Shippin' Out Sept. 6-12: Beatles: Rock Band, Dirt 2

After a dry summer, the game-release spigot is starting to open up. This week, arguably the most anticipated rhythm game ever hits store shelves in the form of The Beatles: Rock Band. Developed by Harmonix, published by MTV Games, and distributed by Electronic Arts, the title is the first to feature the likeness of the Fab Four and will sport 45 songs from the group's 10-year career. Rated T for Teen, it will be available for the Wii, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 as a $60 stand-alone game, a $160 "special value edition" with standard Rock Band instruments, and a $250 limited edition with replicas of the Beatles' instruments.

If off-road racing is more appealing, then gear up for Dirt 2. Though no longer named after the late rally master Colin McRae, the racing game does feature a tasteful tribute to him in the form of a racing course he used in real life. It also features plenty of dirt-track action of the type that made the Scotsman famous and will be available for the PC, PS3, PSP, DS, and Wii.

Also new this week is Eidos Interactive Mini Ninjas, which features, as advertised, teeny shinobi. However, instead of the bloody combat popularized by Sho Kosugi in such 1980s cult films as Enter the Ninja, the E10+ for Everyone 10 and above rated game will feature nonlethal, kid-safe combat. Also in the mix will be stealth and magic, with defeated enemies turning into adorable animals instead of festering corpses.

Rounding out this week's releases is the World War II flight-combat sim IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey for the PS3 and Xbox 360, Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days for the PSP, and the Game of the Year edition of Little Big Planet, a PS3 exclusive.

For further details on the week's games, visit GameSpot's New Releases page. The full list of downloadable games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, and the Wii Shop Channel will be revealed later this week. Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change.

Sept. 6, 2009
No new releases scheduled.

Sept. 7, 2009
ColorZ--WII--Action--Exkee
War Leaders: Clash of Nations--PC--Strategy----Dreamcatcher

Sept. 8, 2009
Ant Nation--DS--Action--Konami
Arcade Zone--WII--Action--Activision
Darkest of Days--PC, X360--Action--Phantom EFX, Inc.
DiRT 2--DS, PC, PS3, PSP, WII, X360--Driving--Codemasters
Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days--PSP--Strategy--NIS America
Fallen Earth--PC--Role-Playing--Icarus Games
Heroes Over Europe--PC--Simulation--Ubisoft
IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey--PS3, X360--Simulation--505 Games
Imagine Detective--DS--Strategy--Ubisoft
Jump Start Pet Rescue--WII--Puzzle--Knowledge Adventure Inc.
LittleBigPlanet: Game of the Year Edition--PS3--Action--SCEA
Mini Ninjas--DS, PC, PS3, WII, X360--Adventure--Eidos Interactive
Muramasa: The Demon Blade--WII--Role-Playing--Ignition Entertainment
Platinum Hits Triple Pack--X360--Action--Capcom
Qubed--X360--Puzzle--Atari
Raiden IV--X360--Action--UFO Interactive
Time of Shadows--PC--Role-Playing--Kalypso
Trine--PS3--Action--Nobilis

Sept. 9, 2009
The Beatles: Rock Band--WII, PS3, X360--Puzzle--MTV Games
Sonic & Knuckles--X360--Action--Sega

Sept. 10, 2009
Women's Murder Club: Twice in a Blue Moon--PC--Adventure--I-Play

Sept. 11, 2009
No new releases scheduled.

Sept. 12, 2009
No new releases scheduled.