Shippin' Out: Sept. 13-19: Marvel UA 2, Need for Speed: Shift

After six straight months of falling sales, analysts expect the gaming industry to start growing again in September. Last week's launch of The Beatles: Rock Band and next week's Halo 3: ODST will go a long way toward realizing those predictions, but this week's glut of high-profile releases is nothing to sneeze at, either.

The two biggest third-party publishers in the world, Activision and EA, both have major multiplatform releases anchoring the retail action for the week. Activision is rolling out its superheroic action role-playing game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PSP, DS, and PlayStation 2, while EA revamps the Need for Speed franchise of arcade-style racers with the latest installment, Shift, on the 360, PS3, PSP, and PC.

EA also has another of its annualized sports franchises ready to return, as NHL 10 takes the ice with Chicago Blackhawks cover star Patrick Kane on September 15. Last year's installment in the series, NHL 09, was named GameSpot's Best Sports Game of 2008. As has become the ritual, bitter rival 2K Sports will drop the gloves against EA with its own pucks sim, NHL 2K10, fronted by Washington Capitals sensation Alexander Ovechkin.

The third-party publishers aren't the only ones rolling out new offerings this week. Nintendo kicks things off with the Sunday launch of new white and pink models of its camera-equipped DSi, following up on Tuesday with the debut of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story for the portable. The RPG follows Nintendo's famous pair of plumbers on a journey through the innards of their archenemy.

Lurking behind those heavy hitters are a handful of noteworthy titles, including 5th Cell's DS sandbox puzzler Scribblenauts, Bethesda Softwork's Activision-Vivendi acquisition orphan Wet, and Crave Entertainment's 360 and PS3 versions of Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection. The week will also see Ubisoft take off with the aerial combat game Heroes Over Europe for the Xbox 360 and PS3, and PC gamers will get anticipated ports of Batman: Arkham Asylum, Resident Evil 5, and Red Faction: Guerrilla.

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.

Sept. 13, 2009
Nintendo DSi in white and pink colors

Sept. 14, 2009
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story--DS--Nintendo
My Boyfriend--DS--THQ
Princess in Love--DS--THQ

Sept. 15, 2009
Age of Empires III: Complete Collection--PC--Microsoft
Animal Planet: Vet Life--DS, Wii--Activision
Batman: Arkham Asylum--PC--Eidos Interactive
Bleach: The 3rd Phantom--DS--Sega
Chicken Blaster--Wii--Zoo Games
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs--Wii, 360, PS3, DS, PSP, PC--Ubisoft
Dreamer: Top Model--DS--Dreamcatcher Interactive
Heroes Over Europe--360, PS3--Ubisoft
Learn Geography--DS--Dreamcatcher Interactive
Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim--PC--Paradox Interactive
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story--DS--Nintendo
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2--Wii, PS3, 360, PSP, DS, PS2--Activision
My Boyfriend--DS--THQ
Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2--DS--Tomy
Need for Speed: Shift--360, PS3, PSP, PC--EA Games
NHL 10--PS3, 360--EA Sports
NHL 2K10--PS3, 360, Wii, PS2--2K Sports
Our House Party--Wii--Majesco Games
Our House--DS--Majesco Games
Pacific Liberator--Wii--Zoo Games
Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection--360, PS3--Crave
Princess in Love--DS--THQ RACE On--PC--bitComposer Games
Red Faction: Guerrilla--PC--THQ
Resident Evil 5--PC--Capcom
Runes of Magic Chapter II: The Elven Prophecy--PC--Frogster Interactive Scribblenauts--DS--Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Tornado Outbreak--Wii, PS3, 360--Konami
Toy Story Mania--Wii--Disney Interactive Studios
Wet--360, PS3--Bethesda Softworks

Sept. 16, 2009
Panzer General: Allied Assault--360--Ubisoft

Sept. 17, 2009
Madballs in Babo: Invasion--PC--Playbrains

Sept. 18, 2009
Supreme Ruler 2020 Gold--Paradox Interactive

Sept. 19, 2009
No new releases scheduled.