Multiplatform:
Back to the Future – The Game (PS3, Wii)
Battlefield 3 (360, PS3)
Champion Jockey: G1 Jockey and Gallop Racer (PS3 Move, Wii)
The Cursed Crusade (360, PS3)
Disney Universe (360, PS3, Wii)
Dragonball Z Ultimate Tenkaichi (360, PS3)
Grease Dance (Kinect 360, PS3 Move)
Heavy Fire: Afghanistan (360, 3DS, PS3, Wii)
Just Dance Kids 2 (Kinect 360, PS3 Move, Wii)
Puss in Boots (DS, Kinect 360, PS3 Move, Wii)
Microsfot:
Dance Central 2 (Kinect)
Kinect Sports Season Two (Kinect)
Nintendo:
Active Life Magical Carnival (Wii)
Captain America: Super Soldier (3DS, already available on other platforms)
Centipede: Infestation (3DS, Wii)
Country Dance 2 (Wii)
Harvest Moon (3DS)
Kirby’s Return to Dreamland (Wii)
Monster High – Ghoul Spirit (DS, Wii)
Nikoli’s Pencil Puzzle (3DS)
PhotoWorld (DSi)
Pokemon Rumble Blast (3DS)
Squinkies 2: Adventure Mall Surprize (DS)
Zoo Resort (3DS)
Sony:
House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Cut (PS3 Move)
InviZimals: Shadow Zone (PSP)
You know the holiday shopping season is shaping up when you see a release list this long. It doesn’t matter that most of them crap shovelware. All those ridiculous dancing games are what Grandma is buying for the little ones. When what she really should be buying is Disney Universe. The gameplay for this looks a lot like they’re skinning Little Big Planet or one of the LEGO games with Disney characters. But that’s not a bad thing. I love both of those franchises – and I’m a grown man with no children.
Of course, most of the adult male gaming community (as well as some females and non-adults) will be skipping the Disney fun to play the first of two major FPS games set to fight each other on the sales floor this season. Battlefield 3 gets a leg up on its competition, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 by releasing two weeks earlier. Since I have no dog in this fight, my opinion on which will be better or sell more is basically irrelevant – but also more fairly balanced, so I’ll give it anyway. Ultimately I think DICE and Battlefield have shown they are the more robust, and dare I say better, game. Call of Duty has the name recognition amongst fratties and sweet bros everywhere (as well as a better framerate that makes a little difference). If I were to pick one for myself, I’d skip the sweet bro community and go with the one my military friends prefer, Battlefield. But, considering the disposable income in frat houses, Call of Duty (and Activision’s undeniable but evil short-term financial savvy) will be the monetary winner this year.