E3 2012

[hisak]

E3 will be upon us in exactly one month, and this year’s looks to be a really interesting show! Here is a schedule of the major events:

June 4

Microsoft Press Conference	10 AM PDT
EA Press Conference	12:30 PM PDT
Ubisoft Press Conference	3 PM PDT
Sony Press Conference	6 PM PDT

June 5

Nintendo Press Conference	9 AM PDT
Show Floor Opens	12 PM PDT

Here’s what we can likely expect from each of the three first parties:

Microsoft will probably open with another conference that touts their strengths and not much else. Expect a lot of first-person shooter demos (I have to imagine Black Ops II will be there) and new features for the dashboard. They’ll of course be pushing Halo 4, and it might be interesting to see how they balance their flagship franchise with the Call of Duty juggernaut. I’m also expecting a lot of Kinect in the latter half of the conference, as always. A big game announcement is probably a safe guess; hopefully it won’t be leaked the night before this time. Microsoft has said that the successor to the Xbox 360 will not be at the show, but it’s up to you to decide if you want to believe that.

Sony will probably have a big focus on The Last of Us (the new Naughty Dog game) and PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, their answer to Super Smash Bros. It’ll be interesting to see how they involve Vita in the conference, after its somewhat solid but unremarkable debut. I’m also interested to see if The Last Guardian makes an appearance, after the behind-the-scenes shakeup that occurred at the end of last year. Sony claims that it will not show the PlayStation 4 this year, but larger promises have been broken.

Nintendo has announced that it will be “re-unveiling” the Wii U after the long radio silence that followed last year’s conference. Whether this means a new name or just a better presentation is anyone’s guess. Only three first-party Wii U games have been announced so far, so we can expect a huge number of announcements. However, Nintendo has said that the price and launch lineup will NOT be revealed at E3, so don’t expect it. The conference should also be a good litmus test for the question of Wii U’s third-party support. Finally, I wouldn’t expect a major presence for 3DS at the conference, as there aren’t many holes in its release schedule waiting to be filled.

Here are the already-announced games that will probably be at E3 (some are already confirmed for the show, others have not been):

Halo 4
Resident Evil 6
Darksiders II
Bioshock Infinite
Pikmin 3
New Super Mario Bros. 2
Mario Wii U
Luigi’s Mansion 2
Paper Mario 3DS
Rayman Legends
Assassin’s Creed III
Killer Freaks From Outer Space
God of War: Ascension
Grand Theft Auto V
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Dota 2
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
The Last Guardian (maybe)
Tekken X Street Fighter
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
Tomb Raider
The Elder Scrolls Online
Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion
The Last of Us
Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
Call of Duty: Black Ops II

I have quite a few hopes for E3 this year, but I’ll let others sound off first. What are you excited to see this year?

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

I'm interested to see what the Wii U has to offer, but holding back on price means my interest will remain down low. I'm still not seeing myself as an early adopter with so many grown up responsibilities lined up this year.

It's likely that Pikmin 3 (finally) will raise interest to excitement. The preview for Mario Wii U will either raise excitement to hype or lower expectations, depending on whether it's a 3D joyventure or something building on the New Super Mario Bros Mii demo from last year. I'd love to see a nice, long three-minute trailer of all the games to come, even in their most bare bones form. That's the sort of "re-unveiling" the system needs. The name? Maybe needs a change. That's for their marketing guys to squabble over.

For me, there's probably enough coming from the 3DS to keep me occupied, with Luigi's Mansion, Paper Mario, Animal Crossing (maybe) and Professor Layton 5. And Epic Mickey 2 for Wii, on concept alone, is already a must by. Would love to see this in action, along with a tiny burst of the tunes to come.

Predictions and wild hopes!

- I'd put small change on Metroid to feature on 3DS or Wii U. I feel it could well be a return to the first-person Prime setup. The gyro sensors in the handheld or the Wii U's controller could be well applied, and the Wii U's second screen seems an obvious go-to for scanning segments.
.
- A new Zelda for 3DS. Perhaps even two. I said it last year, but confirmation of a Majora remake and an adventure that continues the story of the Hero of Time would be a dream double. For a Wii U Zelda,I'd love to see Nintendo piss on the High Def lovers parade by givng Toon Link from Smash Bros the first bite of the cherry. But it seems a bit soon for this big a hit.
.
- Rumours from vague, nameless sources of Retro being handed the keys to the Great Fox and taking up the StarFox franchise raise a smile. They've worked wonders with reviving Metroid and Donkey Kong for new generations. Fox and company need a swift kick into the new age, Retro could be the team to do it.
.
- GameBoy Advance games confirmed for the 3DS Virtual Console. It's come up in a thread recently and it seems like an obvious inclusion that Nintendo are holding back for no good reason.
.
- Going back to my earlier Professor Layton 5 hope, Capcom haven't breathed a word on Ace Attorney 5 since it was announced in January. It's probably hugely unlikely that they'd give it a Western reveal ahead of an Eastern one, but we can chalk this up as my wildest prediction for this year.
.
- I tell a lie! Iwata's Vitality Sensor is absolutely built into the Wii U controller. Your left middle finger is forever jacked into a port at the side. Just you watch!

[Rew]

Here are the already-announced games that will probably be at E3 (some are already confirmed for the show, others have not been):

Halo 4
Resident Evil 6
Darksiders II
Bioshock Infinite
Pikmin 3
New Super Mario Bros. 2
Mario Wii U
Luigi’s Mansion 2
Paper Mario 3DS
Rayman Legends
Assassin’s Creed III
Killer Freaks From Outer Space
God of War: Ascension
Grand Theft Auto V
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Dota 2
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
The Last Guardian (maybe)
Tekken X Street Fighter
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
Tomb Raider
The Elder Scrolls Online
Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion
The Last of Us
Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
Call of Duty: Black Ops II

It's kind of hilarious to me that nearly every single game on that list is a sequel. Apparently the scourge of sequel-itis isn't just afflicting the movie theaters.

But yes, EA has summed up my thoughts--and my hopes--rather nicely. I would like to hear something about the Wii U Virtual Console as well. (Also, they really need to change that name, Wii U. It's awful.)

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

It's kind of hilarious to me that nearly every single game on that list is a sequel. Apparently the scourge of sequel-itis isn't just afflicting the movie theaters.

It's easier for people to get excited about games/films that have an established fanbase and formula. For example, I'm sure Miyamoto's new IP (if it's revealed this year) is exciting (unless it's another Wii Fit/Nintendogs concept), but the idea of a new Pikmin adventure has me shivering with anticipation considerably more.

[Rew]

It's kind of hilarious to me that nearly every single game on that list is a sequel. Apparently the scourge of sequel-itis isn't just afflicting the movie theaters.

It's easier for people to get excited about games/films that have an established fanbase and formula. For example, I'm sure Miyamoto's new IP (if it's revealed this year) is exciting (unless it's another Wii Fit/Nintendogs concept), but the idea of a new Pikmin adventure has me shivering with anticipation considerably more.

Oh, it wasn't necessarily a complaint. If anything when it comes to games, I'm such a creature of habit that I almost never step outside the comfortable bounds of Zelda, Mario, Mega Man, etc.

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

It's kind of hilarious to me that nearly every single game on that list is a sequel. Apparently the scourge of sequel-itis isn't just afflicting the movie theaters.

It's easier for people to get excited about games/films that have an established fanbase and formula. For example, I'm sure Miyamoto's new IP (if it's revealed this year) is exciting (unless it's another Wii Fit/Nintendogs concept), but the idea of a new Pikmin adventure has me shivering with anticipation considerably more.

Oh, it wasn't necessarily a complaint. If anything when it comes to games, I'm such a creature of habit that I almost never step outside the comfortable bounds of Zelda, Mario, Mega Man, etc.

Wasn't necessarily a complaint about not necessarily a complaint. But if you're going to go into a big expo like E3 and want to grab intention, short of listing "Super Secret Miyamoto Project", established names are the way to go to build the hype.

It is perhaps getting out of hand when even Pokémon is stepping forward with numerical sequels though.

[hisak]

All right, time for some hype and speculation. All Nintendo-related, as always.

Wii U Third-Party support. Like I said above, E3 2012 should be a great indicator of whether Nintendo can actually succeed in courting third parties next generation. Big games like Assassin’s Creed III and Darksiders 2 have been announced for the system, but other developers have been less enthused. Personally, I think the signs for the future boil down to one title: If Grand Theft Auto V is announced to be coming to Wii U this year, things should be looking up. If not, I’m expecting another five years of weak third-party offerings.

The Retro Factor. It’s been two years since Nintendo’s celebrated Western developer had a game revealed, and there’s been quite a bit of chatter about them this year. They’ve hired artists who have worked on Uncharted 3 and Darksiders, and many have speculated that they are working on a game that will cater to the Western crowd that Nintendo claims to be pursuing with Wii U. In an interview late last year, Miyamoto was also quoted saying that “Zelda might be a possible franchise” that Retro could work on in the future, but given his forthrightness, I wouldn’t expect a Retro-developed Zelda for a few years at least. Anyway, I’m super anxious to learn this big project that Retro has been working on. Even Donkey Kong Country Returns 2 would be something to get excited about.

Super Mario…Bros? Miyamoto has confirmed that a new Mario game will be shown at E3 2012. A PR spokesperson claimed afterward that this game is based off of the New Super Mario Bros. Mii tech demo that was shown last year. However, with NSMB2 coming to 3DS in August and the same team supposedly being assigned to Pikmin 3, I think it makes much more logistical and strategic sense that the new game is actually a 3D platformer from EAD Tokyo. After all, 3D Mario games have constantly served as showcases for new home consoles. While I would gladly pick up a third Super Mario Galaxy game, I certainly hope that this new game takes a step away from the Wii titles and reinvents the series once more.

Some more thoughts:

- Smash Bros. is too early in development to be shown. Don’t expect it.

- I’m also not expecting any appearance from Zelda. I think the 3DS game has a good chance of being shown at GDC 2013, but not before that.

- Metroid could make an appearance. I don’t think Nintendo is as disappointed in the series as everybody seems to assume. Either Metroid Prime 4 or an internally developed Metroid Dread would be good news in my book.

- Nintendo likes their launch racing games. We might see Wave Race or F-Zero or Excite Boats, though don’t hold your breath for your favorite of those franchises, because it’ll be sure to be one of the others.

- It’s been enough time since Xenoblade exited development that Monolith Soft’s new game might be ready to be shown, but it’s also anyone’s guess if Nintendo of America will behave around them this genreration. I think it’ll be shown if it’s ready: one more pretty game can’t hurt their image.

[Be_yourself]

I'm interested in how Nintendo are going to make the Wii U a "hardcore" console.  
I'll be interested to see what Pikmin 3 has to offer, and im hoping for a new Metroid and hopefully a new Mario 3D title(but i have a hunch it will be a 2D, can't say why really).
I'll be interested to see Zelda for the 3DS as im pretty certain that one is going to be there.

 A Wii U Zelda announcement would be unlikely but given that:
1. Aonuma has stated they are using some of the left over material from SS development in future Zelda's(however that could be 3DS as well)
2. TP was announced in 2004(after TWW was released in 2003), TWW in 2001(after MM released in 2000) and MM in 1999(after the 1998 release of OoT).  Whilst SS took longer, in the last 10+ years it was the exception.
3. Iwata also stated that this Zelda would be out in 3 years, or that they aimed to do so.  whilst Iwata does say things that arn't always accurate, i.e. smash bro Wii U, it doesn't discount the possibility entirely.

It is obvious that i want this to be true, but i don't think that it is an unreasonable wish.  I can hope, its always nice to have a trailer or something to speculate on.

[hisak]

News! Bioshock Infinite has been delayed and will not be at E3.



I'll still be shocked if Zelda is present at E3. It's not an annual series anymore like it was during the Gamecube era, and a handheld Zelda hasn't been revealed at E3 since...Minish Cap? It's not entirely out of the question, but it seems like a very inopportune time for such an announcement.

[hisak]

Is Retro Studios' Wii U game "Star Fox - Metroid: Fusion Saga"?

Highlights (but really, read the whole thing):

The story begins as you control Fox McCloud and the Star Fox team on deep space mission in your Arwing, flying through a Meteos-like stage. As you enter a light speed warp, there’s a collision with an orange ship (Samus’) and the game continues with you now plummeting to a planet as Samus in her craft. You’re in mild control of her ship, using the Wii U controller to look around and touch screen press the lit up buttons to prepare for impact (while the TV stays locked on what you see out of the cockpit). You’re now on land, as a “yet again” stripped down Samus Aran with the most basic of weapon abilities, in first person perspective, traversing through this unknown planet.

- The Star Fox stages represent what the series is best known for, including the chatter and coming to the aid of the rest of your team, all range mode battles, and on rails stages.
- The Metroid part of the game puts you alone, void of human or any talking character contact, and like the Prime series, sees you gaining upgrades, battling bosses, and in this case, repairing your ship.


- Star Fox – Metroid: Fusion Saga is wholly a satisfying adventure game as Samus, an equally electrifying aerial combat game as Fox, and something that delivers an exciting, special change that fans will love.

Rumor of the Year.

[Rew]

A cross-over game? This sounds like really bad fanfic rather than a legitimate game idea.

They should just keep that stuff confined to Super Smash Bros.

[hisak]

Forget crazy rumors, it looks like we have an actual leak on our hands! The analog nubs on the Wii U controller are now actual sticks. Also looks like Nintendo is sticking with the Wii U name, not that that's news.

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

Hooking both franchises together sounds like a bit of a stretch. Hooking elements of their gameplay together, however, I could live with. If Fox gets seperated from the rest of the team and he has to do this big solo Metroid-style adventure while Falco and company do their usual thing to track him down, I could live with it. Actually seeing Samus and Fox join up in anything other than Smash Bros would mess with my head.

Quite the disappointment to see the circle pads get replaced. The 3DS's has proven to be such a comfort to play with, with my thumb gently nested into its centre. But, they are a little further out on the controller now, so it must be a comfort thing.

I like the movement of the +/- buttons. Having to move your hand all the way down to the base of the controller always seemed like a bit of a fuss. Should be easy enough to slide your digit down now.

Comparison gif:

[Rew]

The new controller scheme looks pretty good, though I'm a little unsure about having the analog sticks so far up. But I won't know until I'm able to hold one myself.

Hooking both franchises together sounds like a bit of a stretch. Hooking elements of their gameplay together, however, I could live with. If Fox gets seperated from the rest of the team and he has to do this big solo Metroid-style adventure while Falco and company do their usual thing to track him down, I could live with it. Actually seeing Samus and Fox join up in anything other than Smash Bros would mess with my head.

And on a similar note, if Samus were to be in a game where sometimes she got to get off her planet or space station and engage in Star Fox-style dogfights in her Gunship (perhaps with a team of other bounty hunters?), that would be equally as awesome as Fox being in a Metroid-like environment.

My biggest disappointment with the Metroid franchise was that Samus has this kickass Gunship, but we never once in the entire series actually fight in it (even though I know this was planned in MP3:C and had to be scrapped, alas).

[hisak]

E3 is two weeks away! We've gotten a few more details on Nintendo's presence at the show, namely that the conference will be aired commercial-free on MTV2 and Spike TV and that they're making a bigger deal out of the "Software Showcase" (FKA the annual Pikmin 3 confirmation show), which is now on the day after the conference, rather than the day of.

Aside from the controller leak, it seems like we're not getting as many leaks and early announcements as we were last year. Maybe they'll show up soon.

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

A week to go, still a bit quiet and though this is a bit of a stretch for news it feels worth sharing. Combined with the recent leaked controller pic, it seems the Wii U name is unlikely to change now it's also got its own official Facebook page.

The page comes with a greeting video from Reggie (unlisted so unembeddable here) and has a mysterious vault-like cover photo with a door that seems to be glowing around the edges. Could be nothing, could tease one or two things in the week ahead. Maybe I'm just getting desperate for a little something before the big day.

[hisak]

I really doubt that the page will have anything of interest. They're just trying to drum up interest and anticipation for Nintendo's press conference.


So we're seven days away from the beginning of E3 press conferences, but we do have some interesting pre-E3 events in store this Thursday:

GTTV will be holding an "E3 First Look Special" at 10 PM PT, which I expect will have a handful of exclusive trailers from western third parties.

Konami also has a pre-E3 press conference on Thursday, but the exact time has not been announced.

EDIT: The Konami conference will be streamed live at 10 PM PST this Thursday/Friday, depending on where you live. Japan time is back.

[hisak]

Another message from Reggie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qmb8rPyzrc

It sounds like they'll be announcing quite a few games after the actual conference, as they did at 2010 (remember that Kid Icarus was the only 3DS game announced during the conference). I need to remember not to get disappointed if my most anticipated games aren't there at the start.

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

Are you geared up for Nintendo announcements at the E3 Expo?

Ah, yes, the Electronic Entertainment Expo Expo. </grammarnazi>

I'm just tired of waiting.

[GamePunk429]

I'm really hoping Nintendo comes out strong this year, I would like to see them retake their dominate stance on the market like the SNES years. I am tired of having to purchase multiple systems.

Even though this will probably be the first generation since the gamecube (I guess that's only 2), that I won't be a first day adopter. Probably will wait on the Wii U (God I hope they change the name) until the first price drop.