Shippin' Out 10/2-10/6: FIFA 07, Star Trek: Encounters

It's October, which means stores that hawk games are ready to get crushed under the weight of some seriously big-name titles. However, just looking at this week's list of new releases, one would think the industry is smack dab in the middle of summer.

Kicking off the anemic list is the latest soccer game from Electronic Arts, FIFA 07 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, PC, Nintendo DS, and Game Boy Advance. The 07 version adds interactive league modes, a revamped shooting system, and clubs and leagues from all over the world. PSP and Xbox 360 versions of the game are scheduled to be released later this month.

Bethesda Softworks is going where only a few publishers have gone before, with the release of Star Trek: Encounters--the first of three enterprising games based on the lore of sci-fi geekdom from the publisher this holiday season. Encounters is an arcade-style shooter exclusive to the PS2.

The rest of the lot sees several multiplatform games catching up on systems they may have missed, such as World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions dealt onto PCs, NHL 2K7 skating to the PS2, and a spin-off of The Getaway, Gangs of London, doing time on the PSP.

Of course, there are also a few games that are a bit off the beaten path, and oddly enough, playing both may lead some gamers to wish they were combined into one game. Buena Vista Games takes boob-tube hit Desperate Housewives and brings it to the PC, adding Sims-style gameplay to the snooping residents of Wisteria Lane. On the other side of the spectrum, Crave Entertainment hits the shooting range with the National Rifle Association-sponsored NRA Gun Club.

This week's new releases are listed below (list taken from retailer information--actual dates may vary).

OCTOBER 1, 2006
Zoo Tycoon 2: Zookeeper Collection (PC)
Making History: The Calm and the Storm (PC)

OCTOBER 2, 2006
Pony LUV (PC)
Backyardigans: Mission to Mars (PC)
Wildlife Zoo (PC)
Cabela's Alaskan Adventure (PC)
Disney's The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure (PC)
Alex Rider: Stormbreaker (DS, GBA)
Go Diego Go!: Wolf Pup Rescue (PC)
Unfabulous (GBA)
Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots (GBA)
Dora the Explorer: Dora's World Adventure (GBA, PC)
Hoyle Bridge Club (PC)
Princess Natasha: Student Secret Agent (GBA)
The Barbie Diaries: High School Mystery (PC)
Disney's Little Mermaid: Magic in Two Kingdoms (GBA)
Harlem Globetrotters: World Tour (GBA)
Hollywood Posh Pets (PC)
Cabela's Big Game Hunter 2007: 10th Anniversary Edition (PC)
Hidden Expedition: Titanic (PC)
NHL 2K7 (PS2)
Jaws Unleashed (PC)
Pacific Storm (PC)
Paparazzi (PC)
Neverend (PC)
Desperate Housewives: The Game (PC)
NRA Gun Club (PS2)
World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions (PC)