E3 2008 Predictions: The Crispy Crystal Ball Has the Answers
We dusted off the old office crystal ball -- it's right next to the fax machine -- to find out what's in store for this year's E3.
7/12/2008 10:31 PM | 2 Comments | Page 2 of 3
"Will indie/smaller games get more exposure at E3 this year?"
CG Crystal Ball Says: Duh again. While there are still plenty of blockbuster games in the works, there's clearly a movement back to ye olden days when games were being developed in garages and basements by one or two people. Conduits for these games have already been opened (see: WiiWare), but the industry doesn't really know how to market these smaller games. Look for them to try at this year's E3.
Separated at birth? You be the judge.
Eight.
"Number of times EA Sports Peter Moore will be mistaken for a merry little garden gnome?:
CG Crystal Ball Says: One. By an extremely nearsighted journalist from Atlanta.
"Will J Allard finally make his triumphant return?"
CG Crystal Ball: Yes. J and his I'm-an-executive-but-I'm-still-down-with-the-street-yo hoodie will have some big news for us. Nice to see you again, J.
"We will see more motion-centric controller-type thingies?"
CG Crystal Ball Says: After months of speculation, look for Sony and Microsoft to both announce new motion-centric controls that are designed to compete with the Wii remote. Way to be original, guys.
"Nintendo: Finally, the return of something...big?"
CG Crystal Ball Says: After
Wii Fit -- yawn again -- the Big N is due for something really big this year.
Super Mario Galaxy was nice and all, but that shipped eight months ago. It's time for one of their other big IPs to step up and be counted. And no, I'm not talking about the inevitable Wii version of
Animal Crossing. Look for a glimpse of a new Zelda, but no doubt it won't come out till our goatees have all gone salt and peppery (and it will ship as a pack-in for Wii 2). Our guess: Look for
Star Fox or
Pilotwings to get resurrected. We know. We are totally off our rockers.
"Microsoft: A new SKU and a redesign?"
CG Crystal Ball Says: Yes. Microsoft needs to evolve the Xbox 360 a bit. (The thing is almost three years old now, believe it or not.) Look for a sleeker, smaller 360 with a bigger hard drive. And, hopefully, this model absolutely, positively won't red-ring out on you.
"Sony: Playing it safe this year?"
CG Crystal Ball Says: Yes. This marks the first year that Sony isn't throwing a lavish, overproduced party where you get to eat prime rib on a napkin, pee in port-a-potty in the Dodger Stadium parking lot, and wake up hungover the next morning in your hotel room wondering how the hell this Sony-branded duffel bag got there. The long-awaited PSN hub Home will take center stage for Sony this year. Plan on lots of long, boring talks about how you can earn virtual trophies in ... zzzz... Whoa. What happened there? Must have dozed off again.
"Will Resident Evil 5 be Capcom's big news?"
CG Crystal Ball Says: No. Capcom will let
Dead Rising 2 be their big game, while allowing some of the bitter feelings surrounding
RE 5 to fade a bit.
