Jeremy Jastrzab – PALGN Executive Editor
As a younger gamer, E3 was the most exciting time of the gaming calendar outside of the Christmas rush. Over the years though, the lustre faded as companies struggled to hit unrealistic deadlines and coverage was hampered by the masses of distant relatives of retail employees. Unfortunately, the attempt to make the event more media friendly was even worse as we weren’t sure whether the event actually took place. As such, making predictions around this potential reversion are almost impossible, given the ridiculously conservative showings of the past two years.
For the last year or so, gaming development has been quiet, without many announcements and unusually barren release periods. Most will blame this on the GFC, but if you look closer, game development had been affected prior to everything going belly-up. Given that we’re in the middle of the traditional ‘generation’ cycle, I’d expect that the recent lulls have come as developers and publishers have realised just how much work needs to go in to making a stand out product on the current hardware.
As much as I’d like to see developers and publishers come out and show us some compelling evidence of filling the barren periods, my gut says that they will be taking the conservative route. Again. Unless the big boys have some major surprises lined up, the lack of pre-E3 news is rather foreboding. Most of what we’ll probably see will be related to what we’ll be playing this Christmas.
As for the major players, while Nintendo has jumped out with a massive lead, a weak showing isn’t going to hurt them too much. Yet. While the old Nintendo fan in me yearns for a rekindling of what made me love them, I’m afraid that it’s just not going to happen. Despite the reports of a major announcement, there isn’t enough motivation for Nintendo to really go back to their roots while their current port-and-slap and casual approach is working. With the DSi being recently released, I don’t see any major hardware announcements before from them before TGS season.
Microsoft has the most to lose. Despite the Xbox 360 finally reaching a competitive price point against the Wii, the lack of foreseeable exclusives is a worry. You’d like to hope that they’ve got something up their sleeves, because if recent retail numbers are anything to go by, they won’t to rely upon third-party non-exclusives for too long. Sony on the other hand has the most to gain. A number of exclusives and burgeoning third party support give us something to look forward to. The most likely hardware announcement comes in a successor to the PSP, but even that is far from shoe-in given the Japanese retail resurgence. Still, if I am going to make any predictions, it’s that the most exciting stuff with either be from 3rd parties or available to download.
Anthony Capone – PALGN Writer
E3 2009. An exciting entertainment extravaganza. At least, that’s how I’m viewing this year’s event. The 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo is showing considerable promise, as compared to the bland brag-fests that have been the last two years. Gamers should actually be pumped when they get up in the wee hours of next week to watch the console developers’ press conferences. Why? Because from the look of things, Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo will be using the stage to display new and trendy wares, rather than just telling us how much money they have (or haven’t) made.
There are also some games on the agenda for 2009 that we haven’t really seen yet, which are already shaping up well. This year’s E3 will really be one for the sequels. Assassin’s Creed 2, Uncharted 2, God of War III and Modern Warfare 2 will all leave us wanting more. Indeed, it would not be a stretch of the mind if one of the titles on this list was awarded game of show (my money is on the last).
Sony have already laid most of their cards on the table, so it’s conference will be an opportunity to view gameplay footage and put release dates on paper. It should not be a surprise to see the PlayStation 3 slim and next iteration of the PlayStation Portable either.
Microsoft, on the other hand, is more of enigma. Aside from Halo 3: ODST, we haven’t really been privy to its agenda. I wouldn’t expect Mr Gates’ company to have a brand-new first-party title lined up for the Christmas season. Rather, Microsoft will show us what they have in store for 2010 and beyond, and make the most of their third-party exclusives such as Lost Planet 2 and Mass Effect 2. The flagship Capcom title should be ready in time for the holidays, and as for the latter, I would not be surprised if BioWare’s game was prepared for a November release. If not, then the final batch of Mass Effect DLC should be primed for Xbox LIVE before the snow begins to fall across the ocean.
In 2009, we should also be ready for some surprises similar to last year’s ‘Final Fantasy on Xbox 360’ announcement. No, Metal Gear Solid won’t be jumping ship, but we should be still coming away from each of the conferences with several big headlines.
Hopefully, E3 will return to its former glory this year. While I wouldn’t go as far to say the booth babes will be back from extinction, the major publishers will nonetheless have their big guns on show this time around. While we may have been questioning the relevancy of the event twelve months ago, E3 2009 should once again remind us why video games are something to get excited about.
A new Metal Gear?
Joseph Rositano – PALGN Writer
For me, E3 2009 isn’t going to be about fancy new hardware or anything truly groundbreaking. Instead, I’m just really excited about all the follow-ups to some of this generations standout titles.
Having only purchased an Xbox 360 in December last year, I’ve mainly been playing catch up over the past six months with games I’ve missed over the years. I’ve played these games away from the hype, away from gamers discussing their opinions and experiences on an hour to hour basis, and I finally understand just how painful the Mass Effect elevator sequences really are! I haven’t exactly been able to join in on the hype train or go in-depth with anyone (save for a few friends), so I’ve generally taken my time with everything instead of rushing to get to the next big thing. So, you can imagine my delight that I can expect to be playing games like Mass Effect 2 and Assassin’s Creed 2 within the next six to nine months. Sure, we knew about these games long ago so it’s not really a huge surprise, but I’m just looking forward to seeing them in action and hearing about what’s new and been improved on.
In terms of announcements, I believe we’ll hear a couple of things ranging from new marketing strategies, promises that the next Mario game or whatever is in development, and heaps of video montages of upcoming titles – both previously announced and completely new. Will there be any major surprises? That’s difficult to answer. Based on the news flowing through at the moment, it seems most developers and publishers will again be focusing on what’s going to be released within the next 12 months. If we look at Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft, we know very little about what their plans are for the Christmas holiday period so that could be an indication of what’s happening.
To be quite frank I rarely jump on hype trains, and given the E3 showings in recent times, I’m not going to hold my breath for something completely dazzling. Who knows, maybe Nintendo will shock everyone by announcing Zelda: Link in Space, or they might continue their current trend and reveal Leg Training is in development. I certainly hope there will be a few surprises from the big three, but otherwise I’m just going to focus on what’s already been confirmed to be on show and take it as it comes.
Adam Ghiggino – PALGN News Writer
Some would say that in the past couple of years, E3 has become but a shadow of its former self. Where, they would ask, was the massive exhibition hall, filled with massive stands for the major games companies, blasting out all manner of light and sound in a display that was simultaneously monstrous and totally awesome? And where, oh where, were the booth babes? True, they all were missing, in favour of a more subdued and reserved showing. But you know what wasn’t missing? The annual entertainment stage-show that has become known as ‘The Big Three’.
Yes, The Big Three. How we’ve continued to enjoy the conniving, the embarrassments, the coups and the surprises. From the ridiculous one-upping of the original announcement of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, to Nintendo’s often seemingly-effortless ability to capture the gaming public’s imagination, there always seems to be plenty to talk about, and much more for fanboys to rant about. How can we forget Sony’s momentous 2006 E3 press conference, which gave the world ‘Riiiiiidge Raaaacer’, ‘Giant Enemy Crabs’, and ‘$599 US’, internet memes which still persist to this day. And last year it all continued, as Microsoft struck Sony for massive damage with the multiplatform announcement of Final Fantasy XIII, while Nintendo filled the embarrassment quota with their disastrous Wii Music display.
My prediction for E3 2009 is that this year should prove no different. The significant lack of buzz could mean that we are all in for some surprises. What happened to that Alan Wake game on the 360? Will we finally see what Team ICO’s latest project has evolved into? Are Sony going to finally come out and admit they’re working on a new PSP, and will it be out by Christmas? Are Nintendo going to continue to go after the casual market, or finally announce something to please hardcore gamers? And does Kojima really think we’ll be surprised by Metal Gear Raiden? Whatever those answers might be, you can be certain there won’t be any shortage of ‘Oh Snap!’ moments.
But for those who don’t care about corporate cat fights and only care for quality games, there will be plenty to satiate your palettes. Along with the big franchises like Assassins Creed 2, Mass Effect 2 and God of War III, I wouldn’t discount the possibility of some smaller games impressing and potentially outshining some of the heavy-hitters. For me, E3 may be about childish fights between console manufacturers, but hopefully for the rest of you it’s about a sneak peak at all the gaming goodness that’s in the pipeline, from all developers large and small.
"So, I hear we’re coming back?"
Michael Kontoudis – PALGN News Writer
E3 2009 is an interesting proposition for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, this year’s expo promises a return to the excesses and excitement of years gone by, and second, we have reached an interesting period in the current generation of consoles and portables where a clear winner is emerging in the face of anxiety about the direction of the industry. What do I expect of the ‘Big Three’?
Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata has gone on the record and acknowledged that the company’s E3 2008 conference was something of a fizzer and so Pikmin 3 and a new Zelda title are a shoe-in. Considering that Twilight Princess was a dressed-up port, a platform-defining Zelda adventure must be on the way. A Super Mario Galaxy sequel isn’t out of the question, but I doubt it will surface this year. I also half-expect Miyamoto to strut on stage in kabuki make-up to demonstrate Wii Air Traffic Controller.
This year’s E3 is a prime opportunity for Nintendo to heal the rift between the company and its long-term ‘hardcore’ gaming audience. A strong software showing, in addition to fully showcasing the strengths of the Wii MotionPlus peripheral through integration with key first and third-party titles could go a long way to reigniting gamers’ passions for the console. Nintendo must be aware of recent surveys suggesting that the Wii is the least-played current-generation console, and to rectify the situation, they know they need to provide the software.
Microsoft’s conference should be an interesting mixture of announcements aimed at both the mass-market and core audience. I fully expect the long-rumoured motion-sensitive controller or camera peripheral to make an appearance, in conjunction with a new Rare-developed title or two to show off the technology. I also anticipate the Xbox 360 dashboard seeing further updates, including expanded Avatar-functionality.
The company’s recent first-party output has been somewhat tepid, and I think Microsoft will need to play to its strengths and stitch up exclusives in order to retain the interest of its consumer-base. A significant period of exclusivity for games like Mass Effect 2 may keep the console’s star glittering beyond the novelty of another motion-sensitive device. Of course, an awe-inspiring surprise or two wouldn’t go astray, either.
I predict few surprises on the Sony front, with the company largely relying on a predictable but stellar line-up of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time (with, I predict, online multiplayer), Heavy Rain, Gran Turismo 5 and a playable build of God of War III along with the proper unveiling of Fumito Ueda’s Project TRICO.
In terms of hardware, the internet has been awash with rumours that Sony will announce a slimmed-down PS3 console, possibly in conjunction with price cuts for the current models. A price reduction, while undesirable given Sony’s recent financial performance, is probably necessary at this point to attract a healthier level of third-party support and remain relevant in the global economic climate.
Further, a new PSP-iteration which jettisons the UMD drive in favour of digital delivery may be just the ticket to fanning the struggling platform’s flames. Re-releasing the portable’s entire catalogue digitally (for a discounted price) may give the PSP a sorely-needed second wind.
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What do you expect to see at E3 2009? What would surprise you? Let us know in the comments.
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