Since video-game sales ramp up exponentially during the last months of the year, game makers often delay the release of their biggest titles until the weeks leading up to the holiday spending spree. Here are some games that are generating buzz on the Internet and among local gamers. Though a few were released last month, most are due in the next six weeks. ON PC

“SPORE”

Sept. 7; rating E

The hook:

“Sims” creator Will Wright’s latest project lets players guide a species from primordial ooze to galactic civilization.

“FAR CRY 2”

Oct. 21; rating M

The hook:

The follow-up to 2004’s “Far Cry” upgrades the graphics and trades in lush tropical islands for the African savanna. “COMMAND & CONQUER: RED ALERT 3”

Oct. 28; rating T

The hook:

The third game in EA’s alternatehistory, realtime-strategy series follows a global conflict against a newly risen Asian superpower.

“WORLD OF WARCRAFT: WRATH OF THE LICH KING”

Nov. 13; rating T

The hook:

The second expansion pack to the hit online role-playing game raises the level cap and adds a new continent, items and character classes. FOR KIDS

“DE BLOB”

Sept. 22 (Wii); rating E

The hook:

A rolling, bouncing blob helps restore color to a black-andwhite world in his fight against the evil INKT Corp.

“LITTLE BIG PLANET”

Oct. 21 (PS3); rating E

The hook:

Players navigate levels using a suite of object creation tools to overcome obstacles and enemies.

“BANJO-KAZOOIE: NUTS & BOLTS”

Nov. 11 (Xbox 360); rating E

The hook:

The latest “Banjo-Kazooie” release makes heavy use of vehicles customized from more than 1,000 components.

“ANIMAL CROSSING: CITY FOLK”

Nov. 16 (Wii); rating pending

The hook:

“Animal Crossing” debuts on the Wii with familiar social/ community gameplay and a newly accessible city area.

FOR TEENS

“ROCK BAND 2”

Sept. 14 (Xbox 360), Oct. 19 (PS3), Nov. 18 (Wii); rating T

The hook:

“Guitar Hero’s” main competitor returns with a 500-song set list courtesy of transferable downloaded content from the first game.

“GUITAR HERO WORLD TOUR”

Oct. 26 (multiplatform); rating T

The hook:

“Guitar Hero’s” fourth adds 86 new tracks, a drum kit, a microphone and an advanced song-creation mode.

“MIRROR’S EDGE”

Nov. 11 (multiplatform); rating T

The hook:

Players use first-person martial arts and acrobatics to carry secret messages through sundrenched cityscapes.

“PRINCE OF PERSIA”

Dec. 2 (multiplatform); rating pending

The hook:

The latest in the 20-year adventure series marks its first appearance on nextgeneration consoles with a new art design and intricate one-onone combat.

FOR ADULTS

“FABLE II”

Oct. 21 (Xbox 360); rating M

The hook:

Players can be as bad (or good) as they want in this vastly expanded sequel to 2004’s hit free-form role-playing game by famed developer Peter Molyneux.

“RESISTANCE 2”

Nov. 4 (PS3); rating M

The hook:

The sequel to PlayStation 3’s flagship sci-fi shooter moves the fight between the humans and the alien Chimera from Europe to the United States.

“GEARS OF WAR 2”

Nov. 7 (Xbox 360); rating M

The hook:

The sequel to 2006’s bestselling thirdperson action game features larger battles as soldiers fight the alien Locust in their underground homes.

“CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR”

Nov. 11 (multiplatform); rating M

The hook:

Powered by the “Call of Duty 4” graphic engine, the shooter series returns to World War II with island and jungle warfare in the Pacific theater.

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