Crystal Ballin': E3 Predictions Part 1 - Microsoft

So less than a month away and all of us gamers will be drooling over new trailers, screenshots, and news that is to surely ooze out from E3.

Probably the biggest draw of the the show is the conferences held by the major platform holders, and this year definitely will be an interesting one for the Big Three.

Microsoft has to make up ground with core title releases and the Kinect, Sony has to regain lost ground not only with consumers but publishers, and Nintendo is easily poised to steal the show with their new console reveal.

What else might happen though? What news and huge surprises will be announced? That's where I come in. There is some for sure answers and some completely out there guesses going on here but remember, this is my take on what I believe will happen at E3.

Here is the conference schedule and the order in which I will do these posts:


Microsoft: June 6 12PM EST

Sony: June 6 8PM EST

Nintendo: June 7 12PM EST

So first up, Microsoft. Predictions after the jump.


Expect a Modern Warfare 3 reveal, and actual gameplay and not the teasers that they've showed so far. Microsoft will undoubtedly pimp their "1st on Xbox" deal that they have with Activision concerning Call of Duty DLC. Nothing too surprising here.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.

Moving on from there, Microsoft will showcase it's announced fall/winter line up like Forza 4 (and their Top gear agreement) , Gears of War 3 , and.......yeah.

Wait! All is not lost! Expect Microsoft to finally reveal what the Limited Edition and Epic Editions entail for Gears of War 3 after spouting off some rousing statistics accrued from the beta. Also, I believe that they will announce a special edition console for Gears like they did with Halo Reach and Modern Warfare 2.

I know this is just an unofficial mock up from fans on Epic's forums but DO WANT!!!

As for new titles, you have the new Alan Wake project, a possible revival of the Project Gotham Racing series (why didn't you buy Bizarre Creations Microsoft!?!?), and finally the Halo: CE remake.

Expect more from Crytek's Codename: Kingdoms project as well.

To borrow from a conversation I had with an Alan Wake fan, since Remedy themselves have said their next Alan Wake installment is not Alan Wake 2, we came to the conclusion that it might be a prequel that deals with the Anderson Brothers and their encounter with the Dark Presence. My hunch comes from this quote:

"It's something that'll definitely give more to the Wake fans out there, but just as importantly, this installment will also give an opportunity for players who aren't familiar with the franchise to finally jump on board."


What better way to introduce new players to Alan Wake then to explain what led to the events of the first game? Plus, it would give current fans even more insights into the characters they already have met.

If you haven't played this, you are doing yourself a huge disservice.

As for Halo HD, a complete remake of the game, with the absurd amount of features from Halo Reach carrying over sounds like a good plan. With this expect 343 Industries to announce and even bigger upgrade to Halo Waypoint and some type of tie-in with a book or graphic novel.

The only problem with the Halo HD reveal would be when it would release. If they release in November, when the 10th anniversary of the Halo franchise is, they will not only have to deal with the super crowded holiday release with Assassin's Creed: Revelations, Uncharted 3, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, they will also be in direct competition with the biggest franchise in history and one of their business partners with Modern Warfare 3 and Activison.

And with Microsoft being the good business they are, they wouldn't dare sully their business relations or hurt the image/sales of their biggest franchise. I expect some sort of beta included with Gears of War 3 to take place at the beginning of the year next year and a release for Halo: CE HD to be pushed into next year.

Also, expect some heavy, HEAVY, Kinect talk.

Making the Wii even more of a joke since November 4, 2010.

Hopefully they'll talk about improving performance and adding new features to it like Kinect Skype after Microsoft's 8.5 BILLION dollar purchase of it.

Microsoft expects to triple the amount of Kinect titles by the end of the year, so expect some Forza 4, The Gunstringer, PowerUp Heroes, Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster, Star Wars Kinect, and a big showing of 3rd party support. Also, Microsoft should dig into its bag of franchises and pull out Viva Pinata Kinect. I know I would try it.

Viva Pinata: I know you played and liked it.

The more popular Kinect titles like Dance Central, Kinectimals, and Kinect Sports will either see sequels or big DLC announcements as well. Kinectimals will add more animals via DLC or a new game based on the two other animal statues teased at the beginning of the game. Kinect Sports will work the same way with more sports being added either via DLC or retail release.

Dance Central 2 on the other hand will be one of the big Kinect announcements. Looking at Harmonix's track record with the Rock Band franchise and how the improvements between installments are significant, expect the same with their handling of Dance Central, most notably backwards compatibility with DLC purchases and import tracks from previous title. Also, character creation and customisation, multiplayer (like back up dancers and dance offs), even more downloadable content, custom dances, challenges similar to Rock Band, and a whole lot more. These were all hinted at via a survey conducted by Microsoft earlier this year and are not set in stone.

The only other thing that I'm pretty sure they will do, is unveil a first party "core" Kinect title. Something that all the Halo and Gears fans can enjoy. As to what I have no clue, but I am sure that Microsoft realizes that people are looking for a good reason to support their investment in Kinect other than the voice commands while watching Netflix. Maybe Lionhead Studios has something to show since they killed Project Milo awhile back.

Or maybe the rumored Gears of War Kinect title will make an appearance.

And that's what I got for Microsoft. The Kinect will carry most of their software lineup while a few huge core titles like Gears of War 3 and Forza 4 to satiate the hardcore for the rest of the year. The new game announcements like Halo: CE HD  will keep people looking interested in the Xbox until E3 next year when it would be perfect for Microsoft to announce their successor to the Xbox 360.

O what will it be? 

Like this? Leave a comment and expect our look at Sony and Nintendo in the coming days.