Well, E3 starts today, bringing that yearly flurry of information into 2009 and the yearly ridiculous business back to everyone who reports on it. Later today, Microsoft will start their E3 conference (6:25pm GMT, 10:25am PST), apparently 5 minutes earlier than it was thanks to a ’surprise announcement’ that got in at the last moment. We’re curious too, but that’s not what we’ll be covering.

Tomorrow, at 7pm GMT, Sony’s conference will start and we, along with many others, will probably have the hell kicked out of us by sheer awesome. That’s what we’re hoping, anyway. We’ve got a lot of predictions for what surprises may lay in store for us, so we’re going to tell you, because we know you’re all just so interested.

What do you expect to see from Sony’s Conference?

Gamoc: I’m expecting to see a lot of games we know about, the likes of MAG, Heavy Rain, God of War 3, Uncharted 2, etc, with some release dates for most of them – hopefully this year, though that won’t be happening for Heavy Rain. Then I expect some new game announcements we supposedly don’t know about. There’s probably going to be some already-released games shown too, Killzone 2, inFAMOUS, LittleBigPlanet. inFAMOUS DLC? PSN games, Fat Princess, Pixeljunk Shooter. New PSP titles, many of which will be casual and download-only. And then there’s the PSP Go, of course. Oh, and LittleBigPlanet PSP.

Michael: There’s already been a leak on one of the bigger announcements; the PSP Go. Then again, that’s been rumoured for months, so it comes as little surprise. We’ll probably hear a lot about the games we already know – Sony’s conferences tend to be more about showcasing what they have instead of major new announcements. It should be a blast either way! 

ClearConscious: I expect them to come firing on all cylinders. They really have to at this point. Sony has a very good lineup of games and it has to take advantage of that. Obviously, we will see titles that have already been confirmed. God Of War 3 needs to have a good show during the conference and blow people away. Uncharted 2 is also a big title. Gran Turismo 5 needs to be dated and a fair amount of game play needs to be shown for each of these games. Sony above all else, needs to make sure there is concrete dates on all of their exclusive titles. I expect the PSP Go will be shown to the public for the first time, since it’s basically confirmed now. There will be a with a huge push for new PSP titles. It’s going to be a big year for the PSP so, expect a lot of time being spent on that. I suspect home will be getting a healthy dose of content. A couple unannounced titles will be shown for the first time and a hefty new firmware update will be released.

What do you suspect Sony may try and surprise us with?

Gamoc: Trico. Please, for the love of all that is holy, Trico. PSP Go, which won’t come as much of a surprise, of course, maybe a PS3 Slim, but I bloody hope not for too many reasons. New games, of course. Maybe beta details for MAG, a Jak and Daxter PS3…There are so many possibilities.

Michael: The PSP Go. Oh, wait…

ClearConscious: Sony has so many franchises they could surprise us with. My hope is that a new Syphon Filter game will be announced. Twisted Metal, will be next year. A new Medievil could make a surprising appearance. Even though Naughty Dog is working hard on Uncharted 2, I still have hope that they will make a new Jak and Daxter game for the PS3. Some very impressive game play footage will be shown for Trico, which will blow the audience away. Some new IP’s will be announced. Insomniac has something up their sleeve. Another shooter and an RPG will be announced. I have a feeling that a studio close to Sony has been working on something very impressive that should be ready to show off. A multiplayer beta for MAG will be announced during the conference and it will be open to the public. Perhaps a price drop for the PS3 but I doubt it.

Are there are specific games confirmed to be at Sony’s E3 that you’re looking forward to hearing more about?

Gamoc: MAG, Heavy Rain, LittleBigPlanet PSP (not technically confirmed, but shush), God of War 3, Uncharted 2. So many of them there isn’t much point in listing them, really. I am specifically looking forward to MAG and Uncharted 2, as well as LBP PSP. MAG looks phenomenal, thanks to the sheer scale and possibilities on that scale.

Michael: Honestly, it would take me a week to list them all. The PS3 has so many great exclusives coming out this year that seeing any of them should be exciting. It’s great to see the industry really getting behind the console.

And the third Team Ico game. Please oh please oh please.

ClearConscious: I want to see God Of War 3 in action. I’ve never been a big fan of the series and I want to see what all the hype is about. White Knight Chronicles and Demon Soul’s I want to see as well. I want Quantic Dream to prove that Heavy Rain isn’t just a series of quick time events. Indigo Prophecy was an excellent game and I’m sure they will have some interesting footage to show off. Uncharted 2 keeps looking more impressive the more I see it. Co-op footage is a must as well as some more multiplayer footage. Perhaps some footage of the snow they are always talking about.

Is there anything that you’re looking forward to from any third parties?

Gamoc: Final Fantasy XIII, I suppose. Definitely Assassin’s Creed 2. Maybe Dante’s Inferno, but I’m not too sure about that. 

Michael: Being a huge RPG fan, I’m hoping to see something solid from Square Enix, and especially from Level 5, one of my favourite game developers.

ClearConscious: There’s a few things I’m interested in seeing. Mass Effect 2 is a biggie and I hope EA will announce the platforms it will be appearing on along with a release date. Alpha Procool is another title I want to see some more information on. It looks very intriguing and could be a sleeper hit of 2009. I expect EA to have a massive show. Battlefield: Bad Company2, Dante’s Inferno, etc all look very promising. I can’t say I’m looking forward to seeing anything from Ubisoft. However, I can’t help but follow titles such as Assassin’s Creed 2.

Speculations on exclusivity stealing?

Gamoc: Well, it’s difficult to predict, really. I am a little wary of Microsoft’s ’surprise announcement’, but as to any specific games, I don’t know.

Michael: ’I don’t have any! [laughs]

ClearConscious: In all honesty, the time of exclusivity is starting to die when it comes to third party games. Some previously announced games that were suppose to be Xbox 360 and PC only will get a PS3 version. Splinter Cell: Conviction, and Mass Effect 2 come to mind. I hardly call this stealing however, more of a necessity that companies are facing these days. Microsoft will steal something. I have no idea what but they will, they always do. 

Who do you think will put on the most impressive conference; Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo?

Gamoc: Sony, simply because they have such a huge amount of games to show and have a knack for surprise announcements, last year excluded. Microsoft will be second best, then Nintendo will bring up the rear in a wash of casual games.

Michael: Well, I certainly know who won’t… Nintendo.  =D

ClearConscious: This is so hard to predict. Microsoft has been quiet for a long time. Alan Wake will be shown in playable form and dated most likely. A new Rare project will be shown off as well as a new Lionhead project. Halo: ODST will be shown in the form of a playable demo however, I don’t think it will get the response Microsoft is hoping for. Microsoft is poised to have a very good E3. Sony has to have the best E3. It’s in dead last right now but has a lot of positive momentum which it can use to it’s advantage. They will show off a lot of announced and unannounced titles that people will be much more interested in, such as the well established franchises. Anything less than a monstrous E3 for Sony will be a disappointment and everyone knows it. Nintendo has the ability to pleasantly surprise everyone, but I suspect they will be 3rd place, though they will have a much more interesting conference than previous years. A couple hardcore games will be announced to please fans as well as some new interesting casual games.Sony will end up having the best conference, only because they have too. Microsoft will be second and Nintendo will be a close last.

Well, there you go, now it’s your turn. Tell us what you think in the comments. 

Filed under: E3 2009, Rumors