As if our first big batch of E3 2011 rumours wasn't enough, here we serve our second helping - hot and fresh out of the global games industry oven.
All of the below insider whispers have come from genuine trade sources, and all them have arrived with a degree of certainty. Some seem to make perfect sense, some would represent a big surprise... and some will drop jaws in Los Angeles should they come true:
CVG reaction:We're pretty optimistic about these two, folks - they've been doing the rounds for weeks now, and from sources close to Sony. We'd love to see UK studio Ninja Theory make a major mark at the show by coupling its DmC (Devil May Cry) with a new announcement. We're big fans of the developer, not least for its great work on Enslaved last year, and a bit of E3 limelight would be well deserved.
Meanwhile, we hear that God Of War and Kratos are likely to gatecrash Sony's conference - but whether we're in God Of War 4 territory or otherwise is unclear...
CVG reaction: Our certainty on this one comes as we wipe away a tear. We're sure EA Partners, who Respawn have signed with for their first project, have plenty of action to show off in L.A, but the first non-CoD project from Jason West and Vince Zampella won't be amongst them.
It's perhaps no surprise, with both ex-Infinity Ward chiefs and their publishing partner still embroiled in a multi-billion Dollar lawsuit with former employer Activision.
Rumours aside, we'll be looking out for any impromptu moments of Zampella/West/Kotick tenson in LA Convention Center hallways. It was Activision, if you'll remember, who "stormed" the Infinity Ward offices in March last year and kicked the duo out for "insubordination".
And it was Kotick who proclaimed that his former charges would "have a really hard time ever being productive or successful ever again". Oucha.
We're sure their decision to team up with arch competitor EA and create Respawn has nothing to do with Kotick's ire...
CVG Reaction:Oh yes. The majority of Nintendo's conference on Tuesday, June 7 will surely be dedicate to Project Cafe, the firm's confirmed new home console. We've already shared with you what we know about that little piece of hardware - including the screen-within-a-controller setup that we're desperate to get a gander at.
But we've also heard another little whisper from our Ninty sources - that Super Mario 3DS won't be the only new Mario title to be shown off in Los Angeles. Could we be looking at a Super Mario Galaxy for the next, next generation?
Wii launched without one back in 2006. During the launch window, Nintendo's core fans only had the choice of Wii Sports and Wii Play, and updated GameCube titles Resident Evil 4 and Zelda: Twilight Princess - which eventually cost Nintendo in the loyalty stakes. Have they learnt their lesson this time?
Comments
12 comments so far...
gypscanuck on 2 Jun '11 said:
So...Dualshock is dead? What's the control going to be then? A non-pad?
Jensonjet on 2 Jun '11 said:
Sony don't need a new pad, they need a padlock! Apparently they've been attacked again according to the BBC website. Those little hacklings at it again.
flash501 on 3 Jun '11 said:
A new Heavenly Sword would be interesting. Quite liked the first one.
ricflair on 3 Jun '11 said:
I think the majority of Nintendo's bit will be about 3DS and the last bits of the wii. I think the new console will be left until the end, unless there is something else really big software-wise - I can't see them showing too much of it off. A brief chat, teaser about what it's USP is going to be and a compilation video of games we can expect from it.
Perhaps they're going to release a fatter DS3. I'd be very happy indeed if they just nicked the entire design of the 360 controller. Personal preference of course, but the only thing I prefer on the DS3 is the dpad.
HideosAdvisor on 3 Jun '11 said:
wow hideo kojimas a sellout going multi plat
iucidium on 3 Jun '11 said:
Take that back you d***splat, ir I'll bum yer!
Kojima should be shared, like a......err.......like E.Coli.
On a side note - he's doing his bit to rake in the cash for his nation. He has my respect.
jadehill2001 on 3 Jun '11 said:
Wasn't Heavenly Sword a flop? I don't understand why developers keep making games no one wants. Come forward Kane and Lynch.
boskersrevenge on 3 Jun '11 said:
Izo posted another game list in the next Nintendo thread: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=124358&start=600 (don't mind the images - we're getting a little stir crazy in there) but in that list is a couple of wish-list items and some big hitters not even announced yet and Contra....
Nothing has even hinted up until Konami produces that teaser. That is pretty interesting.
RandyTandy on 3 Jun '11 said:
Heavenly Sword was...OK. I enjoyed it at the time but it was a totally just a game that I bought pre-owned, completed and then sold again. Lets see what they do with DmC first before we get ahead of ourselves. If they mess that up then I will buy a bag of sharp things from eBay and practice stabbing with them.
Also, I agree with David Cage about the controller. Whether they add buttons to it or just change the layout (I actually really liked the look of the boomerang controller back in 2005), I'm totally behind that. Games are about interaction and it'll be nice to see some new ways that the hardcore market can interact with games. The triggers on the Dualshock 3 do feel like a little bit of a last minute decision.
As for Vince Zampella and Jason West...well, I don't think we need another shooter in the market just yet.
Very_Silver_Ownz on 3 Jun '11 said:
Hope its true about the new PS3 controller. Make it like the 360 controller please ^_^
Very_Silver_Ownz on 3 Jun '11 said:
lol so he didn't listen to your advice ?
salmonpie on 4 Jun '11 said:
I vote for a 360 style controller too. Many a time I've been torn between which system to buy a game for and have gone 360 because of the controller