What’s on offer this week for those slumbering gamers now waking from their self-imposed summertime hibernation periods? Well, although GamerSquad would suggest that you’ve perhaps set your quality alarm a week too early, there are obviously vast sways of American Football fans who’ll be wiping the sleep from their eyes and pulling on their favourite team jersey right about now. And why? Because EA’s sporting granddaddy Madden NFL 08 hits the stores tomorrow.

However, beyond that single multi-platform highlight of the week – which you should fully expect to reach the top of the gaming chart – the remaining rundown for new releases on both sides of the Atlantic still leaves much to be desired.

Handheld owners in North America can look forward to the likes of Dungeons & Dragons Tactics on the PlayStation Portable, while Heroes of Mana, Luminous Arc, Operation: Vietnam, and Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest all arrive on the Nintendo DS. The PSP performs a little better in Europe this week by offering up Hard Rock Casino and Brian Lara 2007 Pressure Play.

Sadly, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii owners in both regions are in for yet another dismal week, with only the Wii delivering a release – though certainly not one of note – in the shape of Billy the Wizard: Rocket Broomstick Racing (North America).

Which just leaves the PC and PS2 to round out the remaining entrants to this week’s list of disappointment (depending on your preferences, of course) with 1941 Shells of Fury and Premier Manager 2008 on the PC, and MetropolisMania 2 and Fatal Fury: Battle Archives Volume 1 on the PS2.

North American new releases:

Tuesday August 14

1941 Shells of Fury (PC)

7 Wonders of the Ancient World (PC)

Billy the Wizard: Rocket Broomstick Racing (Nintendo Wii)

Book of Mysteries (PC)

Dungeons & Dragons Tactics (PSP)

Fatal Fury: Battle Archives Volume 1 (PS2)

Heroes of Mana (Nintendo DS)

High School Musical: Makin’ the Cut (Nintendo DS)

Luminous Arc (Nintendo DS)

Madden NFL 08 (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PSP, DS, PS2, Xbox, GC, PC, Mac)

MetropolisMania 2 (PS2)

Mystery Solitaire: Secret Island (PC)

Operation: Vietnam (Nintendo DS)

Prank TV (PC)

Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest (Nintendo DS)

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 (PS2)

Wednesday August 15

ATV/Monster Truck Mayhem (Nintendo DS)

European new releases:

Friday August 17

Billy Blade: Temple of Time (PC)

Brian Lara 2007 Pressure Play (PSP)

Evil Days of Luckless John (PC)

Final Armada (PSP, PS2)

Hard Rock Casino (PSP, PS2)

Premier Manager 2008 (PS2, PC)

Project Fashion (PC)

Trailer Park Tycoon (PC)