Except for 1942: Joint Strike on Thursday, this week looks like a mostly portable/PC cycle, to be followed next week by more console-oriented stuff, such as the remaining 3 copies of Soulcalibur IV that were actually held for release on their street date. Here's your syllabus, class, will you be taking home any of this for closer study? Tell us in the comments.

Monday (July 21)
Final Fantasy IV (DS)
City Life 2008 Edition (PC)
Baseball Mogul 2009 (PC)

Tuesday (July 22)
Ubersoldier 2: The End of Hitler (PC)
Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns (DS)
Order Up! (Wii)
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (PS2, Wii, DS)
New International Track & Field (DS)
Kidz Sports: Crazy Golf

Wednesday (July 23)
Nancy Drew: The Mystery of the Clue Bender Society (DS)

Thursday (July 24)
1942: Joint Strike (PS3, X360)

This week won't be just about new games announced for release more than a quarter down the road. We've actually got a pretty sizeable list of drops, highlighted (for me, anyway) by NCAA Football 09, which comes out on Tuesday. This title was the reason I bought my first console since — actually since getting a Colecovision off of usenet in college. I played it on my buddy David's Gamecube in 2003, and I decided right then and there I had to have an Xbox. Oh lawdy, that was bad of me. But seriously. My crazy Vegas lawyer friend Davor had a PS2 and we'd bet on computer-vs-computer simulations, too. With a spread. Good times.

Let us know what you're buying/renting in the comments:

Monday (July 14)
1701 A.D. Gold Edition (PC)
Yamaha Supercross (PC, PS2, Wii, DS)

Tuesday (July 15)
NCAA Football 09 (X360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP)
The Golden Horde (PC)
City Life 2008 Edition (PC)
Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm (PC) (JESUS, LIQUID DRAGON IS THIS THING EVER GOING TO DROP? WTF. THAT IS ALL.)
We Love Golf! (Wii)
B-Boy (PS2)
Code Lyoko: Quest for Infinity (PSP)
Rock Band Track Pack Vol 1 (Wii, PS2)
Space Chimps (360, PS2, WII, DS)
Hunting Unlimited 2009 (PC)
Nancy Drew: The Mystery of the Clue Bender Society (DS)
Mister Slime (DS)

Wonder if Beijing 2008 will feature photorealistic smog effects or incorporate the stupefying algae bloom in the nautical events. Still, pretty ambitious of Sega to put out a sports game featuring events that even sports fans don't follow except for two weeks out of a four year span (and dropping it less than a week before NCAA Football 09). If the spirit of brotherhood and competition isn't your thang, Unreal Tournament 3 comes to 360 this week also. Or maybe you prefer Sports Party on the Wii. Or Purr Pals. Let us know what you're buying/renting in the jump.

Monday (July 7)
Unreal Tournament 3 (360)
Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice (PC)

Tuesday (July 8)
Devil May Cry 4 (PC)
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution (360, PS3, DS)
Beijing 2008 - The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games (360, PS3)
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon (Wii)
Ghost Online (PC)
Wonder World Amusement Park (Wii)
Carnival Games (DS)

Thursday (July 10)
Purr Pals (Wii)

Friday (July 11)
Sports Party (Wii)

Thin week for The Week in Games. You can sense the pattern, big week of console releases, then thin week with mostly handheld drops. The pattern continues. Let us know if any of these get your gamer coin.

Monday (June 30)
1 vs 100 (DS)
The Immortals of Terra (PC)
Journey to the Center of the Earth (DS)
Roogoo (PC)

Tuesday (July 1)
Hail to the Chimp (PS3, 360)
AMF Bowling Pinbusters (DS)
Gears of War w/maps, GoW2 Preview (360)
Purr Pals (Wii)
Ducati Moto (DS)

Wednesday (July 2)
Dungeon Runners (PC)

Thursday (July 3)
Fading Shadows (PSP)

Alone in the Dark takes you to Central Park this week. Also, Rock Band comes to the Wii, Guitar Hero to the DS, and Aerosmith to Guitar Hero. Then you have major drops like Battlefield: Bad Company for the PS3 and 360, plus Supreme Commander for and Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath for the 360. And a Hellboy movie adaptation. If tennis is your game, 2K's Top Spin 3 is out.

Yes, gamer, you will consuuuuuuuume. Or at least rent. Tell us in the comments if you've been waiting on any of these.

Today (June 22)
Rock Band (Wii)
Guitar Hero: On Tour (DS)

Monday (June 23)
Battlefield: Bad Company (360, PS3)
Top Spin 3 (360, Wii, PS3, DS)
Supreme Commander (360)
Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath (360)

Tuesday (June 24)
Alone in the Dark (360, PS2, PC, Wii)
Hail to the Chimp (PS3, 360)
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (DS)
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress (PSP)
Operation Darkness (360)
Hellboy: Science of Evil (PSP, 360, PS3)
Mega Man Star Force 2: Zerker x Ninja (DS)
Overlord: Raising Hell (PS3)

Thursday (June 26)
Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm (PC)

Sunday (June 29)
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith (360, WII, PS2, PS3)

Quiet week for consoles, but the DS has seven titles dropping in the coming week, and Secret Agent Clank for the PSP also hits the street. Also, if this Deadliest Catch game doesn't go out this week, I am de-listing it. So, spending your coin on handheld toys this week? Let us know in the jump, or tell us what you're playing instead. My guess is it rhymes with Shmetal Shmear Shmolid.

Monday (June 16)
The Political Machine 2008 (PC)
Requiem: Bloodymare (PC)
1701 A.D. Gold Edition (PC)

Tuesday (June 17)
Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm (360, PC)
Secret Agent Clank (PSP)
Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard (DS)
Space Invaders Extreme (PSP, DS)
Code Lyoko: Fall of X.A.N.A. (DS)
Wacky Races: Crash & Dash (Wii, DS)
Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 3 (DS)
Arkanoid DS (DS)
Imagine Rock Star (DS)

Metal Gear Solid 4 dominates the releases this week, dropping on Thursday. NASCAR 09 and Dragon Ball Z pick up the leftovers on Tuesday, plus there's the Don King-branded boxing game which, come on, how can that game not have an ultra-realistic litigation engine built in, if it's Don King. So, if you game on the PS3, this is pretty much your week to shine. Let us know what you're buying, and if you're buying a PS3 just to play MGS4, in the comments.

Today (June 8)
Total Extreme Wrestling 2008 (PC)

Tuesday (June 10)
Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit(360, PS3)
NASCAR 09 (360, PS3, PS2)
Don King Presents: Prizefighter (360)
Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm (360, PC)
EVE Online: Empyrean Age (PC)
Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy (Wii)
Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles (DS)
Looney Tunes: Cartoon Conductor (DS)
Backyard Baseball 2009 (Wii)
Trainz: The Complete Collection (PC)

Thursday (June 12)
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)

This week looks like the second wave of big summer-season releases, dropping Ninja Gaiden II, GRID, Lego Indiana Jones, and The Bourne Conspiracy on Tuesday, followed by The Incredible Hulk on Friday. Oh, and let's also not forget Activision payday movie tie-in Kung Fu Panda: Shovelware edition, which accompanies the animated, thinly veiled Nacho Libre redux hitting screens this week. Consistent readers of the site will know I despise two things: Yap dogs, and animated movies with a color-by-numbers stranger-in-a-strange-land narrative. Hate them like Colbert hates bears. And a panda is a bear.

Buying/renting any of these? Hit the comments.

Monday (June 2):
Dracula: Origin (PC)
Stronghold Crusader Extreme (PC)

Tuesday (June 3):
Ninja Gaiden II (360)
GRID (PC, 360, PS3)
Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy (360, PS3)
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures (PSP, 360, Wii, PS3, PC, PS2, DS)
Kung Fu Panda (360, PC, PS2, Wii, PS3, DS)
Summon Night: Twin Age (DS)
Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 (PSP)
Fatal Inertia EX (PS3)

Wednesday (June 4):
Roogoo (360)

Thursday (June 5):
The Incredible Hulk (360, PS2, Wii, PS3, DS)

The Week in Games: Always Seek Balance Board, Daniel-San

The Week in Games: No Reversals!

After last week, I'm not sure how anyone could possibly be thinking about new game purchases this week. If you bought Iron Man, Mario Kart Wii or GTA IV, there's no way you've gotten your fill of them yet. Unless you were waiting on Boom Blox? Here's the roster of releases for the coming week. Is anyone picking any of these up, or are we still gorging silly on other games?

Iron Man (PC)
SNK Arcade Classics Volume 1 (PSP, PS2)
Boom Blox (WII)
Great War Nations: The Spartans (PC)
R-Type Command (PSP)
Speed Racer (WII, DS)
Neverwinter Nights 2 Gold (PC)
Baseball Mogul 2009 (PC)
The Dog Island (WII)
Toy Shop (DS)
Brain Voyage (DS)
Crosswords DS (DS)

New Releases Week of May 4 [Gamespot]

Of course I am talking about LET'S PILATES for the DS! Woot! This amazingly deep sandbox-MMO-driving-multiplayer-movie tie-in lets you build flexibility, strength, endurance and coordination IN REAL TIME! An exclusive review gave it 11/10! Best game since Shaq Fu!

Oh yeah, Mario Kart Wii is out, Iron Man is coming Friday and uh, Grand Theft Auto IV or something. So which of these gets your hard earned gamer coin?

Mario Kart Wii (WII)
Grand Theft Auto IV (X360, PS3)
Iron Man (X360, PSP, PS2, PS3, WII, DS)

SNK Arcade Classics Volume 1 (PSP, PS2)
Great War Nations: The Spartans (PC)
Baseball Mogul 2009 (PC)
Toy Shop (DS)
Let's Yoga (DS)
Brain Voyage (DS)
Let's Pilates (DS)

New Video Game Releases - Week of April 27 [GameSpot]

Alright, not much to pick on here in TWiG's April 20th installment. But Wild Earth: African Safari, well good thing that's a kid title. Otherwise it looks about as interesting as watching old people fuck. Virtual photography? That's a side mission in about four titles I already own.

I realize everyone here hates teh sports, but if I wasn't moving I'd be at least renting NBA Ballers: Chosen One. I bought the first one during the 2004 playoffs and created my baller, Two-Car Fatal, as an homage to the scut work Crecente and I were doing on the night shift at the time. (I also created Ice Killus as an homage to the Greek playwright.) I'd happily revisit that series again.

Here's what's coming up, let us know if you'll pick or pass. Thanks.

The Red Star (Wii)
Wild Earth: African Safari (Wii)
River King: Mystic Valley (DS)
Chameleon (PSP)
Dream Pinball 3D (Wii, DS)
Target: Terror (Wii)
Battle of the Bands (Wii)
Turok (PC)
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time (DS)
Persona 3: FES (PS2)
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness (DS)
NBA Ballers: Chosen One (PS3, X360)
The World Ends With You (DS)

New Releases Week of April 20, 2008 [Gamespot]

The Week in Games: You Are the Music (and DS Game) in Me

You can expect this out of me if I'm running TWIG from now on — the WTF drop of the week is the lede, and this one is for High School Musical 2 (Two): Work This Out. A Disney press release spends reams of copy talking about the franchise's marketing chops and about a paragraph explaining why the game is worth playing. To wit:

• It's "the only musical adventure game allowing fans to immerse themselves in the world of "High School Musical 2." And thank God for that.

• You can play as one of six characters and "go on various adventures at the resort, compete in time-based challenges and play different rhythm games, all while listening to the hit songs from "High School Musical 2." Something tells me the last part of that is what Disney considers most important.

Here's the rest of your roster of new releases. Tell us in the comments if you're picking any of these up.

Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis (PC)
Major League Baseball 2K8 Fantasy All Stars (DS)
AMF Bowling Pinbusters! (DS)
Rondo of Swords (DS)
Okami (Wii)
Jack Keane (PC)
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (PS3)
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (PC)
Turok (PC)
Europa Universalis: Rome (PC)
High School Musical 2: Work This Out! (DS)
Cory in the House (DS)
The Sims 2: Kitchen & Bath Interior Design Stuff (PC)
Summer Sports: Paradise Island (Wii)
Teenage Zombies: Invasion of the Alien Brain Thingys! (DS)
Emergency Mayhem (Wii)
Final Fantasy XI: Vana'diel Collection 2008 (PC)

New Releases, Week of April 13 [Gamestop]

Week in Games: We Had the Time of Our Lives

There are 18 releases coming up this week, and the largest drop appears to be the PC versions of Assassin's Creed and Portal, plus a Half Life 2 Episode Pack. Those are the biggest names I spot anyway.

The WTF drop of the week, hands down, is "Dirty Dancing." This movie was a favorite of 40-something women strung out on prescription antidepressants and boxed wine in 1987. They're now 60-something. Not exactly the demographic that camps out on Tuesdays for a new release. Or picks up a controller. The parade of new games is after the jump:

Week In Games: Come Back Next Week Edition

March was a huge month for game releases. Huge. Crisis Core, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Condemned 2, God of War: Chains of Olympus—it looked more like October than March, as far as game releases go. April? It starts with but a whimper. This week sees practically nothing new in the way of marquee titles. A few Dreamcatcher Interactive numbers, a dusting of super-hardcore RPGs, but not much else.

Perhaps everyone just wants to steer clear, very clear, of Grand Theft Auto IV's April release. Next week? It's not much better.

Call of Duty 4: Game of the Year Edition (Xbox 360)
Not so much a new release, as a re-badging with a downloadable variety map pack.

Mana Khemia: Alchemists of Al-Revis (PS2)
The Atelier Iris series continues to pump out more alchemy school themed role-playing games. This is one of them.

Toy Shop (DS)
Stylus controlled toy shop management fun. We're sure of everything except the fun part.

Great War Nations: The Spartans (PC)
The PC finally gets a real-time strategy game, said to feature "glorious 3D."

Week In Games: Shoot The Core

The wait for more Final Fantasy VII is almost over for North American gamers, as this week's biggest drop is arguably Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII for the PSP. It joins a pair of well known ninja in the week's new releases, which is also heavy on action and real-time strategy. A slew of Wii shovelware hits, excluded from our list of new releases, but there's something for everyone!

Let us know what you're picking up this week in the comments.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP)
This fanfic fodder prequel to the PS One classic Final Fantasy VII makes its way stateside.

Dark Sector (PS3, Xbox 360)
Sci-fi. Third-person shooter. Black ops. Krull.

Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword (DS)
Team Ninja brings stylus stabbing action to the DS.

Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath (PC)
C&C 3's first expansion features more units, more wrath.

Week In Games: A Rainbow Of Fruit Flavors

Talk about variety! The Rainbow Six team are back, joining a super budget re-release of the first three Metal Gear Solid games, making tactical action a big factor in this week's releases. On the casual sports side, Sega's mascot-heavy tennis game ships the same day as the newest Hot Shots Golf.

I think I'll have one of more of these bad boys in hand by the end of the week, but if you're picking up anything, let us know in the comments.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (PS3, Xbox 360)
Oh no! Somethin's goin' down in Las Vegas. Rainbow Six assemble!

Sega Superstars Tennis (DS, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii)
Take Virtua Tennis, add Sonic, new mini-games, done.

Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection (PS2)
Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, cheap. Perfect for getting up to speed for 4.