Release This: Elite Guitar Piñata

Gamasutra's regular round-up of worldwide video game releases, "Release This!", takes a look at every game title we know to be shipping to stores this week, in an exclusively compiled list. "Emergence Day" approaches, and Xbox 360 owners in the United States will soon be able to get a taste of the much-hyped Gears of War, along with Viva Piñata, Call of Duty 3, and a number of other anticipated titles. Other consoles will see plenty of life as well, with games like Elite Beat Agents, Guitar Hero II, Final Fantasy V Advance, and Tony Hawk's Project 8 certain to leave gamers with empty wallets by the week's end. The following list covers all of the game software we know to be available -- across all platforms and regions -- for the week ending November 11, 2006. Games Released in the United States: Many Xbox 360 owners in the United States are currently awaiting "Emergence Day" on November 7th, a date that will mark the debut of the highly anticipated Gears of War. The console will also see the release of the niche favorite Viva Piñata a few days later, ensuring that the week's Xbox 360 software lineup appeals to a variety of tastes. Fans of the rhythm genre will also be pleased by this week's offerings, as both Guitar Hero II and Elite Beat Agents are scheduled to make their American debut in the next several days. Guitar Hero II serves as sequel to last year's surprise hit Guitar Hero, while Elite Beat Agents offers a U.S.-exclusive follow-up to the popular Japanese DS title Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan. Games Released in Europe: Europe may have to wait a few more weeks before it sees localized versions of this week's most high-profile U.S. releases, but near-simultaneous multiregion releases of popular titles like Tony Hawk's Project 8 and Call of Duty 3 should keep gamers on both sides of the world happy in the coming days. The region will have a selection of exclusive titles to choose from as well. Buzz! The Sports Quiz is the latest entry in the Europe-exclusive Buzz! series of quiz games, and WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007 will debut in Europe several days before it hits U.S. shores. Games Released in Japan: It's another slow week for new Japanese releases, as this week's list has little to offer for import-minded gamers outside of Japan. Fans of the text-based adventure genre, however, are likely awaiting the release of Mai-Kinoto Hime, which currently ranks fairly high in preorders for the region. One of this week's most anticipated Japanese releases is Zaidan Houjin Nippon Kanji Nouryoku Kentei Kyoukai Koushiki Soft: 200 Mannin no KanKen: Tokoton Kanji Nou, a title that appears to be a personal training tool in the vein of Nintendo's Brain Age. Given the high number of preorders the title has received so far, it's very likely that Zaidan Houjin Nippon Kanji Nouryoku Kentei Kyoukai Koushiki Soft: 200 Mannin no KanKen: Tokoton Kanji Nou will appear in upcoming best-seller lists alongside fellow wordy "brain training" favorites Nippon Joushikiryoku Kenteikau Kanshuu: Imasara Jin ni wa Kikienai - Otona no Joushikiryoku Training DS and Touhoku Daigaku Mirai Kagaku Gijutsu Kyoudou Kenkyuu Center Kawashima Ryuuta Kyouju Kanshuu: Motto Nou wo Kitaeru Otona no DS Training.