and heralding the return of the Brotherhood of Nod. Seventeen years earlier, the Brotherhood had abruptly ended its fight against the Global Defense Initiative (GDI), leaving the organization to deal with the Tiberium infestation that had rendered a third of the planet uninhabitable. Led by the infamous Kane, the Brotherhood now rejoins the fight against the GDI, but an invasion by aliens known as the Scrin sows chaos on both sides.

This real-time strategy game lets you play through the story from the Brotherhood and GDI perspectives, with a bonus campaign featuring the Scrin becoming available when you’ve completed the first two. Amass resources, generate ground forces and vehicles, erect buildings, and go to war. In addition to playing over 30 missions, you can take on human opponents over the Internet and create unique multi-player maps.