Release This: MLB 07 Strikes U.S. PS3s; Japan Cheered By Ouendan 2

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. What initially seems like another slow week holds a number of significant releases for all regions. MLB 07: The Show and Shrek 3 are set to find their audiences in the United States, while Europe gets a taste of Raw Danger! and Japan cheers away its problems with Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2. The following list covers all of the game software we know to be available -- across all platforms and regions -- for the week ending May 19, 2007. Games Released in the United States:

Surprisingly, the PlayStation 3 version of the SCEA-developed baseball sim MLB 07: The Show takes top honors as this week's most anticipated title across all platforms, according to IGN's GamerMetrics. This high degree of interest is impressive, considering that PS2 and PSP versions of MLB 07 have been available since February, and that a competing PS3 baseball title, Major League Baseball 2K7, debuted almost three months ago. Other popular choices this week include Activision's game based on this week's movie release Shrek 3, a PC port of the GameCube and PS2 survival horror hit Resident Evil 4, the House of the Dead-inspired shooter Touch the Dead, and Etrian Odyssey, a cartography-focused RPG that has been generating positive buzz from critics in the months leading up to its release. Games Released in Europe:

While eight new titles may not seem like much, it's interesting to note that the majority of this week's UK lineup is set to debut in Europe before it hits U.S. shores. Raw Danger! and Pony Friends will remain exclusive to Europe for several weeks, while MinDStorm and SBK'07 - Superbike World Championship currently have no release date set for any region outside of the UK and Australia. Also releasing this week is the delayed PlayStation 3 port of Spider-Man 3, which finds its way to store shelves two weeks after the release of versions for all other major consoles and portables. It remains to be seen whether this delay will affect potential sales numbers, as many consumers may have gotten their Spider-Man fix from any of several available ports by now. Games Released in Japan:

Fans of last year's Nintendo DS rhythm title Elite Beat Agents will no doubt be interested in the Japanese release of Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2, which in all likelihood will be this week's single most-imported title across all platforms. The release plays sequel to the 2005 release Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan, which itself was the basis for Elite Beat Agents. No U.S. release for Ouendan 2 is currently planned, making it a potentially hot import item. The PlayStation 2 will also see a pair of high-profile releases this week. Odin Sphere is a spiritual successor to the 1997 Sega Saturn action-RPG Princess Crown, while Shining Wind is the latest entry in Sega's long-running and popular Shining series. Odin Sphere will see release in the United States later this month, while no domestic release date has yet been announced for Shining Wind. [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.]