Video games: The fall of games
It's been a rough year for video games. After an economy-defying start to 2009, the industry posted its fifth straight month of declines in July, the tracking firm NPD Group reported. Year-to-date video-game sales are $8.16 billion, NPD says, off by 14 percent through the same period in 2008.
What could turn things around? Interesting games. It's been dismal recently. "Madden NFL 10," which came out Aug. 14, is the first major title expected to give the industry a much-needed power-up as we head into the fall. Here's a preview of them and other major games expected to be released by the end of the year.
- "The Beatles: Rock Band" (due Sept. 9 for Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3) will bring the music of the Fab Four to the popular fake-band franchise. People with previous "Rock Band" incarnations can buy just the "Beatles" disc and start "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah"-ing with their current setup. But serious moptop wannabes can buy a deluxe bundle with controllers that replicate the Beatles' original guitars and drums. The game will also require three microphones (and singers) to mimic the Beatles' three-part harmonies.
- "Halo 3: ODST" (Sept. 22; 360) is an expansion to the popular "Halo 3," but doesn't require that game to play. You play as an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper in the prequel, with new campaigns, weapons and other game-play features as you gun for the alien Covenant.
- "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" (Nov. 10; 360, PS3) is the sequel to "Call of Duty 4," which many picked as 2007's game of the year. Needless to say, expectations for the followup to the bestselling combat shooter are huge. It shouldn't disappoint, based on trailers online.
Some of my most anticipated titles for the rest of the year are followups to recent top sellers. They include the zombie survival game "Left 4 Dead 2" (Nov. 17; 360), the treasure-hunting adventure "Uncharted 2: Among Thieves" (Oct. 13; PS3) and the spaced-out "Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time" (Oct. 27; PS3).
On the musical side, "Guitar Hero 5" (Sept. 1; 360, PS3, Wii, PS2) will rock with a new set list and the ability to play with any combination of instruments (two drummers, for example). The series will make an encore Dec. 22 with "Guitar Hero: Van Halen." The much-delayed "DJ Hero" (Oct. 27; 360, PS3, Wii, PS2), from the same folks, will give players the chance to spin and scratch on the virtual club scene with a faux turntable. And "Brütal Legend" (Oct. 13; 360, PS3) introduces the genre of heavy-metal action game as you take on the role of a roadie thrown back in time.
Nintendo's Wii is banking on a few exclusives. "Metroid Prime Trilogy," which was released Monday, updates earlier titles in the series for play on the motion-controlled system. "Wii Fit Plus" and "New Super Mario Bros. Wii" will capitalize on past successes, but have no firm release date beyond "fall." The same vague date applies to "The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks" for the Nintendo DS.
Other major releases include the arcade blast "Toy Story Mania" (Sept. 15; Wii), the superhero fighter sequel "Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2" (Sept. 15; 360, PS3), the download-only "Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony" (Oct. 29; Xbox 360), and the moody "Assassin's Creed 2" (Nov. 17; 360, PS3). Note that any of these dates could change.
Will these games reinvigorate the video-game scene and help the industry end the year on a positive note? We'll find out in a few months.
