With football season just about ready to kick off, gamers had only one more weekend to kick back with their favorite games before they bury their faces in chicken wings and other greasy snacks. Thankfully, there appeared to be plenty to play with, as several publishers released impressive sales figures for their latest releases.

　　Leading the way (unsurprisingly) was Madden NFL 07, which has dominated the sales charts since its release on August 22. Electronic Arts estimates that roughly 2 million copies of the game were sold in its first week, making it the best-selling opening week of any Madden game.

　　Also posting impressive numbers was Capcom's Dead Rising for the Xbox 360. Though not quite as impressive as Madden, the zombie-infested game has shipped half a million copies in its first two weeks. On the handheld front, Nintendo boasted that its Wi-Fi Connection service for the DS surpassed 2 million unique users. And it appears many of those gamers are coming back for more--total game sessions since the service's release in November have topped 70 million.

　　Another game that people are already pegging as a sure hit is Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed. The publisher finally ended months of rumors by admitting the stealth title would be headed for both the PC and Xbox 360 in addition to the PlayStation 3. Not so coincidentally, several gamers began rethinking their commitment to the Blu-ray Disc format.

　　Speaking of Blu-ray, Sony trotted out a demo of the media format in Japan early in the week. Sony used a PS3 to show off its choice of format, but didn't show off any games. Microsoft also showed off one of its new toys in the beta of its XNA Game Studio Express. XNA is a set of tools designed to let just about anyone develop games for both PCs and the Xbox 360.

　　While XNA sought to create games, others were looking to restrict them. Over in the antigame forum, Minnesota announced that it would appeal a federal judge's decision to strike down a state law that would fine minors for buying M-rated games. President of Internet watchdog group Working to Halt Online Abuse Jayne Hitchcock joined the anti-Bully brigade, explaining that gamers who play Rockstar's prep-school game may actually decide to stand up to bullies with baseball bats. Rockstar may have gotten the last laugh on the anti-Bully crowd, as the publisher has reportedly changed Bully's name to Canis Canem Edit--Latin for "Dog Eat Dog"--in Europe.

　　And finally, those skipping the PS3 in order to start saving for the PlayStation 4 may have plenty of time to pinch pennies. SCEA boss Kaz Hirai suggested to CNET News.com that the PS4 (if there is one) wouldn't necessarily show up within five years. He said, "The PlayStation 3 is going to be a console that's going to be with you again for 10 years. We're not going to ask the consumers to suddenly buy another PlayStation console in five years' time and basically have their investment go by the wayside."

　　MONDAY

　　Battlestar Galactica lands on XBL early

　　Xbox 360 gets another BC update

　　Bodog bets on Scarface

　　360 soccer exclusivity red-carded

　　EA to acquire Crytek?

　　TUESDAY

　　Report: Game industry diversifying

　　Burnout goes for a fifth lap

　　Hirai suggests PS4 more than five years away

　　Sony struts Blu-ray technology

　　Bully denounced by 'Internet expert'

　　WEDNESDAY

　　Majesco interim CEO and chairman steps down

　　Microsoft Japan to bring TGS, X06 home

　　Reservoir Dogs recalled in UK

　　BIA storming PSPs

　　Fight Night 3 bobs, weaves to PS3

　　THURSDAY

　　Take-Two issues revenue warning, gets subpoenas

　　Takeuchi: 360-exclusive Lost Planet due in January

　　EA signs with two in-game ad firms

　　Staff shift stirs 3D Realms

　　Codemasters announces Fall of Liberty

　　FRIDAY

　　Oblivion, Getting Up win MTV awards

　　Near-final Windows Vista version issued

　　Vivendi publishing next Double Fine game?

　　Q&A: GameFly's Sean Spector

　　Going under the hood with Ridge Racer 7

　　RUMORS OF THE WEEK

　　Euro Madden superstar mode not so super?

　　PSM unveils two-thumbstick, 8GB PSP?

　　Bully gets a name change?

　　RELEASES

　　Shippin' Out 8/28-9/1: Saints Row, Star Fox Command, Disgaea 2

　　CHARTS

　　Japan game charts: August 21-27

　　US console charts: August 21-27

　　UK game charts: August 20-26