Shippin' Out 7/17-21: NCAA Football 07, Monster House

As the summer drags on, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest continues to haul in much box-office booty--but game pickings remain slim. Like last week, when the long-awaited Prey and Chromehounds hit stores, July 17 to 21 will see only a handful of noteworthy games set sail for retail.

Foremost among the week's releases is NCAA Football 07 for the PlayStation Portable, Xbox, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 2. Because Electronic Arts has locked down NCAA football rights until 2011, the title is the only college pigskin game in town. This year's edition will introduce "smart fans," which are audience members who display behavior in response to on-field action and are governed by school traditions. It will also be the first year NCAA Football is fully integrated with the ESPN television network, which will provide an in-game ticker that displays real-life sports scores in real time.

The week's other big release is THQ's Monster House for the Xbox 360, Xbox, GameCube, DS, PS2, and Game Boy Advance. Based on Columbia Pictures' computer-animated comic adventure Monster House, which hits theaters Friday, the game puts players in the shoes of young ghostbusters who must cleanse a manor of poltergeists using spirit-vanquishing super-soakers. The game marks the latest computer-animation tie-in for THQ, which has been enjoying great success this year with its adaptation of Pixar's blockbuster Cars.

The rest of the week's releases are a motley crew indeed. Though little has been heard recently about its console editions, the Michael Mann-remake-inspired Miami Vice game is hitting PSPs. The week will also see Super Dragon Ball Z slap around PS2s, Warpath shoot up Xboxes, and Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth do whatever valkyries do to PSPs. Last but certainly not least, the second edition of Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays will see the all-new game Cloning Clyde asexually reproduce onto Xbox 360s for just $10.

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

JULY 17, 2006
Wildlife Park 2 (PC)

JULY 18, 2006
Blade Dancer: Lineage of Light (PSP)
Magic Match (PC)
Monster House (PC)
NCAA Football 07 (Xbox 360, Xbox, PSP, PS2)
Super Dragon Ball Z (PS2)
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth (PSP)

JULY 19, 2006
Cloning Clyde (Xbox 360--via Xbox Live only)

JULY 20, 2006
Atlantis Quest (PC)

JULY 21, 2006
Warpath (Xbox)
WWII Combat: Iwo Jima (Xbox)