"Gears of War 2," the gritty apocalyptic alien shooter, is the most anticipated video game left to come out this year, but some of the most exciting releases on tap have nothing to do with guns, violence or criminal behavior.
As video games continue to move into the mainstream, developers are veering away from the typical testosterone-infused fare and quite literally playing a different tune. Spurred by the runaway success of "Guitar Hero," music-making takes center stage in several upcoming games.
The next several months are the equivalent of gamedom's Oscar season, in which publishers will release their best and brightest — with some of the hottest games hitting shelves right before the holidays.
Many were introduced or explained earlier this month at the Entertainment Electronics Expo in Los Angeles. Industry bigwigs use E3 to reveal their plans for the remainder of the year.
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Now it's time for gamers to sift through the E3 announcements and scout out which games they'll want to play most.
In 2007, "Rock Band" expanded the scope of the music game genre by letting gamers jam with their friends on drums and vocals as well as bass and lead guitar.
Now, the "Guitar Hero" franchise and upstart "Rock Revolution" are stepping up with similar packages. And not to be outdone, Nintendo is weighing in with a "Rock Band" alternative — "Wii Music," which eschews pricey peripheral controllers and lets you virtually play a range of instruments and even conduct orchestras.
Imagination and innovation, rather than button-mashing carnage, is an ongoing theme in other corners of the game world, too.
Sony's "Little Big Planet," said to be Mario-esque, will allow gamers to make their own levels and share them with others.
The groundbreakers will be joined by the usual slate of sports games, sequels and watered-down fare meant for kids.
Most Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 games are $60, Wii games are usually $50, and PS2, PSP and DS games generally range from $30 to $40.
Anticipated releases intrigue gamers
Here's a rundown of some of the games due by the end of the year. Release dates are subject to change.
Racing
Pure (Sept. 23) 360, PS3 — With a focus on off-road, four-wheel competition, the emphasis is often on tricks and jumps. Up to 16 players can race online.
Midnight Club: Los Angeles (Oct. 7) 360, PS3 — Street-race through a large-scale, re-imagined version of Los Angeles in this game from the detail-obsessed company that makes the "Grand Theft Auto" games. A scaled-down PSP version is also in the offing.
Motorstorm: Pacific Rift (Oct. 7) PS3 — Sony's follow-up to its most exuberant racer pits vehicles of all different varieties against one another — for instance, big rigs can go up against monster trucks (or at least they could in the last game). The game also allows for 16-player online races.
Fantasy/role-playing
Tales of Vesperia (Aug. 26) 360 — An empire lords an ancient technology over a populace, and it's up to a hero to defend the weak oppressed class. The game resembles a playable anime.
Infinite Undiscovery (Sept. 2) 360 — Various story threads spin as your choices determine the way the story unfolds. Set-piece battles include an escape from a giant ogre as well as a battle among tidal waves.
Fable II (Oct. 21) 360 — Choose your path as either a hero, villain or something in between as you traverse a Tolkien-influenced realm, meeting a rich tapestry of characters who become your allies and enemies. Your character ages as you play. You can also have a pet and get married.
The Last Remnant (Nov. 20) 360, PS3 — A role-playing game in which you seek out magical artifacts in a war-ravaged fantasy world. Battles feature as many as 70 combatants.
Sports
Madden NFL 09 (Aug. 12) 360, PS3 Wii PS2 PSP DS — The juggernaut football franchise, which is among the best sellers every year, makes its latest end-zone run, this time with wishy-washy legend Brett Favre on the cover and a flexible artificial intelligence system that adjusts to your strengths and weaknesses as you play.
Mario Super Sluggers (Aug. 25) Wii — The Mario crew takes the baseball field in a game operated by motion controls similar to the baseball mini-game in "Wii Sports."
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 (Aug. 26) 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP — Tiger's latest outing on the virtual links packs a new online mode that lets you play at the same time as others in four-player matches, allowing for quicker games. You can also take advice from a coach as you hone your skills on the tour.
NHL 2K9 (Sept. 1) 360 PS3 PS2 Wii — It seems like hockey hardly has an off-season, and the same is true for its perennial video game adaptations. Little is known about the new features of 2K Sports' latest on-ice-effort.
NHL 09 (Sept. 9) 360 PS3 PS2 — "NHL 08" was regarded as one of the best hockey games in a decade, and its successor looks to top it. Improved controls let you use the analog stick on defense to disrupt offensive maneuvers. A play design feature lets you sketch out your devious offensive plans and have your players enact them.
NBA Live 09 (Sept. 23) 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP — EA's next NBA title includes national teams that let you re-create Olympic battles, as well as a mode that lets you download scenarios from recent real-life games and re-create awesome finishes or rewrite history.
Tecmo Bowl Kickoff (Sept. 30) DS — For my money the hands-down best sports franchise is the side-scrolling, exaggerated-action football sim "Tecmo Bowl." This DS revival includes online multiplayer and is sure to renew old-time dorm rivalries.
NBA '09: The Inside (Oct. 7) PS3, PSP, PS2 — Sony's standby hoops-fest emphasizes role-playing features as well as a standard basketball sim, letting you guide a player from the NBA's developmental league to stardom, building up your stats and capabilities as you go.
NBA 2K9 (Oct. 7) 360, PS3, PS2 — Consistently regarded as the best of the three NBA series, the new iteration is a question mark because developers have guarded info with the defensive intensity of Andre Iguodala.
FIFA Soccer 09 (Oct. 28) 360 PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS — Since soccer season never really stops, it's tough to justify annual releases, but "FIFA" attempts to earn its keep by adapting more realistic off-the-ball player movement, faster dribbling and online play that lets you take the field cooperatively with several friends.
Action/shooters
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames (Aug. 31) 360, PS3, PS2 — Superpowers collide in conflict over Venezuela's oil reserves, and you play a mercenary who sells your services to the highest bidder, blowing lots of stuff up real good.
Tom Clancy's HAWX (Sept. 23) 360, PS3, Wii — Take to the skies as a fighter pilot in this latest gadget and international conspiracy- permeated Clancy adaptation. The game has a lot to live up to, given the excellence of Clancy's "Ghost Recon Advanced Warfare," "Splinter Cell" and "Rainbow Six" series. A real-time strategy title, "Tom Clancy's Endwar," is due out Oct. 15.
Portal: Still Alive (holiday 2008) 360 — A downloadable rerelease of last year's stunning first-person puzzle game, which challenges you to navigate through levels by shooting warp holes through walls. New puzzles and modes are included.
SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALS: Confrontation (Oct. 14) PS3 — The SOCOM franchise is Sony's signature shooter franchise, and this game marks its first appearance on PS3. The point of the game? Run around and kill everyone who's not on your side.
Ghostbusters (Oct. 21) 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, DS — For years rumors have swirled that a new "Ghostbusters" film was in the works, but the story continues in video game form instead. Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Bill Murray all revive their characters via voice acting.
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows (Oct. 21) 360, PS3, PS2, Wii, DS — Spider-Man can choose to side with heroes or villains in a besieged New York. Without a film plot to stick to, writers and developers can take Spidey to darker places if they so choose.
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (Nov. 3) Xbox 360, PS3 — Worlds collide in this fighting game as the hyperviolent "Mortal Kombat" crew takes on the likes of Superman and Batman.
Bond 007: Quantum of Solace (Nov. 4) 360, PS3, PS2, Wii, DS — Movie adaptations rarely have much value to non-fanboys, and Bond titles are hit-or-miss, but 007 is due to shine on consoles again. This new Bond adventure guides you through a loose rendition of the film events, playing as the hero in first-person perspective.
Resistance 2 (Nov. 4) PS3 — The follow-up to the PS3's premiere launch title takes place in an alternate history in which World War II never took place because the world was besieged by an alien invasion. Having won a battle with the enemy in Britain in the first film, you defend circa-1953 America from the evil forces.
Gears of War 2 (Nov. 7) 360 — A near lock to be the best-selling game of the holiday season, this third-person shooter has you lead human forces against the Locust Horde, a race of buglike humanoid beasts who have taken over.
Call of Duty: World at War (Nov. 11) 360, PS3, Wii, DS — It's once more into the breach with this die-hard World War II recreation series — although 2007's "Call of Duty 4" went with a modern setting. Play as American Marines and Russian soldiers out to stamp out the Axis threat and save the world.
Tomb Raider Underworld (Nov. 21) 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, DS — Grave-robbing, gun-toting adventurer Lara Croft trots the globe in search of lost treasure once again, this time rendered in full motion capture.
Wet (Dec. 31) PS3, 360 — Playing as a female mercenary, you take an ill-advised rescue job that hurls you into a web of intrigue and has you become the target of some bad people. It's up to you make them regret crossing you.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (release TBA) DS — The crime-ridden cultural satire makes the unusual and unprecedented jump to the DS. The game was announced in mid-July and little info has been released.
Family/children
Lego Batman (Sept. 23) 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS — If the Dark Knight in recent films is a little too moody and serious for you, this is a game that captures the campy side of the character. In line with the spirit of the Lego "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" titles, this is Gotham City in brightly colored connecting blocks.
Exit DS (Oct. 7) DS — A simple, silhouette-heavy art style is the backdrop as you guide a lanky figure out of burning buildings, sinking ships and other dangers.
Little Big Planet (Oct. 21) PS3 — A title geared toward the creative, this game lets you explore a cartoonish wonderland. The most unique features are tools that let you craft your own characters and levels and share them with others. The online community can give you feedback on your work.
Monopoly Here and Now (fall) 360, Wii, PS2 — A chance to play the classic board game without having to dole out property cards or keep track of fake bills.
Animal Crossing: City Folk (Nov. 16) Wii — A virtual village builder, this online-connected time-waster lets you plant trees, talk to neighbors, go fishing or collect stuff, which you can put up for auction online. You can also go online to visit towns that friends create and speak to others via the $30 WiiSpeak microphone attachment.
Sci-fi
Too Human (Aug. 19) 360 — The first entry in a planned trilogy has you control a Norse god (in the game's back story, such gods are cybernetic entities) who protects men from war machines bent on wiping everyone out. You upgrade yourself with weaponry as you go, knowingly becoming more like the machines you set out to destroy.
Spore (Sept. 7) computer — Take part in evolution, guiding a creature from a one-cell organism to an intelligent creature, possibly one capable of space travel. A spinoff for the DS will be released the same day. The brain behind "Spore" is Will Wright ("The Sims").
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Sept. 16) 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, DS, PSP — Set between the prequels and original "Star Wars" trilogy, the film follows the dark adventures of an apprentice to Darth Vader, attempting to rid the universe of Jedi.
Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty (Sept. 30) PS3 — A semi-sequel to last year's top PS3 platformer, you play as a furry hero and his robotic sidekick who navigate through wild, Mario-inspired levels. New enemies and level settings are included in the smallish, four-hour game.
Fallout 3 (Oct. 7) 360, PS3 — Developers have strived to make this role-playing game set after the apocalypse realistic. With a dog at your side, you journey into the wasteland forging alliances and making rivals depending on whom you help. Weapons wear out as you use them, adding to the gritty realism. There are said to be several hundred possible endings depending on your choices.
Mirror's Edge (Nov. 11) 360, PS3 — In a totalitarian world, you play as Faith, an athletic woman hoping to free her sister. You scamper through the environment, eluding and tricking agents by running up sides of buildings and shimmying on ledges, parkour style.
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (Nov. 30) 360 — A bear and bird confront a series of obstacles concocted by a mysterious overlord, finding spare parts they fuse together to create various vehicles and weapons. It's light, inventive fare that seems appropriate for kids and adults alike.
Horror/survival
Dead Space (Oct. 20) 360, PS3 — With a design inspired by "Alien," you're stuck in space on an alien-infested mining ship. When you shoot your enemies they keep coming back at you, deformed and sometimes with grotesquely rearranged body parts.
Left 4 Dead (Nov. 4) 360 — Four players — You and three human or computer-controlled allies — gather scarce resources and work together to fend off zombielike adversaries.
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (Oct. 18) DS — The third DS side-scroller in the vampire-hunting series has you cast spells by marking the screen with the stylus and buy and sell items from other players online using in-game currency. A "Castlevania" fighting game for the Wii, dubbed "Judgment," is also on the way in the fall.
Silent Hill: Homecoming (Sept. 30) 360, PS3 — You're a man who travels back to a spooky town to find his missing brother, fending off monsters and solving puzzles as you try to avoid jumping out of your seat in fright.
Music/rhythm
Disney Sing It (Sept. 23) 360, PS3, Wii, DS — If you're a fan of Disney's squadron of young musical acts (Miley Cyrus, Aly & AJ, "High School Musical"), this is the karaoke game for you. Thirty-five songs are included and more are promised for sale via download.
Rock Band 2 (Sept. 30 and Nov. 30) 360, PS3, Wii, PS2 — Improving on last year's breakthrough four-part band rock-star experience, the game modes have been streamlined and the music track roster expanded. Owners of the original "Rock Band" can even import tracks to the new game. The Xbox 360 version comes in September, and the others arrive two months later.
High School Musical 3: Senior Year Dance! (Oct. 23) 360, PS2, Wii — Groove to the songs in the new "High School Musical" movie, earning points as you stay on rhythm. The Wii game taps the motion controls, the DS has you tap the touch screen and the other versions come packed with dance mats.
Guitar Hero World Tour (Oct. 27) 360, PS3, Wii, PS2 — "Guitar Hero" imitates "Rock Band" by adding drums and vocals to the fray. A side mode allows you to craft your own music.
Ultimate Band (Nov. 11) Wii, DS — Using the Wii controllers (and the touch screen in the DS version) you simulate playing guitars and drums to play along with pop songs.
Lips (TBA) 360 — A karaoke game that comes packed with two wireless mics, "Lips" lets you warble your way through such embarrassing-to-sing grooves as "Bust a Move" by Young MC. If you don't like the songs that come with the game, you can add your own and purchase downloadable tracks.
Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades (fall) DS — The DS gets a second "Guitar Hero" in the same year. This one reportedly allows you to download songs and share them with others.
Dance Dance Revolution sequels (TBA) 360, Wii, PS2 — You know the drill — clear the area, lay out a dance pad and see if your feet are happy enough to keep up with the unceasing parade of directional arrows. Each system's game has a different subtitle: "Hottest Party 2" (Wii), "Universe 3" (360) and "X" (PS2).
Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2 (holiday) 360, Wii, PS3 — Just like the TV show, you sing your heart out then brace yourself as Randy, Paula and Simon bicker over your successes and shortcomings. With 40 new songs and others available for download, "Idol" fans will have plenty to make them happy.
Rock Revolution (TBA) 360, PS3, Wii, DS — Another Johnny-come-lately to the plastic video game instrument parade, the game allows you to rock through 40 songs on the guitar, drums and mic. The game also lets you record your own music.
Wii Music (holiday) Wii — The Wii motion controls stand in for more than 60 instruments, including the electric guitar, violin and steel drums. You can even use the Wiimote as a baton to conduct an orchestra. You can make your own arrangements and send them to friends.
Retro
Mega Man 9 (TBA) 360 PS3, Wii — An old-school follow-up to the robot-blasting side-scroller on the old Nintendo Entertainment System, the latest entry is a downloadable title for the three new home consoles and looks to recapture the old spirit.
Namco Museum Virtual Arcade (fall) 360 — With more than 30 old games on a disc, you can relive such classics as "Ms. Pac-Man," "Galaga" and "Dig Dug," as well as recent hits such as "Pac-Man Championship Edition."
Chronotrigger DS (holiday) DS — A classic RPG gets a reboot. You play as a time-traveler who rescues a friend through various dangers throughout time, tangling and untangling a messy web.
Why 'Gears of War 2' will be huge
"Gears of War" details mankind's battle against the Locust Horde, a race of anthropomorphic insectlike beings that spawn from holes in the ground. In the first game, Marcus Fenix, a former soldier, broke out of prison and joined Delta Squad, part of a military effort to find crucial information and weapons that can turn back the Horde.
In "Gears of War 2," the squad is taking the fight to the Locust, who have developed tunneling methods that can destroy entire cities. The game will feature new enemies, weapons and multiplayer modes, and will replicate and refine the advanced play dynamics from the first game, which instituted a cover-fire system inspired by paintball competitions.
Players need to find objects to hunker down behind as they pick off enemies, pushing forward by advancing to other cover positions. A counterpoint to all the jumping and over-the-top, unrealistic gunfighting in the "Halo" series, "Gears" seeks to create a gritty, realistic warfare.
Lead designer Cliff Bleszinski (formerly known as "Cliffy B") has promised it will have more hours of play than the original, which could be easily completed in less than 10 hours.
Expectations for sales are high because the first "Gears of War" has sold nearly 5 million copies worldwide. Although the sequel will be huge, there's little chance it will overtake "Grand Theft Auto IV" as the year's biggest seller. As of May, "GTA IV" had sold 8.5 million copies.
Blockbuster video games targeted at the core gamer tend to sell the bulk of their copies in the first month, much like movies and DVD releases. Family-oriented, broad-appeal titles such as "Wii Play" (released February 2007) can stay in the top 10 for several months.
