A Gamer's Wishlist

Summer is in full swing, but the busy holiday season is just around the corner. Which means the most exciting time for gamers around the world is quickly approaching.

The last half of the year always brings in a wave of new games: all fighting over that coveted spot under our Christmas trees. It's a gamers candyland and, of course, this year is no different. So many amazing games are coming out this year - I'll never be able to choose just one!....or five!

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Definitely a different spin on the beloved Batman series, Batman: Arkham Asylum feels more like cut scenes from House on Haunted Hill than a comic book. B:AA is also a stark contrast to the Lego: Batman video game that came out earlier last year. The response from the public has been nothing short of excitement, but one does have to wonder if B:AA will get lost in the sea of horror-themed games that have come out previously this year and last.

Guitar Hero 5, The Beatles: Rock Band, Lips #1 Hits, DJ Hero, Rock Band: Lego, Band Hero

There's no doubt GH5 will do well. Riding on the coat tails of previous Guitar Heroes, Guitar Hero 5 is sure to be under many a teenagers' tree, that is if they can wait that long. GH5 is set to come out September 1, 2009. I'm sure "early Christmas present" will be a phrase uddered many many times come August 31st.

7 days after the release of GH5 is The Beatles: Rock Band. I do believe a rock-off is in order between the two. Though I'm sure the die-hard music fans will be a buyer of both. Song list: http://www.thebeatlesrockband.com/

October 5th Lips #1 Hits releases to all the shower-singing gamers out there. This isn't a game of interest to most gamers but after screeching songs for Rock Band, I've come to like the karaoke genre. This time around Lips has an excellent song lineup. Check it out here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_in_Lips_2

DJ Hero hits shelves October 27th. With a hefty price tag and a different fan base: only time will tell the success of this game. It's competition, Scratch the Ultimate DJ, has been compared as "better" than DJ Hero. Lets see if Scratch has a better price tag... yikes.

Rock Band: Lego is the first merger of it's kind. I'm tempted to say, "let's hope it's the last," but I will hold off till it's release date of November 2nd. This game will definitely market Rock Band to a younger age group. But as for the rest of us, we're left thinking, "why?"

Band Hero - is it just me, or are there way too many music games coming out this year? And not many "original" music games. But don't take that out on Band Hero. Release date: November 17th.

Halo: ODST

I don't have to say a word to promote this game. Halo fans have been eating their own thighs in anticipation for this game. Though I doubt people will be standing in lines for hours as we did for Halo 2 and 3, it's sure to be an instant buy for most die-hard fans. Check it out September, 22nd.

Modern Warfare 2

Another game I am so excited to buy, Modern Warfare 2 is sure to please the growing numbers of CoD fans. With the success of CoD4, Infinity Ward really had to bring out the big guns to please the masses. Let's hope MW2 has the biggest guns around. Release Date: November 10th.

Left 4 Dead 2

So excited for this game! The first L4D was so groundbreakingly different. You must applaud Valve for being such an amazing company. Especially with the FREE DLC offered only months ago. But why talk about that when L4D TWO is coming home! This game is sure to be on more than one Christmas list. There were complaints about the repetitive nature of the campain in L4D. Hopefully a conflict that is resolved in L4D2. Santa, I've been good!!! Release Date: November 17th.

Assassin's Creed 2

It is the year of the sequels and Assassin's Creed has jumped on the band wagon. Fans of the first have been scrambling to their nearest game store to pre-order AC2. Pre-order bonus: you get an extra map to explore. Sweet! Release Date: November 17th.