Last week's release schedule provided a low-key start to 2008, but things are picking up this week with a scattering of significant releases. Whereas last week saw nothing but new Wii releases at retail, this week is providing every current-generation console and the PC with at least one notable game.

　　The NFL post-season began this past weekend, and Electronic Arts is looking to capitalize on playoff fever with NFL Tour for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. A spiritual successor to the NFL Street series, Tour is a relaxed-rules game of seven-on-seven football that sees players take on their favorite teams in quick games with a variety of winning conditions.

　　Gamers uninterested in the NFL's Cardinals, Ravens, or Falcons might find a legal eagle more to their liking. Capcom is releasing Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law for the Wii, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable. Based on the Cartoon Network series of the same name, Harvey Birdman follows the former superhero in his new career as a defense attorney for hire. Originally scheduled to be released last November, Birdman was bumped by Capcom in the hopes that it could find a less crowded slate of competing new releases.

　　Another belated 2007 release arriving in stores this week is Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom, the franchise's Xbox 360 debut. Developed by Blueside, the game is a departure for the series, ditching the action/real-time strategy formula of previous installments in favor of an action-RPG format.

　　Other releases this week include Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity for the Wii and PS2, and the first two installments of EA's new Sims Carnival line of PC games. On the downloadable front, Wii gamers can now download the NES adventure StarTropics for 500 Wii points ($5) and the Neo Geo brawler King of Fighters '94 for 900 Wii points ($9), whereas on Wednesday Xbox Live will welcome Omega Force and Tron for 800 Microsoft points ($10) and 400 Microsoft points ($5), respectively.

　　JANUARY 7, 2008

　　The King of Fighters '94 (Wii Virtual Console)

　　StarTropics (Wii Virtual Console)

　　JANUARY 8, 2008

　　Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Channel (PS2)

　　Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (PS2, PSP, Wii)

　　Jackass the Game (DS)

　　Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom (Xbox 360)

　　Luxor: Pharaoh's Challenge (Wii)

　　NFL Tour (360, PS3)

　　The Sims Carnival: SnapCity (PC)

　　The Sims Carnival: Bumper Blast (PC)

　　Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (PS2, Wii)

　　Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: The Beginning of Destiny (PS2)

　　JANUARY 9, 2008

　　Omega Five (XBLA)

　　Tron (XBLA)

　　JANUARY 11, 2008

　　Kidz Sports Ice Hockey (Wii)