EA's tentative release schedule for Q4 of ficsal 2011 (or, as us normal people call it, January - March 2011) contains more than a few intriguing entries. You already heard about the new Dragon Age game -- but listed just below that is an untitled "Shooter from Epic TBA." Of course, this can only mean one thing: Gears of Madden 2012 is within spitting distance of becoming a sweet reality. (We're putting in a pre-order as soon as we're done with this post.)

Also listed under the Q4 releases is Dead Space 2, which EA had previously promised would drop before next March. The excitement level of the remaining games drops off like the deep end of a pool: The list includes (deep breath) a new Need For Speed, a downloadable action game, a new fighting game (likely EA MMA 2012), a new Hasbro game (more Family Game Night?), and new installments in the Sims and Spore franchises. We'll let you know once we start uncovering the identities of these unannounced projects.