Shippin' Out Oct. 25-31: DJ Hero, GTAIV: Gay Tony, Tekken 6, Forza 3, Ratchet & Clank

October 26, 2009 9:34AM PDT

Activision spins out turntable-equipped rhythm game, along with Rockstar's second 360-only add-on and Episodes From Liberty City; Namco Bandai fighter, Microsoft racer, and Sony platformer also launching.

MTV Games' The Beatles: Rock Band may have won in its head-to-head matchup against Activision's Guitar Hero 5, but neither game had a particularly impressive showing on September's NPD sales chart. This week, Activision will attempt to revive the slumping rhythm game genre by approaching it from a new angle, courtesy of DJ Hero.

Daft Punk spinning for the house.

DJ Hero will feature 100 individual songs in 80 all-new mixes previously unavailable to the public, with a number of licensed disc-scratchers, including DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Shadow, DJ AM, DJ Z-Trip, Grandmaster Flash, Tiesto, and DJ Yoda. The game will also pack in a new turntable peripheral, with the standard-edition Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii packages running $120. Alternatively, gamers can pick up the Renegade Edition package for $200.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 has a pair of high-profile exclusives in store this week. Rockstar Games' top-rated Grand Theft Auto IV sees its second downloadable extension with The Ballad of Gay Tony on Wednesday. Xbox 360 gamers can also pick up Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City, a stand-alone retail offering that includes Gay Tony and the first GTAIV expansion, The Lost and Damned.

Turn 10's Forza 3 represents Microsoft's other big Xbox 360 exclusive for the week. The follow-up to 2007's acclaimed racing sim, Forza 3 features more than 400 cars out of the box, as well as more than 100 different tracks to race on. Those who purchase the game new will also receive a free batch of DLC, offering exclusive access to 10 additional classic rides and two tracks.

Sony's PS3 isn't without its exclusive this week, either. Insomniac Games concludes its Ratchet & Clank Future trilogy with A Crack in Time. The game will follow the lombax Ratchet as he attempts to save his robotic sidekick, and Sony promises to reveal both their origins and ultimate destinies during the course of the game, teasing a breakup along the way.

Both Xbox 360 and PS3 gamers can get behind Namco Bandai's Tekken 6, which makes its long-awaited console debut after being first announced alongside Sony's console in 2005. Available in two retail configurations, the standard-edition package will cost $59.99. Those looking to pick up a new fight stick can opt in to the Tekken 6 Wireless Fight Stick Bundle, which will be available for both the Xbox 360 and PS3 at participating retailers for $149.99. (A PSP edition of Tekken 6 is expected later this year.)

Scribblenauts developer 5TH Cell and THQ will bring to market Drawn to Life: Next Chapter on the Wii and DS, a sequel to 2007's positively reviewed innovative side-scrolling adventure. Konami has a pair of Dance Dance Revolution titles out this week, as Hottest Party 3 heats up the Wii and X2 steps to the PS2. Ubisoft's latest CSI adventure, Deadly Intent, will also sleuth its way onto the Xbox 360, Wii, and DS.

For further details on the week's games, visit GameSpot's New Releases page. The full list of downloadable games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, and the Wii Shop Channel will be revealed later this week. Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change.

OCTOBER 26, 2009
Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? Game Time--X360, WII, DS--THQ
The Backyardigans--DS--Take-Two Interactive
Hasbro Family Game Night 2--WII, DS--Electronic Arts
Mytran Wars--PSP--Deep Silver
Nerf 2: N-Strike Elite--WII--Electronic Arts
Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Super Game Day--WII, PS2--Take-Two Interactive
SpongeBob's Truth or Square--X360, PSP, WII DS--THQ
World of Zoo--WII--THQ

OCTOBER 27, 2009
100 All-Time Favorites--DS--Ubisoft
All Star Cheer Squad 2--WII--THQ
Arcade Shooter: Illvelo--WII--UFO Interactive
Atelier Annie: Alchemists of Sera Island--DS--NIS America
Ben 10: Alien Force Vilgax Attacks--X360, PS2, PSP, WII, DS--D3Publisher
Chronicles of Mystery: The Tree of Life--DS, PC--City Interactive
Cocoto Surprise--WII--Big Ben Interactive
CSI: Deadly Intent--X360, WII, DS--Ubisoft
Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party 3--WII--Konami
DanceDanceRevolution X2--PS2--Konami
Diner Dash: Flo on the Go--DS--Zoo Games
DJ Hero--X360, PS3, PS2, WII--Activision Blizzard
Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter--WII, DS--THQ
Dream Salon--DS--Zoo Games
Dreamworks Madagascar Kartz--WII--Activision
Fairytale Fights--X360, PS3--Playlogic
Forza Motorsport 3--X360--Microsoft Game Studios
League of Legends: Clash of Fates--PC--THQ
Monster 4x4: Stunt Racer--WII--Ubisoft
Mountain Sports--WII--Activision
Nostalgia--DS--Ignition Entertainment
Painkiller: Resurrection--X360, PC--DreamCatcher Interactive
Petz Dogz Family--PSP--Ubisoft
Petz Dolphinz Encounter--DS--Ubisoft
Petz Hamsterz Bunch--PSP--Ubisoft
Petz: Saddle Club--PSP--Ubisoft
Press Your Luck 2010 Edition--WII, DS, PC--Ubisoft
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time--PS3--SCEA
Safari Adventures Africa--WII, DS--Conspiracy Entertainment
SimAnimals Africa--WII, DS--Electronic Arts
The Stronghold Collection--PC--Take-Two Interactive
Sushi Academy--DS--City Interactive
Tekken 6--X360, PS3--Namco Bandai
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure--DS--Disney Interactive Studios
Touchmaster 3--DS--Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Vegas Party--WII--Storm City Games
Water Sports--WII--Activision

OCTOBER 29, 2009
Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony--X360--Rockstar Games
Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City--X360--Rockstar Games

OCTOBER 31, 2009
Omniball--IP--Vendetta Studios
Wine Tycoon--PC--Got Game Entertainment

By Tom Magrino

Tom Magrino has covered the games industry since 2006. He's been compared to Steve Martin by Ozzy Osbourne and Daniel Craig by Tim Schafer. His voice, heard largely on GameSpot's podcast, recalls that of Kermit the Frog. It ain't easy bein' Magreen.

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