An insider’s guide on this year’s newest video games

“Madden 12” (available on Xbox 360, PS2, iPhone, PS3, Wii, PSP, iPad)

Released on Aug. 31

The popular football game returns yet again for its latest installment. The newest version of Madden has been upgraded, with the additions of an advanced defensive artificial intelligence and the custom playbook. With the custom playbook, fans can now build the ultimate game plan by modifying an existing playbook or creating their own by selecting from numerous pre-created playbooks. By integrating these new features, “Madden 12” is sure to impress many.

“Star Wars: The Old Republic” (available on PC)

Expected Release Date: Nov. 22

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away … The famous Star Wars series lay rise to its newest video game, “Star Wars: The Old Republic.” The massive multi-player online role-playing game (MMORPG) is set 300 years after the events in “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic,” where players will explore an age when war between the Old Republic and the Sith Empire threatens to divide the galaxy.

Players will choose to follow either the path of the Jedi, or the dark side of the Force; they can also forge key alliances with other players. Many gamers, who are looking for a transition from other MMORPGs such as “World of Warcraft,” will have their sights on “Star Wars: The Old Republic.”

“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3” (available on Xbox 360, PC, and PS3)

Expected Release Date: Nov. 8

The world famous first-person shooter game returns this fall for its eighth installment. Continuing the action from “Modern Warfare 2,” the game features a new Survival mode, where players attempt to fend off endless waves of enemies, as well as numerous new weapons and scenarios. “Modern Warfare 3” combines fast-paced action from the previous Call of Duty games with revamped rankings systems and awesome new game modes.

“Battlefield 3” (available on Xbox 360, PC, and PS3)

Expected Release Date: Oct. 25

Play as a member of the US Marine Corps battling the fictional, antagonistic People’s Liberation and Resistance insurgent forces. In the long awaited sequel of “Battlefield: Bad Company 2,” players will be able to play on maps of Paris, France; Tehran, Iran; Sarajevo, Bosnia; Sulaymaniyah, Iraq; New York, USA; and Wake Island, while fighting enemies in urban streets and metropolitan downtown areas. Battlefield’s newest game will feature a new Frostbite engine designed especially for the game, providing more advanced destruction, sound, and graphics than previous versions and ultimately providing players with a more realistic game play.

“NBA 2K12” (available on Xbox 360)

Expected Release Date: Oct. 4

In the newest version of the “NBA 2K” series, “NBA 2K12” is perhaps the most anticipated “NBA 2K” game to come out. Finally, there is a chance for people around the globe to settle the debate as to who is the greatest player of all time. The game will be packed of past NBA legends, such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, while also including the dominant NBA players of today. “NBA 2K12” will finally pit the world’s greatest basketball legends against each other, in a battle to the finish.

“Assassin’s Creed: Revelations” (available on PS3, X360, iPhone, Android, WinPhone, PC

Expected Release Date: Nov. 15

The third game in the thrilling Assassin’s Creed saga is set in the Renaissance Era. Players will switch between three of the series’ major characters: Altaïr ibn La-Ahad, Ezio Auditore da Firenze and Desmond Miles. The game will follow the series’ standard open-world game play. New game play additions include new weapons such as the hook blade, which can be used to zip-line across rooftops and a plethora of original combo attacks. Multi-player game play is also making a return in “Revelations.” Players will be able to customize their characters’ appearance and weapons, as well as start a guild and create a unique coat of arms.

Resistance 3 (available on PS3)

Released on Sept. 6

Zombie games have been tried time and time again, but “Resistance 3” gives players a new take. How about battling endless mobs of monstrous super-human Chimera armies? In the most recent installment of the “Resistance” series, players will again be forced to survive against a Chimera alien invasion that has taken hold of Earth’s population in an alternate 1950s universe. This time, there is a cure for the alien infection. But will you survive long enough to get it?

Sources: ign.com