Incoming! #1 - Week Commencing 7/11/11

Welcome to Made2Game’s new feature, dedicated to bringing you a weekly lowdown on the biggest inbound video game releases. This week, we’ll be shooting troublesome ultranationalists and sticking sharp things in dragons with two of the year’s most eagerly-awaited games…

Title: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Out: Tuesday, 8 November
Formats: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Developer: Infinity Ward / Sledgehammer 
Publisher: Activision
In Ten Words: Gilly up, throw down, trot globes, murder terrorists, teabag noobs

Blasting its way onto shelves on Tuesday is the shooter that makes all others tremble, as the 8th title in Activision’s world-beating Call of Duty franchise arrives. Continuing the story of Captain Price (voiced by Eastenders’ Billy Murray) and Soap McTavish as they battle against ultranationalist crackpot Vladimir Makarov, Modern Warfare 3 will be the series’ most globetrotting instalment to date, featuring levels set in London, Dubai, France and Moscow (among other locations). As always though, the campaign will take a back seat in favour of the franchise’s trademark online element. A new “Pointstreak” system in multiplayer replaces a reliance on simple kills to progress, weapons level up with consistent use and new game modes like “Kill Confirmed” (where you’ll have to collect your victim’s dog-tags to earn the kill) will add more depth and variety to an already overflowing pot. Battlefield 3 might be comfortably sitting at the top of the charts for now but, despite its undeniable quality, it’s likely to be usurped pretty sharpish come midweek.

Ah, Modern Warfare... The series that makes killing terorrists look cool
 

Multiplayer? Well, duh
Collector's Edition available? Yes, big time. GAME’s “Intel Pack” comes with a special avatar outfit and the Brady Games strategy guide, while the Hardened Edition (retailing for a whopping 80 notes) will feature (deep breath) a one-year membership to Call of Duty: Elite (as well as exclusive perks such as a unique emblem, clan XP boosts and special weapons), a Juggernaut outfit for your XBL avatar and special theme for your PS3 dashboard, a steelbook case and a collectible “field journal”.
Predicted hit? See "Multiplayer", above 

Title: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Out: Friday, 11 November
Formats: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
In Ten Words: Kill dragons, shout spells, explore dungeons, get lost, look awesome

For RPG fans, no amount of new perks and Pointstreaks will distract from Friday’s big release, as Bethesda’s dragon-slaying epic swoops into stores. The fifth entry in The Elder Scrolls series sees the action transported north of Oblivion’s Cyrodiil to the land of Skyrim, home to the Nords, where a pesky Dragon God has awoken from a centuries-long hibernation to lay waste to anything that walks. Players will take control of the “Dragonborn”, chosen from any of the game’s 10 playable races, who possesses the Voice – the ability to absorb the language of dragons by devouring their souls. They can then use Dragon Shouts, vocal spells that can conjure storms or send enemies flying off mountains. Featuring a brand new graphics engine, vastly improved AI, a new levelling system and visceral, versatile combat, there’s a good reason why Skyrim is one of 2011’s most anticipated games.

Look at him, bless him, all up in that dragon's grill
 

Multiplayer? Nope
Collector's Edition Available? Yup. All Elder Scrolls V pre-orders will ship with a groovy map of Skyrim, while the Collector’s Edition will relieve you of around £130(!) and come with an exclusive artbook, a making-of DVD, a 12-inch figurine of Alduin the Dragon God and a map lovingly crafted from cloth.
Predicted hit? Absolutely 

Only two big contenders this week, but check out the next Incoming! where we'll be scaling rooftops with Ezio, killing aliens with the Master Chief and returning to Hyrule...

Words by Mick Fraser (Twitter: @Jedi_Beats_Tank)

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