This year, E3 is going to have some big news. Already confirmed are a new Nintendo console, concrete information on Sony's new handheld, and the usual slew of triple-A titles. However, every year before E3 rumors shoot all over the internet, all of them from "confirmed sources" or "trusted insiders." It seems like every site has a many E3 rumors as Sony has firmware updates. That being said, here are my predictions for this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo. This year at VGH, though, we decided to do things a little differently. Sure, journalistic integrity and "research" are all fine and good, but how about some completely unfounded, absolutely absurd predictions along with the reasonable ones? My rational predictions are right here, but you're certainly welcome to skip to the ridiculous ones if you've had your fill of analysis and conjecture.



Steven's Rational E3 Predictions

We will definitely get a price on the PSVita (hopefully, a different name will be announced). My hope is $250 to compete in the handheld market, but I think something marginally higher is likely, like $279.99 or something. Sony is going to need a big market point to be talked about all over the internet, and so I think there will be a big feature announcement. My guess? A live, working demonstration of a cloud-saving feature between the PSVita and the PS3. A big announcement like this will help sell the handheld, and maybe distract a little from the price. (Actually, this may have been somewhat confirmed by Konami, who plan to call it transfarring).

The big game to show off Sony's new hardware? How about a new God of War title for the PSVita? Ready at Dawn has had a great track record with these handheld titles, and the improved hardware apparently can produce PS3-esque graphics.

On the Nintendo side, we will get a lineup for Project Cafe. Maybe even a vague release window, which will probably be somewhere around March of 2012. The biggest game to show Nintendo's new HD flagship? Skyward Sword. I'm predicting a beautiful, full HD video showing it off, and hopefully no grown men weeping. Also showing for Project Cafe? Donkey Kong and Kirby, which both had successful releases this year. Besides improved tech, online service will be a big focus for the console (and it's about damn time). However, since Nintendo seems to believe in it, I don't think we'll shake the whole "friend code" thing entirely. Expect to see it survive in some form, along with those Miis that everyone loves so much. It will, of course, be backwards compatible.

Despite most people's worries, I don't think we'll see a redesign of the 3DS. Nintendo will just talk about how everyone's loving it, but they'll show off as much great-looking software as they can as a way of saying "why not get in on the ground floor?" They'll try to focus on the new features that will have just released on June 6th, such as the Virtual Console and Netflix support.

Microsoft will announce a paid-subscription TV service. The service was trademarked a few years ago as Xbox Live Diamond. There's been some talk of this, and considering how much Microsoft enjoys having their hands in everything, pretty likely.

Microsoft may also announce new hardware. Microsoft seems pretty set on supporting Kinect, but stranger things have happened. The timing is also pretty right, considering Microsoft likes to be first out of the gate with these things and Nintendo's beaten them to the punch. I wouldn't be surprised if there was even just a little talk about it, an actual demonstration seems unlikely.

I think this is the year GameStop is going to announce its tablet gaming device. This has been a big year for tablet PCs, with several manufacturers getting into the market. Also, GameStop recently acquired Kongregate, an online gaming site featuring smaller, indie games. They also this year acquired Spawn Labs, a company focused on game streaming and cloud-based technologies. GameStop hasn't been shy about wanting to develop for an Android-based tablet, and has even gone so far to say that if they didn't find one they were happy supporting, they would develop a tablet internally.

I would also expect to get an announcement from Harmonix for the show. Rock Band 4 is unlikely, and Alex Rigopolous (Harmonix's head) plainly stated there wouldn't be a new Rock Band in 2011. However, with the current shakeups in the music game industry, I would think Harmonix would want something to boost investor and consumer confidence in the company. They also went through the trouble of gaining their independence from MTV/Viacom, so they must be working on something. If anything, we will probably see a Dance Central sequel, or possibly another artist-sponsored Rock Band title.

As for the games, there has already been so much announced earlier in the year, I think surprise announcements will be few and far between. Here are some of my rational game predictions.

Half-Life 2: Episode 3 will be shown. Just something to confirm it's Valve's next project and a release window like Q3 2012.

Medal of Honor will (by some marvelous oversight) net a sequel. The CG trailer will be impressive, but as the saying goes "fool me once..."

A new Halo game will probably wind up being the biggest announcement of the show if true. Reach was pretty successful, but I'm betting Microsoft has been developing a Halo title since before Reach released. What exactly it'll be is hard to tell, but I would think we'll get a pretty good load of detail and maybe even a Fall release to compete with Call of Duty and Battlefield.

Or, the biggest announcement could be the highly-anticipated Grand Theft Auto V. It certainly won't be Agent. I assume one of their studios has been toiling away at it, so I wouldn't be surprised to see it show up.

Not really a triple-A kind of thing, but I think we may get some more information on Jonathon Blow's new game, The Witness. It was randomly and covertly shown off at PAX 2010, and since then there has been relatively little news about it rather than the fact that it'll probably see release at the end of the year. Even though Blow is technically an indie developer, he is an industry darling, and some info on The Witness would be great.

This isn't really a prediction so much as it is a guarantee, but we will get more information on Call of Duty Elite. The features will exist right in the valley of "I'm not going to pay for that" and "Maybe I will actually pay for that" (see: PlayStation Plus). My prediction? Millions of gamers will find themselves maybe actually paying for that. The free features already announced are pretty impressive in themselves, so it'll take something mighty impressive to warrant a monthly bill from Activision. I'm going to guess it may have to do with customization on some level. Black Ops introduced some customization in the form of gun tags and face paint, but I think Elite will go farther with full avatar customization persistent across all your online matches.

However, I think when the dust clears, Battlefield will be the talk of the show. Through a pretty impressive viral-marketing campaign, the game has seen a lot of excitement and I think at the end of the day, Modern Warfare 3 will wind looking like more Call of Duty with Battlefield-esque features (such as the newly announced environmental destruction, a Battlefield staple).

My pick for game of the show, though? id Software's Rage. E3 will certainly see a playable version in the media's hands, and from what I've seen of the gameplay videos, it looks silky-smooth. Those present will also be able to get their hands on the multiplayer, which could really make or break the game. If the multiplayer shows off good, this game will take over E3.

Anyway, enough of that! What kind of crazy things could possibly go down at America's largest gaming convention? Plenty!




Steven's Ridiculous E3 Predictions

Nintendo comes out of left field by announcing that, in addition to a touchscreen controller, Project Cafe will also make heavy use of the Wii Vitality Sensor. Prepare for pulse-pounding thrills controlled by your very own pulse! Nintendo also understands that many among their target audience don't have high-definition televisions, so Project Cafe will also come with the Virtua Boy HD. Strap this puppy to your head and get ready for the sharpest, reddest, most nausea-inducing HD graphics you've ever seen. 720p in your face!

New 3DS model scrubs DS compatibility, instead changes to 3DS Super Lite, which is just the top 3D screen. Also has Nintendo Application Shop (or "App shop"), plays music, and makes phone calls to anyone you swapped friend codes with. Only $800!

Duke Nukem, Mortal Kombat, and Tomb Raider have all seen successful, gritty reboots. Coming this fall? Gex! Gex of War features serious, 16-player online multiplayer complete with perks and all the prestige you can handle.

Sony and Microsoft announce that the PS3 Slim and Xbox 360 (S) are actually the exact same machine in different boxes.

Kevin Butler is revealed to be the actual president of Sony. Sony's business model and customer relations strategy begin to make sense.

CliffyB "accidentally" lancers Geoff Keighley on stage during live Gears of War 3 demo. Turns out to be much more exciting than Nintendo's press conference screw up, where Miyamoto dropped a note while playing "Zelda's lullaby" on an ocarina.

Ubisoft announces that all future games will feature built-in Digital Rights Managers. These stuffy little fellows sit next to your computer or game system and watch while you play. They are trained to kill. Games now require paid subscription for DRM upkeep costs. In non-gaming news, the pornography industry suffers heavy losses.

Microsoft announces Kinect was originally supposed to come with a controller. Issues apology, says, "That whole Cirque du Soleil thing would've made a lot more sense." It seems the controller "which was totally cool" was left behind in a hotel room. Microsoft has just been rolling along and marketing creatively to cover the trail. Hence, lackluster games on launch and no releases in the impending future. They're trying to figure out how to make games for half a system.

That missing controller? Why do you think Nintendo didn't want to announce its new console? That little touchscreen wonder just so happened to be found in a hotel room. A little white paint, some big, colorful buttons and voila! Project Cafe.

Zombies, zombies, zombies! Who said zombies were going out of style due to over saturation? Developers will cram these lovable flesh eaters into some of your favorite franchises. Zombies invade 15th century Constantinople in the new Assassin's Creed: Revelations. How hardcore and totally not sissy would the Last Guardian be if that big mouse-bird was a zombie? Sick 'em, boy! Ratchet and Clank All 4 One bears a striking resemblence to a certain co-op zombie shooter. And were you wondering about Nintendo's flagship Mario game for the 3DS? Zombies! Streetpass zombies! Infect anyone around you, hold up your 3DS to spot zombies in your neighborhood, at school, in the mall!

Actually, that last one is a great idea for a 3DS game...patent pending.

There they are, every possible prediction I could squeeze out of my brains for this year's E3. Personally, I hope they all come true. I got money riding on this thing.