The hottest July in living memory for St. Louis has ended providing the prologue, reasoning, and desire to skulk down to my ice cold basement and consider this coming gaming seasons new adventures. I’m primarily a shooter/rpg player so throw me a list of the games you’re looking forward to this season if that’s not your thing.  First up are the games I’m ranking as ‘shutupandtakemymoney’:

• Gears of War 3; release date September 20, 2011: Marcus Fenix is back with his buds and a few new players 18 months after the last victory to fight more Locusts and an even more sinister and malevolent enemy.  Improved graphics and multiplayer and co-op campaign play means the only thing that can pry me away from this game is….
• Batman: Arkham City; release date October 18, 2011. First, if you haven’t played Batman: Arkham Asylum then you’re in for a real treat because you can get the Game of the Year addition for just $30 on Amazon.  This time around Batman and his enemies take the fight out into sprawling Gotham City.  More enemies, more tool belt goodies, more seamless fighting, more badass all around. Apologies ahead of time if I talk to you in a low, raspy and otherworldly voice.
• Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary; release date November 15, 2011.  What else would you be doing on the tenth anniversary of the best fps shooter franchise ever? It’s been remastered to work on the 36o with an updated soundtrack, updated and tweaked maps, and the ability to play co-op for the campaign.  Note to self: get Xmas shopping done before this is released.
• Mass Effect 3; release date March 6, 2012. Whew, looks like this rpg will get released before the apocalypse and conveniently near my birthday.  Those damn Reapers try to destroy the known universe yet again.  Continue the story arc you created playing the first two installments as Commander Shepard recruits, fights, and beds aliens in the name of saving the universe. Don’t let this series pass you by. In twenty years you’ll be going to see the Mass Effect Broadway musical.