As spring temperatures begin to thaw snow across the country, the game industry is entering a bit of a release drought. The second week of April 2007 will see under a dozen new titles arriving on store shelves and download services.

　　The highest-profile game is easily Super Paper Mario, one of the first role-playing games for the Wii. The sequel to the popular 2003 GameCube RPG Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is already being embraced by critics and is expected to be one of the top-selling games on Nintendo's new platform.

　　Sony's latest console, the PlayStation 3, is also getting a new game this week...sort of. On Thursday, Mortal Kombat II, the arcade classic that thrilled gamers and horrified media watchdogs back in 1993, will be available on the PlayStation Store. The game will support online matchups via the PlayStation Network and will retail for $4.99.

　　[UPDATE] Xbox 360 owners get a new Xbox Live Arcade offering this week in the form of Boom Boom Rocket. The game went live early Wednesday morning in the US, and costs 800 Microsoft Points ($10).

　　On the portable front, DS owners will get a tasty treat in the form of Cake Mania. A spiritual cousin to Diner Dash, Cake Mania will see players run a bakery that caters to increasingly cranky customers. DS owners not interested in simulated culinary arts can pick up Toondoku, a compilation of Sudoku-based puzzle games featuring cartoons.

　　As is often the case, the PC welcomes the most releases of the week. Leading the pack is The Ship, which arrives in boxed retail form after being available on Valve Software's Steam download service since last summer. Frontline: Fields of Thunder retreads the well-worn World War II real-time strategy genre, while Whirlwind Over Vietnam is set during a less popular conflict in Southeast Asia.

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

　　 APRIL 9, 2007

　　Brave: The Search for Spirit Dancer (PS2)

　　Cake Mania (DS)

　　Hot Dog King A Fast Food Empire (PC)

　　Frontline: Fields of Thunder (PC)

　　The Ship (PC)

　　Super Paper Mario (WII)

　　Whirlwind Over Vietnam (PC)

　　 APRIL 10, 2007

　　Inspector Parker Unsolved (PC)

　　Toondoku (DS)

　　 APRIL 11, 2007

　　Boom Boom Rocket (X360)

　　 APRIL 12, 2007

　　Mortal Kombat II (PS3)

　　 APRIL 13, 2007

　　No releases announced.