Shippin' Out November 20-26: Superman, Rainbow Six Vegas

Gamers were giddy this past weekend, as not one, but two next-gen consoles were launched--Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii. Their debuts were bolstered with several launch titles, which helped bloat last week's release schedule to well over 100 titles.

This week is a different story, because only a few big names will hit shelves over the next few days. What would normally be a blockbuster sales week, which includes the post-Thanksgiving shopping frenzy known as Black Friday, sees just over 40 games released, only a few of which are big names.

Superman Returns: The Videogame, which was delayed to the holiday season to release near the movie's DVD release, swoops onto the PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Xbox, and DS on November 20. A Game Boy Advance spin-off, titled Superman Returns: Fortress of Solitude, is also due in stores that day.

Gamers who prefer their heroes a tad more realistic can take aim at Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas for the Xbox 360. Set in Sin City, the first-person squad-based shooter challenges gamers to take down terrorists with high-tech gadgets and an array of firepower. Publisher Ubisoft is also working on PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3 versions of the game.

Those who played Bethesda Softworks' The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion know that the fictional world it is set in is enormous. However, it's about to get even bigger, because the developer is releasing Oblivion's first "large content download," titled The Knights of the Nine, on November 21 for both the PC and Xbox 360. The PC retail version will include all of the game's downloadable content released to date and will cost $19.99. The Xbox 360 version is just the Knights of the Nine expansion and will cost 800 points ($10) on Xbox Live Marketplace--no retail version is currently available. The downloadable version of the PC expansion, which is identical to the Xbox 360 download, won't be ready until December 4 and will cost $9.99.

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

NOVEMBER 20, 2006
College Hoops 2K7 (X360, XBOX)
Superman Returns: The Videogame (X360, XBOX, PS2, DS)
Superman Returns: Fortress of Solitude (GBA)
Star Shatterer: Gathering Storm (PC)
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas (X360, XBOX)
March of the Penguins (DS)
Lawnmower Racing Mania 2007 (XBOX, PC)
Dogz (DS)
Mashed: Drive to Survive (PS2, XBOX)
Gander Mountain Trophy Hunter 2007 (PS2, XBOX, PS2)
Teddy Factory (PC)
Hard Rock Casino (PS2)
Battlefield 2: Booster Pack Collection (PC)
Bass Pro Shops Trophy Hunter 2007 (PC, XBOX)
Bass Pro Shops: Trophy Bass 2007 (PC)

NOVEMBER 21, 2006
Star Wars: Best of PC (PC)
Thrillville (PSP, PS2, XBOX)
The Elder Scrolls IV: Knights of the Nine (PC, X360 via Marketplace)
Pimp My Ride (PS2)
Delta Force - Black Hawk Down: Team Sabre (PS2)
Yggdra Union (GBA)
Bass Pro Shops: Trophy Bass 2007 (XBOX)
Great Invasions (PC)
Shrek Smash and Crash (GC)
Totally Spies! 2: Undercover (DS)
Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2 (PS2, XBOX)
Rapala Tournament Fishing (X360)
Tony Hawk's Project 8 (PSP)
World Championship Poker: Featuring Howard Lederer - All In (X360)
The Fifth Disciple (PC)
Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express (PC)
Cabela's African Safari (X360)

NOVEMBER 22, 2006
Small Arms (X360 via Marketplace)
Rapala Tournament Fishing (WII)
Model Train 3D (PC)

NOVEMBER 23, 2006
Inuyasha: Feudal Combat (DS)

NOVEMBER 24, 2006
Marvel Heroes: Comic Book Creator
Project Xenoclone (PC)
Radirgy Generic (GC)