The 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo is right around the corner, and what better way to get hyped up for the event than by speculating what the conference might have to offer? I did a list like this last year and came away with almost one correct prediction, so maybe this year will be more realistic (though I highly doubt it). Even so, getting just one of these to be true would be fantastic and would totally make my E3. One can hope…

10. The entire back catalog of PlayStation titles will be available to download on the PS4

Personally I wouldn’t mind this being higher on the list, but I feel like I’m in the minority for wanting older games available on new consoles. With Sony’s trust in Gaikai and online, wireless distribution, it makes sense that the back catalog of PS1/PS2/PS3 games, even PSP games, could become available on the PS4. Hell, it many cases it makes a ton of sense. Licensing issues aside, if this happens Sony’s new console would win over a lot of gamers (one for sure).

9. Street Fighter X Mortal Kombat becomes a reality

Ed Boon has (apparently) gone on record saying he wants to do it, and 2013 is the year we finally see if Scorpion has what it takes to thrown down with Chun-Li. Or if Cyrax and Sektor can hold a candle to Ryu and Ken. The two fighting game juggernauts have held separate crossover battles before, but having the two come together would be a dream come true for fighting fans. MK went against DC, SF went against Marvel. Stranger things have happened.

8. Following the “Year of Luigi”, Nintendo proclaims 2014 to be the “Year of Samus”

Luigi has lived in Mario’s shadow for decades and he is finally getting his due in 2013. In a metaphorical way Samus has been living in Nintendo’s shadow, watching her Big N brethren receive sequel after sequel while she only has a few titles to her name. Nintendo has decided to rectify this mishap in 2014 by releasing Metroid Prime 4, a Super Metroid inspired follow-up on the 3DS (akin to the upcoming Link to the Past 2), and a brand new strategy RPG style game set in the Metroid world. That’s on top of porting the original games to the Virtual Console on the 3DS and Wii U, of course.

7. Rare’s newest game will actually be worthwhile

Whether it’s Perfect Dark 3, Killer Instinct 3, Banjo-Kazooie 3, Conker’s Bad Fur Day 2, or a new Donkey Kong style game without the Nintendo owned property, I’m down for a new Rare game. Out of all the predictions so far, this one stands the most chance of being true, because Rare has been outed to be working on something from the company’s historical backlog. So long as the game’s not a Kinect-required sports game…

6. Sonic: The Fighters 2

Sega has decided their mascot Sonic has been too soft for too long and roll out Sonic: The Fighter 2. Featuring series stalwarts such as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Robotnik/Eggman, and Metal Sonic as well as fan favorites from the comics, television series, and every other Sonic game, Sonic: The Fighters 2 is a fanboy’s dream. On top of that, fighting game powerhouse Capcom is co-producing the game, ensuring the fighting is balanced and competitive!

5. Nintendo dramatically changes the standard formula with Pokemon Alpha & Beta Version

After nearly 20 years of essentially making the same game again and again, Nintendo has decided to change up the norms with the newest Pokemon games, Pokemon Alpha and Beta versions. The games will allow gamers to play as either a Pokemon neophyte training to become the very best (like no one ever was) in a similar fashion to previous games, or they can play as a member of Team Alpha, a nefarious group that is looking to use Pokemon to do their dirty deeds. Collecting every Pokemon is no longer the goal, but rather finding and training a few Pokemon into battling machines is the main aspect. If you want more, read my past top ten about this very topic!

4. The return of Crash Bandicoot

Naughty Dog, the creator of many famous franchises including Uncharted and Jak & Daxter, has been on a role recently with the release of The Last of Us. But the dark mood and apocalyptic setting of that game has inspired the veteran company to breathe new life into one of their earliest franchises, Crash Bandicoot! Crash has been hanging around since Naughty Dog handed development of subsequent titles off to other companies, but the originators have stepped back in and picked up the PS1 mascot’s reigns and begun work on a new adventure platformer!

3. Microsoft steps into the handheld market; releases Microsoft XPad

Sony’s PS4 has made it mandatory for developers to include PS Vita support for all PS4 games, which has Microsoft reeling for a solution to not be left behind. Enter the Microsoft Xpad, a tablet-like gaming controller that allows Xbox One games to be played remotely through the Xpad. Retailing at $400, the Xpad will require a constant internet connection, as well as a link to your bank account which has an average daily balance of $1,000, which the Xpad will use $500 of every day.

2. Xbox One and PS4 retail for under $400, DRM free

Wishful thinking at its finest! Money is a big deal with gamers, and Sony and Microsoft have realized that. The price points of the two new consoles is revealed to be under $400, and, better, yet, both consoles are slated to be DRM free, meaning used games are a go! Considering that this has almost already been totally proven to not be the case before the Expo has even started, this one really is a dream!

1. Power Stone 3

Capcom wanted to show us last year that Power Stone 3 was coming, but the game just wasn’t close enough to resembling a Power Stone game that they had to pass. But this year, 2013, is the year we see the return of Falcon and crew in the brawl that only the Power Stone crew can handle. More weapons, more levels, more characters, and the same action make Power Stone 3 the best in the series. Releasing on the PS3, PS4, PSP, PS Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii, Wii U, DS, 3DS, and, strangely, the Dreamcast, Power Stone 3 is shaping up to be 2013’s game of the year!

Laters,
Jsick