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Shippin' Out July 7-11: Civ Rev, UTIII 360

Sid Meier's strategy series returns to consoles as Epic's shooter storms another platform; Beijing 2008, Devil May Cry 4 PC, and Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon also arrive.

This week, gamers not distracted by the looming kickoff of the 2008 E3 Media & Business Summit will be treated to several high-profile games. Foremost among the week's debuts is Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution, the first console installment in the traditionally PC-centric turn-based strategy/simulation series in nearly a decade. Though the Wii edition of the game is on hold, a demo for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 has been available for weeks. The DS edition of the game--which Meier told GameSpot is very similar to the console versions--will mark the franchise's handheld debut.

For those fonder of destroying things than building them, Monday saw Unreal Tournament III for the Xbox 360 ship out. Released for the PC and PlayStation 3 last year, the latest entrant in Epic Games' celebrated shooter series is the first to use the developer's Unreal 3 Engine, which famously powered Gears of War. GameSpot's review of the PC version has a detailed rundown of the game's single-player campaign and online multiplayer modes, which are expanded in the 360 version.

Also arriving one month before the torch is lit at the real thing is Beijing 2008 - The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games. Developed by Eurocom Entertainment (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End), the PS3 and 360 game will be the second Olympics-based game published this century by Sega, after last year's Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games for the Wii and DS.

For those who didn't pick it up on the 360 or PS3 in February--when it generated solid reviews and strong sales--Devil May Cry 4 also arrives for the PC this week. Joining it on the original gaming platform are Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice and Ghost Online.

Besides two Virtual Console releases--King of the Monsters and the WiiWare game SPOGS Racing--the Wii will play host to Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon. The turn-based role-playing game follows one of the titular bird-creatures and series regular Cid as they navigate a variety of dungeons to help an amnesia-stricken town regain its collective memory.

Last but not least, Wednesday will see two new games for Xbox Live Arcade: the Hot Shots Golf-like Golf Tee it Up! and the co-op actioner Schizoid. The latter is historic, given that it's the first commercially released game that was made by independent developers using the XNA Game Studio Express toolset. Microsoft outlined its XNA-based indie-friendly development initiative at this year's Game Developers Conference in February.

This week's new releases are listed below (list taken from retailer information--actual dates may vary).

JULY 7, 2008
AMF Bowling Pinbusters! (DS)
Ducati Racing (DS)
King of the Monsters (WII VC)
Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice (PC)
SPOGS Racing (WII VC)
Unreal Tournament 3 (X360)

JULY 8, 2008
Beijing 2008 - The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games (X360, PS3)
Carnival Games (DS)
Devil May Cry 4 (PC)
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon (WII)
Ghost Online (PC)
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution (X360, PS3, DS)
Wonder World Amusement Park (WII)

JULY 9, 2008
Golf: Tee it Up (X360)
Schizoid (X360)

JULY 10, 2008
Purr Pals (WII)

JULY 11, 2008
Baseball Mogul 2009 (PC)
Sports Party (WII)

49 Comments

  • advocacy

    Posted Jul 11, 2008 6:07 am GMT

    CivRev is the best turn-based strategy for consoles. A wonderful translation, fully capturing the nuances and depth of its PC counterpart. Few other games can match the addictive quality of this game. You'll be spending many sleepless nights hearing the words "Fallum Fallum!"

  • thomas10soa

    Posted Jul 10, 2008 5:01 pm GMT

    civilization 360 has been out in england for about a month and a half now

  • tjdeep_2007

    Posted Jul 9, 2008 10:43 pm GMT

    civilization rev OMGGGGGGG>.....its avalaible now....

  • jakob_187

    Posted Jul 9, 2008 5:46 pm GMT

    I'm lovin' Civ Rev. Sure, the games simplifed quite a bit...not so much micro-management...but it doesn't mean it sucks. Sid really made this thing work incredibly on the console. Once they fix the online bugs and some of the in-game glitches (like how my magnifying glass likes to move to the left all on its own from time to time...and that's a problem that's happened on three different controllers and two different Xbox 360 stations)...then I'll have an even bigger grin on my face!

    Bye bye to WoW for me...I won't be playing that again for a WHILE! Thank you, Sid!

  • Razzi65

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 9:21 pm GMT

    sorry gamess...

  • stziggy

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 8:57 pm GMT

    It would have been nice if one could have purchased the new Civ somewhere around here. WalMart told me Thursday at the earliest. Hastings told me to wait a month. And brick and mortar stores are wondering why they're losing business to the Internet.

  • Lionhart_basic

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 4:53 pm GMT

    I ordered Civiliation and I'll prolly pick up UT3 later.

  • Jazzism

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 4:24 pm GMT

    LAWL UT3... Save your money. Civ looks cool.

  • wilk25

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 12:24 pm GMT

    devil may cry 4, beijing

  • grigjd3

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 11:41 am GMT

    Agent-CSim-47, out in America now.

  • Agent-CSim-47

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 9:51 am GMT

    I bought Civ Rev in June so how can it be out now?

  • combatsoldier

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 9:45 am GMT

    they dont have it listed here guys but the biggest game coming out this month is july 28th it is soul calibur four. i already bought and paid for my copy and hope to see you all online. dont forget.

  • combatsoldier

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 9:43 am GMT

    july only has a couple of good games coming out.

  • xkojimax

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 9:04 am GMT

    alright have those games... pfft.

  • dougphisig

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 8:59 am GMT

    Wish they'd start releasing more than 1 VC game at a time

  • BigDaddy973

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 8:49 am GMT

    I am so in on Civ!!!! I will get my copy soon!

  • Stalker700

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 8:40 am GMT

    Devil May Cry 4 FTW!!

  • DryvBy4Ever

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 8:31 am GMT

    Sid Meier's Civ is perfect.

  • Sins-of-Mosin

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 7:13 am GMT

    acoya - It came out in Europe early last month, this is the NA release.

    I'm getting my Civ today. Funny about Baseball Mogul 2009, last I seen the release date was July 1st. Wow, this must be the 5th or 6th time it has been pushed back and the season is half over. Way to capture the moment guys!

  • raverrozza

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 6:44 am GMT

    yeah am i mistaken or is civ rev already out in europe. same as UT3 has been out for a while on the 360. i think anyway.

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 6:42 am GMT

    As much as I love the Civ series, I'm still working on Galactic Civilizations II: Twilight of the Arnor and while they are different games it's going to have to be very good to pull me away at this point.

  • j5r9s2

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 6:30 am GMT

    Wow, nothing for the PS3. that stinks.

  • acoya

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 5:54 am GMT

    Civ Rev on July 8th??!?!?!?!?! I have already had Civ Rev for a couple of weeks now. As far as im aware i didn't get it early. I just went into a shop, picked it up and bought it. That dates wrong i think

  • cooldude03

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 5:24 am GMT

    Finally Unreal Tournament 3 comes home to Xbox 360!

  • qwertykeys

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 3:04 am GMT

    All the civilization games are so cool.

  • luvmesomchicken

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 11:23 pm GMT

    cant wait for civ revolution

  • brujos_corpse

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 10:45 pm GMT

    DMC 4 for the PC finally after like two delays. "Shippin' Out July 7-11" hehe 7-11

  • rangr

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 10:01 pm GMT

    Haven't tried out the Civ demo but a buddy of mine has really been talking it up so I will be picking it up. Not a big fan of the FPS, so no UT3 for me.

  • yungswift44

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 10:00 pm GMT

    hey 360 owners.. get ut3 its great even though yall miss out on mods, yall get the splitscreen , so its good for you guys, i dont have 360 (or plan on gettin one) enjoy the splitscreen, i wish i could lol

  • BoogieManZero

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 9:57 pm GMT

    Looking forward to Unreal Tournament 3 tomorrow.

  • grafkhun

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 9:15 pm GMT

    yeah UT3, if 360-ers only play with 360-ers and it's not cross-platform I'll think about checking it out. but a twitch based shooter like that needs a keyboard and mouse. As for Civ Rev demo was great, but I don't know if I'll pick up the full game.

  • KaoaAlakane

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 7:51 pm GMT

    civ 4 n ut3 in the morn.

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 7:31 pm GMT

    Gonna get myself dmc4 later today

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 7:15 pm GMT

    Already have Civ and beat it like a month ago. Sucks to have to buy games from US. Although I havn't gotten Unreal 3 yet for 360. It's not region free :'(

  • Lord_Artix

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 7:06 pm GMT

    Hell yeah for Civ Revolution!

  • DHReese

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 6:59 pm GMT

    Agreed. Civilization is amazing. Demo hooked me like no other. Although I've seen in some places it doesn't ship till the 9th. Thoughts?

  • Ranteal

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 6:50 pm GMT

    Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice (PC) = Game of the Year

  • ocdog45

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 6:32 pm GMT

    civilization is gonna be tight

  • planetpib

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 6:16 pm GMT

    YEAH! UT3! cant wait to play it on my 360.

  • Ondoval

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 6:05 pm GMT

    I don't want to flame, but UT III is one of the few multis that clearly is better in PS3 (of course in PC is even much better). And not because the mods ans free maps, but because tjhe keyboard+mouse support. Against te A.I., in Sentinel map -specially fited to 1 vs 1 Duel mode- I can beat it in "Experienced", but with k+m I beat the machine in "Masterful". Seriously, UT III is not the grenade lamefest that COD 4 is, in this game you need skill and a good interface, is all about tactic control above the power ups and such things, and even that I'm not a good player I doubt that the best players with pad could beat the average k+m guys in this game. And of course, 0% chances against Lauke/ Gitzz etc.

  • felshs

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 6:04 pm GMT

    i might get civilization cuz i liked civilization 3

  • gnbfd

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 5:54 pm GMT

    yay. more Wii shovelware....
    AND CIVILIZATION!

  • godzillavskong

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 5:43 pm GMT

    I'll wait on UT3. I'll wait until it goes down in price and then maybe pick it up.

  • 09231991

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 5:28 pm GMT

    I can't wait for Civ Rev. The demo was awesome and I can't wait to play the full game

  • planetgloom

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 5:08 pm GMT

    Unreal III on 360 is sweet!! Pity about the mods but me and my other half are having more than enough fun with the enw split-screen mode to care. Civ is good too, little bit childish and sims like but still pretty cool!

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 4:59 pm GMT

    Eh, unless they pull a Farenheit 451 on Call of Duty 4, UT3 isn't really worth the trouble. Can't wait to get my grubby fingers on CivRev though.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 4:54 pm GMT

    I got hooked on the Civilization demo and can't wait to play the entire game.

  • -GhostMLD- posted Jul 7, 2008 4:54 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    -GhostMLD-

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 4:54 pm GMT (hide)

    finally UT3 will get the console sales it deserves.

  • akiwak

    Posted Jul 7, 2008 4:47 pm GMT

    Nothing I will be getting this week. Can't wait to hear about UT3 for the 360. I wonder what the 'improvements' are over the PS3? By the way first post and yes I'm liking my cookie that I got for being first. Yum yum...

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