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E3 2010- What’s Worth the Excitement?

So while we rambled in the last podcast and even the next one about our E3 predictions, let’s look to what we know is coming down the pipe. We’re focusing mainly on sequels as they are usually fairly easy to guess. There will likely be one or two new IP’s  announced but they are almost impossible to predict. Price cuts for hardware can happen and there’s a strong possibility of new hardware of some description being shown…

Sony

Finally possessed of the ability to remove the foot from their mouth, Sony has a multi-pronged attack this year. There’s the motion controlled Move and expect a big 3D push in general and smart money is a PSP2 announcement. Games-wise we might hope for a Gran Turismo 5 actually coming out. It could happen. No, seriously. And of course, Little Big Planet 2, which is already known, just waiting for people to spend six months recreating levels you could already play. One day I might actually pop in the original and check out the level Lisvender sent me. Since two year gaps seem to be the respectable minimum to pump out sequels quickly without it looking like that’s what you’re doing, look back to what Sony released in 2008 and you might see what’s coming out this year. Hands up who would be shocked at a  Resistance 3? Also, hands up who would not be surprised if there wasn’t a Resistance 3? Word on the street is Twisted Metal is coming to PS3, and with less mystery thanks to various announcements and magazine articles we should see some details regarding inFamous 2, Killzone 3 and the next SOCOM. Of course, a new IP is also possible, and might be needed as every one of Sony’s current in-house franchises is more or less accounted for. An Uncharted 3 for 2011 seems a safe bet, but whether it will be an E3 announcement or not remains to be seen. Maybe even a Heavy Rain 2 follow up from Quantic Dream (more of a GDC type reveal but you never know.)

Nintendo

Well, a  Nintendo 3DS may or may not be shown. Nintendo announced its existence but didn’t elaborate, perhaps saving something up for an E3 unveiling or even just wanting to spoil the potential PSP2 announcement. And of course, the biggest joke ever perpetuated on Gaming- the Vitality Sensor, will be detailed- Nintendo have been promising to explain soon how this will make games better. With two Mario games in a year, it’s likely that we won’t see a new Mario game for the Wii just yet, but as a launch title for the 3DS, a system rumoured to be as powerful as a Gamecube, a Mario game (would you be surprised if it was Mario Sunshine in 3D) as a launch title is a no brainer. The only title that’s been mentioned as a possible launch title is a 3DS Animal Crossing. As for the DS, expect Nintendo to throw out the odd bone or two before casting it aside like Dick Whitman’s identity.

As for the Wii, also rumoured to be as powerful as a Gamecube, odds are we will see another Zelda title this year. The reveal will be a maturer looking Link before TGS shows us a game where you play as a foetus in a green hat. Announced at the very least, the next Zelda may follow Miyamoto’s plans to simplify gameplay to just a button press and clamping a butterfly clip to you nipple. We already now about Team Ninja’s Metroid Other M game from last year, but there’s still Pikmin, Kid Icarus, Kirby, Starfox, Pilotwings, Nintendogs and many other second string franchises ripe for rebirth/exploitation. And what’s to stop Nintendo from releasing follow-ups to Pokemon, Animal Crossing, Smash Brothers and Mario Kart? Sure, we’ll get Wii Music, Wii Fit 3, Wii-Sports Bar and Wii-Hearbeat monitor but the cost of us getting the cool stuff is the not as cool stuff. I’ll bet we don’t see any major push from third parties on Wii (at least, titles that aren’t both Wii and PS Move).

There’s always  chance of a Wii HD, but I’d put less money on that I would on a one-legged horse.

Microsoft

Well, there’s Natal or whatever it’s going to be called. This will dominate MS’s offerings like nothing else at the show. Expect lots of games where people are waving their arms around like ravers, pretending they’re in Minority Report or looking like they are being jolted with 30 000 volts of direct current. We may even see the fabled Xbox 360 Slim, but don’t expect an announcement unless MS are ready to ship it to stores. There are no reports of 360 shortages, so it’s safe to say this won’t happen until later in the year, if at all.

We know there will be lots of talk of Halo Reach, Gears of War III and Fable III. What else? I’d put money on Rare concerned with Natal software, and rumors of another Perfect Dark game have surfaced. We’ve just had a Forza release perhaps so will we hear something of the first internally developed versions of Project Gotham Racing? Crackdown 2 is said to have a demo released during E3. Hold all my calls!

We’ll maybe some some announcement of a formerly PS3 exclusive coming to 360 as well or some poor timed DLC deal that costs a bajillion dollars.

Activision will be showing Call of Duty Black Ops, Guitar Hero 6 Warriors of Rock, DJ Hero 2 and other things we need like Hole in the Head. A Tony Hawk game is a possibility but don’t be horrendously surprised if its not A) not a skateboarding game

B) Embarrasing

C) Lame

D) All of the above.

Of course there will be Blizzard’s Starcraft 2- part 1 push and a WoW expansion to pimp.

Electronic Arts will have it’s slate of sports titles as usual and the anticipated Medal of Honor reboot. Rock Band 3 details are also likely to be divulged if that’s your bag, baby. A new Battlefield game- always a strong possibility, especially in the wake of BC2‘s success- but we’ve also been told to expect Respawn’s (ex-Infinity Ward) first title so expect EA’s stand to be FPS central. If I were a betting man, Respawn’s first game would be going up against IW’s next CoD game, due next year. A Mirror’s Edge 2 or a Dante’s Inferno sequel are outside possibilities, maybe even Army of Three and a Dead Space sequel may also appear. Criterion have been quiet of late so we’ll surely see something from them this E3 (a) Black 2 b) new Burnout c) Need For Speed d) something new) and maybe we’ll hear about what Bioware is up to apart from The Old Republic.  We might even see id’s Rage.

Rock Star- A GTA V tease would not be unexpected, even if the game itself is a way off. Expect Rock Star to heavily push Max Payne 3 (pushed so heavily it might be delayed) and also LA Noire and Agent. A Midnight Club sequel or a new game in the Bully or Manhunt franchise are also possible. Or even something new

2K Games- Take 2′s other label also has a lot to interest gamers. Expect Mafia II, Civilization V, Spec Ops and maybe some X-Com details. With the success of Borderlands, it would not be unreasonable to assume some info on a sequel. Possibly some Bioshock 3 teasing.

THQ- We’re sure sequels to the following are in various states of development: Saint’s Row 3, Dawn of War, Red Faction: Guerrilla (now set underground, as in the original game). There’s also their Red Dawn-esque title Homefront, from Kaos Studios- many of whom worked at DICE and before that created the Desert Combat mode for BF1942. So guess what type of game that will be. There’ll likely be some news on De Blob 2, Warhammer and new versions of WWE and UFC games which will please some people.

Square Enix- Expect the next Final Fantasy release to be touted as well as FFXIV- the MMO for PC and PSX due this year.  There will also be some more JRPGs that look the same as FF but for whatever reason don’t grab JRPG fans in the same way. SE are no longer just makers of games we make fun of, they also have Batman AA 2 on their books. A new Hitman game seems likely and we already know about the downloadable Lara Croft game. There won’t be a Just Cause 3 in the short term since Avalanche seem to be working on a licensed title (apart from Toy Story 3).

Ubisoft- There’s the quicky follow-up to Assassin’s Creed II in Brotherhood- which despite loving ACII, Ubi’s rep for quality quicky follow-ups is horrendous. We know a Ghost Recon Future Soldier is coming next year and there’s a strong chance of followups to Endwar, HAWK and Far Cry 3- Far Q. We suspect a Driver game from Ubi is incoming but no mention of a Rainbow 6 game  has been made in a while so an announcement there could be a welcome surprise. A quick and dirty Splinter Cell sequel may show up. There’s likely to be more Shaun White Snowboarding but not likely to see much I Am Alive (rumoured to be in trouble) or Beyond Good and Evil 2 (which may be dead).

Capcom-A no-brainer will be the pimping of Dead Rising 2. What’s a string possibility will be a motion controlled version of RE5. There’s a chance of more Devil May Cry and if we wanted to be uncharitable we could say Super Duper Street Fighter IV EX Turbo II Alpha Plus. Cam’s off to pre-order his now.

Konami- We already know about Metal Gear Rising- an action game starring Raiden (lemme guess- a Devil May Cry/ Ninja Gaiden/ Bayonetta mix?) and the next Castlevania adventure but other than that they’re keeping mum.

Bethesda- Fallout New Vegas and Brink are likely to be the stars. id may decided to tease one of their franchises like Doom, Quake or Wolfenstein, but I wouldn’t expect much whilst they concentrate on Rage (published by EA)

Valve- could be up to something with their announcement that Portal 2 is coming in 2011 now. Half Life Episode Three is the reason episodic content hasn’t taken off. I think we can safely say a Left 4 Dead 3 isn’t going to happen. But Valve love to surprise us so who knows- New Counterstrike? Day of Defeat 2? Team Fortress 3?

There’s going to be a lot more. Next week will be interesting. Stay tuned to the next podcast for results from our time-travel experiments into the future…