Nintendo Wii Forums   Nintendo Wii Forum

E3 2007 – Wii Predictions

This is a discussion on E3 2007 – Wii Predictions within the Nintendo Wii Articles forums, part of the Latest Nintendo Wii News category; Well, it's that time of year again. As I write this, it's barely a few days before the annual E3 show which the gaming industry ...



Go Back   Nintendo Wii Forum > Nintendo Wii News > Latest Nintendo Wii News > Nintendo Wii Articles

Nintendo Wii Articles Exclusive WiiChat.com features and editorial articles for the Nintendo Wii console.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-09-2007, 01:16 PM   #1
Member
 
Corey's Avatar

 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 47
Friends: 0
Wii Friend Code:  
Default E3 2007 – Wii Predictions

Well, it's that time of year again.

As I write this, it's barely a few days before the annual E3 show which the gaming industry simultaneously loves, hates and fears. Long gone are the days where I'd have to stomp around a large, hot and noisy auditorium of veritable gaming Disneyland, so I won't be attending E3 2007, but as we all know the event is now merely a whisker of what it once was. This year signifies the launch of 'E3-lite', where the Media and Business Summit will only play host to 32 industry bigwigs rather than the 400-plus companies that attended in 2006.

That said, the July 11th-13th expo in Santa Monica will still have the likes of Capcom, Sega, LucasArts, Square Enix and many other important names rather than the liberal scattering we expected when E3 was first said to be downsized. And as such, while many will hold off their major announcements until the Tokyo Game Show (TGS) mid-September, there should still be plenty to talk about.

So here are my personal E3 predictions. These come with the usual provisos of salt pinching and lowered expectations, but also allow for what I've heard in the background noise of pre-show build-up. Rather than throw just anything out, I've only included predictions that are actually likely, rather than wildly unrealistic shouts of how we're all going to be blown away by Mario Kart Wii being playable (not going to happen).


Super Mario Galaxy will probably end up delayed
I'm getting this one out of the way early. It's not a popular presumption and will probably be met with cries of "but Nintendo has repeatedly said we'll play it this year!", but there are reasons why I've put this forward. Wii is doing exceptionally well sales-wise, despite the skewed perception of a 'software drought' in some circles. Obviously Christmas/Holiday 2007 is the big clash for Nintendo against Sony and Microsoft so it needs as much ammunition as possible to gain a moral and physical victory, but the question you have to ask is this: with Metroid Prime 3: Corruption and Super Smash Bros. Brawl both being pushed for the end of the year (the latter more so than the August-bound Metroid), does Nintendo truly need Super Mario Galaxy in 2007?

The three titles appeal to three different types of audience if we're talking on a specific level, but a big game is a big game, and Smash is still one of the biggest going for the company right now (the prequel outselling the Super Mario Sunshine on GameCube by a LARGE amount). Releasing both Brawl and Galaxy around the same time seems a little too much like self-defeating competition when Wii is already doing so well and likely to continue so for the remaining months. And given the large amount of weekday information provided about the beat 'em up, it's fairly clear Brawl is a long way into development, while we've barely seen anything of Galaxy in the run-up to E3, even by Nintendo's secretive standards.

Add into the equation that many thought Sunshine was rushed and suffered accordingly; it's quite likely Galaxy will see a similar delay process that Twilight Princess had to make sure it was as good as it could be. Wii already has its big Holiday game in Brawl, but also quite possibly another in one of its more casual oriented titles too – I expect Galaxy to be pushed over into 2008 (spring?) for extra development sheen that Nintendo can fully afford, it's just a matter of whether it's announced at E3 or later in the year. And it's not exactly if Nintendo hasn’t gone back on its promises before *cough*Mario, Smash and Metroid for 'launch window'"*cough.


Disaster: Day of Crisis delayed into 2008
Another casualty, but far more predictable, this promising looking action-adventure has been missing for a while now. I don’t imagine it's been cancelled (although sadly, it's looking like the same can't be said for Project H.A.M.M.E.R.), but as with Mario Galaxy, D:DoC isn’t a major requirement to see out 2007 when it would be much better served for next year. With the genre starting to get more presence on the console this decision would make sense on more than a few levels, especially if the extra time can allow it to live up to its clear potential.


Third-parties will start their Wii 'change of heart' support
Expect many third-parties to start having battles of erm, 'Wii envy' and fighting for the biggest software line-up for 2008 and beyond. Other publishers who were previously sitting on the fence will also find themselves leaping off onto freshly white and glowing blue pastures. One thing not to expect is a vast amount of these games to be shown there and then. Many third-party projects have only started to be conceptualised from a few months ago at the very earliest, so it's likely we'll see a deluge of announcements but few new playable/trailer designated stuff until later this year. Such is the price to pay when you hop on late to the gravy train. At least a few more exclusives will show their faces, however.


Dragon Quest Swords and Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles will impress people more than they expected

Both of these titles have been disparaged for their more 'on-rails' nature, but reports have generally been positive and encouraging, not to mention being among the better looking out there right now. Square Enix and Capcom have a moderate amount of work to prove they're truly with Wii, so all eyes will be on these examples -somewhat unfairly, perhaps- as harbingers of the future… especially where Capcom is concerned.

That said, Umbrella Chronicles is gathering some buzz after a two-player mode was confirmed, which will no doubt add a decent amount of longevity and appeal, and recent scans in Famitsu have shown more diverse environments and potentially cleaner textures. One to watch, that's for certain.


Electronic Arts will come off with some of the most positive impressions the company has garnered from the event in a while
The surprise third-party to emerge from Wii's rise into mainstream heaven, EA's output has certainly shocked many in terms of range and quality. It may not be hitting 100% (few companies do), but it's very much an unlikely 'success story' that will be built on as the developer/publisher learns from mistakes made in the first batch of Wii software and does what it does best – expanding and polishing already competent game engines. With some kinks worked out for their next iterations, I imagine the likes of Madden, Tiger Woods et all will start hitting the higher echelons of review scores from late this year onward, while others like Boogie capture the mass market's imagination regardless of whether they're good or not. EA should stroll E3 2007, via Wii.


DVD Channel for Wii continues the multimedia push
After Nintendo has repeatedly told us functions that take us away from gaming aren't that important, I'm looking slightly sideways at it changing its stance a little, as the inevitable DVD Channel is unleashed for a 'nominal' (read: eye rolling) fee of Wii Points (at best only first-comers will get it free, similar to the Internet Channel set-up). It's been mooted Wii's architecture could manage this merely via a software update rather than the earlier mooted 'DVD dongle', which solves any distribution problems, but if true it's probably too much to expect a free version per se. The only thing stopping this is Nintendo looking to go even further with its video playback options. Hmm.


Sega's games will pick-up a typically mixed reception
Poor Sega can't seem to catch a break, proving true the old adage 'damned if you do, damned if you don't'. Expect this E3 to be no different, with the stakes high for NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. As usual, Sega's inconsistency will probably garner mixed accounts at the event this month, with NiGHTS probably not living up to impossible expectations. The bedlam of E3's atmosphere, as diluted as it will be this time around, won't help. But either way it's hard to expect accurate representations of Sega's titles here, for good or bad.


Ubisoft to officially announce Red Steel 2
One of the industry's worst kept 'secrets'. Ubisoft has denied the first-person shooter sequel despite advertising development related positions for it some while back. E3 is the best place to make things fully formal, with a release date probably pencilled in for spring 2008. Online play is being hinted at, and given the basics of the game were fine and development well on the way, assets and code libraries will possibly be reused to aid a quick, but not rushed (this time) launch. The next eight months are going to be amazing for first-person titles no matter which system you own, and you can bet an effort will be made to have Red Steel 2 take advantage of that.

Or alternatively, Ubisoft could just take its time and aim for a more perfected late 2008 launch instead. But that would seem uncharacteristic.


A big casual-designated title will be shown by Nintendo and given a release date
I am, of course, referring to Wii Music and Health Pack, one (or both?) of which should be ready in time for the big Christmas/Holiday push (hence making a possible Mario Galaxy delay more palatable to Nintendo). Software of this type is a proven big seller, and if something like Health Pack is marketed to help 'shed those Christmas pud pounds', you can expect it to steamroll any other titles in the charts for a long while. A tag-team of Wii Music around October/December and Health Pack for November/January? Sounds like a winner.


At least two big Nintendo mainstay franchises will be announced, but barely shown
Animal Crossing and Mario Kart are currently the most likely suspects, with possible rumblings of Mario Tennis Wii, although it may be too early to step off the Wii Tennis court as of yet. The big thing here is that the Kyoto based company has so many franchises to pick from; it could live off any number of them for years yet. Pikmin? Luigi's Mansion 2? Mario Golf? And so on. So this is very much a roulette wheel, but whatever we get it may be a bit too early to show much, if anything at all, with TGS being a more viable and visible stage.

Zelda? Hahahahahahahahaaaaaa. No.

Not this time, anyway...


WiiWare titles announced, but not really displayed (closed doors invites?)
It was with great cheer that Nintendo finally put us out of our misery when it announced we'd be getting a dedicated downloadable content channel in WiiWare, matched only by the subsequent groan that we'd not see any software from the service until early 2008. The reasons behind such a delay could be due to Nintendo wanting to make sure the service rolls out with a full compliment of titles and functions -a nice change from the rather half-hearted approach the big N is often noted for when it comes to stuff like this- but it could also be due to another Channel being on the verge of arrival. Which is interesting in itself. But in the meantime it's likely we'll get a stronger idea of more mainstream developer plans for the service, if not much in the way of hands-on impressions as smaller titles tend to get lost in the boom and bluster of affairs like E3.
Corey is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 01:29 PM   #2
Anglophobiphile
 
Brawny's Avatar

 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Posts: 7,341
Friends: 24
Wii Friend Code: 5385-4035-7079-0395   5385-4035-7079-0395
Default

great article as always Corey
__________________


Quote:
Originally Posted by Emma
I really really miss wood
Brawny is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 01:36 PM   #3
born to be wiild
 
as311's Avatar

 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: uk
Posts: 65
Friends: 0
Wii Friend Code: 6793-3489-8039-1841   6793-3489-8039-1841
Default

yea its brilliant
__________________
my games fc codes
ac:ww name:adam town:aeven fc:3136-2331-5798
lostmagic:159004-492198
42 all time classics(in different countrys called clubhouse games):2921-4959-2014
mario strikers charged:412421-305212
add me on ur wii
as311 is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 01:43 PM   #4
WiiChat Member
 
anthonybest1's Avatar

 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 335
Friends: 1
Wii Friend Code: 3428-8826-2456-3690   3428-8826-2456-3690
Default

i hope there is a dvd channel so i dont have to buy a new wii not that i was going to
__________________
anthonybest1 is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 01:47 PM   #5
ssb4life
 
mushroomedmario's Avatar

 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Waterloo, ontario, canada
Posts: 3,834
Friends: 0
Wii Friend Code: 5701-4561-7633-7008   5701-4561-7633-7008
Default

i hope this article is wrong about super mario galaxy
__________________


the mario that's roomed with mush
my wii is not connected to the internet, so i can't play brawl online for a bit....please do not spam inbox with friend code requests
mushroomedmario is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 01:53 PM   #6
WiiChat Member
 
Warrior's Avatar

 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 596
Friends: 0
Wii Friend Code:  
Default

nice article, if thee predictions are true, we may be in for a few treats :P but dont forget, Nintendo said they had some "surprises" which i HOPE are tings we havent heard of before, like a brand new game of comesort or some kinda channel....time will tell.
Warrior is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 01:57 PM   #7
ssb4life
 
mushroomedmario's Avatar

 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Waterloo, ontario, canada
Posts: 3,834
Friends: 0
Wii Friend Code: 5701-4561-7633-7008   5701-4561-7633-7008
Default

yeah i hope 3 new popular franchises are announced, that will really help out nintendo(one of which fits into the nintendo universe, like someone who could be in the next super smash bros after brawl)
__________________


the mario that's roomed with mush
my wii is not connected to the internet, so i can't play brawl online for a bit....please do not spam inbox with friend code requests
mushroomedmario is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 03:18 PM   #8
WiiChat Member
 
kevbomac05's Avatar

 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 244
Friends: 0
Wii Friend Code: 6139-2063-0162-5101   6139-2063-0162-5101
Default

i really would want mario tennis it would be great for the wii
kevbomac05 is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 03:18 PM   #9
WiiChat Member
 
kevbomac05's Avatar

 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 244
Friends: 0
Wii Friend Code: 6139-2063-0162-5101   6139-2063-0162-5101
Default

i really would want mario tennis it would be great for the wii
kevbomac05 is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 03:34 PM   #10
ssb4life
 
mushroomedmario's Avatar

 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Waterloo, ontario, canada
Posts: 3,834
Friends: 0
Wii Friend Code: 5701-4561-7633-7008   5701-4561-7633-7008
Default

it would but i would perfer mario kart

or even mario golf
__________________


the mario that's roomed with mush
my wii is not connected to the internet, so i can't play brawl online for a bit....please do not spam inbox with friend code requests
mushroomedmario is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 04:32 PM   #11
Iam THE LAW!
 
bigwilliiy's Avatar

 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Brisbane.
Posts: 670
Friends: 0
Wii Friend Code: 6772-9484-5615-6705   6772-9484-5615-6705
Default

How About Kirby? he was announced for wii.
__________________
Pre-Apocalypse Wiichatter.
Remaining Survivor of the Wii In Australia Members.
bigwilliiy is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 04:54 PM   #12
Solid Snake, Olimar
 
PrinceLink's Avatar

 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: In Zelda's Bed
Posts: 444
Friends: 12
Wii Friend Code:  
Default

Love the Arcicle i will give it 9.5/10 just cus ---
sonic and a trailer for ssbb will be anounced so my eyes are glued to g4tv for the next 3 days
__________________


Quotes I Like:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox View Post
In England it's more sociably acceptable to be gay is what I meant.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Athronox View Post
PrinceLink IS superior................
PrinceLink is online now  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 04:58 PM   #13
som1
 
som1's Avatar

 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 376
Friends: 0
Wii Friend Code: 0079-8462-7419-1215   0079-8462-7419-1215
Default

makes me wish e3 was right now
som1 is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 07:45 PM   #14
WiiChat Member
 
Cap'n Crunch's Avatar

 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 465
Friends: 0
Wii Friend Code:  
Default

yep i hope re:umbrella chronicles is good, i cant wait for that one.
__________________
Wii bring the hardCORE!
Cap'n Crunch is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 09:50 PM   #15
Don't Mind Me. I'm Stupid
 
XwiimasturX's Avatar

 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
Posts: 421
Friends: 0
Wii Friend Code:  
Default

one more day...

then i get all the news i want. yay.
__________________
XwiimasturX is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 11:47 PM   #16
WiiChat Member
 
Revan's Avatar

 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 52
Friends: 0
Wii Friend Code: 3428-9264-8009-7102   3428-9264-8009-7102
Default

Nice article. I bet we will hear something on a new Mario Kart Title. Though I wonder if Nintendo would delay Galaxies. I mean if they don't then Little Big Planet would then dominate in 2008, but they will blunt the impact of Ratchet and Clank 5 and Banjo and Kazooie 3. If they do they will blunt Little Big Planet, but I think Ratchet and Clank would then dominate the platformers for 2007. Sorry Paper Mario. I hope Red Steel 2 will be better than the first. Well I guess Nintendo will have a few surprises for us. Sony has announced they will have surprises as well. I just wonder if M$ will have any tricks up their sleeves, or just a bunch of Halo 3. Halo is so overated.
Revan is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 11:50 PM   #17
3D Artist
 
sagema's Avatar

 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NY
Posts: 1,690
Friends: 0
Wii Friend Code: 4496-9128-1304-3457   4496-9128-1304-3457
Default

I predict Nintendo will become more clear about their online gaming. They should also announce more efforts towards Virtual Console. 3 games a week will not cover 1/4 the entire library after 5 solid years of that rate. They need to address the issues they promised back in 2006.
sagema is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 11:52 PM   #18
Wii launch Owner
 
elmo_999's Avatar

 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: BC (go nucks and lions)
Posts: 1,206
Friends: 0
Wii Friend Code:  
Default

The wait is killing me!!!!
__________________

Spoiler Alert!

~Join the Blooper Fan Club(BFC)~
New wii, New era.
elmo_999 is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2007, 05:37 AM   #19
Sad Jap Wii owner
 
AlexDP's Avatar

 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 30
Friends: 0
Wii Friend Code:  
Default

Starfox, what about Starfox?? I want Starfox
AlexDP is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2007, 12:33 PM   #20
som1
 
som1's Avatar

 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 376
Friends: 0
Wii Friend Code: 0079-8462-7419-1215   0079-8462-7419-1215
Default

talking about e3, heres what the MS stage looks like

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne...7589926&size=o

i hope some 1 falls into the pool

Last edited by som1; 07-10-2007 at 12:44 PM.
som1 is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiStumble this Post!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Lower Navigation
Go Back   Nintendo Wii Forum > Nintendo Wii News > Latest Nintendo Wii News > Nintendo Wii Articles

Bookmarks


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Sponsored Links


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:36 PM.


vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2006, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
SEO by vBSEO 3.3.0 ©2009, Crawlability, Inc.
iPhone News - iPhone Forums - PS3 Forums - Photography Forum - PSP Forums