E3 09 Predictions

MICROSOFT

- Microsoft will show off why it's been quiet for so long this year; they've been busing making Sony's HOME better! Expect Live Spaces and some heavy new features for Microsoft's much loved Avatars. The achievement system will now allow you to earn some nice new items to deck out your avatar with, along with a slew of new community avatar based games.

- Hulu will become available to Gold members on the NXE with a fancy interface.

- Games, lots and lots of games. Cliffy B will show off Epic's newest IP, which will use the latest advancements to the Unreal engine. (Think survival horror but with Gears of War like action.) Halo ODST will be shown and throw Halo fans for a loop with its sandbox like game-play. Expect Halo Chronicles to make a sneak peak presentation and Alan Wake will finally wake the hell up. Along with Alan, Miss Dark will make her triumphant return to the 360. Microsoft will also show around 4-5 casual games and show off its third party love affair with some exclusive DLC for games like Assassins Creed 2. In fact Microsoft will be showing off more than just what’s coming this year but will give gamers a sneak peek at what's to come.
After their presentation, gamers will look at their wallets and weep.

- More RPG announcements that RPG fans will dance in their under wears about, but will sell poorly.

- The 360 will also get waggle, only it's going to be just one sensor bar and no controller. This time you waggle! Similar to the PS3's attempt at waggle, core gamers will laugh and casual gamers will continue to buy the Wii.


SONY

- Sony will announce the worst kept secret going, the PSP2, or as it’s lovingly being called; the PSP GO! The exclamation point is for the price shock of the new PSP. Gamers will pick it up in droves once it’s been hacked and iPhone owners will yawn and continue downloading apps.

- Sony will show off its MAG, which is still in the running for most unoriginal name to an action game ever, and the crown jewel in the PS3's line-up: God of War III. God of War III will make its launch come March of next year and will include a multi-player component similar to Uncharted 2. Kratos purists will call foul, until they unveil the online sex mini-game; God of Lovin. Ratchet and Clank will make an appearance as well as three new games from Sony for the PS3. Call us crazy but one of them will be an ex-360 game. Expect tons of PSP announcements, and even a few PS2 titles for good measure. Sony will continue to milk the PS2 for all it's worth and will try and bring rebirth to the PSP.

- The PS3 will not receive a price drop, yep, you read that right. Sony is focused on making some cold hard cash. Instead expect a new bundle and perhaps a SKU switcheroo. The price point will stay the same but consumers will get more GB's and maybe a nice free game in the mix.

- Cross game chat will finally make its way the XMB. PS3 owners will rejoice in unison and there will be much cheering in the land.

- Home will have tons of new spaces, and might even allow PS3 users to share media between users.