That was one of the first things then Sony Computer Entertainment America President Jack Tretton said at last year's Sony conference. And it perfectly sums up E3. With all the game reveals, hardware news, trailers, and demos, E3 is what every gamer gets excited for every year. So what can you expect? Here is 8-Bit Ape's E3 2014 Preview.
Microsoft- June 9, 9:30 AM Pacific
It's been a rocky road every since the Xbox One was revealed to the world just over a year ago, but recently Xbox has been getting back on track. With a new president who knows what he's doing, and a brighter focus on gaming, Microsoft has truly bounced back from the disastrous Xbox One reveal. And now is their chance to level the playing field (pun intended) with Sony.What You Will See:
Lots of games. They've already said some games have had to been moved out because of the amount of games already booked. Expect to see a lengthy demo of Sunset Overdrive, as well as some Halo news. Hopefully the super awesome HD collection of all the Halo games is indeed real and heading to Xbox One this fall. And if you're wondering about Quantum Break, it has already been confirmed it will not appear at the show. However, there is a new trailer for you to enjoy until Gamescom. Hopefully some updates on Project Spark will also be announced. Microsoft will also tout the new Kinect-less Xbox One. Expect also some Titanfall DLC news and maybe a new IP reveal. I do also believe that a new trailer for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will debut at the conference. I also predict a sizzle reel of the Xbox TV lineup is in order, but it will be very brief. Oh, and Xbox 360 price drop.What You Will Not See:
Gears of War. The new game is still very early in development and if Microsoft is smart they will choose not to reveal it at E3. I doubt there will be any talk of Gears at all. Also, don't expect the Xbox 360 to get more than a few minutes of talk. Microsoft wants to get every 360 user to upgrade, so they don't want to waste anytime. You also won't see a lot of the Kinect either. I think Microsoft has realized people don't like the Kinect and will keep it as minimal as possible. Also, don't expect Microsoft to reveal a VR competitor to compete with Project Morpheus and Oculus Rift. I think it's best for Microsoft to sit this one out and see how the market reacts to a VR headset.Game to Watch: Halo 5 Guardians
This is arguably Microsoft's biggest exclusive for the Xbox One, and even though it's well over a year away from release, expect Microsoft to give it a lot of screen time. Microsoft understands how big the Halo brand is, and they want to get rolling on the hype train as soon as possible. You may even see it longer than the reported Halo 2 Anniversary or Master Chief Collection. Whatever they give us, they must impress.EA- June 9, Noon Pacific
While EA has questionable business practices, it is undeniable they have a plethora of talented studios making games. EA's E3 conference is always filled with games, and this year should be no exception. With that being said, let's preview EA's conference.What You Will See:
A good mixture of new trailers and reveals. Battlefield Hardline might be the one that closes out the show, in the same fashion of last year with Battlefield 4. It'll be interesting to see in Hardline with DICE only making half of the game. Expect the reveals of the sports games Madden NFL 15, FIFA 15, NBA Live 15, etc. Dragon Age: Inquisition should also play a big part at the show. Also expect some new reveals from major studios. After the Battlefield Hardline demo, I predict they end the conference with a brief teaser for Mass Effect 4.What You Will Not See:
I hate to say it, but I don't think we'll be seeing Mirror's Edge 2. Will we see some new footage before the year ends? Yes, but to be honest, I'm starting to think Mirror's Edge 2 is a 2016 game. I also don't expect any news on the Star Wars games outside of Battlefront. Visceral is obviously still early in their project since Amy Henning was hired just a few months ago to help write the game. And BioWare probably has their hands full with Dragon Age and Mass Effect to be worried about Star Wars.Game to Watch: Star Wars Battlefront
I swear I have put over a thousand hours into the first two Battlefront games. It is my favorite multiplayer shooter of all time, and I have waited so long for another one. The new Battlefront has already been confirmed to make an appearance at EA's conference, and I hope it is a lengthy one. This game is supposed to be out in a year, so I hope we will see some gameplay footage and maybe an official title. This is a fan favorite, and perhaps my most anticipated game of E3 2014, so I hope it shines.Ubisoft- June 9, 3 PM Pacific
Ubisoft is on a roll right now. After the massive critical and commercial success of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and more recently Watch Dogs, Ubisoft is thriving. They head into E3 with all eyes on games like Assassin's Creed Unity, The Division, and Far Cry 4. Let's see if they can keep the hype train rolling.What You Will See:
A lot more news about Assassin's Creed Unity and Far Cry 4. In addition, they also will more than likely reveal the Last gen Assassin's Creed game for this year, rumored to be called Comet. The Division and The Crew will also more than likely get demos. They will also tout Watch Dogs' success, and I predict they will give a teaser at some DLC for the game. Hopefully they won't spend too much time on their entertainment productions. Aisha Taylor will most likely start another hash tag trend. Oh, and hopefully Ubisoft's big end-of-conference reveal will be jaw-droppingWhat You Will Not See:
Much of anything else. I doubt you'll see a reveal of a game like Child of Light (though they may mention it). It just may not have enough time in Ubisoft's show. They have to give lots of news on three games as well as multiple demos and an end-of-show reveal, so that's a lot for an hour long conference.Game to Watch: The Division
The Division seems to be Ubisoft's big title for 2015. After the game's delay, Ubisoft will be showing a lot to quench any fears about this game. This title has not completely sold me as much as Watch Dogs did when it was revealed, so it has to be a good showing. Hopefully a more in-depth look into the game's co-op mechanics and combat will be enough to get me hyped for this very ambitious project.Sony- June 9, 6 PM Pacific
The PlayStation 4 has put Sony on top of the console market. At 7 million units sold, the PS4 is giving much needed success to Sony. Now the question is will they be able to keep such a great advantage. Sony soundly beat Microsoft at E3 last year with the DRM and price announcements. Now they don't have such luxury, and in order for Sony or Microsoft to win, they need to bring the games.What You Will See:
I'm going to make a bold prediction that Sony will drop the price of the PS4 to $349 in an effort to stay cheaper than the competition. Expect Sony to tout PS4's success, but then jump into games. The Order 1886 will get a lengthy demo, as will Driveclub. Expect Sucker Punch to show up with Infamous: Second Son DLC. I am predicting that Sony will also reveal games from some of its biggest studios, most notably Media Molecule. Indies will also once again be present at the conference, along with some Destiny gameplay. I believe Project Beast is a real thing, and it will be at E3. And I hope The Last Guardian is there, but I'm not holding my breath.What You Will Not See:
A lot of screen time for the PS Vita. It will get some time, maybe a game announcement or two, but Sony will dedicate 95% of the conference to PS4 more likely, so I doubt we'll be hearing too much about the Vita. There will be maybe a minute or two devoted to PS3, but no more. And I don't expect Project Morpheus to make a big appearance at the conference, but I think it may be available for demo on the show floor.Game to Watch: Uncharted 4
Naughty Dog has seen turmoil over the last few months it has not seen since the beginning of the PS3 era. Several key people in the company have left. However, Uncharted 4 is well into production, and Naughty Dog is a big company filled with talented people still in it. Uncharted has already been confirmed to make an appearance at E3, but we don't know how big it will be. Another teaser? A cinematic trailer? Gameplay? I think we'll see a cinematic trailer, along with a Fall 2015 release date. It will be interesting to see this game come June 9.Nintendo- June 10. 9 AM Pacific
For the second year in a row, Nintendo will not be holding a traditional press conference. Instead, it will host an hour long Nintendo Direct. Nintendo is experiencing unprecedented success with the 3DS, while the Wii U is struggling. This E3 will help shape the future of the Wii U, and hopefully it breathes new life into the struggling console.What You Will See:
Zelda. Plain and Simple. Lots of Zelda. This is the year Nintendo fans have been waiting for a while. The reveal of Zelda for the Wii U. But we'll get back to that later. What else is there? Well obviously an extensive look into the new Smash Bros. Expect official release dates for the 3DS and Wii U versions. Also a new look at the Pokémon 3DS titles, maybe even a new Wii U Pokémon. The Monolith Project called X will hopefully make an appearance. I also think a new Metroid will be announced for the Wii U.What You Will Not See:
I have a strong feeling Nintendo is going to focus a lot less on 3DS for this conference. They know the 3DS will still sell with Smash Bros. and Pokémon on their way, so it's time to get those Wii U consoles off the shelves. I doubt even a Zelda reveal will do much to get consoles off shelves, but at least Nintendo will be trying, and that is important.Game to Watch: The Legend of Zelda for Wii U
You knew this was coming. This is the E3 Nintendo fans have been waiting for since the Wii U was revealed in 2011. A new Legend of Zelda for Wii U. Many people will probably tune into the conference just for this. Sure there may be an HD remake to please some fans, but everyone is ready for Zelda U. This will not be the game that gets Wii U consoles flying off the shelves, but if it delivers the satisfying experience gamers are hoping for, than that's good enough. Yes Reggie, our bodies are ready.Other Predictions
I'm excited to see Batman: Arkham Knight and The Witcher 3. I doubt Call of Duty Advanced Warfare will give me hope for the once-proud franchise. I think No Man's Sky will make an appearance, and I hope it blows me away once again. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will have a trailer at least six minutes long. I'm interested to see how Evolve is. I'm predicting the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Collection is real, and I'm tempted to buy it for MW1 and MW2. Rockstar will not appear at E3, but either Sony or Microsoft will announce a PS4/X1 version of Grand Theft Auto V while Rockstar toils away at finishing the next Red Dead.There is definitely reason to be excited about E3 2014, and I can't wait for it to get started. I will be posting my reactions to game reveals and other news. Let me know what you're excited for in the comments below, and take our poll to show which conference you are most excited for. Follow 8-Bit Ape on Twitter @8bitapeblog for my immediate reactions to all the news.
And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.
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