Hello, everyone. Alex here to let you know how things are going here for us. First off, thank you to everyone who watched and read our content during PAX East. I did not think we could do it, but we did get even more content and fun out of PAX East than even last year. On that note, though, we have to move onto our next big series of videos: E3 2014.
Part 1: Microsoft
Microsoft is playing to win this E3, especially now that it has ultimately undone all the wrongdoing that it had faced last E3. People despised Microsoft's DRM strategies and seemingly anti-consumer elements, and that helped Sony greatly even after the Xbox One's DRM was corrected. Now, the head of Xbox has changed, the Xbox One now matches price-wise with PS4, and the policies are now just about equal to Sony's, even with indie projects.
As the playing field levels between the two, how does Microsoft respond? We think Halo will play a significant role, and exclusive deals with bigger third party developers will pepper the conference along with attempts to appeal to the more gamer crowd. The issue is, a lot of the surprises have been leaked by a leaker known as ntkrnl. This leak unveiled plenty of large projects, and we suspect many of those will appear at this E3. Only one way to find out!
Predictions:
Reemphasize Price Drop / Gold Changes
Minecraft: Xbox One Edition
Project Spark
Forza Horizon 2
Sunset Overdrive
Quantum Break
Fable Legends
Killer Insctinct Season II Trailer
Halo 5: Guardians
Halo Master Chief Collection (H2 Anniversary, 3 and 4 up-ports)
Call of Duty Demo (of course)
Project Nagano Teaser (Platinum Games)
Multiple Japanese Exclusives (D4, etc)
More 3rd Party Exclusive Deals
Xbox Streaming Service
Time Dedicated to Kinect / OS are minimal (Less than 10 minutes)
Will Try to have an Indie block
Maybe one more 360 Price Drop / Bundle
Titanfall Discussion
Gears of War Teaser
The Theme: Game On
BIG Guesses: New Phantom Dust (Alex) / Gears of War Collection (Tony)
-Tony originally expected an announcement for Xbox 360 BC on Xbox One, but I asked him to chose a game not a feature.
Part 2: Sony
Sony is in the best position this E3. The PlayStation 4 is sweeping away the competition, consistently outselling the other two systems each month since release. On the flipside, the Vita is on death's door outside of Japan, and that has to create some level of concern. Even so, Sony's position is prime to keep accelerating in mindshare, but it just cannot remain complacent. With Microsoft changing its policies and Nintendo pulling out some big guns and new concepts this year, Sony should not let itself shrug and wait for 2015 releases to roll around.
We suspect Sony will be unveiling plenty of new projects this E3, but many will not release this year. We already know that at least one of the New IPs we though would show is not, but there is still plenty of room for new projects to be released. Leaks of major projects such as Project Beast likely will dampen the hype at its announcement, but there must be more to show. This is Sony's E3 to lose.
Predictions:
The Order: 1886
Driveclub
The Last of Us: Remastered
Large Indie Block (5-10 Minutes)
Rime
Shadow of the Beast
Minecraft: PlayStation Edition
God of War Teaser
Uncharted Teaser or Slice Demo
New Media Molecule PS4 Title
New Sony Bend IP
New Studio Debut
1-2 Vita Titles (Gravity Rush 2, Monster Hunter-esque game)
PSVita TV Unlikely
PlayStation NOW Details
Project Beast (Beast Souls)
Exclusive Deals with Destiny, new Assassin's Creed
More Square-Enix Discussions, RE Exclusive
The Last Guardian moved to PS4
The Theme: NEW NEW NEW (We Got Games. Some Now. Some Later.)
BIG Guesses: Crash Bandicoot (Alex) / Sly Cooper (Tony)
Part 3: Nintendo
Nintendo's Year of Luigi was not one their accountants want to remember too much. Last E3, Nintendo tried a Nintendo Direct but failed to realize people actually watch en masse during their press conferences, and on top of that, many of their games were already expected and not enough to woo certain skeptics of the Wii U. This year, the company is working to improve its presentation with a new Digital Event, a Smash Brothers Invitational, and a stream running throughout E3 straight to the fans. Also, the mysterious NFP platform is said to be present, and it better impress, if Iwata wants to ensure his job is not on the line later this month.
We suspect Super Smash Brothers for 3DS and Wii U will be the biggest focus, at least from the initial onset of the show. Then, Nintendo will use the NFP platform to spur interest from fans and non-fans alike; whether it impresses like Skylanders or Disney Infinity will be discussed after, of course. 3DS games will not be as massive in scale as last year, but a Pokemon remake and new games will likely fill the gaps where Smash Brothers is not. We suspect at least 1 or 2 new IPs will be shown, and we might very well get a good solid 2015 major release planned for the Wii U. The skeptic in me, however, sees many of our latter guesses as unlikely. Oh, and QOL will not show until later in the year, for sure.
Predictions:
Super Smash Bros for 3DS and Wii U
(more emphasis on Wii U, 3DS Launch date)
Pokemon Art Academy (also, Art Academy Wii U)
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire / Omega Ruby
Hyrule Warriors
Bayonetta 2
Wii Sports Club (Last 2 Games, Disc Release in July)
X (Finally Titled, 2015 US/EU)
Yoshi Yarn (possibly 2015)
SMT X FE no show
STEAM: Strike Team Eliminating the Alien Menace
Pokken Fighters
More HD Remasters
New VC Details, eShop (Indie Montage)
Rhythm Heaven 3DS
NFP Games (Smash Bros Wii U, Other Game)
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D
The Legend of Zelda Wii U
No QOL
New 3DS Model Possible, but unlikely at E3
The Theme: Smash Brothers! (and friends)
BIG Guesses: New Miyamoto IP (Alex) / New Metroid (Tony)
...oh and no Star Fox, F-Zero, 1080, or Wave Race games.
Part 4: Everyone Else
There is too much to say other than a lot of companies are clustering releases in October or fleeing to 2015. You will need to listen to our rambling for this one, folks! Or you could just read the list below I suppose.
Predictions:
-Konami: Minimal Presence, Metal Gear Solid V, Contra (crazy guess)
-Sega: Sonic Boom, Alien: Isolation, No Yakuza nor PSO
-EA: Mass Effect, Sports Games, More PopCap Games, Battlefield: Hardline, Mirror's Edge 2 Trailer, Big Announcement at the End [Also, we forgot that there is likely a Star Wars game, too]
-Ubisoft: Assassin's Creed (show off more current-gen than last-gen game), The Crew, The Division, New Ubi-Art Project, New Rabbids Game
-Bethesda: No Fallout 4, Battlecry, The Evil Within
-Warner Brothers: Mortal Kombat X, Batman Arkham Knight
-Activision: Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, minimal Skylanders, Destiny
-Bandai Namco: One Piece Games, Tales Games, Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2
-Capcom: Resident Evil, Darkstalkers, Dino Crisis, Deep Down
-Square-Enix: Final Fantasy XV, Kingdom Hearts 3, Triad Wars, Just Cause 3, Bravely Second, Theatrhythm
And with that, we wait anxiously for E3 next week. Keep an eye out for posts here or via our Twitter or Facebook accounts linked on this site. We will have BINGO cards at the ready, and impressions videos will come up shortly after the big days are done. Microsoft, EA, Ubisoft, and Sony are on Monday, and Nintendo alone comes to play on Tuesday. Follow our twitter account for livetweets of the events, provided our Internet does not die out suddenly! Hype up everyone!
