Kirby's Epic Yarn

Release Date: October 12

Platform: Wii

He might not be the most recognizable mascot on Nintendo's roster, but Kirby is poised for a serious breakout in this gorgeous platformer. The game sewed up multiple awards at the E3 game convention in June, and for good reason: its charming style and unique, textile-based visuals make it one of the most eye-catching games to hit the Wii in some time. Let's hope the rotund gumball has the gameplay to back it up.

Fallout: New Vegas

Release Date: October 19

Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC

Though it's not an official sequel to 2008 Game of the Year winner Fallout 3, this post-apocalyptic role-playing effort set in a bombed-out Las Vegas looks like a blast (pun intended.) In addition to all the free-roaming fun of its forbear, New Vegas will let you modify weapons, craft your own ammo, and, of course, make all sorts of questionable decisions as you explore the Mojave Wasteland.

Rock Band 3

Release Date: October 26

Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii

Tired of arguing with your musician friends over the validity of music games? Then stick Rock Band 3 at the top of your most-wanted chart. Not only does it pack a brand new set list, a new keyboard peripheral and hundreds of smaller tweaks, but it also features a Pro Mode that will actually teach you how to play guitar. For real. Using a real guitar. Looks like it's time to get the band back together...

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II

Release Date: October 26

Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii, PC, DS

The sequel to the best Star Wars game in ages, The Force Unleashed II picks up where the last game ended. You'll once again play as Darth Vader's powerful apprentice Starkiller, but now the student is hunting the teacher as well as his lost identity. More powers, dual lightsabers, awesome visuals...the Force is very strong with this one.

Gran Turismo 5

Release Date: November 2

Platform: Playstation 3

No, it's not April 1. This is not a prank. You are not seeing things. In development for over 30 years (or at least it feels like it), the long-awaited Gran Turismo 5 finally becomes street legal this November. The numbers are pretty impressive: around 1,000 vehicles, over 70 tracks, 16--player online play and countless graphical enhancements await the patient millions anxious to play it. We're betting you’re one of them.

God of War: Ghost of Sparta

Release Date: November 2

Platform: PSP

It's not Kratos' first foray on Sony's handheld, but Ghost of Sparta will undoubtedly give the award-winning Chains of Olympus a run for its money. This portable powerhouse offers new abilities, new enemies, new bosses, and new insight into Kratos' early days as the God of War. It also gives us a new reason to dust off the PSP.

GoldeneEye 007 Wii

Release Date: November 2

Platform: Wii

Hailed as one of the most influential games of all time, the original GoldenEye on the N64 took first-person shooting to new heights. We're not sure the rebooted Wii version will have quite the same impact, but it's a really, really big deal for Wii owners itching for some legitimate multiplayer fragging. They'll get plenty of that and more, as the new game will include a thoroughly reworked solo campaign as well.

Microsoft Kinect

Release Date: November 4

Platform: Xbox 360

Maybe you've heard of it? Microsoft's innovative camera system hopes to change motion-controlled gaming forever by getting rid the controller and letting you interact with your 360 using gestures and voice commands. While many of its launch titles seem geared toward the family crowd (we'll be covering specific Kinect games soon), a slew of recent announcements from the Tokyo Game Show indicate that Kinect could work wonders for more serious gamers, too. One caveat: at $150, it's pricey, so make sure you have space in both your checking account and your living room before jumping in.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Release Date: November 9

Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii, PC

Two things are certain this November: you will overeat, and you will at least consider playing another Call of Duty game. This time, players will dive into the Cold War, blasting their way through hotspots around the world, including Russia, Cuba, and of course, Vietnam. It packs some riveting new multiplayer modes, too, such as the "Wager Match" type that lets you gamble for in-game points.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

Release Date: November 16

Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC

It's hard to believe that it's only been a year since the stunning Assassin's Creed II scampered into our hearts. Often, releasing a sequel a year later is a recipe for oversaturation, but few developers deserve the benefit of the doubt like Ubisoft Montreal. The fact that it boasts cool new gameplay tweaks and what could be the year's most surprisingly addictive multiplayer doesn’t hurt, either.

LittleBigPlanet 2

Release Date: November 16

Platform: Playstation 3

Creating stuff in ingenious Sony game LittleBigPlanet was cool, but how about creating entirely new games? Such is the promise of the sequel, which hopes to up the ante tenfold by allowing players to build entirely new games in a matter of minutes. Throw in 50 levels worth of a brand new adventure brimming with kooky new gadgets, and you've got the makings for another PS3 masterpiece.

Epic Mickey

Release Date: November 30

Platform: Wii

The most famous mascot of them all makes a bold return to video games in this weird, wonderful adventure. Created by legendary designer Warren Spector (Deus Ex, System Shock), this uncharacteristically dark tale brings the mischief back to the mouse, letting players alter the landscape using paint or paint thinner as they interact with an impressive roster of Disney characters.

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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Military bases across the U.S. have banned the sale of a new video game that lets a player pretend to be a Taliban fighter and "shoot" U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

"Medal of Honor" by Electronic Arts, a major game developer based in Redwood City, Calif., hits stores Oct. 12. Gamers are scoffing at the decision, saying that advanced technology has made it commonplace in the gaming world to let players switch sides and play the bad guy.

After public protests, including by British Defense Secretary Liam Fox, U.S. military officials decided not to stock the game in any of the nearly 300 base exchange shops.

The game also won't be sold at any of the 49 GameStop stores located on various military bases. Troops will be allowed to own copies, but they would have to buy them off-base.

"We regret any inconvenience this may cause authorized shoppers, but are optimistic that they will understand the sensitivity to the life-and-death scenarios this product presents as entertainment," said Maj. Gen. Bruce Casella, who commands the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, which oversees more than 180 base exchange shops.

Casella made the decision last week, with the Navy quickly following suit. Kathleen Martin, a spokeswoman for the Navy Exchange Service Command, said the game won't be sold at any of the Navy's 104 exchange shops "out of respect for the men and women serving and their families."

Past versions of the 11-year old "Medal of Honor" game have been set in World War II, allowing players to act as either members of the Allied force or the Nazi regime.

The latest version is set in modern Afghanistan, where some 140,000 U.S. and NATO troops are fighting the Taliban. The story is told through a small group of characters known as "Tier 1" operators, elite fighters who take their orders directly from the president and defense secretary.

"Operating directly under the National Command Authority, a relatively unknown entity of hand-picked warriors are called on when the mission must not fail," according to an online description of the video game by Electronic Arts.

The website does not advertise the fact that the multiplayer version allows a player to role-play as a member of the Taliban.

One online promotion features video interviews with Special Operations personnel who the company says served as consultants to improve the authenticity of the game. The faces of the men interviewed were blurred and their names not given.

"By me being a part of it, I at least have some say on how the community is represented," one man says.

Britain's Fox said last month that he was "disgusted and angry" by what was a "tasteless product." Fox called on retailers to show their support for the troops by not selling it.

"At the hands of the Taliban, children have lost fathers and wives have lost husbands," Fox said. "It's shocking that someone would think it acceptable to recreate the acts of the Taliban against British soldiers."

Electronic Arts did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Spokeswoman Amanda Taggart was quoted last month by the Sunday Times as saying video gamers routinely play both good guys and bad guys.

"Most of us have been doing this since we were 7: Someone plays cop, someone must be robber," the newspaper quoted her as saying.

Credit: AP
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Blizzard is one of the well-known biggest computer-game developers around.
Blizzard provided us most impressive PC games you'll ever find and the results have been remarkable. Despite having only few game releases in the past 10 years, they've managed to establish their remarkable reputation as the most successful video game developers in US.

What do you think this is? There are thousands of players out there, some with years of experience in games like this. With Starcraft 2 hitting the market, you'll be beaten into oblivion unless you do something to prepare for it before it rocks.

Although Blizzard's games seem easy and straight-forward game developer, once you reach the pinnacle of achievement they are as tough as nails. They've always been deceptive. Youlll get skinned time and again unless you have the knowledge or skill to defeat your foes. So, you can either get some help up front or suffer for the next few months learning the game the hard way before you actually win any matches.

Help is at hand in the form of the latest guide, Starcraft 2 Secrets. It is indispensable to all players irrespective of their level of skill. It will teach you how to master strategies that are unknown to many players and to counter most strategies that would defeat most novices in seconds.

If the thought of the first few days of Battl.net fills you with dread instead of excitement, it's time to acquire a guide that will help you do everything better from the very start. Starcraft 2 Secrets is that guide.

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