SideQuesting

Late this Spring saw the first few 2009-year game delays begin to role in.  By mid-Summer the delay trend had become a sift, with games being pushed back into “Spring 2010″ on an increasingly regular basis.  We even dedicated an entire #gamechat to it.  Blame Modern Warfare, blame the economy, blame quality concerns; whatever the reason the dwindling Autumn line-up brought a tear to our eye, until we glanced over at that now-goliath “Spring 2010″ list.

After E3 we knew of a few of the games that were already planned for 2010, and as conferences continued throughout the year we heard of special editions, re-makes, and more.  While the industry has been focusing on the first quarter of next year, there is plenty of incredible gaming to be had for the remainder.  Barring any delays from 2010 to 2011… yes, dare we say that it may very well be the best year ever for gaming?

Read our list below to see just how many AAA-level titles will be soaking up your time (and money).

Did we miss something?

January

Army of Two: The 40th Day
Bayonetta
Darksiders
Dark Void
Mafia II
MAG
Mass Effect 2
No More Heroes 2
Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil Zero
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars

February

Aliens Vs Predator
BioShock 2
Blur
Dante’s Inferno
Heavy Rain
Lost Planet 2
Red Steel 2
Splinter Cell: Conviction
Star Trek: Online
Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll
White Knight Chronicles

March

Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Champions Online
Command & Conquer 4
Final Fantasy XIII
God of War III
Gran Turismo 5
Metro 2033
Monster Hunter Tri
Sin & Punishment 2
Singularity
Super Street Fighter IV

April/May/June/July

3D Dot Game Heroes
Alan Wake
Alpha Protocol
Arc Rise Fantasia
Brink
Eye Pet
Ghost Recon (New)
Just Cause 2
Max Payne 3
ModNation Racers
NCAA Football 2011
No More Heroes HD
PS3 Sphere Motion Controller
Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition
Resonance of Fate
Scratch: The Ultimate DJ
Skate 3
Split/Second
Starcraft II
Tiger Woods 2011
UFC 2010
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm

August

I Am Alive
Dragon Quest IX
Kane & Lynch 2
Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep
Madden 2011
Metroid: The Other M
Red Dead Redemption

September

The Grinder
Guitar Hero 6
Halo: Reach
Last Guardian
Nintendo DS2
Rock Band 3/ Band-themed Rock Band (the Who?)
Sonic the Hedgehog: Project Needlemouse

October

Bully 2
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Dead Space 2
DJ Hero 2
Epic Mickey
Fable III
Fallout: New Vegas
Final Fantasy XIV
Nintendo Vitality Sensor
Sony PSP2
Super Mario Galaxy 2

November

Band Hero 2
Call of Duty 7
Crysis 2
Microsoft Project Natal Motion Camera
New Legend of Zelda
The Old Repubic

*Note that all dates are tentative until the games actually release. We know how these dates can change at the drop of a hat and will probably do so to give themselves some retail space.  Some of the games & products towards the tail end of the year have not even been formally announced yet except in “closed circles” and rumors.   The list has been created by scouring over the release dates in several gaming publications — IGN, Gamespot, Amazon — but always take those confirmations with a grain of salt.