E3 Predictions?

[Blotus]

1. Which console is going to have the most impressive showing? The least impressive?

2. Do you think Sony will announce a price drop for the PS3? Some retail chains in the US have already started selling it at $499 (CC or Best Buy, can't remember which one). On the other hand, of Sony Japan's execs has stated that there will not be one.

3. Which title for each console will make the biggest impact, currently announced or not?

4. Which title(s) are YOU most looking forward to hearing more about?

5. Game of the show?



Me

1. Sony is going to have to make some huge announcements not even related to a price drop. They're so in the shit right now that some big games will have to be showcased, be exclusive, and be coming soon. Failing that, they'll have the worst show. But I have a feeling they'll have something amazing.
I think Nintendo will be content to rest on the success of the Wii/DS, do a lot of bragging, and announce many touch/waving casual titles. The big question mark is whether or not they're going to be alienating the 'hardcore' Nintendo fans in favor of many casual pick-up-and-play games (Wii Sports/Play).
As for Microsoft, I think they've got enough announced already to not need many surprises. Hopefully they'll announce the discontinuation of the Core system and price drop for the Premium and Elite, but I doubt it. So a ton of great games, with no earth-shattering surprises (ie. No MGS4).

So PS3>>>Microsoft>>>Wii


2. Yes

3. Wii: Mario Kart
PS3: God of War 3
360: I don't think there's anything else to hear about Halo 3 at this point. Probably Mass Effect.

4. Mass Effect. I want a fucking release date already. And it had better be this year.
Also Alan Wake, Silent Hill 5 (probably won't hear anything until TGS), Riddick remake.

5. Rock Band.





And I realised I didn't mention handhelds or PC. I don't really care, so go nuts.

[SineSwiper]

Whatever happened to news that E3 was dead because they were reducing the budget to practically nothing? I remember hearing news about that almost a year ago. Something about the fact that the show was just getting too big and too expensive.

Yeah, here it is: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1996925,00.asp

[Julius Seeker]

E3 looks fairly dismal this year, there are only 36 publishers making a showing (as opposed to over 400 last year) and most of them are American companies with generic titles.

[Zeus]

Sine, E3 is an industry-only show now. EforAll is what E3 used to be and it's open to the public.

Here are my answers:

1) Most impressive? Hmm, tight, but I may have to give it to Microsoft. Tons of huge, sexy titles. Least impressive? Well, I think they're all going to show good stuff, so maybe Nintendo 'cause they ain't gonna have Smash Bros playable? If Sony has a bad show, they're in trouble.

2) IMO, the price drop is an absolute necessity and given that Sony has even admitted they need to drop the price, it's 98% guaranteed as far as I'm concerned.

3) Impact? 360 just 'cause it'll have the most big games there. Nintendo will be close, but having Smash Bros not playable is a big blow in that respect (not like it'll slow me down in buying it or anything)

4) The game I want to see the most of is Metroid Prime 3. I adored the first two and I can't wait to see what the Wii version is gonna be like. It'll be followed closely by Halo 3 and Mario Galaxy. Those are the big 3 games for me that'll actually be at the show with Smash Bros the other big game for the rest of the year for me. If MGS4 was going to be coming out this year, that might actually top the list, but it ain't and I don't have a PS3, so no real anticipation.

5) It's going to be Halo 3, we all know that. But for me it be Metroid Prime 3 as long as it lives up to the other two and especially if it ends up using the controls well. Although Mario Galaxy might take it if it's anything nearly as revolutionary as Mario 64 was.

[Julius Seeker]

Right now, Wii or Xbox 360 looks like it is going to make the highest impact. The hottest games on IGNs E3 site are as follows:

360 - Halo 3
Wii - Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Wii - Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
360 - Madden NFL 08
PS3 - Lair
Wii - Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles
Wii - Guitar Hero III
360 - NCAA Football 08
Wii - Super Mario Galaxy
360 - Guitar Hero III
360 - Turok
Wii - Soulcalibur Legends
Wii - Manhunt 2
Wii - Mario Strikers Charged
360 - Rock Band


Though I do think that SPORE will be game of the show, it has received some nice updates, plus some new development guys are onboard, including the Civ 4 designer (and Civ 4 kicks ass).

[Tessian]

Right now, Wii or Xbox 360 looks like it is going to make the highest impact. The hottest games on IGNs E3 site are as follows:

360 - Halo 3
Wii - Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Wii - Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
360 - Madden NFL 08
PS3 - Lair
Wii - Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles
Wii - Guitar Hero III
360 - NCAA Football 08
Wii - Super Mario Galaxy
360 - Guitar Hero III
360 - Turok
Wii - Soulcalibur Legends
Wii - Manhunt 2
Wii - Mario Strikers Charged
360 - Rock Band


Though I do think that SPORE will be game of the show, it has received some nice updates, plus some new development guys are onboard, including the Civ 4 designer (and Civ 4 kicks ass).

WTF is Manhunt 2 doing on there? We've already discussed how shitty the first one is and doesn't even deserve a sequel...

And where's Bioshock?

[Julius Seeker]

WTF is Manhunt 2 doing on there? We've already discussed how shitty the first one is and doesn't even deserve a sequel...

And where's Bioshock?

Manhunt 2 has generated a lot of interest. I don't think the general gaming population cares how much you hated the first one (I never played it, so I have no opinion).

Bioshock doesn't rank high because people aren't particularly interested in it.

[bovine]

Bioshock doesn't rank high because people aren't particularly interested in it.

I'm riding my amazement and love for system shock 2 into my purchase of bioshock. I haven't watched any video, haven't read any previous, and frankly, the game could be the worst game in the universe, but I'll buy it. Was system shock 2 a popular game? It's definitely one of the greatest games I've ever played, and when a sequel, spiritual sequel, remake, or prequel comes out of one of your favourite games, I assume you'd be a little excited about it. I'm not saying everyone's interested in it, but I sure am.

[SineSwiper]

Bioshock doesn't rank high because people aren't particularly interested in it.

You lie!

[Zeus]

Bioshock doesn't rank high because people aren't particularly interested in it.

You lie!

Seems to be a pretty big title to me. That, Assassin's Creed, and Mass Effect are the two games not named Halo or GTA that are big for the 360 this year.

[Nev]

E3 has morphed into an invite-only orgy of money and shady dealmaking (at least that's my take on it). So it's more or less a moot point what gets shown at E3, likely.

[SineSwiper]

E3 has morphed into an invite-only orgy of money and shady dealmaking (at least that's my take on it). So it's more or less a moot point what gets shown at E3, likely.

I think it's going to take at least one show for the media to realize that. E3 has been E3 for a long time, and I think they are still in denial. Eventually, they'll find another show (like EForAll), and try to call it "the New E3".

[Zeus]

What you're likely gonna see if EforAll or another one like it will take over from E3 as the buzz machine. We're humans, we love making a splash and we love it when others make a splash. Since E3 is not longer accessible to the public and EforAll will be, the possibility of creating great hype and consumer goodwill is far greater. Word of mouth is still very important in games and EforAll such a far better vehicle for that now.

All you need is one company/game that isn't overly hyped by E3 to gain HUGE in EforAll or a company to realize that potential and make a big splash and have it work. Eventually, what you'll see is E3 becoming an announcement area with EforAll becoming the true unveiling area IMO.

[Chris]

What you're likely gonna see if EforAll or another one like it will take over from E3 as the buzz machine. We're humans, we love making a splash and we love it when others make a splash. Since E3 is not longer accessible to the public and EforAll will be, the possibility of creating great hype and consumer goodwill is far greater. Word of mouth is still very important in games and EforAll such a far better vehicle for that now.

All you need is one company/game that isn't overly hyped by E3 to gain HUGE in EforAll or a company to realize that potential and make a big splash and have it work. Eventually, what you'll see is E3 becoming an announcement area with EforAll becoming the true unveiling area IMO.

EforAll I have a feeling will become what e3 used to be fr video games. I expect it to be huge because people want to get their stuff out in front of as many poeple as possible. E3 used to be for video games what Comic-Con is to all pop culture. (The Squaresoft booth at comic-con is usually fucking nuts. Capcom usually has a huge one too and nintendo has a massive one too. Actually Nintendo and Squaresoft have the largest floorspace of any companies at comic-con) But yeah. I have a feeling the new industry only e3 will kill the show in the long run due to it not getting it's stuff in front of people...

[Julius Seeker]

I'm personally waiting for the Leipzig Games convention (later this month)and The Tokyo Games Show (Late September). With E3 diminished so greatly, it is probably that the companies will hold off most of the big news until Leipzig this year.

[Nev]

To be honest, I wonder if PAX might not pick up some of the "media blitz" role...depends what Gabe and Tycho want to do, I suppose.

[Zeus]

I'm personally waiting for the Leipzig Games convention (later this month)and The Tokyo Games Show (Late September). With E3 diminished so greatly, it is probably that the companies will hold off most of the big news until Leipzig this year.

For EforAll to really take over, it's gonna have to move from October to September IMO. They can't come in during the crazy season, they need to hype for it

[Andrew, Killer Bee]

Right now, Wii or Xbox 360 looks like it is going to make the highest impact. The hottest games on IGNs E3 site are as follows...

What makes the biggest impact is likely not going to be something that we're all aware of (Halo 3 and Super Mario Galaxy are both huge titles that are not going to make much of an impact, because they're not new) (and Jesus, that list, more than anything, shows just how mediocre people's tastes and expectations are. Madden? NCAA? Turok? Manhunt? Mario Strikers? Who the fuck really cares?). About the only game on IGN's list that I think is capable of making a huge impact is Rock Band.

Though I do think that SPORE will be game of the show, it has received some nice updates, plus some new development guys are onboard, including the Civ 4 designer (and Civ 4 kicks ass).

It had better not! At this point, Spore badly needs to be a game. Until now it's been a lot of handwaving, basically. I love Will Wright's games as much as the next dude, but I'm Spore'd out before real playable game mechanics have even been shown.

[Julius Seeker]

I'm personally waiting for the Leipzig Games convention (later this month)and The Tokyo Games Show (Late September). With E3 diminished so greatly, it is probably that the companies will hold off most of the big news until Leipzig this year.

For EforAll to really take over, it's gonna have to move from October to September IMO. They can't come in during the crazy season, they need to hype for it

Well, the main reason why E3 got a lot of the news was not because it was the biggest show, but because it was the first of the big shows. If that EforAll thing comes out in October, it will just be a rehash of what we'll learn at TGS and GC.

[Zeus]

I'm personally waiting for the Leipzig Games convention (later this month)and The Tokyo Games Show (Late September). With E3 diminished so greatly, it is probably that the companies will hold off most of the big news until Leipzig this year.

For EforAll to really take over, it's gonna have to move from October to September IMO. They can't come in during the crazy season, they need to hype for it

Well, the main reason why E3 got a lot of the news was not because it was the biggest show, but because it was the first of the big shows. If that EforAll thing comes out in October, it will just be a rehash of what we'll learn at TGS and GC.

E3 got lots of love for a few reasons:

- it was the only one in the biggest market
- due to the timing, it was the perfect time to unveil stuff
- American hype machine at its best
- it comes after about 5 months of drought in the industry every year

I agree that the others around the world are huge, particularly the TGS, and they will become even moreso now that E3 is dead for the masses, but it won't be that way for long. I think the industry is big enough and people here really want something like this. EforAll will take over, but it would be so much bigger if it were earlier, during the summer months when there isn't a huge amount of games and when companies can make announcements

[Julius Seeker]

For EforAll to really take over, it's gonna have to move from October to September IMO. They can't come in during the crazy season, they need to hype for it

Well, the main reason why E3 got a lot of the news was not because it was the biggest show, but because it was the first of the big shows. If that EforAll thing comes out in October, it will just be a rehash of what we'll learn at TGS and GC.

E3 got lots of love for a few reasons:

- it was the only one in the biggest market
- due to the timing, it was the perfect time to unveil stuff
- American hype machine at its best
- it comes after about 5 months of drought in the industry every year

I agree that the others around the world are huge, particularly the TGS, and they will become even moreso now that E3 is dead for the masses, but it won't be that way for long. I think the industry is big enough and people here really want something like this. EforAll will take over, but it would be so much bigger if it were earlier, during the summer months when there isn't a huge amount of games and when companies can make announcements

E3 had sizes of approximately 70,000 (unless I am mistaken), but Leipzig GC is closer to 180K, and TGS even larger. I do think that if E3's timing was swapped with one of those shows that it would be the other show that received the most new news. TGS is timed mainly for the holiday season, so usually it's not new products that are heard about, but existing features and updates on products that are already known about, and probably about to be released. Leipzig, that's the new big early summer show, though we'll see. It would be interesting to run a comparison between E3 news and GC news =P

[Zeus]

On a related note, Gamespot interviewed game companies about the new E3 and why some aren't attending

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6173765.ht ... top;more;4