E3 2011 Predictions: Day One

E3 is next week, which means loads of announcements, system news, and other assorted gaming information. To prepare for the hype, the editors at Game Informer have gazed into their respective crystal balls and are bringing you the results. In our first day, we've got predictions on the NGP, Nintendo's next system, and how Sony plans to deal with the PSN outage fallout.

Joe
Square Enix's line-up seems to be focusing on Eidos titles like Hitman, Deus Ex, and Tomb Raider. My prediction is that we see more announcements of Japan-developed RPG projects besides Final Fantasy XIII-2, though they'll probably just be in a sizzle reel of CG clips. Personally, I'm hoping for a new Valkyrie Profile. Unfortunately, I think anyone hoping for a Kingdom Hearts 3 reveal is going to be disappointed.

Phil
Like Twilight Princess before it, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword has been awkwardly positioned at the tail end of its console’s life cycle. And like Twilight Princess before it, I fully expect Nintendo to reveal at E3 that Skyward Sword will actually be a launch game for its new HD console. I wouldn’t be surprised if a Wii version still comes out, but I for one can’t wait to experience Zelda in HD finally.

Adam
Sony: Apology/joke about PSN outage. NGP hands-on: Cool tech, neat hardware, I still don't care because I have a bitchin' Android phone. The Agent is nowhere to be seen. Touting PS3 worldwide numbers to argue that PS3 isn't getting pwned by 360.

Microsoft: KINECT KINECT KINECT KINECT XBOX LIVE WE ARE THE FUTURE OBEY US

Bertz
Publishers Ignore Xperia Play: With publishers already pledging support for the PS3, Xbox 360, 3DS, Wii, NGP, iPhone, and iPad, their resources are stretched thin. This is why I expect many major publishers to outright ignore Sony Ericsson’s new Android-based gaming phone. If Sony wants to lure gamers in with a robust library, it will have to leverage many popular first-party brands and recruit independent game publishers to create games for the platform.

Matt
Ready At Dawn follows up its two amazing God of War games for PSP with the announcement that it’s making a brand-new God of War title for the NGP. Ready at Dawn was the best PSP developer and a God of War title early in the NGP’s lifecycle would be a serious system seller. When I interviewed Ready at Dawn cofounder Ru Weerasuriya a couple month ago, he seemed very excited about the power and feature set of the NGP.

Kato
This isn’t going to be the E3 of new IP. At this point in the console’s life-cycles, it’s often a steady diet of sequels, and this E3 shouldn’t be different. Although a lot of those games, like BioShock Infinite, are going to be awesome, I don’t expect even Nintendo’s announcement of a new system to be augmented by new IP. Sony has already outlined its Welcome Back program to PS3 owners to try and make-up for the PSN outage, but I think we’re going to see one more special “We’re Sorry” to fans. Maybe it could be the Shadow of the Colossus & ICO collection for a nice price.

Bryan
Right after Game Informer broke the story on Nintendo’s next console, all kinds of information started leaking out about titles in the works. The one I’m most excited about is the report that Retro Studios is working on a project that "everyone wants them to do.” Fresh off the excellent Donkey Kong Country Returns and known for the first-person Metroid Prime trilogy, Retro would be the perfect choice for an HD Metroid 2.5!

Miller
It's been some time since we've had a true exploration adventure for Samus Aran, and the advent of the 3DS makes for a perfect opportunity to continue the handheld adventures begun in Metroid: Zero Mission and Metroid Fusion. Expect to see the development harness the full power of the 3DS hardware, and capitalize on gameplay opportunities presented by the 3D. Samus will move along a 2D plane as she ferrets out new missiles and energy tanks, but more exploration options await as she travels into the 3rd dimensional axis, ala Paper Mario.

Jeff
Nintendo's new console will be unveiled with an all-star cast of AAA developers during the company's press conference. The controller will be amazing, but those bells and whistles won't come cheap. Expect lots of hand-wringing over the price, if Nintendo even bothers announcing it. Also, Reggie will say that now that Nintendo has entered the field, the age of HD gaming has officially started. At least one grown man will shed actual tears when Zelda is shown in high-definition and you can see the individual fibers in Link's tunic.

Annette
One of Sony’s major talking points will be the PSN outage. To ease the tension in the room and restore confidence in the brand, the company will bring out its secret weapon: Kevin Butler. The teased Sly 4 finally gets an official announcement and the presentation will end with a few words from Team Ico and a gameplay video of The Last Guardian. It’s the least you could do, Sony. Please?

Ben
One of Nintendo’s big announcements, Project Café, is already out of the bag, but I don’t think that was the only ace up the company’s sleeve. Nintendo has to have some games to show off along with the console. I suspect that Zelda: Skyward Sword will be making its way over to the new system. And what about that Pikmin game that was quietly announced a few years ago? I think it’s about time we saw that game in action.

Tim
Capcom’s been in a patchy spot lately. Its fighting games are blossoming again, but key new titles in past years like Bionic Commando and Dark Void have been utter flops. The company needs to focus on delivering what fans want: Resident Evil 6. The sequel will be announced this E3 as another reboot for the series. It will move away from the action-oriented nature of RE 5, returning to classic Romero zombies and survival. It will star a character from Resident Evil’s universe that everyone is ready to see in the spotlight.

Jeff M
Sony’s recent announcement of the PSP Remaster series seemed oddly-timed. Why would the company announce such a big initiative two weeks before the biggest video game show of the year? My guess: Sony has a bunch of PSP classics ready to announce at its E3 presentation. I’d expect (or hope, at least) to see both God of War PSP titles, plus Peace Walker, and any other PSP titles featuring Sony’s mascots. Sony will have to be packing more than Monster Hunter Portable 3rd to get western audiences excited.

Ben Hanson
I’m guessing that Microsoft will be pushing Kinect as a device for hardcore gamers. They’ve already won over the Dance Central crowd, but I’m predicting one or two major franchises making a Kinect-only debut.