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.

Gears of War 3 - Gameplay from PAX

I'm pretty sure you guys have checked out these previous articles about the Gears 3 beta and the unlocks you can obtain by playing. If not, check them out.

Now how about watching a guy play the Gears 3 beta and getting absolutely stomped? The mode they are playing is Team Deathmatch, but unlike hitting a certain killcount, in Gears of War 3 you are given a certain amount of tickets for your team. Every time you or someone on your team dies, you lose a ticket and once those tickets are gone, game over.

Some things you will notice in these videos, is the dynamic environments (scoreboard falls), new weapons (retro lancer), Cole's Thrashball outfit, and some of the weapon skins. I feel sorry for the last dude alive on the team. He totally gets owned.

There are two videos that show the entire match. The second one is less than a minute, but the execution at the end is sweet so make sure you check it out after the jump.

*Note: This is not me playing! Just some guy I recorded while waiting in line.

Gears of War 3 Beta - Dates and Beta Unlocks Confirmed!

Salvador

For those of you eager to get your hands on the chainsawing, curb-stomping, steroids fueled game that is Gears of War 3, know that the wait to get a sample of this game is not too far away. All of you eager 360 owners will get a small, FOUR WEEK taste of it, starting April 18th and lasting through May 15th.

Well, that's if you hold on to your copy of the Bulletstorm Epic Edition. 

Yes, you have to own another of Epic's games in order to access the beta. What's so bad about that? There's a reason the studio is called EPIC Games and not Good Games or Mediocre Games.

Also while playing the beta, you will have the chance to unlock some goodies for the full retail release of Gears 3, detailed after the jump.