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It's upon us again. E3, one of the largest events in gaming, kicks off in just under 24 hours with Microsoft's much anticipated conference. Fanboyism has soared to dizzying new heights as netizens around the globe make damn sure that everyone knows just where their allegiance lies. And that those of differing opinions are not only wrong, but most likely handicapped or some form of corporate shill (Generally in less kind words). And we lap it up. Who doesn't like a good ol' fashioned console war?

All signs point to the biggest event in years, with Microsoft and Sony finally showing off their next gen consoles in action. After the eight year cycle that was the seventh video game generation (Don't listen to the crap EA are spouting, it was the seventh gen) gamers are more than ready to make the jump from the HD capable PS3 and Xbox 360 to the, well, hopefully slightly better HD capable XBONE and PS4. 4K is expensive, yo. Nintendo are out to "save" their Wii U after a lackluster launch period. Or maybe they aren't, it's hard to tell just what goes on inside the Japanese gaming mega giant's headquarters sometimes.

Following are my uninformed, hyperbolic and almost assuredly incorrect hopes and predictions for just what we'll see from the three titans over the course of the week.

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Microsoft
"You're backwards for wanting backwards compatibility"


The last month has been rough for the software powerhouse behind the Xbox brand. The reveal of the Xbox ONE has been met with a less than warm reception from gamers and the mainstream media alike. Key points to take away from the conference include an almost always online DRM system, no loaning games to friends or selling them used, weaker specs than the PS4 and no backwards compatibility. Oh, and the mandatory camera that must be connected at all times.

Gamers like to quote Orwell's 1984 when arguing against draconian DRM policies, and in the past these correlations ranged from incoherent at worst to ridiculously hyperbolic at best. Now, they actually may have a case. A camera that always knows how many people are in a room, learns to recognize them and their habits in an attempt to help cater advertisements to them. Perhaps even more terrifying is Microsoft's latest patent that uses connect to monitor the number of people in a room and charge accordingly for movies and such. Gone are the days of renting a film and putting it on for everyone, now you pay for a license for each person in the room. Yay?

But in the end, for a lot of people, it all comes down to the games. With all of the bad news out of the way, Microsoft can focus solely on wowing gamers come E3. 15 exclusive titles are supposedly in the works for the Xbone. The question is, what are they? With the loss of Bungie, Microsoft's first party lineup looks to be at it's weakest in recent memory. Are we getting 15 shovelware Kinect titles? Another lackluster title from the bastardized shell that was at one point the greatest videogame developer in the world? Exclusive DLC for CoD doesn't count as a game guys.

Microsoft has the most to prove over the next week, and it's going to be an uphill battle, though things aren't all roses on the other sides of the fence either...

Expectations:
+ A slightly less draconian used game policy
+Halo or Gears of War or something
- Exclusive Xbox only skin for the CoD dog

Dreams:
+ Kinect doesn't have to always be on
+ No Usher
+ Cultivation of in house development rather than throwing money at third party exclusives

Will sell my first born for:
+ MS re hire the staff that made Rare so great, especially David Wise, and deliver on a proper Banjo sequel with absolutely zero Kinect functionality. Or Jet Force Gemini. Or Conkers. Or Perfect Dark. Or, god forbid, Battletoads. Anything? Please?

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Sony
"We are listening"


Microsoft's cluster of a reveal has given them the leg up in at least one way. They got it over with first. With publishers pushing for more extensive DRM methods, it's not a question of whether or not Sony incorporate it into the Playstation 4, but how they will do it. At the very least, Sony's implementation should be slightly more consumer friendly, with the PS4 confirmed to be perfectly playable without an internet connection. I still expect a slightly bitter taste to be left in the mouths of Playstation enthusiasts, if not at E3 then at some time before launch at the end of the year.

On the games front, Sony look to be in a stronger position as well. Boasting a far stronger first and second party developer lineup in Media Molecule, SCE Santa Monica and Japan studios, Insomniac, Quantic Dream and industry darlings Naughty Dog, it's hard not to get excited for what's coming Playstation's way in the next generation. Rumour even has it that the next mainline Final Fantasy title is an exclusive being co developed by Sony...

Expectations:
+ Final Fantasy 13 Versus rebranded as FFXV
+ Strong showing from indie developers
- DRM and used game policy of some form
- Neglect of the Vita
- Exclusive DLC for assorted Activision and EA shooters

+ [Dreams:] +

Congratulations! You found the bonus content!

Music:

Girls:

+ New IP from Naughty Dog
+ I can loan and borrow games to my friends as I please

Will sell my first born for:
+ A new Dark Cloud entry. Hnnnnnnnnnngh.
+ The. Last. Mother. *******. Guardian.

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Nintendo
"My body is ready"


And then there was Nintendo. In true Nintendo fashion, the company has decided to forgo the traditional E3 conference this year, instead focusing on an online presentation that just so happens to take place during E3 week. Naysayers chalk this up to the Big N having nothing worth showing this year, though the confirmed titles to be shown alone have the potential to run away with the show.

The Wii U hasn't had a good 2013 so far. And it's not hard to explain why. There are simply no games. People buy Nintendo consoles for the AAA first party entries into franchises we've come to know and love over the past three decades. At the moment, there are exactly zero on the console (NSMBU, while good, doesn't count).

But that's changing. For those doubting Nintendo's ability to turn a console around, one has to look no farther than the success story that is the 3DS. And with his job on the line, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata is going to make some magic happen, or at least go down swinging.

Confirmed for E3 (Nintendo Direct, whatever, it's your E3 conference, okay?) so far include sequels to the massively popular 3D Super Mario franchise, the latest Super Smash Brothers entry, as well as a new Mario Kart. You know, that game that sold 34 million copies last gen?

Also in the works is the latest from Retro Studios, a developer who to date has yet to release a game anything short of amazing. Their latest project was set to be the grand finale for Nintendo's conference last year, but was pulled at the last minute and replaced with the now infamous fireworks of Nintendoland. Ugh. With another year spent on development, expectations are running at an absolute all time high.

Worth noting too are the long teased The Wonderful 101, Monolith's X (successor to the most critically acclaimed JRPG last generation), Nintendo funded Bayonetta 2, the new Zelda game for the 3DS and a Yoshi Story sequel, though whether or not all these titles will be shown remains up in the air.

Even with the launch of new consoles by Microsoft and Sony, if Nintendo play their cards right it's entirely possible that the Wii U will be the showstealer this year.

Oh, and there's an hour and a half roundtable event on the new Pokemon games.

Expectations:
+ Fanboys arguing over new Smash Bros roster
+ New Mario in 60FPS 1080p will be as glorious as it sounds
- No Zelda U. Concept art and a name at the absolute most

Hopes:
+ Pokemon Snap using the gamepad. Someone make this happen.
+ Miyamoto reveals new IP that he's been working on

Will sell my first born for:
+ Nintendo buy back the rights to Banjo Kazooie from Microsoft and let Retro have their way with it.

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God damn, I love Banjo Kazooie. I got exams to cram for, next blog will be detailing some more of my misadventures!