Release This: Ninja Gaiden Sigma Infiltrates U.S. and UK

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. This week's worldwide release lineup is significantly quieter than last week's, with only a select few titles debuting in any region. The United States and Europe will receive the awaited Ninja Gaiden Sigma during this lull, however, while gamers in Japan prepare to enjoy a virtual vacation in Boku no Natsuyasumi 3 and touch witches with Dokidoki Majo Shinpan! The following list covers all of the game software we know to be available -- across all platforms and regions -- for the week ending July 7th, 2007. Games Released in the United States: With little competition to be found on any platform, Ninja Gaiden Sigma stands out as what is likely to be the week's most anticipated release in the United States. The title is currently receiving a healthy amount of preorder sales at Amazon, and is on track to become one of the PlayStation 3's biggest sellers in future weeks. It's worth noting, however, that similarly high levels of preorder interest were observed in Japan prior to Sigma's release there several weeks ago. This demand dissipated shortly after the title's release, leading to consistently tepid sales for Sigma in the weeks thereafter. It remains to be seen whether a similar sales pattern will emerge following Ninja Gaiden Sigma's release in the United States and Europe. Games Released in Europe: Europe scales back its release schedule after last week's flood of new titles, with every major platform (minus the Xbox 360) seeing a total of one new release this week. The list includes a handful of region-exclusive titles; the English localization of The King of Fighters XI has yet to receive a final U.S. release date, while the PSP remake of Parappa the Rapper will make its way Stateside later this month. International Cricket Captain III also appears to be exclusive to the UK, with no release date for any other region announced. Games Released in Japan: The Nintendo DS rules this week's Japanese charts with a total of fourteen scheduled releases. Among these are highly anticipated titles like Chikasete! Chibi-Robo! (to be released in other regions later this year as Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol) and Dokidoki Majo Shinpan!, SNK's infamous "witch touching simulator." Square Enix's DS:Style Series is also set to make its debut this week, featuring a variety of instructional titles that cover subjects ranging from gardening to cooking to classical music. The PlayStation 3 is not without its significance this week, however. Sony's bucolic summer vacation 'sim' Boku no Natsuyasumi 3 has been picking up steam in preorder sales over the last few months, and could end up singlehandedly selling PlayStation 3 consoles to hardcore fans of the vacation simulation series for weeks to come.