Shippin' Out: Oct 17-23: Fallout: New Vegas, Kirby's Epic Yarn, DJ Hero 2, EA Sports MMA

Last week's new release plate was focused on the Afghan war, Mexican wrestling, and adjectives, but this week’s attention is channeled into radioactive wastelands, Nintendo's pink mascot, turntables, cage fighting, action, and soccer.

Leading the pack this week is Fallout: New Vegas for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, the role-playing game is set in the Mojave Wasteland and casts players in the role of a courier who gets shot in the head over a package and is left for dead. After recovering, players will be free to roam the desert, exploring new areas and modifying weapons. They will also get wrapped up in the larger conflict between the New California Republic and the slave-trading Caesar's Legion, based out of the former casino Caesar's Palace.

The most notable release for the Nintendo Wii this week is Kirby’s Epic Yarn. The game will see the Nintendo mascot return in a new 2D platformer with an arts-and-crafts aesthetic. In the game, Kirby and the rest of his world are represented in yarn, felt, beads, and other common materials to give the game a distinct look. As for gameplay, Kirby will wield a yarn whip that can be used to interact with the environment, tugging at seams to unstitch the background and reveal new paths or secure platforms to one another.

Also debuting this week is DJ Hero 2 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii. DJ Hero 2 is a sequel to last year’s warmly received original and will come with 105 songs, remixed in 80 distinct ways. Notable artists featured in the game include Eminem, who lends "Not Afraid" to the game; Deadmau5, who scratches up his iconic beat "Ghosts N Stuff"; and Metallica, offering their eight-minute headbanging hit "The Day That Never Comes" to the game.

DJ Hero 2 will come in a variety of bundles, including a "party in a box" set ($149.99) that includes a copy of the game, two turntables, and a microphone, as well as a single-turntable bundle ($99) and a version without accessories ($49.99 for the Wii, $59.99 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3).

Entering the cage this week is EA Sports MMA for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The title boasts Randy Couture and Fedor Emelianenko as cover athletes and allows players to take control of a number of fighters duking it out on numerous virtual battle mats.

For shooter fans, Sega this week releases Vanquish for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. A third-person shooter with an emphasis on action, Vanquish will follow a government-backed one-man army named Sam as he takes on robotic enemies in a world where an energy crisis has once again put the United States and Russia at odds. Unfortunately, this conflict isn't another Cold War, with hostilities started by the obliteration of San Francisco from an orbital laser cannon.

On the footie front, Konami will release the latest entry in its annualized soccer franchise this Tuesday. Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 comes to the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii this week with wunderkind and current FIFA Player of the World Lionel Messi on its cover. Konami is promising that PES 2011 "will deliver a completely new footballing experience." According to the publisher, this will be achieved through AI improvement and changes to the game's aesthetics, including a revamped animation system and greater control for the player over the speed at which the game is played.

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

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17
Kirby’s Epic Yarn--Wii--Nintendo

MONDAY, OCTOBER 18
Busy Scissors--DS,Wii--Little Orbit
Farmtopia--DS--505 Games
Honda Fever--Wii--CokeM Interactive
I Spy: Spooky Mansion--Wii--CokeM Interactive
My First Dollhouse--DS--505 Games
Power Gig: Rise of the Six String--X360,PS3--Seven45 Studios
Zhu Zhu Pets: Kung Zhu--DS--Activision

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19
Active Life Explorer--Wii--Namco Bandai Games
Aqua Panic--PS3--EKO Software
Arcania: Gothic 4--X360, PC--JoWooD Entertainment AG
Bakugan: Defenders of the Core--PS3, DS, Wii, PSP, X360--Activision
Blazing Souls: Accelerate--PSP--Aksys
Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2011--X360, PS3, DS, Wii--Activision
Cars Toon: Mater's Tall Tales--Wii--Disney Interactive Studios
Cosmos Chaos!--DS--Crave
Costume Quest--PS3--THQ
CSI: Fatal Conspiracy--Wii--Ubisoft
DJ Hero 2--X360, PS3, Wii--Activision
Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team--PSP--Namco Bandai Games
EA Sports MMA--X360, PS3-- EA Sports
Empire: Total War - Gold Edition--PC--Sega
EVE Online: Commissioned Officer Edition--PC--Atari
Fallout: New Vegas--X360, PS3, PC--Bethesda Softworks
Flip's Twisted World--Wii--Majesco Games
Girls Only--DS--O Games
Kevin Van Dam Fishing--PS3--Zoo Games
Mathews Bowhunting--Wii--Zoo Games
Mystery Tales of Time Travel--DS--O Games
Nail’d--PC--Deep Silver
Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Water's Edge--MAC, PC--Her Interactive
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2--X360, PS3--Namco Bandai Games
NBA 2K11--Wii--2K Sports
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011--X360, PS3, Wii, PS2, DS, PSP--Konami
Remington Super Slam Hunting North America--Wii--Jack of All Games
Rock of the Dead--PS3, X360--Conspiracy Entertainment
Saw 2: Flesh & Blood--X360, PS3--Konami
SBK X: Superbike World Championship--X360, PS3, PC--SouthPeak Games, Deep Silver
Sesame Street: Cookie's Counting Carnival--Wii, DS--Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
Smart Girl's Playhouse Party--DS--UFO Interactive
Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures--PC--Sony Online Entertainment
The Shoot--PS3--SCEA
Time Crisis: Razing Storm--PS3--Namco Bandai Games
Vanquish--PS3, X360--Sega

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20
Casper's Scare School: Spooky Sports Day--DS--Crave
Costume Quest--X360--THQ
Mechanic Master 2--DS--Crave
Super Meat Boy--X36--Team Meat