User Abuse: E3 Predictions

Mr. Marbles heads into the forum for your E3 predictions.

With E3 a little over a week away and the next-gen war waging, we're diving into the forums to see what you think will happen at the biggest game show of the year. So here's what you have say about it! And if you haven't already, head into the E3 forum thread to voice your own E3 prediction!

"I've heard over and over again from multiple sources that MS may have secured the next GTA exclusively for the 360. Yeah, that sounds ridiculous but I've read it so many times now that I think it could be true." - Wickerman2

Won't happen. Given the history of exclusivity between Sony and Rockstar, there's no way Sony would let this take place. However, there is certainly a possibility that the next GTA will release simultaneously on both the Xbox 360 and the PS3, but even if Microsoft throws an endless amount of cash at Take-Two, the evidence is just not convincing enough of Microsoft's firm stake in the console biz. The PlayStation product has such a worldwide level of penetration that Rockstar will be better off in the long run on the PS3, even if it is an exclusive deal. There's no doubt in my mind that Microsoft has tried to make this happen, as it would be the best thing to happen to the 360, but from Rockstar's perspective, an exclusive Xbox 360 deal is just too much of a risk. Now, GTA on Wii (God that sounds ridiculous)? Beating thugs down with a baseball bat simulated by the Wii remote...now that's something I could get on board with!



"Halo 3 from Microsoft." - BenTover

While we all wish Halo 3 would make some kind of showing at E3, there's just no way Bungie will be ready to show anything. There has been word of a completely online co-op Halo, so something of that sort is certainly possible. Either way, there should be something with the Halo branding on it to make some kind of a stink from the Microsoft end, or else Sony and Nintendo will certainly steal all the thunder. If Microsoft plans to go on and on about Windows Vista gaming, they better have something more meaningful lined up on the side.

UPDATE: As I am writing, IGN just released an interesting bit of news. Apparently, Microsoft will show a short Halo 3 preview video at its E3 media briefing on Tuesday, May 9. But don't expect this to be much, as the game is rumored to be nowhere near completion. Remember that when the first gameplay video of Halo 2 was shown at E3, the game took another year and a half to hit stores. All I'm saying is don't hold your breath for anything mind-blowing.



"Microsoft will show all the naysayers that the 360 is a serious game console with a nice selection of PLAYABLE games as well as new Xbox Live Arcade gems." - ETito

You're right in that Microsoft will focus a great deal of attention on Xbox Live and Xbox Live Arcade. Being that Xbox Live is still above and beyond any other online gaming service, it is smart for Microsoft to focus energy on improving the service and the amount of good games and demos it has to offer. One thing it cannot do is put Xbox Live on cruise control and expect users to be the driving force. Yes, users are obviously an important component of the service, but Microsoft has to make constant advancements in the service as Sony and Nintendo will surely come onboard with some serious competition at the end of the year.

I think everyone know that the Xbox 360 is for the serious/hardcore gamers, but they'll need more than a 2-minute preview video of Halo 3 to upstage Sony and Nintendo at E3. And with Wii all over the show floor, just how can you expect to beat that?



"Anything PC-based will be lost in the next-gen shuffle." - Judgeman03

I agree and disagree here. Yes, from the outset, it looks as if next-generation consoles will gather the majority of attention at the show, and it's probably true. But I wouldn't go as far as saying PC games will be entirely lost at the show.

It is a very important E3 for PC games. The Xbox 360 has been on the market for approximately six month, and now that the initial craze of super-advanced console graphics has passed, its time for PC games/developers to prove that that PCs can one-up next-gen consoles systems. Take Crysis for example, EA and Crytek's upcoming PC FPS, and possibly the best-looking game to date. PCs have the advantage of continuous advancement, and developers need to make a statement at E3 20006.

"PC games will look better than ever. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the re-emergence of the PC as a gaming platform will be one of the major trends at the show, with playable demos." - Lunchbox

Thanks Lunchbox -- my point exactly.



Head on back next week for more E3 user predictions.

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