Wow, the post-E3 Media & Business Summit depression is hitting – and it’s hitting hard. After a high-profile event of such fevered magnitude that teased the gaming masses so shamelessly with the big games that remain just out of reach, the weekly release lists are pitiful beyond compare.

Following the trailers, demos, and on-stage presentations for the likes of Halo 3, Killzone 2, de Blob, Little Big Planet, Rock Band, Metal Gear Solid 4, Assassin’s Creed, Call of Duty 4, Bioshock, Mass Effect, StarCraft 2, Frontlines: Fuel of War, Guitar Hero 3, BlackSite: Area 51, Boogie, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Lair, Heavenly Sword, and soooo many more… the gaming radar is now even more empty than it was prior to E3.

Indeed, if you’re a North American next-gen gamer, this week is positively emaciated in terms of content, with only NASCAR 08 popping up to appease the needs of Xbox 360 and PS3 owners, while Wii fans get Alien Syndrome and Escape from Bug Island. But that’s at least something, because European gamers get zip in the next-gen category.

On both sides of the Atlantic it’s left to the ever-willing PlayStation 2 and ever-giving Nintendo DS to flesh out the weekly release offerings. On the PS2 front, the week’s biggest entrant is Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks The 80s, followed by the likes of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 and Rugby 08. The Nintendo DS tables a number of puzzle-specific titles along with Chameleon: To Dye For!, Full Metal Alchemist: Trading Card Game, Guilty Gear: Dust Strikers, and Powershot Pinball Constructor.

Dig in for the duration, folks… this barren torture is going to stretch on for a number of weeks yet.

North American new releases:

Monday July 23

Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword (PC)

It’s the Big Game, Charlie Brown (PC)

NASCAR 08 (Xbox 360, PS3, PS2)

Ride! Carnival Tycoon (PC)

Tuesday July 24

Alien Syndrome (Nintendo Wii, PSP)

Dynasty Warriors DS: Fighter’s Battle (Nintendo DS)

Escape from Bug Island (Nintendo Wii)

Full Metal Alchemist: Trading Card Game (Nintendo DS)

Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks The 80s (PS2)

NHRA: Countdown to the Championship 2007 (PS2)

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 (PS2)

Ultimate Puzzle Gams: Sudoku Edition (Nintendo DS)

Friday July 27

Chameleon: To Dye For! (Nintendo DS)

Combat Mission: Shock Force (PC)

European new releases:

Friday July 27

American Chopper 2: Full Throttle (PS2)

Atlantis: Collector’s Edition (PC)

Guilty Gear: Dust Strikers (Nintendo DS)

Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks The 80s (PS2)

Harvest Moon: Magical Melody (GameCube)

Marvel Trading Card Game (Nintendo DS)

Nintendo Diamond (Nintendo DS)

Nintendo Pearl (Nintendo DS)

Powershot Pinball Constructor (Nintendo DS)

Robert D. Anderson & The Legend of Cthulhu (PC)

Rugby 08 (PS2, PC)

Tomb Raider Anniversary (PSP)