After an up-and-down 2011 for gaming, 2012 looks like it’s going to be a quality (and expensive) year for gamers.

Clockwise from the top: Grand Theft Auto V, Master Chief, The Playstation Vita, Bioshock: Infinite, Diablo III, and the Wii U.

Hardware

This year we are about to be inundated with new hardware, and that (hopefully) means innovation.

With Sony set to release their handheld powerhouse the PlayStation Vita in February, and Nintendo readying their follow-up to the wildly successful Wii, the Wii-U, consumers will have to make expensive choices. On top of those two, rumours are swirling about Microsoft and Sony preparing to unveil their next generation of console hardware this year.

With the inclusion of Facebook, Twitter and Netflix capability, downloadable game marketplaces and online profiles, the current generation of consoles have become more than video game systems. This year we will most likely get a glimpse into machines that will further combine gaming and non-gaming media, bringing consumers new experiences to their living rooms.

As companies start development on the next-generation hardware, gamers should still expect some incredible games to come from the current-gen consoles. PC gamers also have very high-profile games to look forward to. It is quite possible, as many successful business models are coming from the PC world (free-to-play, Steam, independent publishing), that console companies will emulate the once stand-alone market of PC games.

Games

Some standouts to consider in early 2012 are Bioware’s epic space opera Mass Effect 3, the slick (and Skrillex’d) espionage-shooter-reboot Syndicate and Ken Levine’s highly anticipated follow-up to BioShock, BioShock: Infinite. Rockstar is aiming high with releasing both Grand Theft Auto V and the long-awaited Max Payne 3 this year.

Tried-and-true franchises are still alive and kicking, with new Assassin’s Creed, Call of Duty and Halo titles all but confirmed for 2012.

The aforementioned PC crowd will get their usual glut of amazing independent games, most notably Jonathan Blow’s The Witness. Sure to ignite the nostalgic flame in millions all over the world, Diablo III is expected in early 2012. Blizzard Interactive will most likely double its efforts by releasing the second (of the second…) installment of its venerable Starcraft series, Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm. And don’t forget the World of Warcaft expansion, World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria.

Now with bears.

If you are looking for something that isn’t a sequel or a reboot, there are a few new intellectual properties ready to blow your mind and subsequently spawn sequels, collector’s editions and Subway endorsements (see: Uncharted).

Kingdoms of Amalur: The Reckoning aims to satiate those who want more action out of their fantasy action-role-playing games. Naughty Dog is taking a crack at a post-apocalyptic, infected-but-pretty-much-zombies genre with The Last of Us, and Capcom is finally releasing a new original title with their action-adventure Dragon’s Dogma.

And finally, Nintendo…

The Wii is all but finished in terms of new titles, but the 3DS will most likely be getting Animal Crossing, Kid Icarus: Uprising and Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D, just to name a few.

What has yet to be seen is what kind of third-party support the Wii-U will have. It will get Darksiders 2, GTA V and last year’s Batman: Arkham City. However, it’s a rather lacklustre lineup considering it is a brand new console getting current-generation games.

Despite this, Nintendo did announce in 2011 that they have been thinking about, maybe, starting to consider releasing a new Super Smash Bros. in the future. And that’s all I really need.

We will of course get a better picture of 2012 and beyond after some of the trade shows this year, starting with Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Jan. 10 to 13, but from what we know now, there is a lot to be excited for.

As for gaming news, if 2011 is anything to go by, expect the unexpected. From the PS3 hacking catastrophe, to the U.S. Supreme Court protecting games under the First Amendment, last year’s stories highlighted a maturing industry. While we should expect to see more stories about rights and privacy, the unpredictable nature of an evolving medium will create new kinds of stories and controversies that will break further into the mainstream, continuing to involve more and more people as the industry grows.

There is a lot to look forward to in 2012 for gaming. New consoles, new and old franchises and a few fresh stories should keep every gamer busy. Best to start doubling up your paper-routes and cutting back on your groceries now.

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Graphic: Brianna Whitmore/The Sheaf