When I say there are slim pickings this week, I mean it. The home consoles only get two releases, and there are no new games at all for the Wii and PSP. There's also only one release on PC, but since it's The Sims 3, it's sure to sell a bucketload by its lonesome. The only console not experiencing a game drought this week in the Nintendo DS. There really are no slow release weeks for the DS in terms of quantity, really. Read on for a list of this week's game releases.

Namco Bandai has announced that they'll be putting on quite a show in Germany from August 23 to 26 at the Game Convention 2007 gathering. Marquee titles such as Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, The Witcher, Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 and Naruto Ultimate Ninja 2 are all going to be demoed, while some announcements will be made.

Ace Combat 6 for the Xbox 360 is following the tails of its predecessors which have sold a combined number of 10 million copies worldwide. The graphics, of course, are more realistic than ever before and an online mode will be there so you can take your game to the Xbox Live skies and see who the top gun really is.

The Witcher, on the other hand, is a brand new RPG for the PC developed by Polish studio CD Projekt and published under Namco's banner. It sets you on a monster-stalking quest in the shoes of protagonist Geralt. Not a lot has been revealed about it, but GC 2007 will have the title seeing the light of day for the first time.

Because you asked for it, you got it. Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi is one of this era's most successful fighting game franchises. The third installment is coming to the Wii and now it carries an online multiplayer mode which players have been asking for. The game features the largest selection of characters from the series and is sure to please fighting game and anime fans everywhere.

It looks like Europe will be in for quite a treat. If youre from anywhere in the region, you can't pass up the chance to catch this big gaming event. We'll keep you posted for more updates.

With video games becoming more and more expensive, keeping track of what games to buy and budgeting accordingly has become one of the most valuable skills in a gamer's arsenal. Today we have a release schedule for Ubisoft's upcoming games to help you keep track of your purchases.

The company's September lineup includes three new titles each for the Xbox 360, Wii and PC gaming platforms. Meanwhile, October should be a treat for Naruto fans, as the Ubisoft's first Naruto title, Naruto: Rise of a Ninja, is slated to hit retail stores on October 19.

So far, November seems to be the biggest month with five different releases slated for that time. The titles - among them Haze and Assassin's Creed - are heavy hitters too. Anyway, you can check out the full release schedule below.

• September
• 7 - Dark Messiah: Elements (Xbox 360)
• 7 - Settlers VI (PC)
• 21 - Brothers In Arms: Double Time - 21st September (Wii)
• October
• 19 - Naruto: Rise of a Ninja (Xbox 360)
• November
• 9 - Assassin's Creed (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
• 16 - Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
• 16 - Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 (Wii, DS)
• 16 - Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction (PC, Xbox 360)
• 23 - Haze (PS3)
• 30 - Haze (PC, Xbox 360)

A lot of players were really hurt when they announced that the E3 was going to be closed to the public. For those who are still harboring a grudge, feel free to skip over this article. For those who are interested though, IGN was recently able to get a hold of a listing of games that will be featured in the said event.

A lot of the companies still haven't announced the games that they will be showcasing in this year's E3. However, quite a few of the big name developers have already announced their offerings. Of course this is still a preliminary list and more will be added as the days go by.

Anyway, here we have the list of companies who will be attending but haven't announced any games yet then the confirmed games that will be showcased in the E3. Now excuse this blogger as he goes to a corner and cry out my frustration at not being able to go this event.

Companies who haven't announced games yet:

• 1C Company
• 2K Games
• Activision
• Atlus Software
• Bethesda Softworks
• Codemasters
• Crave Entertainment
• Eidos Interactive
• Foundation 9 Entertainment
• GSC GameWorld
• id Software
• Konami Digital Entertainment
• Majesco Entertainment
• Microsoft
• Namco Bandai Games
• Natsume
• NCSoft
• Nintendo
• Rebellion
• SEGA
• Sierra Entertainment
• Square Enix
• THQ
• Ubisoft
• Warner Bros. Interactive

Wnat to see the full games list? Check out the full article.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has proudly stated that in 2007-2008, they will be releasing the best software line-up in the company's history. Looking at the games they plan on churning out, we can't see any reason to doubt his bold words.

Guillemot justified his statements by saying that in the given time period they will be launching "seven franchises including Brothers in Arms and Splinter Cell; six new brands, including Assassin's Creed, EndWar and Haze; and four licensed games, including Surf's Up, Lost and Naruto" That's a powerhouse line-up if you ask us.

So far, the company has had success with its support of the Nintendo Wii. They have capitalized on the fact that other game developers underestimated the Wii's popularity. Guillemot has given word that they plan on continuing this trend saying "we intend to reap the full benefits of the ramp-up of new generation consoles and grow, again this year, our presence in the casual market on Wii and Nintendo DS systems."

Yes, Ubisoft is on the rise, but it really depends on the market trends whether they will be hitting their 800 million Euro sales target. From all indications though, they are set to have the best fiscal year in the entire history of the company.

We've just walked away from Faux News' Bill O'Reilly as he made his most recent rantings on iPods (he flamed iPods via  podcast - the man's a genius...not!), PS3s, and videogaming.

Yeah, you gotta admit that old sourpuss left everybody feeling equally sour. We resent what O'Reilly did, stereotyping all addicted game nerds into one group.

FYI, there's more than ONE twisted gaming stereotype, Mr. O'Rly, and courtesy of Lore Sjoberg over at Wired, we're laying down some of the apparent misfits we're sure you guys have spotted (or identify with) when you go online.

Please don't take this seriously.

The Power Craver:
These are the guys who play just for the pure powertrip factor - and consider future downgrades (ie "Nerfing") to characters they're using as a personal attack, hence something to bellyache about. Think how FMA's Edward Elric looks at Col. Mustang:  "The guys with the God Complex."
Punishment: Forced to admit that no matter how powerful they are in-game, they're still some cheap-ass cashier at a convenience store in real life.

More on these stereotypes after this jump!

It's quite amusing to note that despite the PS3 launch, this 11/17, there are a few non-PS3 titles that are coming out on the same week. They're pretty good titles too. Still, one just has to point out that the PS3 gets to hog the weekend, until the Wii comes out.

Got your wallets ready? Here's the list:

PC
11.13.06 - Gothic 3 - PC
11.14.06 - Medieval 2: Total War - PC
11.14.06 - Warhammer: Mark of Chaos - PC

DS
11.14.06 - Final Fantasy III

PS2
11.14.06 - History Channel: Civil War
11.14.06 - Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles
11.14.06 - WWI SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007

X360
11.14.06 - History Channel: Civil War
11.14.06 - WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007

PS3
11.14.06 - Madden NFL 07 - PS3
11.17.06 - Genji: Days of the Blade - PS3
11.17.06 - Marvel: Ultimate Alliance - PS3
11.17.06 - Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire - PS3
11.17.06 - Need for Speed Carbon - PS3
11.17.06 - Resistance: Fall of Man - PS3
11.17.06 - Ridge Racer 7 - PS3
11.17.06 - Tony Hawk’s Project 8 - PS3

Looks like Madden's trying to get a head-start. That, or it's a bit overexcited. If the PS3 is a bit too expensive for you, and you're too impatient to wait for the Wii, you've got a noisy nine-tailed ninja, several muscular men with shaved armpits, an rpg, a war game, and something gothic waiting for you on the shelves this week.

I went to work today with a skip in my step, fresh from finishing Final Fantasy XII. I thought nothing could ruin my work day, until I heard this disturbing piece of internet news. Apparently Gamestop has a games 4 girls kiosk filled with questionable content.

Here's the entertaining quote from a Kotaku report regarding the offending kiosk:

Apparently the powers that be at Gamestop are still under the delusion that girls actually enjoy playing crap like this. The roster of insipid titles is truly painful to take in with the exception of Cooking Mama, which rocks! I mean look at that line up: Strawberry Shortcake, The Little Mermaid, That's So Raven, My Little Pony and something that I think is Hillary Duff.

Yes I understand that the games in the said kiosk targets girls, young girls, not women, and I am aware of the complicated and touchy subject that is "female preference regarding video game genres." Since this writer is not a female, he chooses to not get entangled in that mucky (flame-baity) subject. Instead I will focus on a topic that is much closer to home and is still related to this disgusting kiosk.

I have a sister, and the possibility that she might fall victim to this odd aberration is not a welcome one. I assure you, I will never, ever, ever, ever, let my younger sister suffer through the insanity that that is Bratz. This article is about that.

If not Bratz, and games of their kind, what proper games will I get my sister? And, for all of you QJ readers, if you'd like to introduce your sister to the world of gaming, what games can you get her? Also, if your younger sister is already a gamer, what games will you recommend that she get?

Get the rest of this article after the jump!