E3 2010 Predictions, PART 3

And now to the hometown heroes, Nintendo.  Let's face it: Nintendo's E3 presence is less than to be desired most of the time.  For the last couple of years, their media breifings have been filled with numbers and licenced games, things no gamer wants.  However, there are signs of hope.  Can the big N finally give MS and Sony a run for their money, or will they continue in their E3 slump?

I predict that the conference will be MUCH better than last year's and the year before that.  Nintendo is actually in a pretty good position to show off some very interesting stuff this E3.  This is mostly because they will be introducing new hardware at this E3 in the form of the 3DS.  Not much is known about Nintendo's successor the hugely successful DS, but whatever it is will most definitely be quality.  I predict that regardless of what this thing does and the software it has, it will be popular and it will sell well.  Nintendo has always been the master of the portable console, and I would trust them here.  As far as the system goes, it will be glasses-free technology.  A Korean technology that is currently starting to be used in TV's is that of eye manipulation.  Without getting too bogged down in tech speak, this technology caused each of the eyes to focus on different thinks rather than what we are used to, which is focusing with both eyes.  By this sophisticated optical illusion and technology, 3D imagery can occur.  Now, this tech is far from perfect, as TV's with this tech require all sorts of things such as a certain distance from the TV and other things.  But in a small device, such as a portable gaming device, this tech could work very well.

I predict the 3DS will use this technology, and it will be very, VERY cool.  I also predict that the 3DS will be able to turn off this capability, allowing backwards compatibility with DS games.  I also predict that the screens for the device will be widescreen, and the graphics tech will be better (Nintendo just partnered with Nvidia for a micro-graphics card, so this is somewhat of a no-brainer).  Most importantly, I expect many big franchises to be announced for the 3DS.  I expect Mario, maybe Zelda, or any other marketable game.  I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo also employs some type of minigame assortment also with the system, much like Wii Sports for the Wii.  The 3DS will be the focus of Nintendo's conference I predict, and it will take up most of the time.  The system will also be playable on the show floor.

But by no means will Nintendo leave the Wii out of the conference.  Although the Wii will have little to no major announcements, I wouldn't be surprised if a new channel or two is announced for the console.  Going along with the 3DS theme, it wouldn't surprise me if an announcement has to do with connectivity with the Wii.  The online store may also be expanded somehow to include 3DS games or "apps".  Nintendo could very well take a note from Sony and expand their internet shop to both Wii games and portable games, and because I predict wireless internet will be built into the 3DS, connectivity can be achieved without a wire.  There have been some whispers and rumors on the internet and in the industry that Nintendo may also try to introduce a monetary system to their internet service as I predict Sony will this year.  I predict this WON'T happen.  Nintendo is in no hurry to expand their internet service.  Their strength is not in the internet, and they have made it clear that it isn't their focus, either. 

Now, on to the games.  Nintendo is always tough for me to predict in terms of announcements of software and what.  Their conferences work much differently in that they don't show many third party trailers and demos.  The majority of their conference is taken up by first party titles.  This makes sense because their highest rated and best games are always first-party.  So unlike the previous two posts, I will not be including a list of known games that will be there, as it just isn't smart and worth the effort, nor is it worth the reading time.  However, as far as first party titles go, there is much room for predictions.  Of course, I do want to start off with the 2 ton elephant in the room.

The new Legend of Zelda game, I predict, will be the highlight of not only the Nintendo conference, but of E3 for many people.  This may be the most hyped game I have seen from Nintendo, and that is only from the amount of secrecy behind it.  Literally nothing is known about the new Zelda apart from one piece of artwork released by Nintendo.  That is it.  Nothing is known about this game.  So any prediction I make is should be taken with not only a grain of salt, but with the whole shaker.  I predict that the next Zelda will take a new art-style of some type, but it will not diverge much from the previous designs of Twilight Princess.  The game will be a much darker game, and will explore much darker themes.  Most importantly, I feel some type of major gameplay change is coming for the game.  Not only is this plausible but very likely as WiiMotionPlus has yet to see a flagship title to really sell it other than Red Steel 2.  It seems more and more to me like sword combat may become 1:1 with WiiMotionPlus.

Being more specific though, I feel the new Zelda will also take changes in how the game works.  My gut is telling me that the "controlled free-roam" of Zelda may be broken in favor of more controlled events or maybe even a new and interesting environment.  Hyrule is interesting, but I think it is much more likely that the game will take a new setting and/or a new atmosphere about it, much like Majora's Mask did.  I cannot speculate any more than this, unfortunately.  I have no evidence or facts to back up my predictions, so any I make are at a very high risk of failure.  I'm sure everyone will be watching on Tuesday to see what Nintendo has in store for Link.

Finally, I predict that a couple other major titles will be announced.  As with the already announced Metroid: Project M (which will appear a lot at E3), it's very possible another major title could be announced.  The Wii Kirby project has been under covers for a while, so it's possible that could appear.  As always, a Kid Icarus title is possible.  As for my predictions, I predict a Pikmin sequel, a Star Fox title, and maybe even a new Luigi's Mansion.  

That is all I have for Nintendo, my friends.  And that is also all I have for predictions this year.  Believe me, as random and risky as my predictions are, I have given them a lot of thought.  If you missed or want to go back to my other predictions, you can catch them here (Microsoft) and here (Sony).  As always, comment to your hearts' galore, and enjoy the rest of the weekend.  I'll have a post next week detailing what the coverage will be for E3.  Don't worry.  I've got you covered with all the announcements, action, gameplay, and summarization you can imagine.