Release This: Spore Hits U.S. Shores; Japan Gets Pokemon Platinum

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. The long-awaited Spore will make its debut on PC platforms this week in the United States, joining cross-console offerings like Yakuza 2 and Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise. Europe will soon receive an early look at a DS remake of Dragon Quest IV, while Japan prepares for the release of Pokemon Platinum. The following list covers all of the game software we know to be available -- across all platforms and regions -- for the week ending September 13th, 2008. Games Released in the United States: Digital hockey season begins in the United States this week with the dual release of EA's NHL 09 and 2K's NHL 2K9 across multiple platforms. The titles join other debuting multiplatform offerings like Midway's wrestling sim TNA Impact and Cabela's Legendary Adventures. A variety of awaited platform exclusives will also be available in the coming days. PS2 owners will soon receive a localized version of Yakuza 2, while on PC platforms, the Will Wright-designed Spore will make its awaited North American debut. Elsewhere, the formerly Japan-exclusive Zoids series will find its first American release on the Xbox 360, while the Nintendo DS hosts the once-delayed dungeon crawler Mazes of Fate DS and the Nintendo-published adventure title Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir. Games Released in Europe: Gamers in Europe get an early look at the English version of Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen this week, as the title is set to debut in the UK several days in advance of its planned U.S. release. The PS2, PS3, and Wii versions of Rock Band and its bundled peripherals will also see release in Europe this week, several months after the title's regional premiere on the Xbox 360. Games Released in Japan: Several anticipated releases can be seen among this week's seemingly sparse Japanese console lineup. Xbox 360 owners will soon receive Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise, Double Clutch (a localized version of Conflict: Denied Ops), and the Tri Ace-developed RPG Infinite Undiscovery. The Nintendo Wii is set to see the first chapter in the One Piece Unlimited Cruise series this week, while on the PS2, Sega releases a collection of its Fantasy Zone arcade shooters. Portable offerings this week are headed by Pocket Monsters Platina (to be released in other regions as Pokemon Platinum). In the vein of previous Pokemon series upgrades like Pokemon Crystal and Pokemon Emerald, Platina is an updated version of Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl that features a number of gameplay improvements and changes. Given the long-running popularity of Diamond and Pearl, the title seems likely to lead Japanese portable console sales for the next several weeks.