The video gaming market has entered a new generation once more and with that shift there’s been a realignment in the expectations of games and the general influx of gaming into the mainstream. The last generation was the first true mainstreaming of the video gaming sphere as more than 2000 games saw release for the major consoles in the 5 years they were on the market. With the 2005 release of the Xbox 360 and the 2006 release of the Nintendo Wii and Playstation 3 an entirely different approach to the art of gaming has come as well.

Not only are games bigger and more impressive than ever before, they’re more innovative, opening up entire new genres (the Wii has more than a few all by itself) and making online gaming more than a novelty, but an integral part of all games the world over. We’ve yet to see what will really come out of this generation, but we do get to speculate. There are hundreds of top tier titles waiting on the horizon for all the major consoles, games that none of us can wait for.

For those of you who weren’t quite willing to stay home when the lines started up for the PS3, the coming months are going to be good. While any good console tends to come out swinging like they just woke up from a nap, Sony’s waking up quickly. And it’s a good thing. Their overpriced system is stagnating on shelves while fans wait for those killer apps to come out and force their hand into a purchase. But soon those that took Sony up on their newest addition and those that are still waiting will be rewarded for their patience. Some are coming out this very month. Virtua Fighter 5 anyone?

Motorstorm – March 6 – The all formats, off road stylings of Motorstorm have been in the gaming news of late as we all get a good peek at the detail Sony manages to pack in here. Add in online play and dozens of play options and this could be the racer to own in the next gen.

Elderscrolls IV – March 13 – 360 and PC owners already have it, but it’s still a huge release as one of the biggest RPGs ever made and the biggest RPG release of last year comes to the Playstation 3. Be prepared to lose a few days of play time in this monstrous open ended RPG.

Half Life 2 – June – When Valve announced that Half Life 2 was coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360 I immediately began to salivate. Why? Because this is a pretty game, and the Xbox incarnation almost ruined that for good. But on these juggernaut machines, it will look damn pretty indeed. Throw in online play and the first two chapters of the expansion and this is a must own for Half Life fans.

Grand Theft Auto IV – October 16 – The biggie. It’s still almost 9 months away, but it’s the one game we’re all waiting for. Grand Theft Auto IV, the final jump into a new numbered entry in the series promises an entirely new game engine and considering what they did from II to III, we could be in for something special.

Metal Gear Solid 4 – Who knows – Supposed to come out this year, Kojima has a nasty habit of delaying his games until they’re just right. I’m not complaining but damn do I want to play this. The in game footage is incredible and Solid Snake more real than he ever did. That and 3 has me itching to know more. This will be the deal breaker for fence sitters, the big release for the PS3 that will bring in more owners…hopefully it hits sooner than later. I’d expect it by Christmas though at least.