PixlBit

The staff sounds off on their hopes and expectations for the show.

Jason R's Predictions

The PSP2 will be a PSP with two analog sticks, a touch-screen, and will play games off of SD cards and Sony's memory sticks. It will be shown alongside a Resident Evil spin-off game, but the game will not feature much compelling gameplay, for something more passive, much like the Metal Gear Solid spin-off for the first PSP. A Gran Turismo PSP2 game will be mentioned.

Likewise, we'll see the 3DS playing ports of existing Nintendo games. I don't know what games, but basically, I believe we'll see games we're familiar with in 3D. These probably won't be intended titles, but rather to show the capability of the system. The press reaction to these games will be disappointment, because they'll want to see the pure graphical capabilities of the 3DS. A game or two shown will show gameplay footage that some in the media will believe to be cutscenes, just because they've got terrible perception.

This is more because I have interest in the series, and hope to see it has a future a bit more positive than Brawl was, but I'm hoping to see a new sequel to Smash Bros. I think, given the length of the Wii's life, we'll either see that or a concept video for the next Mario Kart title. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Mario Kart were announced as a launch title for the 3DS if there won't be a Wii-based sequel. While I'm talking Nintendo, I'm expecting to see a big Christmas 2010 family title other than Wii Party, much like Animal Crossing and Wario Land: Shake It! were offered up about the same time as Wii Music was. Given New Super Mario Bros. Wii's success, I wouldn't be too surprised if we learned about a New Super Mario Bros. All-Stars type game, or even a NSMBWii sequel, given how easy either would be to create. I think we'll hear something about Kirby on the Wii, for once, though I'm not sure how the game will be implemented. Behind-the-scenes, the Biometric sensor will be showed off, rather than on stage, given the flop it was for E3 excitement last year and the fact that E3's atmosphere doesn't fit with measuring normal biometric readings.

For the 360, Natal is going to be a clear focus, but titles in the First Person Shooter Genre will be notable, as well, as always. We'll probably get the Natal name and learn the rumored Natal price is incorrect, costing a still disappointing $120 at retail, rather than $150, but coming much cheaper through a 360 bundle, and containing pack-in games to add value. Microsoft will list all the developers working on Natal titles, once more, and then will showcase some of the Natal games with models and actors playing their part in videos. Someone from Microsoft will attempt to play Natal on-stage at the press conference, but because of the odd lighting from the stage and the press, Natal won't perform as well as it normally does, leading to a bevy of internet criticism it actually doesn't deserve, and a lot of anger after people read reports of Microsoft's Natal event. As far as games go, we'll see a lot of Halo Reach, Call of Duty, Guitar Hero/Rock Band, and several classic Arcade titles that haven't already transitioned, including the classic Simpson's Beat-em-up, possibly even retouched or updated.

We'll hear about a new or altered "Windows Live" platform, as well, meant for apps that Windows Vista and 7 PCs can all play, along with Xboxes, Zunes, Windows-based smartphones, and it's even possible we'll hear about a "Windows Live" iPhone/iPad and Android app. Normally, this wouldn't be big news, but I'd imagine Microsoft will announce that such a widely used format will be the next platform for hand-held gaming, something along those lines. Oh, and it'll work with Zunes, too.

Of course, like everyone else thinks, Move will be a major focus for the PS3. We'll see plenty of 3D or partially 3D PS3 games, and there'll be a lot of buzz. The Last Guardian will barely be covered, about as much as last year, and there will be some kind of Katamari Online MAG that I will love. Metal Gear Solid: Rising will turn out to be on the PS3, as well, but naturally, will be a timed exclusively. The Trauma series will finally branch away from a Nintendo platform with a Trauma Team PS3 Move port. So will Zack and Wiki. There will be talks of ModNation racer expansions, and Little Big Planet 2 will be a big hit, with tons and tons and tons and tons of available methods to customize your game, but like the first Little Big Planet, at its core, the physics and properties underlying the gameplay will be underwhelming.

When it comes to third party games, first, I must say that Super Scribblenauts will feel like a basic clone of the first game, and be entirely uninteresting, yet still be hyped on the internet. There'll be a few more CSI and Court-based games than one normally would expect, and at least one will be regaled as so realistic that it really will or should feel like a true video game version of CSI. Other than that, we'll see dozens of random sequels, some forgettable, some not, as well as unpredictable new titles.