E3 2010: My Most Anticipated

So with E3 unofficially kicking off tonight and continuing on until Thursday, June 17, I figured I would let you know what I’m most excited about.

Console/PC



10) Killzone 3 (PS3)
Release Date: TBA

Why I’m excited: The third installment of the Killzone franchise. Killzone 2 was excellent, and I definitely want to see more. There’s also the implementation of 3D graphics for the game. It will definitely help prove if 3D has staying power with gaming.



9) Fallout: New Vegas (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)
Release Date: Q4 2010

Why I’m excited: Fallout 3 was excellent. New Vegas looks like more of the same in a new territory, but that’s alright with me.



8) Enslaved (PS3, Xbox 360)
Release Date: TBA 2010

Why I’m excited: I’m a sucker for post-apocalyptic stories, plain and simple. This game actually deviates from the standard brown and grey spectrum though, and actually has a wide variety of exciting colors.



7) Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360)
Release Date: April 5, 2011

Why I’m excited: …speaking of brown and grey spectrums, just kidding. I really enjoyed the last 2 games, and look forward to the conclusion of the story. It’ll be interesting to see how they one up Gears of War 2.



6) Dead Rising 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Release Date: August 31, 2010

Why I’m excited: The first Dead Rising was extremely fun and inventive when it came to killing zombies, and now 2 will expand on the whacky and zaniness for new weapons and combos AND with an all new area to explore and cleanse. Plain and simple: Zombies.



5) Dead Space 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Release Date: Q1 2011

Why I’m excited: Isaac is back and now with a voice! Dismemberment was one of the coolest gameplay mechanics when the first game released.



4) Portal 2 (PC, Xbox 360)
Release Date: TBA 2011

Why I’m excited: I’m a big fan of the first game, and Valve is one of my favorite developers. With this second installment however, it’s going to be a full length game and feature co-op! I can never say no to co-op.



3) Deus Ex: Human Revolution (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Release Date: March 2011

Why I’m excited: While I never did get to play the first 2 games, I’ve heard nothing but good things about them, and this game is apparently going to be a prequel. The story sounds amazing, and if you can do even half of the stuff in the trailer, that’d be a rad game.



2) Bulletstorm (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Release Date: Q1 2011

Why I’m excited: Military shooters be damned, this game just looks like insane fun.



1) Warhammer 40k: Space Marine (PS3, Xbox 360)
Release date: TBA

Why I’m excited: Huge fan of the Warhammer 40k universe and Space Marines. I’d love to get into the boots of a Space Marine and just wreck havoc on the enemies of the Emperor… even if they are Ultramarine boots, For Sanguinius!


MMO

Even being a diehard World of Warcraft player, it's still fun to take peaks at up and coming competition. Currently I'm really excited about Star Wars: The Old Republic as it's being made by Bioware and looks fantastic. I'm also really looking forward to what THQ will reveal about the Warhammer 40k MMO.



4) Vindictus
Release Date: Fall 2010



3) Tera
Release Date: Q1 2011


2) Warhammer 40k MMO
Release Date: TBA



1) Star Wars: The Old Republic
Release Date: TBA 2011



Hardware

1)Tie: Kinect (Natal) & Move

Why I'm excited: These two products have been hyped and hyped. Soon we'll find out if they really have staying power or are mere peripherals to capture the casual gaming market. Mini games are all fun and dandy, but they don't essentially make a game. One can only play mini games for so long. It's also software that will have to push the hardware, because like I said, "Mini games will not sell Natal or Move." Sure you'll get some early adopters, but there are many, like myself, who are still skeptical as to what really can be done with these peripherals. "Potential, potential, potential!" has been shouted numerous times, but as stated, it will be software that truly pushes the hardware sells. Let's just hope that Microsoft and Sony show us some living proof of what games we're capable of playing with Natal and Move.

2) Nintendo 3DS
Not much is known about this piece of hardware yet, and it's not known if this will continue in the DS vein or be it's successor. 3D this, and 3D that have been shoved down our throats for almost 2 years now with movies, and it now seems that the phenomenon is coming to gaming. 3D gaming for consoles seems to require a much more expensive buy in to utilize the technology (ie. owning a 3D capable TV). However, 3D in a hand-held form will be much more available and accessible to the common consumer as (hopefully) the price will be more reasonable.