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Grand Theft Auto, Wii Fit released -- so what's next?

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  • The rest of the year still has plenty of highly anticipated releases
  • Fallout 3 is a big, sprawling role-playing game
  • Left 4 Dead is a gory game filled with zombies, but it also teaches cooperation
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By Dana Jongewaard
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(GameTap.com) -- While some of the biggest video games for 2008 have already smashed sales records, the rest of the year still has plenty of highly anticipated releases.

Will your decisions in Fable II result in your character being good or evil?

Here are 10 titles to look out for in the rest of 2008.

Fallout 3

Systems: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Release: Fall 2008

As the game begins, you're living in a bomb shelter in the Washington, D.C. area; when your father disappears, you venture out into the postapocalyptic landscape to find out what happened to him.

Much like developer Bethesda's previous hit, Oblivion, Fallout 3 is a big, sprawling role-playing game where your every action influences the events that follow.

For example, you're given a choice to bomb a town at the beginning of the game -- but if you do it, you won't be able to visit that town and complete those quests later on.

Fable II

System: Xbox 360

Release: Fall 2008

Set in a fictionalized colonial time, Fable II is all about choice and the resulting consequences. Will you and your spouse have children? Will you help the people in the trading camp nearby? The world is open for you to explore, and every decision is completely up to you--but know that every choice you make will influence whether your character ends up being good or evil.

Gears of War 2

System: Xbox 360

Release: November 2008

It may be a gaming stereotype to have lots of shooting and big guns, but when it's done right, there's no denying the appeal. Main character Marcus Fenix is back and still fighting against the evil Locust Horde, who survived the bomb at the end of the first game and have now rebuilt their forces. The innovative cover system from the first game will play a big role again, and the enemies you'll be taking shots at from behind that wall will be even larger.

Left 4 Dead

Systems: PC, Xbox 360

Release: November 2008

Yes, Left 4 Dead is a gory game filled with bloodthirsty zombies, but it also teaches cooperation, as you have to communicate effectively with three teammates to survive the waves and waves of undead that are trying to kill you. You can also play in matches that pit the humans against the Infected to see who will win. However, in order to pull off a victory, even the zombies will have to work together.

LittleBigPlanet

Platform: PlayStation 3

Release: October 2008

Sony's adorable platform title is that rare breed of game that appeals equally to both hardcore players and non-gamers. The premise is simple--get your characters to the end of an obstacle course--but the ability to construct your own levels means that you can spend dozens of hours building your own masterpieces. While the game will ship with hundreds of levels, players will be able to get their hands on 1,000,000 more player-made levels, which can be sorted by popularity, creator, and more.

Madden NFL 09

Systems: PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360

Release: August 12, 2008

EA Sports' football franchise may be the only game in town, but there's a reason that it hits bestseller lists every year. 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of the game, which features quarterback Brett Favre on the cover. In addition to ever-better graphics and animations, this year's version promises an improved franchise mode, a camera system that automatically follows your receivers as they run down the field, and an online mode that lets you create leagues with up to 32 players.

Metal Gear Solid 4: The Guns of the Patriots

System: PlayStation 3

Release: June 12, 2008

It's the year 2014, and series protagonist Solid Snake is heading off to the Middle East to face off against his enemy Liquid Ocelot, who is a fusion of Snake's evil twin Liquid Snake and long-time nemesis Revolver Ocelot...confirming that yes, the series' trademark crazy story elements are back in full force. While Metal Gear Solid 4 is definitely aimed at the hardcore, this game does introduce an auto-lock aiming option, which was introduced to make the series more accessible to more casual players.

Resistance 2

System: PlayStation 3

Release: Fall 2008

In an alternate version of the 1950s, the alien Chimera have taken over Great Britain and have their sights trained firmly on the United States--and it's up to main character Nathan Hale (a descendant of the Revolutionary War hero) to try and stop them. Resistance 2 features all sorts of nifty alien technology; it also showcases some of the biggest online battles yet, with up to 60 players able to participate in a single match.

Spore

System: PC

Release: September 5, 2008

The latest project from Sims' creator Will Wright moves from simulated houses and takes on the entire universe. Grow a creature, develop a tribe, expand to a civilization, and then take on all of outer space. Your entire universe can be populated with creations that other players have made, so when you hop in your spaceship and land on a planet, you might find out it's the home of a creature that your friend made last week in her own living room.

World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

System: PC

Release: Fall 2008

There are more than 10 million subscribers paying a monthly fee to play Blizzard's massively multiplayer title, so this new expansion to the game has a lot of built-in fans eagerly awaiting its release. In addition to opening up the frozen worlds of Northrend, Lich King will let characters level to 80, introduce the death knight hero class, and bring in a new profession, inscription, which allows players to permanently raise the attributes for spells and abilities.

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