The Electronic Entertainment Expo is always one of the most exciting gaming events of the year, and it’s a little more than a month away (June 10 to June 12 in Los Angeles).
We got our staff together and asked everyone what they were looking forward to or hoping for out of this year’s event. Some of us picked specific games, others are hoping for surprises, and some are probably getting their hopes up. Still, we’re all excited, and these are the reasons why:
Editor-in-chief Dan “Shoe” Hsu
Fallout 4, Advance Wars, and “TV stuff 2.0 for Xbox One”
I’d actually take the next single-player Elder Scrolls game over another Fallout, but I know publisher Bethesda’s not announcing one anytime soon. So I’ll just keep my fingers crossed for a Fallout 4 instead, which isn’t a bad second-place option for me. I love these open-ended, open-world games from Bethesda, and another visit to Fallout’s nuked-out, postapocalyptic wastelands would suit me just fine. I’m sure a surprise announcement like that would thrill our readers, too.
Same with Advance Wars. If Nintendo were to announce a new edition in the turn-based strategy series, fans — including me — would go nuts. It won’t save the company from its financial woes, but it’ll keep me happy as a gamer.
I’m also curious to see if Microsoft pushes its agenda to further integrate its Xbox One into our living rooms. I already love controlling all of my TV viewing with voice commands, but other hardware is catching up. Can Microsoft stay ahead by offering cool features no one’s thought of yet? I hope to hear more about this, but of course, Microsoft has to present this sort of news in a way that won’t turn off the core gamers (again).
Above: The PlayStation 4’s Project Morpheus virtual-reality headset.
Lead news writer Dean Takahashi
Surprises
Above all, I’m hoping to be surprised at E3. Too often, leaks or previews give us too good an idea of what is coming. EA hopes to surprise us with an unannounced major game coming this fall. I’m looking forward to that, if it really still is a surprise by the time that E3 arrives. I also like to see progress reports from the big things I do expect. I hope that Sony shows more working demos of its Project Morpheus and that Oculus VR shows the progress it is making with the Rift. Virtual reality is coming faster than a lot of people expected, and I want it to stay on that pace. I also hope that Microsoft comes up with some interesting new technologies or at least some games that exploit Kinect. I also want to see the latest on major games like Activision’s Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Ubisoft’s The Division, Sony’s The Order, and some cool indie titles too.
And I would really love to see Nintendo announce a new console. It desperately needs to do so, but I know it won’t.
Managing editor Jason Wilson
Some goddamn PS4 and Xbox One role-playing games
The launches of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 were devoid of one of our hobby’s most important genres — role-playing games. And that made me, a devotee of such games, almost cry. Here we are in May, and one of the few bona fide RPGs for these new consoles is the PS4’s Bound By Flame, which came out a day after I wrote this. (A few others are out, such as Child of Light.) And while I know more are coming this year — like Dragon Age: Inquisition — I hope to see RPGs for these consoles announced at E3.
E3, though, will likely let me down.
Above: We haven’t had a new Advance Wars in a long time.
News reporter Jeff Grubb
The big stuff from Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo — and Advance Wars
I think all of the platform holders need big shows this E3. Sony is doing well, but the PS4 is getting a (maybe unfair) reputation for a dearth of games, Xbox One is falling behind despite Titanfall, and Nintendo … well, because no one wants a Wii U. So I’m excited to see each company’s presentation (I’ll watch Nintendo’s online) to find out what they have that’s big and unexpected.
In terms of specifics, I want to get try Nintendo’s new Skylanders-like Mario games. I’d also like to see Uncharted 4 from Sony and Sunset Overdrive from Microsoft.
Really, though, I just want a new Advance Wars game from Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. The team found a lot of success with Fire Emblem: Awakening, but it’s time for more cartoon war.
Staff writer and community manager Mike Minotti
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS
Playing Smash Bros. always takes me to my gaming happy place. I still play Brawl and Melee on a regular basis. It’s just the perfect balance of fun and competition (with items turned off, of course), and these next versions look great. I mean, one of the new characters is Mega Man, who’s also one of my favorite gaming icons. How could I not be ecstatic?
I’m curious to see how the franchise translates to a handeheld platform, but I’m more excited to see how pretty the HD version on the Wii U looks. Also, I’m hoping we get a few more character reveals during the show (fingers crossed for Chrom from Fire Emblem: Awakening).
Above: Will we see more Mass Effect at E3?
Writer and editor Eduardo Moutinho
Anything Mass Effect … anything
Mass Effect 3 came out more than two years ago — in March 2012. Yeah, it’s been that long. And even though the rabble-fueled cloud surrounding Mass Effect 3’s ending has settled, nothing worthwhile has emerged regarding the franchise’s future.
It’s time for some real news … or at least a trailer. I’m tired of reading vague tweets and click-bait articles.
EA needs to drop a bombshell, one that will send shockwaves throughout the galaxy. And E3 is the perfect place to do that.