Video games are looking for a save

It's been a rough year for video games. After an economy-defying start to 2009 -- following a few years of record-breaking sales -- the industry posted its fifth straight month of declines in July, the tracking firm NPD Group reported last week. Year-to-date video-game sales are $8.16 billion, NPD says, off by 14 percent through the same period in 2008.

What could turn things around? Interesting games. It's been dismal recently.

"Name one great game released in the last six months? Nothin'," said DarthspaceInvader, a regular visitor to the Technobabble blog.

"If they put out some games worth playing, people would buy them. Simple as that," said another, the Situationer.

"Madden NFL 10," which came out Friday, is one of those great games. It's the first major title expected to give the industry a much-needed power-up as we head into the fall. NPD analyst Anita Frazier also points to the upcoming releases of "The Beatles: Rock Band," "Halo 3: ODST" and "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" as other potential saviors.

Here's a preview of them and other major video games expected to be released by the end of the year.

The big three after 'Madden'

"The Beatles: Rock Band" (due Sept. 9 for Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3) will bring the music of the Fab Four to the popular fake-band franchise. People with previous "Rock Band" incarnations can buy just the "Beatles" disc and start "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah"-ing with their current setup. But serious moptop wannabes can buy a deluxe bundle with controllers that replicate the Beatles' original guitars and drums. The game will also require three microphones (and singers) to mimic the Beatles' three-part harmonies.

"Halo 3: ODST" (Sept. 22; 360) is an expansion to the popular "Halo 3," but doesn't require that game to play. You play as an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper in the prequel, with new campaigns, weapons and other game-play features as you gun for the alien Covenant.

"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" (Nov. 10; 360, PS3) is the sequel to "Call of Duty 4," which many picked as 2007's game of the year. Needless to say, expectations for the followup to the bestselling combat shooter are huge. It shouldn't disappoint, based on trailers online.

It's all in the game

Long-running sports titles are always popular. None of these will be as big as "Madden." But even if game play doesn't change radically from year to year, fans flock to them to play using the latest rosters of their favorite teams.

And the rest ...

Some of my most anticipated titles for the rest of the year are followups to recent top sellers. They include the zombie survival game "Left 4 Dead 2" (Nov. 17; 360), the treasure-hunting adventure "Uncharted 2: Among Thieves" (Oct. 13; PS3) and the spaced-out "Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time" (Oct. 27; PS3).

On the musical side, "Guitar Hero 5" (Sept. 1; 360, PS3, Wii, PS2) will rock with a new set list and the ability to play with any combination of instruments (two drummers, for example). The series will make an encore Dec. 22 with "Guitar Hero: Van Halen." The much-delayed "DJ Hero" (Oct. 27; 360, PS3, Wii, PS2), from the same folks, will give players the chance to spin and scratch on the virtual club scene with a faux turntable. And "Brütal Legend" (Oct. 13; 360, PS3) introduces the genre of heavy-metal action game as you take on the role of a roadie thrown back in time.

Nintendo's popular Wii system is banking on a few exclusives in the coming months. "Metroid Prime Trilogy," due Monday, updates earlier titles in the series for play on the motion-controlled system. "Wii Fit Plus" and "New Super Mario Bros. Wii" will capitalize on past successes, but have no firm release date beyond "fall." The same vague date applies to "The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks" for the Nintendo DS.

Other major releases for the coming months include "Batman: Arkham Asylum" (next Tuesday; 360, PS3), the arcade blast "Toy Story Mania" (Sept. 15; Wii), the superhero fighter sequel "Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2" (Sept. 15; 360, PS3), the download-only "Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony" (Oct. 29; Xbox 360), and the moody "Assassin's Creed 2" (Nov. 17; 360, PS3).

Will these games reinvigorate the video-game scene and help the industry end the year on a positive note? We'll find out in a few months.