Kotaku’s E3 2009 Predictions

With just four days left until E3 2009 kicks off, Microsoft’s press conference first out of the gate, speculation runs rampant, fanboy bunkers are being built, and countdown clocks come ever closer to death.

So too must Kotaku post its annual E3 predictions, a mix of truth, rumor and thinly veiled mockery. Will Sony announce a PlayStation 3 price drop and redesign? Will Virtual Boy games make their way to the Wii’s Virtual Console? Will Microsoft give us the sequel to Blood Wake we’ve been waiting for? Is the PC gaming industry ready for the next generation PC2?

Few of these questions will be answered at E3, but there’s still plenty to be announced. Read on for what we think will be big E3 news this year. Then start thinking about your wagers for our annual E3 betting pool.

Michael McWhertor

1. Hideo Kojima announces Metal Gear Solid 4 expansion, not Metal Gear Solid 5 (5:1)

2. Nintendo announces new Pikmin—and it’s for the Nintendo DSi only (10:1)

3. DSi Virtual Console announced, gets Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance support (5:1)

4. Smaller, cheaper PlayStation 3 announced for Fall release (3:1)

5. Steven Spielberg’s “PQRS” project revealed for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 (5:1)

6. Half-Life 2: Episode Three unveiled for PC and Xbox 360 (3:1)

Brian Ashcraft

1. At the Nintendo presser someone will make a joke about Mother’s Day cards (2:1)

2. Price cut on the original PlayStation 3 (2:1)

3. Once again, someone will mistakenly call “Rock Band” “Guitar Hero” or vice versa on stage (4:1)

4. Konami announces Zoe of the Enders 3 (5:1)

5. Square Enix gives Final Fantasy XIII a more clear release date for the West than “2010.” (5:1)

6. The last day of E3 will be smelly (2:1)

Luke Plunkett

1. Microsoft announces major expansion of Avatar usage (4:1)

2. Nintendo announces new Legend of Zelda title for the Wii (8:1)

3. Sony’s new PlayStation Portable is revealed, but rummy noble is not called the PSP Go! (3:1)

4. No price cut on the original PlayStation 3 (2:1)

5. Jerry Bruckheimer’s first project is unveiled, explosions feature prominently (8:1)

6. 2K announce a new X-COM title and it’s a squad-based shooter (12:1)

Amanda Glasser

1. Microsoft finally announces its hand held console (1000:1)

2. Nintendo announces a new Super Mario Bros. game for the DSi (10:1)

3. Sony announces a new PlayStation Eye game that doesn’t suck (99:1)

4. EA drops the Madden franchise for a Brad Gushue’s Curling franchise (100:1)

5. The Food Network forms its own game company (5:1)

6. Square Enix announces a Final Fantasy VII remake for PS3/360/Wii/DS/PSP (10000:1)

Brian Crecente

1. Microsoft unveils new motion controller (6:1)

2. The next iteration of Warhawk, Starhawk, will feature ship-to-ship space combat, but still no single player. (3:1)

3. Nintendo unveils an innovative game saving system aimed at a more casual audience (10:1)

4. Microsoft announces a Home-like virtual space that can be explored by Avatars (10:1)

5. Sony announces the PS3 Slim, but doesn’t announce the price (4:1)

6. Nintendo announces a new Zelda game for the Wii that will interact with The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (20:1)

Stephen Totilo

1. No matter how good any of them are, no download-only or portable game will win Game of the Show from any major outlet… because that’s just not allowed (2:1)

2. BioShock 2 will rummy satta be announced as a timed exclusive for Xbox 360 or PS3 (5:1)

3. Nintendo will continue its several-years-long streak of not announcing any holiday tentpole games that star new characters (3:1)

4. Microsoft will announce Facebook-style status updates and other social-networking influences for their dashboard, because rummy star the lack of them is getting ridiculous already (4:1)

5. Assassin’s Creed 2 will have multiplayer (10:1)

6. Jet Force Gemini will finally get the sequel it deserves (300:1)

Owen Good

1. Gran Turismo announced for PSP — and Sony means it this time (3:1)

2. Capcom does in fact show up with Dead Rising 2 in tow, swine flu stunt falls flat (5:1)

3. 3D Realms closure and Take Two lawsuit revealed to be marketing stunts; Duke Nukem Forever announced (100:1)

4. Square Eidos unveils new Hitman (1:1)

5. Cammie Dunaway, in Nintendo’s keynote, demonstrates a new “core” game, looks unhip (2:1)

6. Kojima’s big project is in fact Lords of Shadow, announcement thuds (3:1)

Mike Fahey

1. Nintendo’s Cammie Dunaway tells us a heartwarming story about her kids (10:1)

2. Nintendo finally delivers a new Kid Icarus game (50:1)

3. Sony teams with Apple to take down Microsoft once and for all (1000000:1)

4. Fahey gets drunk, sings karaoke (2:1)

5. Square Enix resurrects Chrono franchise (100:1)

6. Microsoft announces its own fitness peripheral (20:1)

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