Shippin’ Out Nov. 6-12: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Skyrim

Activision’s yearly shooter answers the call days before Elder Scrolls V returns players to Tamriel; Metal Gear Solid HD Collection also mobilizes.

After weeks of quips about the escalating holiday buying period, one of the biggest weeks of the season is actually here. If trends of past years continue, this week’s release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will mark the biggest game launch of the year. Skyrim is set to bring dragons to The Elder Scrolls universe with its Friday release, and Metal Gear Solid 2, 3, and Peace Walker will make their transition to HD.

Can Call of Duty repel the Battlefield onslaught?

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 marks the return of Activision’s annual military first-person shooter franchise, and the return of Infinity Ward’s Modern Warfare fork of the series on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. The multiplayer mode is set to introduce a few changes to the MW2 formula. Additions include a new mode called “Kill Command” that has players in a race to collect dog tags from downed players, a new weapon leveling system, and a revamped streak system. Also, Modern Warfare 2′s Tactical Nuke is out.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim eschews the typical Tuesday game release day for a Friday launch to land on its highly publicized 11/11/11 date on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. It’s been five years since Bethesda’s last Elder Scrolls release, and the developer says it has folded in lessons learned from Oblivion and Fallout 3 alike. In typical series fashion, players can expect a sprawling open-world role-playing game with plenty of side quests to tackle. Dragons are a new addition to the series, and players will gain new abilities as they defeat the various winged beasts.

Announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo just five months ago, the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is set to bring an assortment of past games in the series into the HD era. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, 3: Snake Eater, and the PSP’s Peace Walker are making their way to the PS3 and Xbox 360 in “optimized and rebuilt” versions that take advantage of the increased horsepower offered by modern consoles. Not simple ports, the games will feature redrawn 2D art, higher quality audio, trophies, achievements, and tweaked controls to utilize the second analog stick where needed.

For further details, visit GameSpot’s New Releases page. The full list of downloadable games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, and Wii Shop Channel will be revealed later this week. Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6
Lalaloopsy–DS–Activision

Moshi Monsters: Moshling Zoo–DS–Activision

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7
Let’s Cheer–X360–2K Play

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8
Bakugan: Rise of the Resistance–DS–Activision

Big League Sports–X360–Activision
The Black Eyed Peas Experience–X360, Wii–Ubisoft

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3–X360, PS3, PC, Wii–Activision

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3: Defiance–DS–Activision

Cars 2: The Video Game–PSP–Disney Interactive

Cave Story 3D–3DS–NIS America

Champion Jockey: G1 Jockey & Gallop Racer–PS3, Wii–Tecmo Koei

DaGeDar–DS–GameMill Publishing

Deepak Chopra’s Leela–X360, Wii–THQ

Face Racers: Photo Finish–3DS–Majesco

Fix It: Home Improvement Challenge–Wii–SouthPeak Games

Get Up and Dance–PS3, Wii–Crave

Happy Feet Two: The Videogame–X360, PS3, Wii, DS–Warner Bros.

Heavy Fire: Afghanistan – The Chosen Few–PS3, PC, Wii, 3DS–Mastiff

JAWS: Ultimate Predator–Wii, 3DS–Majesco

L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition–PC–Rockstar

Max & the Magic Marker–DS–Easy Interactive

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection–X360, PS3–Konami

Nickelodeon Dance–X360, Wii–2K Play

Outdoors Unleashed: Africa 3D–3DS–Mastiff

Outdoors Unleashed: Alaska 3D–3DS–Mastiff

Pac-Man Party 3D–3DS–Namco Bandai

Pro Evolution Soccer 2012–Wii, PSP, PS2–Konami

Raving Rabbids: Alive & Kicking–X360–Ubisoft

Self-Defense Training Camp–X360–Ubisoft

SpongeBob’s Surf & Skate Roadtrip–X360, DS–THQ

Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012–X360–Ubisoft

Wappy Dog–DS–Activision

Winter Stars–X360, PS3, Wii–Deep Silver

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9
Martial Empires: The Path of the Purgatory–PC–Gamigo

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10
Freakyforms: Your Creations, Alive!–3DS–Nintendo

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim–X360, PS3, PC–Bethesda

Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7–X360, PS3, Wii, PC, 3DS, PSP, DS–Warner Bros.

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