Release This: Eternal Sonata, MySims Head Major U.S. Release Week

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. A swell of gamer enthusiasm greets Eternal Sonata's American release this week, as anticipated titles like MySims and World in Conflict prepare for launch in both the U.S. and the UK. The following list covers all of the game software we know to be available -- across all platforms and regions -- for the week ending September 22nd, 2007. Games Released in the United States: This week's sizable U.S. release list is headed by Namco Bandai's Eternal Sonata, which boasts an impressive and somewhat unexpected Mindshare lead over its competitors in the days leading up to its release. Given this high level of anticipation, Eternal Sonata is likely to receive the warm retail welcome that was denied fellow RPG Blue Dragon, which recently debuted to a mediocre sales performance. Stranglehold also stands to be one of the week's biggest titles, with a PC port and two separate PS3 editions making an appearance in this week's Mindshare top ten. The list additionally spotlights MySims, World in Conflict, and Sonic Rush Adventure as being among the week's most anticipated releases, though competition from the many other debuting titles ensures that a tough battle is about to be fought on retail shelves. Games Released in Europe: While gamers in the UK will likely devote the majority of their attention to heavy-hitters such as MySims and World in Conflict this week, the week-early European release of budget-priced Wii ports like Billy the Wizard: Rocket Broomstick Racing, Ninjabread Man, and Rock'n Roll Adventures ensures that a number of gamers will find something to like in this week's lineup. Europe will also receive region-exclusive releases in Red Ocean and Freak Out - Extreme Freeride, along with a selection of titles previously released in other regions. Games Released in Japan: Despite their sales successes overseas, hits like Mario Strikers Charged and Madden NFL 08 don't appear likely to fare as well in Japan, where a pair of expansion packs are set to do the biggest business this week. Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus and the Koei-published adventure title Kiniro no Corda 2 Anchor currently rank as the most-preordered titles among this week's batch of releases at Amazon.co.jp, with few competing titles generating nearly as much attention on any platform. [About IGN GamerMetrics: IGN GamerMetrics is an interactive tool designed to report the real-time behavior and interests of visitors to IGN Entertainment's network of gaming enthusiast web sites. Using data collected from IGN's readers, GamerMetrics shows the levels of consumer awareness, engagement, and purchase intent in every video game title released in the U.S. market.]