A recent study from Nielsen shows the video game industry is thriving despite the recession. Overall, the uncertain economy has not hurt gameplay and may have accelerated it as gamers look to get more value out of the games they own.

Colin McRae: DiRT 2 benefits from tuned-up car-handling physics system, a new damage engine effects, a new level of visual fidelity, with cars and tracks twice as detailed as those seen in the original. Colin McRae: DiRT 2 will feature a roster of contemporary off-road events, taking players to the most diverse and challenging real-world environments.

Skate 2 is an authentic skateboarding experience with all-new tricks that allow gamers to truly skate it their way, delivering all the grit, creativity and culture of skateboarding. With the success of the two first titles, it should come as no surprise that EA wants to carry on the franchise, and according to skating website Epicly Trife, EA is working on Skate 3, which will apparently include Chet Childress.

Operation Flashpoint 2 will see the most realistic modeling of conflict scenarios in a new contemporary theater of war. By offering a multitude of military disciplines, gameplay will deliver warfare more realistic and intense than ever before.

In Black Inc.'s Space combat action game Ion Assault, instead of conventional weapons, players use the free energy particles that are abundant in space to fend off swarms of aliens.

Rock Band 2 builds upon the original to introduce co-op band gameplay, multiple instruments, online multiplayer, unparalleled downloadable content and raises the bar by delivering an entirely new level of depth, connectivity, authenticity and features.

Teased at over the past few weeks, Capcom and Marvel officially announced that the oft-requested fighting game, Marvel vs. Capcom 2. The classic fighter pits some of Capcom’s familiar faces against a host of Marvel Comic’s biggest names in explosive three-on-three team battles.

Nintendo added a classic, one NDSi, and two WiiWare titles to the Shop Channels. Nintendo owners with online access can redeem Points to download: Bit.Trip Core, Bust-A-Move Plus!, Heracles Chariot Racing (Wiiware), California Games (VC), Art Style: BASE 10, Asphalt 4: Elite Racing (NDSiWare).

A turn-based RPG that puts you in the role of a 14-year-old boy on a mission to rescue a princess from a wicked witch, Final Fantasy Gaiden no longer features a menu-based combat system but uses "charges"; you'll team up with others in a four-character squad customizable with a variety of weapons and armor.

Popular TV game show 1 vs. 100 is coming to Xbox Live Primetime, pitting one Xbox Live member against 100 others from around the world with a live host and great prizes.

The crazy, zany, world of Katamari is back and better than ever before, complete with new stages, new visual effects, new strategies, and full 1080p HD resolution! The gameplay has generated millions of fans worldwide and the loveable characters are ready to roll again.

Zipper Interactive's SOCOM games are tactical shooter titles with a third-person viewpoint and simplified controls/objectives setting it apart from other titles in the genre. It's been four years since SOCOM III, not counting last year's SOCOM Confrontation, and according to PCB Productions, a digital media content creation that also revealed Syphon Filter 5 earlier this year, it is currently assisting with the motion capture direction on SOCOM 4.

Forza Motorsport 3 unites the racing game genre, making it possible for everyone to experience the thrill of the world’s most exotic and exquisite cars. Live the most realistic racing experience ever as you take the wheel of more than 400 of the most-beloved cars on over 100 renowned real-world tracks and exotic road courses from around the globe.

Aldorlea Games announced that it is developing a sequel to its RPG Laxius Force, scheduled for later this year. Fans of the first chapter in the soon-to-become trilogy will be happy to hear the sequel picks up exactly where the first one left off, and that it will be possible to export savefiles from part 1 to part 2.

Based on a persistent manga-style universe, Street Gears is a massively multiplayer roller game where players can challenge each others in races or tricks contests. The G-Project expansion will add a new track, a brand new tuning system and tuning shop, as well as a variety of other system and content updates and fixes.

Another day, another batch of games shipped to stores. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are announcements for:

• Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament (NDS)
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  We will update this throughout the day when new announcements become available. Read more for details ...

Shadow of Memories is a tale of choices and their affect on others, a cinematic mix of puzzle solving and exploration. You play as Eike, who is murdered and awakens to find himself in limbo, somewhere between life and what lies beyond. Eike will visit 1980, 1902 and medieval times and the methods he uses to avert his death will have a knock-on effect on those he meets. Konami is working on bringing the original PS2 (also on PC and Xbox) game to the PSP, scheduled for Oct. 2009, but only in Japan for now.

Based on VIZ Media's Naruto Shippuden animated series, players will assume control of over 10 of their favorite ninja, including the dreaded Akatsuki, promising to deliver fierce ninja action as players re-live the Naruto Shippuden storyline and experience a brand new adventure.

Check out the following new screens from Ubisoft's E3 2009 lineup:

• 'Academy of Champions' (Wii) - 10 New Screens
• 'Assassin's Creed II' (ALL) - New Screen
• 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs' (ALL) - 5 New Screens
• 'Combat of Giants: Dragons' (NDS) - 7 New Screens
• 'Fairyland Melody Magic' (NDS) - 5 New Screens
• 'Imagine Boutique Owner' (NDS) - 5 New Screens
• 'Imagine Detective' (NDS) - 9 New Screens
• 'Imagine Fashion Designer World Tour' (NDS) - 4 New Screens
• 'Imagine Salon Stylist' (NDS) - 5 New Screens
• 'James Cameron's Avatar' (ALL) - 3 New Screens
• 'Monster 4x4: Stunt Racer' (Wii) - 11 New Screens
• Ubisoft Signs 'No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle' - Screens & Trailer
• 'Petz Dogz Talent Show' (NDS) - 3 New Screens
• 'Petz Nursery' (NDS) - 3 New Screens
• 'Petz Pony Beauty Pageant' (NDS) - 3 New Screens
• 'Petz Saddle Club' (PSP) - 5 New Screens
• 'Rabbids Go Home' (Wii) - 9 New Screens
• 'Red Steel 2' (Wii) - 8 New Screens
• 'R.U.S.E.' (PS3/X360/PC) - 8 New Screens
• 'Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage' (Wii) - 4 New Screens
• 'Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn' (ALL) Announced
• 'TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled' (PSN/XBLA) Officially Announced - 6 New Screens
• 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up' (Wii) - 13 New Screens