Shippin' Out 8/21-25: Madden, Texas Hold 'Em

There are other games coming out this week, but none that can compare to the retail stiff arm of Electronic Arts' gaming juggernaut Madden NFL 07. EA is calling an all-out blitz on the gaming industry with tomorrow's release of the title for the Xbox 360, Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PSP, DS, PC, and Game Boy Advance. With Shaun Alexander as this year's cover boy, EA has gone back to the drawing board and revamped the running game with new moves, new running styles, and the option to control the lead blocker while a back dashes for daylight.

For gamers who couldn't care less about the digital gridiron, there are a few other notable offerings on tap this week. Some online retailers have said they've already started shipping American McGee's satirical PC action game Bad Day L.A., almost certainly the first game to cast players in the role of a homeless man who must single-handedly save a City of Angels beset by multiple catastrophic disasters in a single day. [UPDATE 8/22: Bad Day L.A.'s publisher today confirmed a ship date of August 28 for the game.]

Elsewhere on the release lists, DS owners get a flight sim this week in Natsume's Freedom Wings, Xbox 360 owners can go all-in with the Xbox Live Arcade game Texas Hold 'Em (free for the first 48 hours of availability), and gamers of multiple systems will be able to take Namco's classic yellow pellet-gobbler for a spin on the kart-racing circuit with Pac-Man World Rally.

This week's new releases are listed below. The list is taken from retailer information, so actual dates may vary. Contact your local retailer for availability.

AUGUST 21
First Battalion (PC)
Ship Simulator 2006 (PC)
Freedom Wings (DS)

AUGUST 22
Madden NFL 07 (Xbox 360, Xbox, PS2, PSP, DS, GC, PC, GBA)
Yu-Gi-Oh Double Pack 2 (GBA)
Pac-Man World Rally (PS2, GC, PC, PSP)
Rapala Trophies (PSP)

AUGUST 23
Texas Hold 'Em (Xbox 360)