<p>While many equate the beginning of autumn as the inevitable return to schooling, there are a select few that find themselves overwhelmed for completely different reasons. Whereas textbooks and notebooks account for the bulk of money spent for the more studios types, gamers will find themselves lighter in the wallets due to the usual slew of fourth quarter release dates that developers tend to favor. From the span of weeks between September 1<sup>st</sup> and October 31<sup>st</sup> alone, gamers are typically looking at a list of releases that includes over 25 reputable titles. For 2012, this rule is no different.</p>
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<p>Below are just a few of the hottest pre-holiday games (September – October) that have undoubtedly caught my.</p>
<h3><em><strong>Borderlands 2</strong></em></h3>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em><strong></strong></em><em>September 18</em><sup><em>th</em></sup><em>, 2012</em></p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Set five years after its predecessor, <em>Borderlands 2</em> hopes to follow the typical sequel stigma of “bigger and better”. Pitting players in the shoes of one of four playable heroes, the sequel follows an adventure that has these new heroes rescuing the vault hunters from the original in an effort to stop Pandora’s new leader, Handsome Jack.</p>
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<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Though the new cast resembles the old in terms of basic skill sets and abilities, new additions like dual-wielding and an ability known as Phaselock (disables enemies and keeps them from attacking) help to keep these characters fresh. <em>Borderlands 2</em> will see a slew of new enemies as well as some fresh faces, with the bulk of the threat coming from Handsome Jack’s Hyperion forces.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">A deluxe edition of the game is being sold for $99.99. True vault hunter’s will enjoy the Marcus Kincaid Bobblehead, comic book download, a Borderlands 2 art book, a map of Pandora, and bonus digital content.</p>
<h3><em><strong>Resident Evil 6</strong></em></h3>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em><strong> </strong></em><em>October 2</em><sup><em>nd</em></sup><em>, 2012</em></p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;"><em> </em>Of course, <em>Resident Evil 6</em> was bound to make this list. On top of being a new entry into one of the hottest franchises of the current generation, everything about it just bleeds pure awesome. Four-player co-op, Agent Hunt mode, Mercenaries Mode, ResidentEvil.Net – not even looking at the new gameplay mechanics, the sixth installment of the Resident Evil console titles already promises to deliver. Playing as series’ favorites Leon S. Kennedy and Chris Redfield, as well as Jake Muller, a newcomer with a familiar past, gamers will span the globe in an effort to eradicate the virus once and for all.</p>
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<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Releasing on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, retailers including GameStop and Amazon will be selling a must have $89 version for each system. <em>Archives </em>for the 360 will come with <em>Resident Evil Code Veronica</em>, <em>Resident Evil 4</em>, <em>Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition</em>, and Resident Evil Degeneration. The <em>Anthology</em>, releasing for the PS3, will include <em>Resident Evil: Directors Cut</em>, and <em>Resident Evil 2 – 5</em>.</p>
<h3> <em><strong>Dishonored</strong></em></h3>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;"><em>October 9</em></span><span style="color: #000000;"><sup><em>th</em></sup></span><span style="color: #000000;"><em>, 2012</em></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;"><span style="color: #000000;">If there were an award for “Surprise of the Year”, it would have been given to </span><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Dishonored</em></span><span style="color: #000000;"> for its announcement at 2011’s E3 expo. The game’s developer, Arkane Studios, is most likely best known for its work on </span><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Bioshock 2</em></span><span style="color: #000000;"> and </span><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Dark Messiah of Might and Magic</em></span><span style="color: #000000;">, but both titles already look like they will pale in comparison to what </span><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Dishonored </em></span><span style="color: #000000;">has in store.</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;"><span style="color: #000000;"> Taking place in the industrial city of Dunwall, </span><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Dishonored </em></span><span style="color: #000000;">puts gamers in control of Corvo Atano, a former guard of the Empress who has since taken the role of infamous assassin. After the royal lady he is sworn to protect is murdered, Corvo is framed as the prime suspect and is given a chance at redemption from a mystical being known only as The Outsider. Imbued with abilities beyond the scope of normalcy, an arsenal of weapons and gadgets, and his own stealth / combat abilities, Corvo sets out to right his name and exact revenge. </span></p>
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<p style="padding-left: 60px;"><span style="color: #000000;"> Though the concept may not be the most original out there, how Arkane Studios implements it will be the key selling factor for </span><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Dishonored</em></span><span style="color: #000000;">. Labeled as a first person stealth action adventure title, Arkane also promises hints of role playing elements, including character upgrades and moral-based decisions. </span><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Dishonored </em></span><span style="color: #000000;">is very much so lined up to be 2012’s biggest surprise.</span></p>
<h3><em><strong>Need for Speed: Most Wanted</strong></em></h3>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;"><em>October 30th, 2012</em></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Admittedly, games like </span><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Assassin’s Creed III </em></span><span style="color: #000000;">or the </span><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Zone of the Enders HD Collection</em></span><span style="color: #000000;"> probably deserve a bit more attention than yet another entry to the declining franchise that is </span><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Need for Speed</em></span><span style="color: #000000;">, but there was a certain charm with the 2005 release that causes this title to warrant my attention. The open world setting of Criterion Game’s </span><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Burnout </em></span><span style="color: #000000;">series lends itself to this </span><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Most Wanted </em></span><span style="color: #000000;">revamp which moves from the city of Rockport to Fairhaven City. </span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;"><span style="color: #000000;"> One feature that has seen a complete overhaul since the original </span><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Most Wanted </em></span><span style="color: #000000;">is the series’ multiplayer. On top of the use of </span><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Hot Pursuit</em></span><span style="color: #000000;">’s Autolog, </span><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Most Wanted </em></span><span style="color: #000000;">will feature a mode that puts cross compatibility in the limelight. Allowing players on differing consoles to compete with one another, Cloudcompete brings to life a concept that many developers should start using more often. </span></p>
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<p style="padding-left: 60px;"><span style="color: #000000;"> Will </span><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Most Wanted </em></span><span style="color: #000000;">blow people away? Most likely not, but it is bound to provide plenty of logged “cop chase” hours.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Some honorable mentions include </span><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Professor Layton and the MiracleMask</em></span><em> </em>(3DS; Oct. 28), which stands as the Professor’s second to last entry as the title character; <em>LittleBigPlanet </em>(Vita; Sept. 25); the throwback <em>XCOM: Enemy Unknown</em> (Xbox 360, PS3; Oct. 09); <em>Silent Hill Book of Memories </em>(Vita; Oct. 16); and <em>LEGO: Lord of the Rings </em>(Xbox 360, PS3, Vita, Wii, 3DS, PC; Oct. 30).</p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;"> Of course, those with a limited budget must be picky about what games they pick up, so consider these titles the author’s personal choices. As previously stated, the fall season will be littered with 25 reputable titles, which doesn’t include new IP’s and games that stand little chance of standing out. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;"> Below is a list of releases, from September through October (stay tuned for a “Holiday buyer’s guide”, which will cover November – December), that are worth dropping some cash on.</span></p>
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<h4><span style="color: #000000;"><em>PS3 / XB360</em></span></h4>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">NHL 13 09/11</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Tekken Tag Tournament 2 09/11</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">FIFA Soccer 13 09/25</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Dead or Alive 5 09/25</span></p>
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<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Angry Birds Trilogy 09/25</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse 09/25</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Pro Evolution Soccer 09/25</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">NBA 2K13 10/02</span></p>
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<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Just Dance 4 10/09</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Harry Potter for Kinect 10/09</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Doom 3 BFG 10/16</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">James Bond: 007 Legends 10/16</span></p>
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<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Rocksmith 10/16</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Forza Horizon 10/23</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">MoH: Warfighter 10/23</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Assassin’s Creed III 10/30</span></p>
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<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">WWE 13 10/30</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Need for Speed: Most Wanted 10/30</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Zone of the Enders HD Coll 10/30</span></p>
<h4><em>Wii</em></h4>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Kirby’s Dream 09/16</span></p>
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<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Just Dance 4 10/09</span></p>
<h4><em>DS / 3DS</em></h4>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Angry Birds Trilogy 09/25</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Pokemon Black Version 2 10/07</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Pokemon White Version 2 10/07</span></p>
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<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Harvest Moon: A New Beginning 10/23</span></p>
<h4><strong><span style="color: #000000;"><em>PS VITA</em></span></strong></h4>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Ragnarok Odyssey 10/16</span></p>
<h4><strong><span style="color: #000000;"><em>PC</em></span></strong></h4>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">The Sims 3 Supernatural 09/04</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">WoW: Mists of Pandaria 09/25</span></p>
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<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Rocksmith 10/16</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;"> What games pique your interest? Do you think you’ll be finding your wallet to be a little lighter than normal by November?</span></p>

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