Nintendo E3 2012 Predictions: ZI Staff Edition

Nintendo E3 2012 Predictions: ZI Staff Edition

May 26 2012 by Alex Plant

This E3’s a huge one for Nintendo since they need to establish a terrific brand image for Wii U like they did for Wii back in 2006. The lines were pretty massive for the demos last year, but will Nintendo be able to court the same energy this time around? We know third parties have a lot coming, but what about the Big N themselves?

With a little over a week left before Nintendo’s E3 2012 press conference kicks off, it’s time for We Olde ZI Staffpeople to hedge our advance guesses for what we’ll see announced this year. Will the first-party Wii U launch lineup impress? Or will we be left waiting for all the good stuff next year? Will any of Nintendo’s big franchises show up on 3DS? Will Zelda make an appearance on either system? (We know both are in development.) Most importantly, will Nintendo rock the show and let gamers know how serious they are?

And please, feel free to share your own predictions in the comments!
Nintendo’s Set to Blow Our Socks Off - Alex Plant

I think it’s safe to say that Nintendo’s going to be able to pull out all the stops this year. Last year was good, but I think we can all agree that there wasn’t a whole lot of new software shown. Skyward Sword was announced in 2010, and on the 3DS side we’d known about Ocarina of Time, Kid Icarus, Mario Kart, Star Fox, and most of the other stuff shown for a good long time. The only real wildcards were Super Mario 3D Land, Luigi’s Mansion 2 and the Wii U. Given how little “new” software showed up, there’s no doubt that Nintendo’s studios have been busy readying a satisfying lineup for the new home system.

The question remains: what games will we see? We already know that New Super Mario Bros. is coming to both 3DS and Wii U, so those will be big attractions. All the unreleased pieces of the 3DS catalog, like Paper Mario and Luigi’s Mansion, will likely see release dates sometime in the summer or fall. We’ll definitely see Pikmin 3 and probably Wii U Sports. The rest, however, is a mystery.

Here are my guesses, though:

A Major Game to Appease the ‘Hardcore’ Appetite

Nintendo has historically been content to let third-parties handle the “gamer games,” things like shooters and action games. I think that’ll change this year; they need to reinforce their internal image with their own software offerings in this department. But what kind of game will Nintendo bring to fill this niche? If I had to put my money on something, I’d say Metroid. We know Retro Studios, the minds and talent behind Metroid Prime, are already working on something that “everyone wants us to do” - and at the end of the day the only thing that really fits that bill is Metroid.

If Metroid does show up, I think it’ll take a form more similar to (if not derived directly from) the Prime games. The original Metroid Prime was the most popular and highly-acclaimed game in the franchise, and I think that if Nintendo’s been paying attention at all this last decade they’re sure to be well aware of that fact. I’m curious to see whether a new Metroid would also borrow from Other M; however, I think that the carryover from this game will be minimal due to its poor market performance.

After the catastrophic failure of Other M, it’d only make sense for Nintendo to hand the reins back to the company that did it best - and since it’s been a year-and-a-half since Retro’s last major project, one can only wonder what they’ve been up to…

I could also see Star Fox making a return. The series totally skipped out on Wii, and the Wii U controller and online capabilities could supply some interesting gameplay.

A Day at the Races

With Nintendo’s love of local multiplayer, some kind of racing game experience is a must for a successful hardware launch - and to give the system a solid online experience. Since Mario Kart 7 just wrapped up last year (and under a tight deadline!), I think it’s pretty unlikely that Nintendo’s got another one already in the works. And you know what that means: a new F-Zero.

F-Zero would make a nice complement to a new Metroid game and reinforce a bit of an edge with the system’s lineup. It helps that the franchise is revered as one of the most solid and challenging racing games of all time. All it needs is a good kick into the world of online, and it could become truly huge compared to its predecessors. (Just look at Mario Kart on DS and Wii!)

But the other thing that has me wondering: could the re-release of F-Zero Maximum Velocity on the 3DS Virtual Console (via the Ambassador Program) have been a clue? Often the decision to release legacy titles via download coincides with something else going on with that property in-house. We’ll see what happens for ourselves when E3 rolls around.

Pokémon Wii U

Since the Nintendo 64, every Nintendo system has had its way for players to battle it out with their Pokémon on their TV screens - and Wii U will be no different. With Black & White 2 due out later this year, it’s about time for an update. Nintendo’s behind by a whole generation!

To truly maximize on this game’s potential, Nintendo’s going to need to give the single and multiplayer functionality a huge boost. From what I hear Battle Revolution was pretty abhorrent if you didn’t have a ready-made team on your Diamond or Pearl Version, and I think that’s something that needs to be addressed. What happened to the massive rental selection from the Stadium games? The terrific Cup matches, Gym Leader Castle, and the GameBoy Tower? All of these features could do to be brought back in some form - and there’s no better time to do it.

Zelda: The Teasers Continue

A lot of people seem to think that this is just a pipe dream, that to really develop HD Zelda means years of work before something worth showing comes out. I don’t see why it should be. Back in the days of the GameCube, we got the SpaceWorld 2000 demo, and then the next year, we got a concept trailer for The Wind Waker. I don’t expect anything more than that this year - although I think that if Nintendo wants to really impress, they should aim more for what they achieved with the Twilight Princess reveal or the Zelda HD Experience.

Of course, we’ve had this discussion already. Suffice to say that I don’t expect anything more than a minute-long teaser showing off some basic concept - Twilight Princess‘s sweeping vistas and horseback combat were simple enough while delivering a solid message to the fans: Link’s all grown-up, and back in style.

As for Zelda on 3DS: we got a hint that it was already in the works last fall. Depending on what else Nintendo has up their sleeves for 3DS, we may or may not see it this year. Since we don’t know of any major blockbuster titles coming out this year aside from New Super Mario Bros. 2, it’s pretty certain that Nintendo’s going to have to announce something for the little handheld, and what better to keep the drive going than a brand-new Zelda?

A New IP for a New Generation

One thing I’m certain is true is that Nintendo’s going to have something brand-new up their sleeves. I just don’t know what that is. Will it be a fantasy RPG, something from Monolith Soft? A beat-em-up action title? Some kind of MMO experience? The sky’s the limit - we haven’t seen anything truly new outside of Wii Fit on a home system in a pretty long time, not since Pikmin in the days of the GameCube. I think Nintendo’s long overdue for another brand-new hit.

Pre-Installed Software for Wii U

3DS included a couple pre-installed apps right out of the box: Face Raiders and AR Games. I think Wii U will follow suit, except this time the pack-in software will have less to do with AR and more to do with the Wii U’s unique features. Some kind of multiplayer experience showcasing the incongruous gameplay between the Wii U tablet and the Wii Remotes would I think be ideal, and there’s no better candidate for that than Chase Mii.

I’ll admit, I’m heavily biased towards the game - it was my favorite Wii U demo at last year’s E3 - so part of my thinking here is based on my desire for wish fulfillment: Chase Mii upgraded into a full game, with multiple maps, online play, and all the bells and whistles that people expect from Wii U multiplay.

I also think that Nintendo’s going to include a web browser, chat service, and download shop right from the start. That was one of the biggest complaints with 3DS - it felt unfinished, and only months later did it achieve its promised potential. And since Nintendo’s adamant about avoiding the slow start the 3DS suffered, it’s essential that they release a truly “finished” system.

Launch Games: Mario, Pikmin, and Wii Sports + One Edgy Game

For the launch, I predict Nintendo will ready Mario, Pikmin, and some variation on Wii Sports... plus one game tailored to the hardcore crowd. This may be the time for Metroid to shine again; it may be time for a new IP to show everybody Nintendo’s serious about developing for the gamers they ignored last generation. But I think it’s clear: Nintendo’s going to need a well-rounded first-party launch lineup, and that means Mario (the game that put Nintendo on the map), Pikmin (a game that exhibits Nintendo’s creativity), Wii Sports (a game for the masses), and something to feed the ‘hardcore.’

Wii U: E3 and Beyond - Alex Schmitz

I think Nintendo has the potential to make this E3 one of their best ever, much like the Wii U has the potential to be one of their best launches ever. We know that Mario and Pikmin 3 will be shown at the conference, most likely as launch games. I think Nintendo will announce some sort of Wii Sports-like game, maybe to be bundled with the Wii U. The game with the biggest potential is definitely whatever Retro’s been working on, whether it’s Metroid, a crossover with Star Fox, or Zelda. Those games could excite the “hardcore” gamer audience to get excited for the Wii U.

Given how successful the Zelda tech demo was last year, I wouldn’t be surprised if Nintendo showed off another HD Zelda trailer of some sort, although there’s no way it will be footage from the game they are currently developing. We know that Nintendo will not be announcing the launch date or price at E3, perhaps at TGS or their own announcement event. When they do announce the price, I think it will be between $300-$400. I can’t see Nintendo launching this console at the same price as the Wii and they’d be crazy to price it above $400 when the other consoles will be around $250 or maybe even cheaper.

Overall though, I’m super excited for Nintendo at E3 this year. There is so much unknown about the Wii U, and the future of the 3DS for that matter, so Nintendo has the opportunity to really surprise us with some great announcements or reveals of technology.

Now is the Time for Nintendo to Strike - Andrew Nardi

I think gamers need to keep an eye on which software titles are going to be pulling the E3 event for each of the three big companies. Chances are, Microsoft are going to be making announcements about their new home consoles at the event and Nintendo will be going all-out with information on the Wii U’s tablet controller and other capabilities. Typically however, Microsoft have always won the show over with an impressive software title destined for the Xbox 360, and Nintendo has often lost momentum in this race by lacking “wow” factor with Wii games.

But this year, the Wii U is set to be the most powerful console displaying software at the show. I think it might be too early for Microsoft to have any polished content for their new home console, so when you get down to the nitty-gritty, the Wii U could potentially show off the most blockbuster software. It all depends how Nintendo has played their cards with their own first-party development teams, as well as how they’ve encouraged third-parties to make use of the Wii U’s power. Absolutely, this coming E3 is Nintendo’s time to strike, and strike hard. They need to show off content that will win western gamers over - with fresh, intuitive new games, an integrated online system and appealing content. But with all of that, I think we can expect to see some incredible software content from Retro Studios, Ubisoft, Nintendo and beyond. I pray for Pikmin! I pray for F-Zero!

Of course, we’ve also got the 3DS powering along better than ever, and we can expect to see some playable demos of Luigi’s Mansion 2, Paper Mario, Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem. Hopefully we’ll run into some trailers for some new content as well. It’s about time the 3DS scored itself some more exciting third-party content, but seeing Zelda 3DS would be most pleasurable as well… we can only hope. Nonetheless, it’s only a matter of time before Nintendo blow our proverbial socks off!

Keeping Expectations Low - Breana Melvin

I always lower my expectations before events like E3. If I allow myself to become excited, my expectations will always overshadow reality, and I’ll walk away disappointed. This is certainly is the case with E3 2012, expect with this year’s E3 I’ve convinced myself that nothing of interest (at least to me) will be revealed.

With Nintendo’s presentation, we can pretty much guess how it’s going to go down. We know they’ll hype up the Wii U and 3DS like nobody’s business, which they should do, and we know that they’re going to do so with a yet unannounced Mario title, Pikmin 3, and various already announced and unannounced 3DS titles.

Based on everything we’ve heard in the last year concerning the Wii U, I feel like the entire Wii U portion of Nintendo’s presentation is just going to be a confirmation of what we’ve already been hearing, along with some long-awaited technical specifications that will silence the Wii U nay-sayers. Rather than being excited for how the Wii U will surprise me, I’m more fearful of Nintendo finally revealing the Wii U’s fatal flaw. So the Wii U will really have to be something special to get my inner fangirl going, especially since I have no plans on purchasing it until a couple years after launch.

As for Wii U software, I couldn’t care less about Mario (I have not enjoyed a Mario title since Super Mario Bros. 3, and I doubt that will ever change) and I never got into Pikmin. I doubt they will show much beyond these titles (I sense a lot of third-party talk headed our way), but they certainly will announce what first-party titles they have up their sleeve for 2013. It’s hard to say what these games might be, but I’m hoping for Star Fox (it could really utilize the Wii U controller well). I’m also excited to finally figure out what Retro has been working on for Nintendo.

I’d say I’m crossing my fingers for a Metroid Wii U, but I think it stands a better chance coming out on the 3DS first, especially after Other M‘s less than successful run. As for other 3DS software, we know they’ll be showing off Luigi’s Mansion 2 and Animal Crossing, but I’d think we’ll finally get some localization announcements for games such as Fire Emblem: Awakening. I do not think anything will be shown for Zelda 3DS beyond a single piece of concept art (like what happened with Skyward Sword three years back).

However, all this being said, I think Nintendo’s still going to walk away the victor this year. It’s hard to beat a new console, and Microsoft and Sony don’t have much, at least out of the ordinary, going for them right now.

Seeing is Believing - Brian Scheid

I tend to be the person who has to see it to believe it. I’m always taking rumors with a grain of salt and have never put much faith in predictions of E3 announcements, that doesn’t mean I don’t have my own predictions though. Nintendo has learned its lesson from the 3DS’s launch and is focused on making sure that doesn’t happen again and as stated numerous times before, the Wii U’s launch line-up will blow us away.

Obviously, Mario and Pikmin 3 are going to appear at E3, considering that Mario is pivotal to the Wii U’s launch, and what I hope to see out of both of these games is online multiplayer. Let’s face it, no one wants to go visit a friend just to sit down and play Super Mario Bros. on your Wii and even your family members don’t want to play with you half the time, but that’s just it, you do! What better way to fix this than by including online multiplayer.

Mario Kart on the Wii had excellent online multiplayer and it gives me great hope for future Wii U titles with online capabilities. I don’t think we’ll see a Mario Kart game at E3 this year, next year, definitely, but for now I think Nintendo would rather focus on a single Mario title for the Wii U, especially if they want to meet the Wii U’s launch.

If you’ve ever played Pikmin 2 then you know there was a multiplayer function, it was short but it was also a small taste of what could be. Simply adding multiplayer, campaign or versus, can add a lot of replay value to a game, if it’s executed properly, something Nintendo should be able to pull off with little to no problem.

I don’t see Nintendo showing anything related to Zelda or Smash Bros. considering that both are only under a year in development, or at least Zelda 3DS is believed to be a year under development. They may announce something pertaining to both, but whatever it is, I just don’t see a trailer.

Whatever Retro is working on, I can’t wait to see, is it Metroid? Is it Star Fox? Is it a crossover or something entirely new altogether? Luigi’s Mansion 2 and Animal Crossing will appear and I know my sister is really looking forward to Animal Crossing on the 3DS. I hope to see at least one or two new IP’s from Nintendo though and I expect to hear a localization announcement on Fire Emblem Awakening for North America.

What I’d like to see from 3rd party developers are new games developed specifically for the Wii U and discussion on how games like Assassin’s Creed III will utilize the tablet controller to its fullest potential. For any game simply being ported to the Wii U, like Batman: Arkham City, I want to know whether or not we’ll be getting the bare-bones version or a Special/Game of the Year edition, containing new content with improved controls and visuals. I do hope they remove that awful boxart if they do give us the GotY edition or Arkham City though.

I’m looking forward to see what Ubisoft announces, a confirmation of Beyond Good & Evil 2 on the Wii U would pretty much make this a good E3 in my book, but I also can’t wait to see some new footage of Assassin’s Creed III and Killer Freaks From Outer Space. Like with previous E3 announcements, I hope Assassin’s Creed III has a beautiful CG trailer.

I’m also looking forward to see if anything new from Metro: Last Light is shown, and if any other games like Devil May Cry, Tomb Raider, and Metal Gear Rising Revengeance are going to see a Wii U release, but I’m doubtful at this point. I don’t expect to see any fighting games like Street Fighter or Blaz Blue announced for the Wii U however.

As for the Wii U, I don’t see a name change for the system, in fact a name change has pretty much been denied as of yesterday and the Wii U logo is even on Dev Kit controllers. I expect to hear something about updated specs and I think Nintendo will focus more on the console instead of the controller unlike last year’s E3.

Launch Games Now, Zelda Later - Dylan James

I’m predicting a grand blow-out of massive proportions. Nintendo knows they need to kick this off with a bang - they simply cannot afford another tapered-down, calm showing of the system like last year. They need to give a veritable explosion of games, apps, etc. - and I think they’re going to deliver, solely on the virtue that they have to.

Now, on the games front: as this is a Zelda site, I think it prudent to mention it first, and I think we won’t be seeing anything from the series this year (outside of the Wii U tech demo which will most certainly make a return). I’d expect an announcement of a new Zelda on the 3DS this coming GDC when the Wii U is already out and the storm’s died down a bit - but nothing soon. You can bet we will see a new Mario and Retro Studios’ long-awaited top secret project as Nintendo launch titles for the Wii U, and who knows what third-party support outside of those already announced or surmised.

Nintendo Joins Hardcore and Casual in the Middle - Elijah Holt

As Alex Plant has already stated, Nintendo’s showing at E3 last year was far from exciting. Sure, we saw Luigi’s Mansion 2, but other than that, last year was basically a snore-fest. Surely Nintendo’s got something cooking for us for E3 2012, right?

Nintendo’s conference is going to be all about joining hardcore and casual gaming; that is the goal of the Wii U after all. They will be trying to make their systems appeal to both of these audiences by revealing games that appeal to them (some games may even appeal to both)

So, here are my predictions (sans obvious titles like Pikmin 3 and 2D Mario).

Multiplayer: Taking Casual Games and Elevating Them for the Wii U

Today’s hardcore gamers are all about online gaming, and this is how Nintendo can take many of their traditional franchises and make them appeal to hardcore gamers. One easy way to do this would be to use a game that has already made this jump, such as Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. I don’t see Mario Kart making an appearance on the Wii U for a few years (a F-Zero with online racing instead, perhaps?), but we know that Smash Bros. is in production, almost assuredly with new and improved online features.

If Nintendo really wants to draw in hardcore gamers, they’ll have at least one first-party shooter ready for launch. Retro is likely handling the shooter, which I predict to be a Metroid game. I do not know if it will be a continuation of the Prime storyline (it was a trilogy; I don’t understand fans that are still searching for Prime 4), but I don’t think the story will be Nintendo’s major focus. A multiplayer mode akin to the online mode in Kid Icarus: Uprising, either in first or third-person, would be huge for the title. If Nintendo does this right, Metroid could be their own Halo.

Heavy-Hitters: Tried and True Franchises

I’m all for a new IP from Nintendo (I believe Shiggy supposedly has one underway), but I don’t know if now is quite the time for its debut. If Nintendo wants to sell the Wii U, the best way is to use franchises that it already has and save a new IP for a year or two after launch.

That being said, I don’t think we’ll be seeing much out of the heaviest hitters of the bunch for Wii U titles: Zelda and Mario. At the most, they may have a trailer for one of these games. I see a Metroid game (see above) and a Pokemon game (who knows what kind it could be) coming out at launch or very early in the console’s life, and Pikmin 3 is almost assuredly a launch title.

I think that the handheld side of the presentation will show more Zelda love. I predict a trailer for Zelda 3DS, as well as possibly a remake of A Link to the Past. I also think that Pokemon Black and White 2, along with their associated 3DS applications, will make a showing as well.

Third-Parties: Make It or Break It

While I don’t think that third party games will take up a large chunk of time at the conference (they will likely have a montage video similar to last year’s), I think that they could be the focal point of the Wii U’s success and for the furthering of the 3DS. Black Ops II would be huge for the Wii U, as would Professor Layton, Ace Attorney, and Castlevania for the 3DS.

Another Milestone: Happy 20th Anniversary Kirby

2012 marks the 20th anniversary for Kirby, and I think that we will see something to celebrate this milestone. I don’t think it will be a grand spectacle like last year for Zelda’s 25th anniversary, but I expect that there could be a compilation game for Wii and/or 3DS of Kirby’s classic titles, as well as some Virtual Console releases on the Wii, 3DS, and Wii U at launch. A new Kirby title could also be revealed for the Wii or 3DS (although I find this to be unlikely, as we got Mass Attack and Return to Dreamland last year).

Giving the Wii U Life: Launch Titles

One of the major things I see coming from E3 are at least a few first-party launch titles for the Wii U. I am almost positive that New Super Mario Bros. and Pikmin 3 will be launch titles. I also think that there will be some sort of Wii U Sports title or a compilation of the minigames shown at E3 last year that will be bundled with the system at launch. Whatever Retro is working on will launch with the system, as well as plenty of third-party titles.

Nintendo is in it to Win it - Nathanial Rumphol-Janc

For the a year now we have had all this time to mull over what exactly the Wii U means. Terrible name? Maybe. Not powerful enough to be truly next gen? I don’t know. What I do know is Nintendo is getting the sort of head start on this next generation that the Xbox 360 had on the last. The PS3 was technically superior to the 360, but also harder to develop for leaving games mostly looking the same on both platforms. Could that be the case with the Wii U compared to the competition? Fact remains, this is definitely the year of the Wii U, and while we will likely see a handful of impressive 3DS titles, fact remains this E3 is all about Nintendo selling their new console to the people who actually pay attention to E3

Best Launch Lineup Ever

Nintendo learned the hard way with the 3DS that in the end, cool technology doesn’t just sell itself. We already know about a slew of massive 3rd party titles that should be available at launch.

That means games such as Darksiders II, Assassin’s Creed III, Just Dance 4 (likely), Killer Freaks from Outer Space (likely), Madden 2013 (matters because it’s the first true return of the series since the GCN days), among a ton of other heavy hitters (if a new Call of Duty comes out, of course it’s heading to the Wii U). However, outside of the Killer Freaks game in that list, none of those are exclusive.

However, I think there is a slew of 3rd party games coming we haven’t seen yet, games that are only available on the Wii U. That’s not even getting into the first party selection, which I bet will pleasantly surprise. Nintendo is going to come out guns blazing this winter to try and steal the holiday season away. Could this be there best launch lineup ever? I’m counting on it.

New “Core” IP Reveal

I don’t know what Nintendo has cooking for a game to entice gamers that play other platforms, but I what I am certain of is the fact Nintendo has something cooking just for that crowd. Is it the game Retro is working on? I don’t know, but I fully expect to see some new IP targeting the more serious gamer that none of us see coming. We also have to recall that Miyamoto himself stated he was working on a new “core” IP some years ago, and it’s possible we finally see the reveal of potentially one of Miyamoto’s last great contributions in creating yet another franchise.

Pikmin 3 Stuns Everyone

Pikmin is an endearing franchise that may appeal to a niche crowd of RPG element players, but I think the realism of the environments we will be presented with will simply blow everyone away. I am not so sure we will see a demo, but a full blown Pikmin 3 trailer is a must. They mentioned the game specifically last year, and we know some work was done on it previously for other platforms. This is the year we will finally see what is cooking with this game, and why the Wii U platform was worth the wait.

Final Tech Specs Ahoy

We may not see a price or a release date (possibly a target release month however), but that’s only because Nintendo wants to gauge the excitement level at this event and it’s aftermath before determining those final calls, which I do expect to be announced within 45 days of the big event (aka, 45 days after E3). What I do expect to see is the final specifications for the console revealed, since at this point it’s too late to be making big changes to the hardware when it’s set to release in about five months or so.

I think we may also be surprised to find that Nintendo may be offering two versions of the console depending upon “flash memory size”. I do not presently know the limitations of flash memory for size capability, but I’ve seen some flash memory tech reach several gigs - upwards of 60+. I think we will see a bottom line 8 to 16gb flash memory version, and a more upper end 30 to 60gb flash memory version that will cost 50$ or so more. Of course, support for external hard drives and stuff makes it a mute situation, but we all know that with online becoming a big deal and digital downloads becoming a major factor, they likely have to have at least one version of the console that can actually handle a good amount of downloadable content. Two versions of a console is not unheard of, it’s just never been truly done by Nintendo outside of minor redesigns (Famicom to NES, etc).

Nintendo Will Unveil Full Online Functionality - Will Blow Our Minds

Up to this point all we have heard about the online capabilities is that the Wii U can do whatever the other consoles can do. At least, in terms of running online matches for third party titles. We haven’t heard any confirmation about universal accounts, lobbies, achievements systems, gamertags, or any of that fun stuff. We also haven’t heard if the system they do use will be free, and if it will actually be a step up from what we get from other consoles. Nintendo this year I feel spends a good 10 to 20 minutes just talking about how robust and how much better their online system is… and more importantly I expect them to announce the system is absolutely free. Nintendo likely will make a small chunk of change off anything purchased on their online system, and that more than makes up for not charging a subscription fee. Besides, the best things in life are free right?

Nintendo has gone to outside sources to help develop their online system, as they admitted last year they are too far behind in the field to truly compete. The 3DS Shop has gone under several major changes since release that may have already reflected some of the big things coming to the Wii U side. Still, the 3DS online system is not up to snuff with what serious gamers are use to, so the Wii U must impress online players right away. No matter who helped Nintendo develop the system (my fingers are crossed that valve had a hand in it), I think Nintendo will have nailed it on the head because they don’t have a choice. They must impress now, or forever lose consumer faith that Nintendo can handle a fully capable online future

Zelda Will be Mentioned

We always want to see more Zelda, especially something like a minor trailer for the Wii U. However, I think what we will instead see is some conversation about the first true 3DS entry. I would love, like Alex Plant stated, to see a small teaser trailer for the Wii U just to get people all in a tizzy, but reality sets in that I don’t see that coming just yet.

However, I think major progress on a 3DS title has been done, and we may in fact see a small reveal trailer as part of a minor portion of 3DS talk during their conference. Who knows, maybe we get a teaser trailer for both, maybe even showing cross functionality! They don’t need to do anything major here or even tease us with a launch year. Anything will just about do it to get people buzzing.

Nintendo Will Surprise Us

It’s not much of a stretch to say we will be surprised, but I don’t want to make a new headline for every game I think Nintendo is going to touch base on. I think a new Metroid for the Wii U could be unveiled, and to the shock of many… a sequel to Mario Galaxy. Didn’t see that coming did you? Nintendo is bound and determined to make the Wii U huge, and that includes great software out the gate plus a contingency plan of solid releases through the first twelve months.

As for the 3DS side of things, I think we may see a few surprises. I don’t think the 3DS will be a major focus this year, but I expect at least five new titles shown off at some point during E3. Nintendo just knows this is the year of the Wii U, and while the 3DS is important, right now no one from a serious gaming perspective cares about the console when the Wii U is all the buzz.

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