Retail Scoop: New Releases Week of September 8, 2009

In affiliation with Amazon.com, TripleChat is happy to bring you the new releases each week for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable. We bring what titles are coming out, all the details of who is behind the title, as well as a product description (courtesy of Amazon.com).

Along with new game releases we will also highlight the top five bluray releases each week that we feel will best suite movie and TV show fans alike.  Obviously opinions will differ but this is our site dang nabbit so our opinion will be heard! This is region specific to North America.

This Week: Last week it was all about Guitar Hero, this week its biggest rival is releasing their latest game.  In what is the most anticipated group-themed release yet, Rock Band is debuting their Beatles collection.  Sales are sure to be great as the game hits the same time as the entire Beatles catalog is re-released in remastered editions.  EA is giving players no lack of options here as they are releasing the game stand-alone, in a Beatles themed package, and with the standard bundle edition of Rock Band.  You know what though, we do have other games this week, and some damn good ones too.  Competing with Rock Band for your dollars is Codemasters latest racing title, DiRT 2 (read our Overview here).  After a successful and somewhat surprising original, DiRT returns with more depth than ever.  Also coming out this week for the PS3 is a candidate for 2009’s Sleeper Hit with the 505 Games published IL-2 Sturmovik (read our Overview).  The demo surprised us, and the game will supposedly go for $10 below MSRP, so we are even more interested.  Think we’re done, we’re not – LittleBigPlanet gets a re-release in its Game of the Year Edition which includes a hefty portion of the premium DLC now available on the PS Store.

To finish up the game releases we have a new Cabela title for the PS3 and PS2 which is sure to be $10 in just a few weeks, as well as Mini Ninjas finally debuting (after a not-so stellar demo last week) and for PSP users Disgaea 2 is coming out.  Not a bad week for video games, especially if you are a Rock Band addict.

Bluray wise – for the third week in a row another good week for TV fans, but unlike last week, not such a good week for movie buffs.  The latest season (and first season for blu) of The Office hits this week, just in time for next week’s season premiere.  One of last year’s rookie hits, Fringe, gets the bluray treatment this week with the entire first season.  Movie wise, Jason Statham’s Crank 2 is out this week as well as a couple of catalog titles (one of which is going for a great price).  It’s not a terrible week, but obviously as we draw closer to the Christmas holiday some of this year’s big blockbuster movies will finally be out on blu.

New Releases for the Week of September 8, 2009:

VIDEO GAMES

The Beatles: Rock Band
Available for:
Releases: 9/9
Price: $56.99
Publisher: EA Games
Developer: Harmonix
Genre: Music
Product Description: Experience The Beatles music and legacy like never before, utilizing the core Rock Band game play. “The Beatles: Rock Band” in an unprecedented, experiential progression through and celebration of the music and artistry of The Beatles. The game will allow fans to pick up the guitar, bass, mic or drums and experience The Beatles extraordinary catalogue of music through game play that takes players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band’s legendary career.
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BONUS OFFERS:

• Release-date delivery available

The Beatles: Rock Band Premium Bundle
Available for:
Releases: 9/9
Price: $249.99
Publisher: EA Games
Developer: Harmonix
Genre: Music
Product Description: Experience The Beatles music and legacy like never before, utilizing the core Rock Band game play. “The Beatles: Rock Band” in an unprecedented, experiential progression through and celebration of the music and artistry of The Beatles. The game will allow fans to pick up the guitar, bass, mic or drums and experience The Beatles extraordinary catalogue of music through game play that takes players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band’s legendary career. In addition, “The Beatles: Rock Band” will offer a limited number of new hardware offerings modeled after instruments used by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr throughout their career. The Limited Edition includes: “The Beatles: Rock Band” software, Höfner Bass controller, The Beatles branded Rock Band Drums, Microphone, Microphone Stand, and Special Content.
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BONUS OFFERS:

• Release-date delivery available

The Beatles: Rock Band Special Edition
Available for:
Releases: 9/9
Price: $139.99
Publisher: EA Games
Developer: Harmonix
Genre: Music
Product Description: Rock Band Special Value Edition includes a Rock Band Guitar, Rock Band Drum Kit, Microphone, USB Hub, Guitar Strap and The Beatles: Rock Band software. The Beatles: Rock Band gives fans what they’ve been waiting for: a chance to experience the Beatles’ legendary story from the inside. You won’t just watch and listen as the Beatles make rock history, create landmark records and conquer the world—for the first time, you’ll be part of the band. The Beatles software is compatible with all Rock Band and most Guitar Hero and other instrument controllers, as well as third party microphones including SingStar and Lips.

The Beatles: Rock Band Wireless Rickenbacker 325 Guitar Controller
Available for:
Releases: 9/9
Price: $99.99
Publisher: EA Games
Developer: Harmonix
Genre: Accessory
Product Description: As played by John Lennon, The Beatles: Rock Band Wireless Rickenbacker 325 Guitar Controller will feature an authentic whammy bar with chrome tip, a fast, accurate strum bar, five-way toggle switch, and auto-calibration sensor to make syncing up with any TV a breeze.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey (Overview)
Available for:
Releases: 9/8
Price: Not Currently Available
Publisher: 505 Games
Developer: 505 Games
Genre: Flight Sim
Product Description: IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey is based around the large-scale aerial combat and ground military operations of World War II. Players can participate in some of the war’s most famous battles piloting fighters, battle planes and heavy bombers across a range of thrilling missions. There are five theatres of war to engage in, The Battle of Britain, Stalingrad, Berlin, Sicily and Korsun’ representing the main airborne battles of World War II in Europe. It also boasts an all new damage effects engine as well as advanced environmental visuals enriching the game play. Players can see real time damage to the aircraft such as holes in the wings and trail lines during dogfights. IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey features hundreds of airplanes taking part in air battles. The unique environmental engine also produces highly detailed, realistic landscapes that allow players to see breathtaking ground support actions.

DiRT 2 (Overview)
Available for:
Releases: 9/8
Price: $59.99 / $29.99
Publisher: Codemasters
Developer: Codemasters
Genre: Racing
Product Description: Following on the success of the original Dirt as well as a decade of videogame development in partnership with the late Colin McRae, DiRT 2 explores various disciplines of off-road racing. Dirt 2 features a roster of contemporary off-road events, taking players to the most diverse and challenging real-world environments. This World Tour has players competing in aggressive multi-car and intense solo races at extraordinary new locations, from canyon racing and jungle trails to city stadium-based events.

Mini Ninjas
Available for:
Releases: 9/8
Price: $47.99
Publisher: Eidos
Developer: IO Interactive
Genre: Action Adventure
Product Description: You are the last Ninja that anyone would expect to save the world. Yet that is exactly what you’re called to do when an Evil Samurai Warlord hatches a plan bent on total domination. Use your special Ninja training to battle a magical army of twisted Samurai, ride the rapids of the Great Central River, walk into the very heart of the Lost Volcano, and finally confront the Samurai Warlord in his Evil Fortress of Doom. Play as Hiro and other Mini Ninjas, combining your ninja skills, weapons & kuji magic powers in an epic & challenging adventure to restore harmony to the world.

LittleBigPlanet: GOTY Edition (Overview)
Available for:
Releases: 9/9
Price: $59.99
Publisher: SCEA
Developer: Media Molecule
Genre: Platform
Product Description: Play. Create. Share. w/premium DLC included
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ALSO SEE:

• LittleBigPlanet Standard Edition – $43.49

Cabela’s Outdoor Adventures 2010
Available for:
Releases: 9/8
Price: $39.99 / $29.99
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Activision
Genre: Hunting
Product Description: It’s the hunting and fishing trip of a lifetime! Experience the top hunting and fishing hotspots in North America in pursuit of record-breaking big game, small game, turkey, upland birds, waterfowl and trophy fish species all combined into one incredible outdoor experience!

Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days
Available for:
Releases: 9/8
Price: $27.99
Publisher: NIS America
Developer: Nippon Ichi Software
Genre: RPG
Product Description: THE AWARD-WINNING SRPG HITS THE PSP WITH LOADS OF NEW CONTENT! As the sequel to the most over-the-top strategy RPG ever, the critically-acclaimed Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days heads to PlayStation Portable with a ton of new content! With massive character & weapon customization, 9999 levels to climb through, an infinite number of battle maps, and brand-new story chapters, Disgaea 2 is ready to please the most dedicated hardcore gamers. Play as a human hero devoted to saving the world from a demented overlord, or try your luck as a dumb-as-bricks demon villain determined to become the Netherworld¿s new superstar! KEYFEATURES – Loads upon loads of new and enhanced content – Try your hand at over 55 new battle stages, 4 new story chapters, and a new playable character… all spanning over 150 hours of gameplay! – Extreme Battle System – The Magichange and Throw/Receive system from Disgaea 3 on the PLAYSTATION 3 have been added, allowing battle units to transform into weapons and units to be caught and thrown to strategically attack the enemy. – Anime Style Comedy – Like the battle system, the story and characters are all over-the-top and good laugh from all the back-stabbing, good-for-nothing characters.

BLURAY

The Office: Season 5
Releases: 9/8
Price: $42.99
Studio: Universal
Type: TV Show
Genre: Comedy
Rated: Not Rated
Product Description: Clock in to “The Office”, for even more inappropriate remarks, uncomfortable silences, and petty behavior in the complete fifth season of the Primetime Emmy(R) Award-winning series! Steve Carell (”The 40-Year-Old-Virgin”) is back in his Golden Globe(R)-winning role as Michael Scott, the clueless boss of the Scranton Branch-Dunder Mifflin who ‘manages’ to create unending comical drama despite his best intentions. Trusty and loyal assistant-to-the-regional manager, Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) continues to uphold the office honor as Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) find ways to sabotage him and encourage Michael’s hysterics. This collection contains all 26 season five episodes and hours of hilarious bonus features! You’ll want to stay late at “The Office” to relive every entertaining episode of this must-see, must-own TV show that demands to be watched again and again.
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BONUS OFFERS:

• Purchase any DVD or Bluray and receive $5 towards select TV shows at Amazon On Demand (Details)

Fringe: Season 1
Releases: 9/8
Price: $50.99
Studio: Warner Bros.
Type: TV Show
Genre: Drama
Rated: Not Rated
Product Description: Teleportation. Mind control. Invisibility. Astral projection. Mutation. Reanimation. Phenomena that exist on the “Fringe” of science unleash their strange powers in this thrilling series, co-created by J.J. Abrams (”Lost”, “Alias”), combining the grit of the police procedural with the excitement of the unknown. The story revolves around three unlikely colleagues – a beautiful young FBI agent, a brilliant scientist who’s spent the last 17 years in a mental institution and the scientist’s sardonic son – who investigate a series of bizarre deaths and disasters known as “the pattern.” Someone is using our world as an experimental lab. And all clues lead to Massive Dynamic, a shadowy global corporation that may be more powerful than any nation.
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BONUS OFFERS:

• Purchase any DVD or Bluray and receive $5 towards select TV shows at Amazon On Demand (Details)

Crank 2: High Voltage
Releases: 9/8
Price: $19.99
Studio: Lionsgate
Type: Theatrical Movie
Genre: Action
Rated: R
Product Description: In the 2006 action hit “Crank”, hitman Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) spent 24 hours in over-drive: fighting, killing, and keeping his adrenaline flowing at full-force to combat a deadly poison injected into his body. Now, in the high-octane sequel “Crank 2: High Voltage”, Chev has managed to survive and is about to face a brand new day. Picking up immediately where the first movie left off, “Crank 2: High Voltage” finds Chev surviving the climactic plunge to his most certain death on the streets of L.A., only to be kidnapped by a mysterious Chinese Mobster. Three months later, Chev wakes up to discover his nearly indestructible heart has been replaced with a battery-operated ticker that requires regular jolts of electricity in order to work.
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BONUS OFFERS:

• Purchase any DVD or Bluray and receive $5 towards select TV shows at Amazon On Demand (Details)

Requiem for a Dream
Releases: 9/8
Price: $9.99
Studio: Lionsgate
Type: Theatrical Movie (Catalog)
Genre: Drama
Rated: Unrated
Product Description: Darren Aronofsky follows up his acclaimed debut “Pi” with this gritty emotionally charged film set amidst the abandoned beaches and faded glory of Coney Island, Brooklyn. Based upon the novel by celebrated author Hubert Selby Jr., the story intricately links the lives of a lonely widowed mother (Academy Award(R) Winner Ellen Burstyn), her son Harry (Jared Leto), his beautiful girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly) and his best friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans). “Requiem For A Dream” is a hypnotic tale of four human beings each pursuing their vision of happiness. Even as everything begins to fall apart, they refuse to let go, plummeting with their dreams into a nightmarish gut-wrenching freefall.
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BONUS OFFERS:

• Purchase any DVD or Bluray and receive $5 towards select TV shows at Amazon On Demand (Details)

The New World
Releases: 9/8
Price: $14.99
Studio: New Line
Type: Theatrical Movie (Catalog)
Genre: Drama
Rated: PG-13
Product Description: In this romantic epic starring Colin Farrell, Christian Bale and beautiful newcomer Q’orianka Kilcher, acclaimed filmmaker Terrence Malick brings to life the classic true tale of Pocahontas and her relationship with adventurer John Smith set during the turbulent beginnings of America.
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BONUS OFFERS:

• Purchase any DVD or Bluray and receive $5 towards select TV shows at Amazon On Demand (Details)

RETAIL SCOOP KEY:

1. Prices are subject to change without notice.  Prices listed are current as of post time.
2. For videogame purchases: click on the system icon of the version you wish to buy and/or the boxart shown. You will be redirected automatically to Amazon.com
3. For bluray purchases: click on the boxart shown.  You will be redirected automatically to Amazon.com
4. The hype meter is on a scale of 1.0 to 10.  It is in intervals of 1; 1.0 being low interest, and 10 being anticipation overflow
5. All bonus offers and/or special offers posted are universal promotions of Amazon.com unless stated otherwise

Any comments, suggestions, and feedback should be sent to bryan@triplechat.com with Subject: Retail Scoop or feel free to comment below. Feedback is always welcome.