On this episode, Madden 10 comes out for major platforms but is it worth your $60 dollars, Brad gives us more information about the new PS3 Slim announcement and Bryan discusses more about the recent delays of major games like Dark Void and Bad Company 2. This and much more on this episode of Opinion Unlocked.

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September

Biggest Release: Beatles: Rock Band – Set to break sales records when its released on Sept. 9, Beatles: Rock Band has been getting nothing but glowing endorsements on any and all preview coverage for the game. Add to the fact that this game has been gaining more mainstream appeal as the word comes out about the game and you have a game that may very well be one of the best games, and best selling games, of all time.

Potential Sleeper: Scribblenauts – A game that may very well come to take numerous Game of the Year accreditations, Scribblenauts has been charming previewers and reporters with its nearly infinite ways of playing the game. It’s got a dash of old school (adventure games) and a smidge of new (the innovative creation system), but it has a charm and an open sandbox feel that could appeal to the masses.

Potential Disappointment: Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 – As one of the first must have games of the new generation, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance stood out as a great online game. However, there have been better games like it released since the first game, and as most are discussing, the second iteration of the game hasn’t changed much at all. This game has a potential to be a dud.

Most Likely To Be Delayed: Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days - Previews haven’t been too impressed with the side story of the Kingdom Hearts series, but most are holding out hope that this game will work when its released this month. Even so, there hasn’t been much of a presence to this game, which is strange because a huge marketing blitz for a new Kingdom Hearts always happens, whether its a full game or a spin-off. I suspect this will be delayed until 2010.

Should Be Delayed: Section 8 - Let me be frank…with ODST coming out and that game may not be as big as it should be, do I really think another game may get better sales? Word of mouth has been good for its multiplayer, but if this game does turn out to be quality, I’ll feel for Southpeak on the not so good sales it will wind up having. I think it would be best if they release this the first week of January next year.

Multiplatform Releases
Guitar Hero 5 – Releasing the game 8 days before Beatles: Rock Band may be a good business and marketing strategy…until they realize they start Beatles: Rock Band’s marketing push this month.
Dirt 2 – Dirt and Grid are quickly becoming the go-to racing games of this generation. Dirt 2 continues where the original left off and adds inventive and fun fantasy courses for variety.
Mini-Ninjas – Heard little about this game, but from the little I have heard, it’s actually a charming little title. No marketing, however, will hurt this game when trying to find an audience.
NHL 10 - The critically acclaimed and award winning sports title will recieve several polishes and boosts to reclaim yet another award winning season.
Need for Speed: Shift – Shift’s change-over to a more simulation feel may be risky for a brand that has been known to be highly accessable, but early reports are saying that this game is a nice primer until Forza 3 comes out.
Wet – A highly stylized, overly sexualized third person shooter meant to pander to the more masculine set. Too bad early reports haven’t been so favorable.

XBOX 360 Releases
Halo 3: ODST – It doesn’t really feel like a Halo game is coming out in Sept. does it? I have no doubt it will sell…it just seems like a more muted release than I was expecting.

PS3 Releases
Katamari Forever – In what may be the last Katamari game, this game remakes all the levels from the previous game and puts it on the PS3 at a discount price. I still want the music  to this game series, by the way.
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 – Ninja Gaiden 2 for the 360 was a bloody, violent game with a camera that was so spastic it could make you sick. Sigma 2 takes out the blood and violence, but if it fixes the camera issues it may just bave a great game on its hands.

Wii Releases
Muramasa: The Demon Blade – The creators of Odin Sphere’s next big game is this stylish, beautiful platformer for the Wii. Ignition Entertainment is releasing this game limitedly, but there’s no reason to think it won’t sell through its stock immediately on the first week.
Dead Space: Extraction – Light gun, rail shooter games are being made with more frequency, but they still don’t sell (take a look at House of the Dead: Overkill). Dead Space didn’t sell as much as EA wanted to last year, so I’m not sure if putting this game on the Wii will mean great sales.

DS Games
Mario and Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story – The hilarious and charming Mario and Luigi games have always been a hit on Nintendo handhelds and this will likely be no different. Whether the game itself will have any significant changes…well, that’s another story.
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days – Previews haven’t been too impressed with the side story of the Kingdom Hearts series, but most are holding out hope that this game will work when its released this month.

PSP Releases
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona – The Shin Megami Tensei series has gained a cult fanbase since the releases of Persona 3 in the States a few years ago. Because of this, the ultra rare (but admittedly botched localization wise) Revelations: Persona game was remade for the PSP and will be released in September, which will include a completely relocalized storyline and quests that were previously deleted from the game itself.
Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days – Disgaea 2 is a devisive entry into the series: some prefer this to Hour of Darkness, while others think it should have never been made. Whether you like it or not, it will be released at the end of September, so it looks like you’ll have a decision to make: this or Persona?
Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny – Tekken: Dark Resurrection is still one of the best games on the PSP to date, because of its excellent graphics, spot on controls and its bevy of modes. There’s no reason not to think that Broken Destiny won’t continue this trend of fighting game excellence on the go.

Will Most Likely Buy: Beatles: Rock Band, Halo 3: ODST, Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona, Scribblenauts

Will Most Likely Rent: Mario and Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, Dirt 2

Brad Wiswall
www.twitter.com/Gamakarmica
XBL: Gamakarmica
PSN: Vanillatwisted

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The Online Franchise was DLC that if you bought new at retail, you’d recieve a code to download the mode for free. Otherwise, the mode would cost you upwards to 800MS or $10 on XBLA/PSN.

Brad’s Take: What makes this even worse is that some people who are expecting this to be on the disc are seeing this on the marketplace now and they may be coaxed into thinking they had to pay for this feature all along.

Back to my thoughts, this isn’t a first with this sort of problem…but why would you use the DLC on one of the modes people are anticipating to play? I’d understand if it was some like roster updates or an arcade mode, but an online franchise mode that people have been BEGGING for years for?

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Brad’s Take: Both 3 on 3 and March Madness were big successes to EA, so it’s no surprise they want to do the same for their biggest franchise.

I just hope its more 3 on 3 than it is March Madness.

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Brad’s Take: First off, this being a gaming website, there’s one big question: What happens to the Madden branding?

My opinion: Nothing.

Madden is what it is for two reasons: Excellent branding and a legacy of great games (subjectively speaking of course). For EA to go and just say “Well, see ya John!” to their game would prove kind of shortsighted on their part. We may see a syphoning off of the brand in the next couple of years, however.

So, don’t be surprised if next year’s Madden is EA NFL 11 featuring John Madden or John Madden Presents NFL Football 2011.

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