So here we are, mid-way through June and at E3 once again. Well not actually at E3, it seems most airlines are unwilling to trade tickets for Jammy Dodgers so sadly the TSA crew is stuck here at TSA Towers. On the plus side we do still have our Jammy Dodgers so it wasn’t a complete loss. Anyway so as the world’s largest gaming expo kicks off this week, preceded by the various press conferences where we expect most of the major announcements to come from, it seems only fair to discuss what you expect to happen and what you’re looking forward to. Yes I know you’ve all entered into the fantastic E3 Bingo, or at least I hope you have, but humour me.
So of course we’ve already had some of the info about Microsoft’s Kinect motion controller come out in the last 12 hours, kicking off this years proceedings in Los Angeles. Given that I’m not really sure how much we can still predict about it for Microsoft’s full press conference today. Quite possibly we’ll see some of Microsoft’s bigger franchises have the camera technology integrated into them, much in line with Move’s integration into SOCOM: Special Forces.
What else might be coming this week? Sony seem likely to dedicate a good chunk of their conference to GT5 and 3D, but with the number of game’s they’ve announced prior to E3 it should be interesting to see if they’ve got any surprises up their sleeves. I’ve got a feeling we’ll see some new IP announced, although hopefully it’ll be a bit deeper than last year’s announcement of AGENT, just showing off the name and logo.
As for Microsoft’s second press event today I have very little idea what to expect beyond Halo: Reach and Gears of War 3. Of course they’ll be a splash of Kinect thrown in for good measure, but what else will be there? Forza 4? Left 4 Dead 3? Something new and cool like Shadow Complex at last year’s conference? Maybe they’ll show off some 3D tech proving that they can get in on the game as well. Of course their big reveal could well be the 360’s redesign, but I’m still on the fence about how real it is.
Then of course there’s Nintendo, although after their showings at the last two E3s I’m not overly hopeful, maybe they’ll actually show the use of the Wii Vitality Sensor or maybe (as I suspect) it’ll be quietly dropped and never mentioned again except when the press ask awkward questions. With Super Mario Galaxy 2 just released it seems that maybe they’ll be less Mario this year, and I’m personally hoping that we see some of the next Zelda title. Maybe even a Wii Zelda title and a DS Zelda title, that’d make me a very happy man.
Along with the press conferences from the big three there are the publisher events along with the floor of E3 itself. Honestly once we’re going that broad there’s just to many things that could happen to even attempt to list them. My main hope is more info on Arkham Asylum 2, which seems likely as it will be at the show. After that there’s just too many games that will be there, as well as those that may be announced, for me to be excited about so I’m just trying to keep a consistent level of excitement going.
Anyway enough of what I think and what I want to see, what are you looking forward to at E3? What press conference will have a sneaky surprise that none of us saw coming? Will the PSP2 make an appearance at Sony? Maybe Nintendo announce the Wii HD? Will someone announce a true world beater? Time to speculate!
Roynaldo
Killzone 3, The Last Guardian, Dead Space 2 and SquarEnix stuff.
Not bothered at all by motion controller stuff. My set up doesnt have the space to use it anyway.
3shirts
How close do you sit to your TV?!!
Roynaldo
My gaming set up is on the end of my bed so when im gaming im pretty close, its not just that though, my TV is really low down, not wall mounted like all these showpieces have going.
It will be really annoying to have to look down towards my TV while trying to play.
Roynaldo
yeah, that sounds wierd…. its not “on” the end of my bed, that would be insane. Near the end would be a better description.
3shirts
New PS3 with Jammy Dodger payment slot?
Raen
Hell no, I don’t wanna have to give up more Jammy Dodgers, I already only get Alex and Peter’s cast offs.
theshockwave
Rich Tea payment slot?
Origami Killer
rich tea!! the crappest biscuits ever
3shirts
Rich tea would be like the 10p piece of the biscuit world.
Ginger nuts are a quid, jammy dodgers a fiver and hob nobs are your tenner
Origami Killer
agreed
bunimomike
I want to see a solid performance from Sony but on-stage, perhaps showing off 3D to a crowd of non-3D-glass-wearing journos (and more importantly, all of us) might not be the smartest cookie. Concentrate on huge titles and then Move. Job done.
Raen
Depends, they might give everyone glasses.
cc_star
Yeah, I can see that happening.
But then everyone at home will just moan about how it blurry, loses definition and that 3D is a gimmick y-a-w-n
bunimomike
In all fairness, it would be the same problem as showing off HD gaming on an SD set. You have to convey how cool it looks (which is half the battle). Still, if Sony avoid dressing everyone up like plastic Mexicans, it’ll be a good start.
lewis
I predict a new console by Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft called the EggBoxWiiStationMoveMoteKinect. It will be carefully designed to make you look like a complete idiot in your living room, and catch the whole thing on a 3D camera ready for viewing on some blokes 3DTV in Bristol.
YOURMUMANDME
“Soy-der !”
YOURMUMANDME
Sony have one upped everyone again by adding 4D, Smellivision.
You can now have a whiff of Lara’s perfume in a new Tomb Raider and when you play Killzone 3 there’s a strong smell of gunpowder and burning flesh……..Roll on Leisure Suit Larry, ha ha.
bunimomike
Dead or Alive could get a bit ripe in that seawater. Ew!
TSBonyman
I’ll be watching all 3 major press conferences.
I want to see the 3DS, something more impressive from kinect and what else Microsoft have lined up, and of course everything Sony has to show.
I was blown away by the Heavy Rain casting audition and last years The Last Guardian trailer so i’m hoping for something equally awesome this year.
newsky87
I agree with Nick Kris, more Arkham Asylum 2 info is my main wish. That and a GT5 release date. Anything else will be a bonus.
newsky87
Um, Kris, not Nick Kris, whoever that is. Temporary brain failure on my part.
Raen
I assume you were channelling Gordon Brown from the debates.
newsky87
I wondered why I suddenly developed a Scottish accent & went blind in one eye
Apnomis
I’m interested in what the curve ball will be this year – that announcement that no-one saw coming that steals the show. Microsoft have been good at these in recent years but I’m hoping Sony will manage it this year – afterall announcing LBP2, Killzone 3, and inFamous 2 before E3 must have been to clear the show floor for something surely?!
I look forward to streaming all the press conferences each year to see which one wows me the most, it’s a shame the Nintendo one is on earlier this year, I’ll have to catch the repeat!
I wonder if Sony can manage to keep hold of their 3rd party franchises this year, games like Final Fantasy verus XIII and maybe even a new Kingdom Hearts game are two potential defectors at Microsoft’s conference. Any other’s you can think of that would make your heart sink if you saw them at Microsoft’s event?
On the flipside though surely games like Mass Effect at primed and ready to defect at the Sony conference… Hey maybe even hell will freeze over and Gabe Newell will walk out and announce Portal 2 has been delayed because it’s coming to PS3 in 3D with exclusive Move features!!! Now that would be a show stealing surprise…
Apnomis
Also, I wouldn’t like MS to wheel out Insomniac Games onto the stage like some kind of prized trophy making out that it’s some kind of major victory that an independent developer has decided to port a new IP over to the 360 in order to generate more revenue during the recession.
Take Major Nelson’s tweet on the subject as an example – “I am going to try and personally deliver an Xbox 360 dev kit to @insomniacgames to celebrate their latest news” – the guy is such at c*ck!
jimmy-google
No PSP2 but there will be some suprises in relation to the PSP Games. With God of War already announced I’d expect something big (Uncharted for PSP being the main one).
There is Sony’s big unveil (which is meant to be on the scale of GTA timed exclusive on the PS2) – be interesting to see what game that is.
We could see some old IP returning (like Syphon Filter) and some games we thought were dead (The getaway and 8 days). Quantum Dreams next game as well and maybe something new from Media Molecule.
I don’t expect much from MS apart from the usual list of games they wheel out every year plus a load of kids Kinect games.
I think the wii will have a game or something for their vitality sensor from E3 last year. Also a new Zelda game and maybe another old Nintendo IP (Pikmin 3 or somthing along those lines).
Winkle
I’m hoping on Sony producing a 3DTV with filter sound option. This allows you to mute out certain sounds like the fucking bumble bees that constantly buzz in the background at this years world cup games!