The E3 video game expo has gone through its paces over the years, growing and shrinking, imploding then reinventing itself, getting shunned by companies one year and then embraced the next... for the gaming world it is a soap opera that is often more fluff than substance but you still watch it anyway just to see what happens next.
This year there will be some incredible games and game technology on display from June 15 to 17, making it one of the most anticipated E3s in years. Of course most companies hide their best stuff to surprise people, but the rumour mill is usually pretty credible.
Here is a brief list of what I expect to be on display this year.
Motion Control - Thanks to Nintendo, the video game industry has had to reinvent itself with motion control, but given the fact that all of the console companies are taking a different approach I can imagine that game developers are tearing their hair out trying to figure out a way to create one game that will work on three different hardware platforms that already use vastly different software, and are taking vastly different approaches to motion control.
Nintendo is the solid leader in motion control with their Wiimote and Nunchuk controllers, and the recent addition of precise one-to-one motion control using the MotionPlus attachment. I would expect Nintendo to stay the course, although it's probably a good time for the company to upgrade the design slightly with rechargeable batteries, higher quality plastic, etc. There's also a rumour that the company will introduce a double-nunchuk controller for more serious games.
Sony will be showcasing its own motion controller, the Playstation Move, which takes a similar approach to the Wii but comes with built-in, one-to-one control that can do some amazing things when paired with the camera attachment. Plus, let's face it, Sony will be able to dazzle with better graphics and arguably better games. Sony actually showed off this technology at the 2009 E3 but given that it has yet to come to market I would expect a release announcement next week along with a lineup of Move games.
Microsoft is expected to show off a more polished Project Natal for the Xbox 360 - and possibly PCs as well - that doesn't require any controller. Instead, the system floods the room with infrared light then uses an infrared camera to track movements. It's expected to hit the market in late 2010, but no doubt Microsoft will use E3 to firm up some of the details (release date, price and game lineup).
3D - A handful of games have already shipped that are 3D capable, including a collector's edition of Batman: Arkham Asylum. You didn't require a special 3D television to play that game, just wear the special glasses. I would expect more of the same pseudo 3D in the near future, given that I can't see many game developers producing games for actual 3D televisions that probably represent less than a tenth of one per cent of the entire home market.
What will be interesting is to see how Nintendo executes 3D on its DS line of portable gaming systems. This rumor has been out of the bag for quite some time, but nobody is quite sure how it will work or how it will look.
Hardware - Sony has more or less perfected the PS3 with their new Slim version so I don't think we'll see much there. Nintendo could shrink their Wii a little and add storage, but that's about it. However, the Xbox 360 is long overdue for a rework, and I'm expecting to see a smaller, quieter version on display at E3 with a much bigger hard drive.
The Games - E3 is really about games, and I expect every platform and game developer to go big this year. Nintendo is expected to announce a Zelda sequel for the Wii, as well as a new Metroid Prime, the new Mario Galaxy, new Wii Fit games and hardware, and so on. I'm also predicting a Star Fox update.
For the PS3 I'm expecting Resistance 3, Syphon Filter, Starhawk (an update to Warhawk), Last Guardian, Infamous 2, and some PSN updates like a new Pain. I expect to see more of the LittleBigPlanet sequel and ModNation Racers, as well as something to push their PSP and PSP Go portable devices.
Microsoft will use its time to show off launch games that will accompany Project Natal. Also expect to see more of Halo: Reach, Gears of War 3, Fable III, Dead Rising II and others. I'm also predicting we'll see some Windows 7 mobile and Zune gaming possibilities, including games to go with the dozens of new Windows 7 based tablets hitting the market.
As for developers releasing cross-platform games I'd expect to see the Rock Band and Guitar Hero series updated with a keyboard. Other highlights include Valve's sequels to Portal and Team Fortress 2; the map editor for Blizzard's Starcraft II, and Blizzard's sequel to Diablo II; and a closer look at the Star Wars: The Old Republic online role-playing game. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
For live updates visit www.e3expo.com.
