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E3 week is finally upon us, which means press conferences for Microsoft on Monday and for Nintendo and Sony on Tuesday. Until we can see what those three actually have in store, though, we decided to take a look at the biggest rumors from each company going into E3. We’ve dug through the Internet, gathered the evidence, and made up our minds on whether or not we think these big events are in the works.
Rumor: Microsoft to Introduce a Motion-Sensing Controller
With Nintendo and Sony both implementing motion-control to their latest consoles, Microsoft is already a little behind the curve of the industry’s direction...in controller technology at least. We first heard rumors that the controller, codenamed "Newton," had been in development since August. The rumor went on to speculate that Microsoft licensed patents from Gyration for the device, the same company behind the Wiimote’s motion-sensing capabilities.
Rather than slowly dying the way false rumors usually do, this one has spawned various new bits of speculation. When word surfaced of a new user interface for the Xbox 360, it was purported to be gesture-based, with rumblings that Schematic, the design group that imagined the computer interfaces for the sci-fi movie Minority Report, would be helming the new project. More recently, a preview trailer for Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts stoked the fire when the video commentator, Ken Lobb, mentioned twisting the controller. The preview seemed to show Kazooie herself twisting a traditional-looking Xbox 360 controller as well, and for many that settled it. Microsoft has since flatly denied this evidence, saying Lobb was only referring to the left analog stick.
And late last week, Gizmodo reported on a motion-control device (also supposedly codenamed Newton, pictured above) in development from Motus. If this is in fact the mystery controller Microsoft plans on unveiling, it’s quite intriguing, as it has several distinct differences from Nintendo’s Wii-mote and Sony’s Sixaxis. For one, no motion sensor strips are required -- the company describes it as "self-contained" -- and it can function as a single longer wand-like device or be split into two smaller controllers, leading to a number of interesting possibilities.
Chances are that Microsoft’s legendary motion-sensing controller is really in development -- whether it comes in the same form as Motus’s wand or as something else entirely -- but the GUI and Banjo rumors may be only that. Still, if the controller has been in development since last August, a full year could be long enough to start showing off the goods.
Rumor: God of War III Will Be Revealed at E3
Kratos has been busy enough this year starring in the acclaimed God of War: Chains of Olympus for PSP, but his all-too-short portable outing was only enough to leave hardcore fans salivating for more. When will the brutal protagonist break out for his own PlayStation 3 adventure and leave the masses pleased?
We may find out next week. True, the prospect of a God of War sequel eventually being released for the PlayStation 3 falls into the "no brainer" realm. Through a pair of PlayStation 2 classics, the PSP prequel, and even a bite-sized mobile iteration, the franchise has consistently proven to be one of the best-selling and most beloved PlayStation franchises to date -- all of this within the last three-odd years.
Luckily, we don’t have to assume. Earlier this spring, when we first received our final retail copies of God of War: Chains of Olympus, we discovered a teaser image on the back of the instruction manual (pictured above) -- one that featured the iconic omega character with the PS3 logo and the words "Coming Soon." Fans will recall it was a nearly-identical teaser on the God of War II instruction manual that revealed the PSP iteration, which was formally announced about a month and a half later.
It’s been more than a month and a half this time around, but it’s been plenty long enough -- it’s time for Sony to spill the beans on its next action blockbuster. And given the tradition displayed by the previous franchise iterations, we wouldn’t be surprised to see God of War III drop in March 2009 -- precisely two years following God of War II, which shipped two years to the month after the original. Then again, Quartermann predicted we’d see both God of War III and Gears of War 2 this holiday season. And with one of those exclusives already gearing up for release later this year, perhaps Sony will make a big holiday splash with the other.
Rumor: Nintendo Will Announce Kid Icarus Wii
As one of the very few characters in the voluminous Nintendo stable to still be awaiting a return engagement on the home console front, a new Kid Icarus title is long overdue. Nintendo responded to popular demand by taking Pit out of mothballs for an appearance in Super Smash Brothers Brawl, but fans are ever hungry, and they want more. Will Nintendo finally reveal the long-sought-after Kid Icarus revival this year?
Back in March, Nintendo COO Reggie Fils-Aime said that the House of Mario would be "unveiling the whole second half" during E3. He also promised that Nintendo hadn’t abandoned the core gamer, and that there would be a "big game for the holidays that the gamers will want." Most of the speculation from these comments has focused on Factor 5, the studio behind Lair and the Rogue Squadron series. Coming off a difficult stint with Lair on the PlayStation 3, Factor 5 announced that they were developing two new Wii games in January. By May, rumored concept art was making its way around the blogs, and it appeared that Pit’s waggle-oriented return was imminent. There hasn’t been any announcement yet, but a new Kid Icarus title would make a nice one-two punch alongside the extremely likely Animal Crossing sequel.
However, if a new Kid Icarus is really announced at E3 this year, it may not be for the coming holiday season. If the rumors are true, then Kid Icarus Wii hasn’t been in development for very long, which could mean that fans will have to wait until Q2 2009 for a potential release. Assuming that Animal Crossing Wii is Nintendo’s anchor during the upcoming holiday season, a Factor 5-helmed Kid Icarus would make for a solid summer release. On the other hand, hardcore Nintendo fans have pleaded for a new Pit-starring adventure for ages, and Nintendo has never delivered. With their new-found focus on casual gamers, maybe it’s jumping to a pretty hefty conclusion to assume they’ll revive such an obscure franchise now.
Credits: SYN Chandler XL, 1UP
Rumor: Microsoft to Introduce a Motion-Sensing Controller
With Nintendo and Sony both implementing motion-control to their latest consoles, Microsoft is already a little behind the curve of the industry’s direction...in controller technology at least. We first heard rumors that the controller, codenamed "Newton," had been in development since August. The rumor went on to speculate that Microsoft licensed patents from Gyration for the device, the same company behind the Wiimote’s motion-sensing capabilities.
Rather than slowly dying the way false rumors usually do, this one has spawned various new bits of speculation. When word surfaced of a new user interface for the Xbox 360, it was purported to be gesture-based, with rumblings that Schematic, the design group that imagined the computer interfaces for the sci-fi movie Minority Report, would be helming the new project. More recently, a preview trailer for Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts stoked the fire when the video commentator, Ken Lobb, mentioned twisting the controller. The preview seemed to show Kazooie herself twisting a traditional-looking Xbox 360 controller as well, and for many that settled it. Microsoft has since flatly denied this evidence, saying Lobb was only referring to the left analog stick.
And late last week, Gizmodo reported on a motion-control device (also supposedly codenamed Newton, pictured above) in development from Motus. If this is in fact the mystery controller Microsoft plans on unveiling, it’s quite intriguing, as it has several distinct differences from Nintendo’s Wii-mote and Sony’s Sixaxis. For one, no motion sensor strips are required -- the company describes it as "self-contained" -- and it can function as a single longer wand-like device or be split into two smaller controllers, leading to a number of interesting possibilities.
Chances are that Microsoft’s legendary motion-sensing controller is really in development -- whether it comes in the same form as Motus’s wand or as something else entirely -- but the GUI and Banjo rumors may be only that. Still, if the controller has been in development since last August, a full year could be long enough to start showing off the goods.
Rumor: God of War III Will Be Revealed at E3
Kratos has been busy enough this year starring in the acclaimed God of War: Chains of Olympus for PSP, but his all-too-short portable outing was only enough to leave hardcore fans salivating for more. When will the brutal protagonist break out for his own PlayStation 3 adventure and leave the masses pleased?
We may find out next week. True, the prospect of a God of War sequel eventually being released for the PlayStation 3 falls into the "no brainer" realm. Through a pair of PlayStation 2 classics, the PSP prequel, and even a bite-sized mobile iteration, the franchise has consistently proven to be one of the best-selling and most beloved PlayStation franchises to date -- all of this within the last three-odd years.
Luckily, we don’t have to assume. Earlier this spring, when we first received our final retail copies of God of War: Chains of Olympus, we discovered a teaser image on the back of the instruction manual (pictured above) -- one that featured the iconic omega character with the PS3 logo and the words "Coming Soon." Fans will recall it was a nearly-identical teaser on the God of War II instruction manual that revealed the PSP iteration, which was formally announced about a month and a half later.
It’s been more than a month and a half this time around, but it’s been plenty long enough -- it’s time for Sony to spill the beans on its next action blockbuster. And given the tradition displayed by the previous franchise iterations, we wouldn’t be surprised to see God of War III drop in March 2009 -- precisely two years following God of War II, which shipped two years to the month after the original. Then again, Quartermann predicted we’d see both God of War III and Gears of War 2 this holiday season. And with one of those exclusives already gearing up for release later this year, perhaps Sony will make a big holiday splash with the other.
Rumor: Nintendo Will Announce Kid Icarus Wii
As one of the very few characters in the voluminous Nintendo stable to still be awaiting a return engagement on the home console front, a new Kid Icarus title is long overdue. Nintendo responded to popular demand by taking Pit out of mothballs for an appearance in Super Smash Brothers Brawl, but fans are ever hungry, and they want more. Will Nintendo finally reveal the long-sought-after Kid Icarus revival this year?
Back in March, Nintendo COO Reggie Fils-Aime said that the House of Mario would be "unveiling the whole second half" during E3. He also promised that Nintendo hadn’t abandoned the core gamer, and that there would be a "big game for the holidays that the gamers will want." Most of the speculation from these comments has focused on Factor 5, the studio behind Lair and the Rogue Squadron series. Coming off a difficult stint with Lair on the PlayStation 3, Factor 5 announced that they were developing two new Wii games in January. By May, rumored concept art was making its way around the blogs, and it appeared that Pit’s waggle-oriented return was imminent. There hasn’t been any announcement yet, but a new Kid Icarus title would make a nice one-two punch alongside the extremely likely Animal Crossing sequel.
However, if a new Kid Icarus is really announced at E3 this year, it may not be for the coming holiday season. If the rumors are true, then Kid Icarus Wii hasn’t been in development for very long, which could mean that fans will have to wait until Q2 2009 for a potential release. Assuming that Animal Crossing Wii is Nintendo’s anchor during the upcoming holiday season, a Factor 5-helmed Kid Icarus would make for a solid summer release. On the other hand, hardcore Nintendo fans have pleaded for a new Pit-starring adventure for ages, and Nintendo has never delivered. With their new-found focus on casual gamers, maybe it’s jumping to a pretty hefty conclusion to assume they’ll revive such an obscure franchise now.
Credits: SYN Chandler XL, 1UP
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