E3 2011: A Wishlist

FROM THE LIKELY, TO THE HOPEFUL, TO THE DOWNRIGHT FANCIFUL…

Well, it’s that time of the year again, where publishers, developers and console manufacturers alike all start their preparations for the biggest news conference of the year – E3. So what can we expect from this year’s fare? Nobody knows, these publishers are cagey with info. But there are a few things that I can wish for (no matter how far-fetched)…

Blu-Ray

Movie enthusiasts would jump for joy at seeing a Blu-Ray Combo Device capable of playing their favorite movies and games on their Xbox 360.

Now that the capacity of the blue disc currently at 50 gigabytes of space this would certainly give hope to gave developers wanting to fit as much content for their games. Let’s also not forget the superior clarity in both video and audio that this would boost for the games and movies we love.

For those of us that missed out on the quick coming and going of the HD-DVD player (with the HD war truly well over), it is more imminent that an add-on device may be released… or at least we’re hoping it is…

Xbox 720

Is it too early to say whether the next generation consoles are around the corner? We can only hope that, come June, Microsoft blows our minds with the next superior console (codenamed?) Xbox 720.

With a new console comes a new line-up of superior quality games we hardcore gamers would drool over. This would most likely bring sequels to some of the heavy hitting games we love, such as an unavoidable Gears of War 4, or possibly the next Halo installment. And who knows, they could be released in 3D since there is a lack of 3D gaming at the moment.

With TV developers bringing out this year TVs that can support 4k (meaning 4 times the resolution of the current and highest 1080 picture resolution), this would certainly interest Microsoft in bringing their new line of hardware. Of course, you would most probably have to take out a mortgage to afford this sophisticated technology and a new release console, but heck, we Xbox fans cannot wait to get our hands on new hardware.

Next-Gen Hand Held

With the recent announcement of rivals bringing out the 3DS and the NGP, what could be better timing than Microsoft touting Xbox HD handheld release?

The possibility of taking your Gears of War 3 game on a camping trip Dad dragged you on would definitely generate a grateful feeling for the endless hours of fun.

The features that this baby would pack could certainly have rivals shaking in their boots. With a possibility this bad boy could boast a 3D screen and even in-built wi-fi for all your favorite Xbox Live games, I for one would certainly be happy to hand over my next paycheck or two for one of these. Just think – all the experience points you could earn, well aware that when you arrive back to your Xbox 360 that all your friends would be dazzled as to how you got ’em!!

More Kinect Titles

Obviously there will be some on show, but I’m sure many of us would love to see the next installment of games that Kinect would have to offer, as the first release of titles might have seemed to have a few little shortcomings for some of those hardcore gamers.

The idea of taking the next step with interaction, such as games that pack full feature-length storylines and graphics, as well as games genres such as first person shooters would most certainly have Kinect and non-Kinect fans interested.

In the meantime, though, Kinect owners would probably just appreciate more diversity to the titles to choose from as games such as Kinectimals and Dance Central is not everyone’s cup of tea, and sports games, whilst fun, have been done by all consoles now.

Xbox TV Recorder

What better way would there be by not missing out on your favorite TV show because you’re eager to beat your buddies online, when you could just record the TV show on your Xbox 360 and watch it any time?

With the features that could allow users to watch, pause and record live TV – just think, you could watch your favorite footy moments over and over again. Especially with Foxtel integrated with Xbox Live for us Aussies, why not try to at least port over a feature like Foxtel offers with their IQ scheduling and recording?

Gamer Keyboard & Mouse

For those of us that simply just can’t grasp the idea of playing games such as first-person shooters without our high-precision gaming mouse and keyboard, this would certainly bring a new perspective for both controller and PC gamers alike.

In the past, third-party brands have tried to achieve this by releasing small peripheral devices to work accordingly with any console, yet most don’t seem to work quite right (or at all, for that matter) with our beloved Xbox 360 games. A worthy addition in my eyes.

Xbox Live Application Store

As there is currently a market of many goodies to be found on Xbox Live, the idea of having a application market at our disposal with apps that could enhance our experience with our 360’s could certainly be of interest to many.

Imagine DJs being able to connect their equipment to the Xbox 360 for editing and playback for all their peers to listen to via Live online. Other capabilities could press for new features such as downloading apps for video editing for all your home videos, or even that would allow for customization on the look of your 360 dashboard.

Community Kinect Games

The idea of having a Kinect community would allow the freedom of upcoming videogame developers to show their skills for all to play and judge. This could also very much allow for recognition of talent to be noticed as our industry in Australia is always looking to expand.

Next Halo Game Announcement

There was a great sadness for hardcore Halo fans when Bungie marked the end of the Halo franchise when they decided on the final project, Halo: Reach. Although there may still be a little hope for fans – since Microsoft own the rights to the franchise, it is a possibility that if they decide to continue on with it they would probably look into hiring another game developer to do the work for them.

The big question would be if Microsoft decided to pursue that path, would the game developer have what Bungie put into their games? In the way that sometimes a sequel by a new film director, writer or actor sometimes seems sub-par, is it worth the risk of tarnishing the original classics?

Sequel Games

The most important reason for most game developers showing up at E3 is for them to show off their upcoming games they have been working so hard towards. Here is a short list of sequels I would love to hear get a release: Modern Warfare 3, Crackdown 3, Forza 4, Shadow Complex 2, The Darkness 2, Assassin’s Creed III and Hitman 5… and probably a wealth more I can’t think of at the moment. Any I may have missed?

So there you have it, my hopes and dreams for this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo. We’ll see how accurate I am in a couple of months, but what do you think – any guesses so far?