The 2012 Challenge: Can this Year Top the Banner Year that was 2011?

I had to start mowing my lawn this past month. Do you know what that means? That means summer is pretty much here. Summer time is notoriously slow for big video game releases but we’ve learned that it’s really just the calm before the storm. When the leaves begin to turn colors of red and orange and the chilly north wind rolls in, so too with it comes the onslaught of the holiday game releases. This year certainly has some notable releases coming but the question on the mind of developers, publishers, and consumers everywhere is this: Can 2012 top or even match the fantastic year that was 2011.

It’s no secret that 2011 was an amazing year for video games. One of the biggest years ever, in fact. Many gamers, like me, are just now getting to some of the games that released in the last quarter of the year for the simple fact that there were just too many good games released in such a small amount of time. It’s definitely a good problem to have but many aren’t sure that the big releases this year will hold the same impact for consumers. To put a little more perspective on it, here’s a list of the top ten selling video games for 2011 according to NPD.

1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (360, PS3, Wii, PC)
2. Just Dance 3 (Wii, 360, PS3)
3. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (360, PS3, PC)
4. Battlefield 3 (360, PS3, PC)
5. Madden NFL 12 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PS2)
6. Call of Duty: Black Ops (360, PS3, Wii, NDS, PC)
7. Batman: Arkham City (360, PS3, PC)
8. Gears of War 3 (360)
9. Just Dance 2 (Wi)
10. Assassins Creed: Revelations (360, PS3, PC)

That’s a pretty impressive list. Keep in mind, also, that this was a year that saw the releases of such high profile games such as Dead Space 2, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Uncharted 3, and Infamous 2. All AAA titles that in any other year would probably be tearing up the top ten charts but in 2011, being a AAA title wasn’t enough.

And so the evidence begs the question: Can 2012 stack up? For a good look at some of the titles coming this year check out the editorial written by our own Jeremy B. Tyler right here. There are a few big titles on the horizon like Bioshock Infinite, Halo 4, Assassins Creed 3, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. It looks like a solid lineup but it will take a lot to outdo 2011. Here’s some food for thought:

There will be Borderlands 2 but can it outsell Skyrim?

You know Call of Duty will sell like gangbusters but will player fatigue, along with the highly anticipated Halo 4 sap some of its strength?

Bioshock 2 was pretty well received but many fans felt it was lacking. How will that affect the sale of Bioshock Infinite?

Assassin’s Creed 3 is shaping up to be a fantastic game but there was an Assassin’s Creed in 2011 and it barely broke the top ten.

I’m as excited as anyone about Darksiders 2 but the original did not sell as well as THQ would have hoped. Can the sequel raise the stakes?

Maybe most damning of all is that in 2012 there is no Batman. Is a year without Batman really worth being referred to as a year? I’m just not sure.

Many of these points may prove moot by the end of the year. With E3 right around the corner, there could be any number of announcements that grab our attention and our wallets. Sometimes games come out of nowhere and surprise everyone and every year, we as gamers hope to be the one to find it first. The point is that 2011 was a year that will go down as one of the greatest years ever for gamers. Can 2012 top it? Personally, I don’t think so but I will certainly enjoy watching the drama unfold because when it comes to games competing for our attention, we as gamers are the real winners.

Is there a game coming out in 2012 you think will help blow 2011 away? Let us know!