Hollywood usually takes most of the slack when it comes to criticism for lack of originality, but in fact, the video game industry is even worse at creating original content, it’s a world dominated by franchises of every kind, from sports to action games, publishers and developers are usually taking the easy and safe way: sequels. And spin offs. And remakes. Etc.

We’ve compiled a list of top 10 original games that are scheduled for release for 2010 — and it was quite a challenge: out of the 130 games confirmed for 2010 by major publishers and developers, we found 19 that were original. Just 19.

10: Brink (Spring 2010)

Brink, an FPS developed by Splash Damage and published by Bethesda, centers around a two sides: Resistance and Security, and is a team based multiplayer shooter much like Quake Wars, which was also developed by Splash Damage. It looks promising as a multiplayer game, as it’s story based, much like Quake Wars, where one battle takes place over several maps, with a story connecting everything together.

9: Alpha Protocol (Spring 2010)

Alpha Protocol, developed by Obsidian Entertainment — developers of Star Wars: KOTOR 2 and Neverwinter Nights 2 — is a third person action RPG where the player assumes the role of Michael Thorton, a CIA agent who’s been betrayed and must not only fight his way through enemies, but also uncover the conspiracy that set him up.

8: Singularity (Q2 2010)

While time travel is a known concept in games, albeit underused, it’s still something that is difficult to fit in wiht the overall storyline, and the time feature never seems to be used properly. In Singularity, the player will have control over a TMD (Time Manipulation Device), a “weapon” which will be used to solve puzzles, for instance, if a door is locked, instead of looking for the key, you use the TMD and speed up time for the lock only, which will rust, and voila, door opened! Or use it on an enemy and watch him turn into a skeleton. The concept certainly seems intriguing, and offers some truly original puzzles.

7: Dante’s Inferno (February 9, 2010)

Dante’s Inferno has already caused a lot of controversy, from the fake E3 2009 protest, to gameplay elements where players can slay children. The gritty, hell based game is loosely based on the actual Inferno by Dante in The Divine Comedy, and the player assumes the role of Dante, who has to fight his way though monsters and demons in the 9 circles of hell, and decide whether he’ll be good and spare some (like children) or go reckless. It definitely looks as one of the darkest games of 2010.

6: MAG (January 26, 2010)

MAG (Massive Action Game) is a PS3 online FPS multiplayer who’s main feature is a massive 256 player online matches, with 128 players per team, divided into 8-player squads, 4 squads into a platoon, and 4 platoons into a company. With 256 players on the map, MAG is set to deliver some of the most intense and frantic combat yet, and will offer detailed stats and rankings, where higher ranked players will be able to command the battle and give orders to individual squads and platoons.

5: LA Noire (Q3 2010)

LA Noire, an open ended adventure game set in a recreated 1940s Los Angeles, which players can freely roam around, and chose to solve a number of murders around the city. The game has a great feeling of classic noir films based in LA, like LA Confidential, The Maltese Falcon and Chinatown, and draws inspiration from such works as well.

4: Rage (Q4 2010)

It’s been a while since Id Software has made an original game — actually, the last original game Id Software made was Quake, back in 1996. Id finally shows something new with Rage, a fusion between a first person shooter and a racing game set in a post-apocalyptic Mad Max styled world. It’s built with the all new Id Tech 5 engine, and shows very promising visuals, to say the least.

3: Heavy Rain (Q2 2010)

Heavy Rain has been on the radar since it was originally showcased at E3 2006, and will be released almost four years later, in Q2 2010. The gorgeous looking game centers around a serial killer known as “The Origami Killer”, and players assume roles of different characters who try and solve the murders. It’s one of the most stylish and atmospheric games to come out in 2010.

2: Alan Wake (Q2 2010)

What Heavy Rain is for the PS3, Alan Wake is for the Xbox 360. Developed by Remedy, Alan Wake is a psychological thriller inspired by the likes of Twin Peaks and Stephen King novels, where players assume the role of Alan Wake, a writer who seeks refuge at a quiet place where he can write his next novel (much like Stephen Kings “Misery“). However, when his wife vanishes, it’s up to him to get her back.

1: APB (March 2010)

APB is not only the most original MMO game to his the stores in 2010, it’s also the most original game overall. It’s the classic cops vs. robbers gameplay, but on a massive scale, with endless customizations and options, tons of missions and weapons. Created by David Jones, the original creator for GTA, APB is hailed as everything he wanted to do wince he made GTA, and while originally trying to pitch and sell APB to Rockstar as GTA Online, it’s good that APB is on its own now, we need a great, original game. And an MMO that’s not fantasy based.

If you haven’t received an invite, don’t worry, as you can still apply for the beta here.

While 2009 is drawing to an end, and with all the great AAA titles only weeks away, keep in mind that 2010 is going to see more top-notch titles released than the last few years. Here are 20 games that should/will make an impact next year, and while a lot more games are coming out, we obviously couldn’t include them all — our list grew from ten games to twenty games simply because even we were surprised how many title are lined up for 2010. Here’s our 20 games for 2010, in no particular order.

Postal 3 (PC, Xbox 360, PS3, Running With Scissors, Q2, 2010)

The original Postal was both hailed and damned for its controversial content, and the sequel, Postal 2 only made it better (or worse, if you’re a politician looking for some media attention). Postal 3 will expand on the sandbox style gameplay, and will even feature director Uwe Boll (who made the 2008 Postal movie) in a cameo role.

APB (PC, Xbox 360, March 2010)

After developing Crackdown for the Xbox 360, which has since become a cult classic on the console, Realtime Worlds shifted all their manpower to APB (All Points Bulletin), a revolutionary MMO set in a huge city where players battle each other as either law enforcement agents, or criminals. A kind of GTA online, as creator David Jones (the man behind GTA) is noted saying APB is “the bastard child of everything we’ve been striving towards over the 15-20 years”.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, March 2, 2010)

Battlefield: Bad Company almost managed to perfect something no other FPS had done before: creating a fully destructible battlefield, where walls would no longer provide infinite cover — one tank shell and you better be looking to hide somewhere else. Coupled with a single player campaign and a solid multiplayer, Bad Company has been one of the most played FPS on the Xbox 360 and PS3. Bad Company 2 will bring “destruction 2.0″, taking destruction to a whole new level, this time, entire buildings and towns can be leveled to the ground.

Heavy Rain (PS3, February 2010)

Heavy Rain has been highly anticipated ever since it was first showcased at E3 2006 for the PlayStation 3, the film-noir, thriller-styled game will feature an intertwined storyline, with four playable characters, all looking for a serial killed going under the name “The Origami Killer”.

Halo Reach (Xbox 360, Q4 2010)

The next chapter in the Halo series and Master Chief’s battle against the Covenant was unveiled at E3 2009, without any further details other than the game would be the last Halo game to be developed by Bungie. Owners of Halo 3: ODST will have a chance to check out the game’s multiplayer beta in the middle of 2010, by then we should have more details on Reach.

Red Steel 2 (Wii, February 16, 2010)

The original Red Steel was the very first Wii game that was revealed, and rode a wave of anticipation until its release — as a Wii launch title — where it showed a flawed control scheme, dated visuals and uninspiring gameplay. Red Steel 2 is said to correct all those issues, and will require (and be bundled with) the Wii Motion Plus accessory, giving it a true 1:1 control input, paving the way for some great sword fights. We sure hope so.

Crysis 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Q4 2010)

The original Crysis is still bringing even the most powerful PCs to their knees, and is still hailed as the best looking game available, at least if a tropical island is what you crave. Crysis 2 continues the story where the original left off, and will use the new CryEngine 3, creating an even more immersive world. There aren’t many details of the game yet, but one thing is for sure: start saving for a new PC rig.

BioShock 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, February 9, 2010)

BioShock took the gaming community with storm in 2007, offering an amazing look at the steampunk/retro-futuristic world of Rapture, coupled with a story similar to Half Life, and in BioShock 2 — which takes place ten years after BioShock 1 — players can take control of the infamous Big Daddy, and will be able to step outside of the underwater city of Rapture. On top of that, BioShock 2 will include multiplayer as well, bringing a whole new dimension into the series.

Alan Wake (PC, Xbox 360, March 2010)

Alan Wake was originally a title known for its pretty visuals, actually, gorgeous visuals, but it soon became apparent that the game had much more to offer, as it showcased the first gameplay bits at E3 2009. It’s a psychological thriller, and draws inspiration from Twin Peaks and countless Stephen King novels, and is one of the most anticipated original games of 2010.

STALKER: Call Of Pripyat (PC, February 2010)

STALKER, and its expansion pack, was a promising action RPG set in a post-apocalyptic world of Chernobyl, but both games were hammered by technical issues and a merciless difficulty. Call of Pripyat is set to correct those issues, and is set to become a more accessible game for both action and RPG fans. On top of that, the game will utilize new DirectX 11 technologies, offering an even more grittier-looking Chernobyl than before.

Crackdown 2 (Xbox 360, March 2010)

Crackdown was one of the sleeper hits on the Xbox 360, where some gamers eagerly purchased the game only for the bundled-in Halo 3 beta. They soon found out that Crackdown was a viable GTA contender, with its own unique style and gameplay. Crackdown 2 was revealed at E3 2009, and is set to expand on gameplay and destruction of Pacific City, complete with a new visual overhaul.

Deus Ex 3 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Q4 2010)

Deus Ex and Deus Ex 2 have pretty much solidified their cult status among gamers, and especially, fans of dystopian cyberpunk. Deus Ex 3 will take place in 2027, 25 years before Deus Ex, so its views on a cyberpunk culture might dwindle a bit, but we’ll see — developer Eidos Montreal has yet to release any screenshots or videos of the game.

Max Payne 3 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, March 2010)

The original Max Payne and May Payne 2 were hallmarks of noir storytelling in vidoegames, and when the new look and feel of Max Payne 3 was announced — with a new, bald Max — taking place in Brazil, loyal fans to the series got worried. After all, what’s Max Payne without a gritty New York City, rain, and lots of voice over acting? It’s even got a new developer, and the original writers are not on board. Lots of things can go wrong, but new developer Rockstar Vancouver seems to be on top of things, both story and gameplay wise.

God Of War 3 (PS3, March 2010)

God Of War has been one of the most successful franchises on the PlayStation 2, and it was never a secret that Sony was bringing the third game in the series on the PS3. If screenshots and gameplay videos are anything to judge the final product by, PS3 owners have something very special waiting for them next year, as God of War 3 is looking to be the biggest PS3 release of the year, second only to Gran Turismo 5, perhaps.

Gran Turismo 5 (PS3, Q2 2010)

Arguably the best racing sim franchise in history, Gran Turismo 5 will flex its muscles in beautiful high def for the first time, and it’s getting increasingly difficult to differentiate GT5 screenshots from real life photos of the cars. Compared to arch rival Forza 3, GT5 will have over twice the amount of cars (950 vs 450 in Forza 3) and more racing tracks as well. In addition, GT5 will include both NASCAR and World Rally Championship racing options.

Supreme Commander 2 (PC, Xbox 360, Q3 2010)

Supreme Commander, the spiritual successor for one of the greatest RTS games ever, Total Annihilation, revolutionized the way the battlefield was viewed, with a huge map that could be zoomed in and out to any point, effortlessly. That feature alone took gameplay and multitasking to a whole new level, and the game even had a proper support of multi-monitor setups. Supreme Commander 2 was unveiled during E3 2009, and takes place 25 years after the ending of SupCom: Forged Alliance.

Mass Effect 2 (PC, Xbox 360, January 26, 2010)

One of the many games delayed from late-2009 to early-2010 due to the clogging of several AAA titles this year, Mass Effect 2 continues the story from Mass Effect, this time, it’s a lot darker, according to the developers at BioWare. The game features an updated combat system, improved AI and more detailed characters and animations.

Army Of Two: The 40th Day (PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, January 10, 2010)

While the premise for a great co-op game was laid out in Army Of Two, poor execution and AI crippled the gameplay. The sequel, like all sequels should, will try and make up for those shortcomings. The 40th Day will feature refined controls, the ability to use human shields and to fake a surrender in order to outflank the enemy (meaning you better trust your teammate).

MAG (PS3, January 25, 2010)

MAG (short for Massive Action Game) is trying something no other FPS multiplayer game has been able to pull off before: massive 256 tribes and matches. It’ll feature 128 players per teams, divided into 8-player squads, 4 squads into a platoon, and 4 platoons into a company (8*4*4=128, see?). With 256 players on the map, MAG is set to deliver some of the most intense and frantic combat yet, and will offer detailed stats and rankings, where higher ranked players will be able to command the battle and give orders to individual squads and platoons.

Rage (PC, PS3, Xbox 360 & OS X, Q4, 2010)

Id Software’s first original game in decades, Rage is a fusion between a first person shooter and a racing game set in a post-apocalyptic Mad Max styled world. It’s built on the brand new ID Tech 5 engine, and will ship on 3 DVDs for the Xbox 360 and PC versions, while the PS3 edition will ship on one Blu-ray disc. Id Software legend and Rage developer John Carmack revealed that the game takes up a whopping 1 TB in space when not compressed. 3 DVDs don’t seem that much of a big deal now.

Honorable mentions: LA Noire, Fable 3, Far Cry 3, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Ghost Recon 4, Guild Wars 2, Command & Conquer 4, Thief 4, Dead Rising 2 and Just Cause 2.

Ever since Realtime Worlds announced All Points Bulletin it has been a highly sought after game with it’s GTA-like gameplay and MMO genre.

Well the developer has again stepped forward to speak of the game and this time about the subscription fees, a topic that has been under discussion for some time. David Jones of Realtime Worlds was quoted to have said the following:

“Basically, you have to buy the client. It’s a traditional game that you buy…We’re not going the normal ‘you have to subscribe to play the game every month’ route. What we haven’t said is which route we are going, and in some respects we’re still looking.”

Let’s hope that they really come up with something unique if you told World of Warcraft players they would have to pay an additional $15 a month to play APB, I don’t think they would be down.

via Kotaku

After Realtime Worlds got wind of the speculation surrounding their appearance at E3, they released the following statement to the APB Evolved community:

Hi everyone at APB-Evolved, we just wanted to quickly say thanks for all your patience recently whilst we’ve been quietly pushing forward with the development of APB.

We know this can be frustrating for fans, so to show our appreciation we have decided to inform you guys that yes we WILL be at E3 this year and this will mark  the start of lots more news, activities and information coming out about APB: All Points Bulletin.

Here is a brand new screenshot made especially for you guys to give you another look at the awesome character customizations that will make up a large part of APB.

See you all at E3.

Realtime Worlds

So there you have it, Realtime Worlds will definitely be at E3 showcasing their upcoming MMO All Points Bulletin. Oh yeah, they also gave the community the above screenshot to show off the character customization, how kind of them.

Realtime Worlds has previously developed the Xbox 360 open world action game Crackdown, which has since become somewhat of a cult-classic.

Who wouldn’t love a GTA MMO? That’s what Realtime Worlds is hoping to accomplish with their upcoming PC title All Points Bulletin, brought to you from the guy behind the original GTA and Crackdown, David Jones.

Those looking to soak in all the information possible can head over to the recently launched official website at http://www.apb.com/. Besides some fancy art and a teaser website, not much is to be found at said site yet but there is sure to be more information added as APB’s release date grows nearer.

This arrest system will let cops take out criminal players until they are freed or the arrest timer expires in which case they must respawn as if killed. In addition, the developer is said to be working on a stealth system, though it is unknown if it will make it to the final version of the game.

Additionally, Realtime Worlds is ditching class systems like most other MMOs, instead creating a unique class tailored to each player based on their individual style.

All Points Bulletin is due out on PC and Xbox 360 sometime next year.

The news comes straight from community relations manager Chris Dye who said in a post on the game’s forums that the studio has completely moved on to APB, its upcoming cops-and-robbers MMO.

However, he does note that the company appreciates the support gamers have provided for Crackdown, adding that the studio “hopes to repay that in future”.

APB is expected to hit PC and Xbox 360 sometime next year.