E3 2011 Predictions

[Neon Ignition]

Conference quality wise I'm expecting a similar unfolding to last year. Nintendo will be the most popular due to a large number of software showcases for 3DS and the unveiling of the Wii 2, Sony will do loads of stats to try and emphasise plus points and show loads of games and PSN news to try and debunk the recent issues and MS will chase the Kinect crowd again and thereby lose the interest of many who'll sit them out till next years potential Xbox 3 unveiling.

[JP]

I would expect Sony's keynote to concentrate on the NGP and via that the PlayStation Network due to them using the same online accounts.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear of new services announced at E3, I wouldn't be surprised to see that any services that they'd considered adding at some point becoming increasingly important to Sony NPSG in light if what's happened with them concentrating on what they can do differently to companies like Microsoft with their more open approach.

I'm leaving that last paragraph as it is just so people can add jokes about the hacking.

It's already been leaked/rumoured that three or four new PlayStation 3 exclusives will be announced at E3, maybe God of War IV and Guerrilla's new non-Killzone game and we'll almost certainly get an announcement of Wipeout Trinity (PS3 and/or NGP). I wouldn't be too surprised to see some games which they'd not planned on showing yet making an early appearance as they'll really feel they'll have something to prove this year.

With the NGP they'll more than likely still stick with talking about the games and social side of things and just not mention any of the multimedia stuff it's capable of as people appear to get confused by hardware that can do more than one thing.

I'd imagine there will be loads of games shown for this, I imagine some companies will just be throwing out the same stuff they are at the moment but I'm really looking forward to seeing what the better developers do with the hardware's unique abilities.

Going back to the PlayStation network they may start talking about how the PS3 & NGP will be able to communicate directly and also via the PSN. Maybe Naughty Dog will have some sort of connectivity between the two platforms and I've no idea what it'll be but nobody will understand why it's not been done previously as it sounds like such a good idea.

I think Sony will continue to show games with extras that you don't see so much on the other consoles such as free user created content, Steam, etc. I wouldn't be too surprised to see Gabe Newell making an appearance again or at least there being an announcement of something from Valve.

Maybe EA will announce another exclusivity content deals, something along the lines of Battlefield 3 getting some included DLC or an older game included on the disc free.

I think the only previously announced game that they'll really mention 3D in will be Uncharted 3 but that's because according to the people who've played it, the effect makes all other 3D games look really poor.

David Jaffe will be there with rampant swearing which will annoy the hell out of me even though I'll be secretly wishing that there were far more people like him rather than the usual bland spokespeople this industry seems so keen to create.

I've not really paid any attention to what Nintendo or Microsoft are doing as I don't own any of their stuff. Maybe the Wii 2 have a price announcement and the games will maybe match up technically to some 360 and PS3 games but Nintendo won't understand that the vast majority of their user base will have no need to buy the new console while the old one is still available to buy in Asda when doing the weekly shopping.

I'll of course be wrong and they'll sell billions of them.

I really wouldn't be surprised to see Microsoft carry on perusing the more casual Kinnect end of the market as well as showing a couple of new proper games. The new Forza will be there, as will fans of the earlier games wearing "Turn10 Fail" t-shirts due to them simplifying the game even further in Forza 4.

I don't really know enough about Micrososft of Nintendo now to guess what else they'll do. Oh yea, that awful Molyneux man will probably be there to talk about some game he's involved in which is going to be the best game ever and by the time he's stopped talking about it everybody will have sneaked out of the auditorium while sniggering quietly to themselves.

Kojima will be there and depending on how closely he's being monitored by his boss he will either be doing his best to completely distance himself from Metal Gear Rising or trying to convince everyone that although he's not directly involved, he will each day be making sandwiches for the team who are making the game and keeping an eye on what they're doing.

[The Mole]

It is not so much of a rumour but i am waiting for confirmation on some things that are all but confirmed.

Eternal Darkness 2 (coming for the next gen wii from Retro Studios)
Time Crisis 3DS


I also fully expect Nintendo to have GTA 5 on the next Nintendo home console.

[bcass]

Killer Instinct HD for XBLA.

[Neon Ignition]

If they do any Rare game I'm hoping for Blastcorps HD

I fully expect there to be no Eternal Darkness 2 either, there's nothing but guess work on that due to Nintendo maintaining the rights to the IP which they always do with theres. They won't waste Retro on the sequel to a flop game only a small few care about, I'd say it's much likelier they're working on Metroid again for Wii 2 to try and improve its fortunes after Other M underperformed

[parkinho]

I would love Retro to produce another Metroid, but would prefer a 2D/2.5D one rather than another Prime.
For all the hate Other M received I really enjoyed it and with a few changes it could have been superb so a follow up to that by the same team would also go down well with me. So long as a new Metroid is on the way I will be happy.

[abigsmurf]

A HD Metroid Prime would be very very nice. Was worried they'd been put on a Metroid Prime 3DS but that doesn't seem to be the case (as much as I'd love that, I suspect they'd put in a kid Icarus control scheme that is a nightmare for lefties).

Eternal Darkness 2 would make me happy too. Horror games that aren't action games have become pretty scarse and I'd trust Retro to really go all out with the insanity stuff. Incidentally, any reputable sources on the rumours for this? Heard it being bandied around a lot with no sources.

[Neon Ignition]

None, Nintendo renewed the IP rights around the time Retro finished DKCR so assumptions were made. The last rumour suggested an FPS but either way it's another 2 year wait

[bcass]

Metroid has been done to death for a number of years now. Time to let another franchise have some exposure.

[saturn-gamer]

I expect Sony to open with a quick PSN joke like 'all your personal information are belong to us'. And everyone cheers. Its usually the best thing to do. That is, if PSN is up before E3 starts.

I also expect Rockstar to reveal Agent to the world.

And,

- Wipeout for NGP, and perhaps Ps3
- Starhawk showfloor multiplayer
- Heavenly Sword 2 by Santa Monica
- Something Gran Turismo 5 related, DLC perhaps? Or a message that Yamauchi has been fired after the series' decline since GT4 and that GT6 is being in development by numerous Sony studios.

- Hardly anything on Move; it will be quietly aborted.

[EvilBoris]

I predict Reggie will make a snide side swipe at PSN

[toythatkills]

The Sony conference will be delayed by three hours when it transpires that their PowerPoint has been stolen by hackers and Kaz Hirai hastily draws some graphs on a flipchart.

Microsoft's conference will be halted seventeen times when the person delivering can't remember what number all the games are on. "And now, Forza 5! Is it four? Hang on, I'll check, in the mean time have a look at this trailer of Gears of War 7! It's WHAT?!"

Nintendo's conference will be two hours of Reggie just laughing, then he'll close by going "Ladies and Gentlemen, Mario Caf?" and there'll be no footage or anything.

[abigsmurf]

nah, there'll be one postage stamp sized screenshot of Mario cafe. And it'll be upside down.

[EvilBoris]

Nintendo Caf? has been named as such because the new vivid 3D capable machine is capable of replicating the effects of caffeine on children

[Number45]

It's called Caf? because it's a web based service, designed for use in internet caf?s. The specs we keep hearing will be shared between every registered user.