E3 Predictions

This year's E3 will be very different from past shows, but we still expect the major publishers to show great games and make exciting new announcements. Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft will hold their traditional E3 press conferences in the days leading up to the show. All the big publishers will be holding private meetings and their own press conferences in hotels across Santa Monica. Will Sony announce a PlayStation 3 price drop? What's the next classic franchise to make the leap to the new generation of consoles? Read what we have to say, and be sure to leave us a comment with your predictions, too.

Sarju Shah | Associate Hardware Editor

There's been a lot of talk about a possibly revamped PSP, but I'm going to say that we probably won't hear a word about it. Sony has enough to work on with the PlayStation 3's online capabilities. My guess is that Sony will announce a series of PlayStation Network upgrades that will bring the PS3's online service on par with Xbox Live. With any luck, it'll remain free and provide formidable competition for Microsoft.

Alex Navarro | Editor

How about the return of J Allard! I mean, it's time, right? It's been long enough that he's almost been forgotten about. I'd love to see him do a wrestling-style return. Peter Moore out doing his thing, only to have J Allard run out to the stage and clock him with a steel chair, thus taking over the press conference. It'd be totally meaningless, but hysterical all the same.

Justin Calvert | Senior Editor

Regardless of whether or not the PS3 is perceived as expensive right now, I'm not convinced that this year's E3 is the time or place for Sony to announce a price drop. What people need are reasons (read: games) to invest in the console because right now, even if it were the same price as an Xbox 360, Blu-ray playback seems like the most--and perhaps the only--compelling argument for buying one. Maybe Sony will start bundling games or additional cables and peripherals with the console or announce the release of silver and/or white models, but I think a price drop would be premature at this point.

Ryan Davis | Associate Editor

I think Microsoft will show more Windows Mobile Live, because it's the missing piece of the Live puzzle that it debuted at E3 last year and because it's Microsoft's best shot at countering Apple's iPhone momentum. I also think Microsoft will show off more IPTV because it's got the Elite out there in the market, and that bigger hard drive is key to the whole system. Microsoft's biggest success with the Xbox 360 over the past year has been its ability to deliver TV and movie content; its IPTV initiative is the next step in that, so Microsoft would do well to strike while the iron is hot.

Brad Shoemaker | Senior Editor

I think Nintendo will announce Mario Kart for the Wii at this year's E3. Mario Kart is one of the franchises the Big N trots out after a system has already found its footing. Remember how Mario Kart on the DS was the first game to use that system's online gameplay feature? The Wii needs more signature Nintendo games--and fast. It was a stunning breakout success in its early months, but now, like the GameCube, it's suffering from a dearth of software. More first-party games will go a long way toward keeping the Wii interesting to all those early adopters, as well as keeping the hardware flying off shelves to new owners.

Aaron Thomas | Associate Editor

I think the next major franchise to be revived will be Punch-Out. It has been far too long since we've gotten a new Punch-Out game, but I've got a feeling that the gloves will come off at E3. Personally, I'd like to see it on the DS, but that's mostly because Wii Sports Boxing did little to make me think a boxing game with motion controls would or could be good. Also, our live broadcasts will be one of the highlights of the show and will be better than ever. And also, I will not get any sleep. It doesn't matter if the show is in LA, Atlanta, or Santa Monica; there are going to be tons of games to cover and not enough hours in the day to cover them. The only way to keep up is to stay up late, get up early, and write, write, write. Thankfully, we've got a great copyedit crew that can work magic with late-night ramblings.

James Yu | Senior Hardware Editor

I think Sony will finally announce and demonstrate rumble for the PS3. Sony settled with Immersion back in March, and God of War II director Cory Barlog was sure that rumble was coming back when we saw him at the game's launch event in San Francisco. It's quite possible that Sony will show yet another Lair or Warhawk demo to introduce rumble, but I'd rather see the feature make its return with Killzone or a new driving game.

Matt Rorie | Game Guides Editor

More Windows-based games will promise support for Macs. It's been a long time since Q3Test made its acrimonious debut on the Mac platform, but with the hardware more similar than ever, companies that develop for Windows will reach out to the growing Mac community by offering compatibility out of the box. Also, BioWare's Dragon Age will resurface...as a 360-exclusive title. Oh, and gatecrashers will arrive en masse. Hordes of new GameStop employees, feeling slighted by the invite-only nature of the new E3, will storm the walls and cause hour-long queues at the game stations in the hangar.

Joe Dodson | Features Editor

It will be revealed that the plot of Grand Theft Auto IV will closely follow the classic animated movie, An American Tail, complete with a fully interactive rendition of There Are No Cops In America, based on the adorable Fievel's song, but with "cops" in place of "cats." Get it? Get it? Ha!

Jason Ocampo | Editor

Metal Gear Solid 4 is so going to the Xbox 360. Also, Crysis will blow everyone away, and there will be at least one blockbuster PC-only game revealed, but the rest of the PC games will get lost in the crowd. Sony will show a new Killzone demo, and everyone will say, "What a freakin' letdown!" Also, because no one has any experience doing this "new" E3, the show will be a confused mess. Barker Hanger is going to be the weird "Twilight Zone" where everyone who can't get into the press conferences or the hotel suites will end up.

Tor Thorsen | Senior News Editor

I know saying "expect the unexpected" is a cliche, but I predict at least one major haymaker from one of the big three. I don't expect it to be Nintendo. And last year's announcement that GTA IV would be on the 360 the same day as the PS3 literally caused gasps in the audience at Microsoft's press event. I think it's Sony that really needs to make an impression at this E3. A price drop combined with a flashy Killzone 2 demo and some exclusive announcements would really help the PS3 get off the ropes, saleswise. Also, Sony's from-out-of-nowhere unveiling of the Home service at the Game Developers Conference this year has me hoping for some new news about the long-delayed video and music download service for the PSP.

Randolph Ramsay | Editor, GameSpot AU

Microsoft's going to try to make a lot of fuss about Live Anywhere, but no one will really be listening. What will create a lot of buzz for Microsoft, however, is its software lineup, particularly the announcement of yet another former Sony-exclusive title making its way to the Xbox 360.

What are your E3 predictions? What are your most anticipated games? Share them in the comments below!