Here comes another cliché prediction list. I took some time to go over 4 predictions I have for the coming year, and let me know if you think I'm crazy, or to share any of your predictions. (Sorry in advance for the wall of text, but you have headers and paragraphs to help you out.)
1) The Last Guardian will be delayed to Spring 2012:
It's well known that Sony's exclusive lineup for 2011 is killer. The beginning of the year starts off with LittleBigPlanet 2, Killzone 3, and infamous 2. The problem is that the fall is crowded with exclusives and other big-name multiplatform titles. Resistance 3 comes in September and Uncharted 3 drops a bomb in November, which is also packed with The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, Mass Effect 3, and another Call of Duty. Jaffe tweeted that Twisted Metal will release before December, and Insomniac has a history of releasing their Ratchet & Clank games in October/November too.
But where does that leave The Last Guardian? It's still a relatively niche title and won't cater to the mainstream like a Call of Duty or Uncharted. Most likely, soccer moms won't go to Walmart to pick up this artsy game for Christmas for little Johnny. The timing just doesn't seem right for Sony to try and win big with this title. I think it will be pushed a few months and released in the first or second quarter of 2012, and the Team Ico Collection will come in July or August of 2011 instead of the predicted "Spring." I don't foresee a difference in the number of copies of The Last Guardian sold if it releases in the spring instead of the holiday time.
2) Halo: CE HD/Remake will come in 2011:
Yes, I know, this is not a very original prediction. But with Bungie officially fulfilling their Halo obligation and moving on to multiplatform developing, Microsoft needs something to continue the Halo brand. It's not practical to expect a full-fledged Halo 4 next year because Microsoft has a brand new developer, 343 Industries, and they like to build at least 1-2 years of hype before their Halo releases. What better way to test out a new developer then to remaster the best Halo using the Reach engine during Halo’s 10 year anniversary? They could add Xbox Live multiplayer support and achievements, as well as some sort of internet community site similar to Bungie.net so users can share their pics, videos, and played games. We've all had our epic split screen moments on Halo: CE and wished we could share them for others to see, and maybe now is the chance.
3) Wii HD/ Wii 2 will be revealed first:
The current generation of consoles has been on the market for sometime, and some of them are starting to show their age. Microsoft just launched Kinect, and as their new focus, I can't imagine them refreshing the hardware anytime soon. The disc-drive, HD graphics, or online capabilities are not holding back Kinect games or applications, so it doesn't make financial sense to invest in an improved platform after sinking $500 million into the development and marketing of Kinect. The Playstation 3 is hitting its stride and already has secured the media format that will dominate the living room for the next 10 years. The hardware is currently profitable or break-even for Sony, so it doesn't make financial sense to invest in a new machine. I think Sony will be the last to launch their PS4.
And that leaves the Wii, and the much-fabled Wii HD (thanks Pachter!). I don't think Nintendo would refresh the Wii and only add 720p and 1080i/p support. The vast majority of the Wii audience isn't clamoring for HD, or probably even knows that their current machine is 480p capable, or what that even means. Instead, I see Nintendo innovating with the controller and how the user inputs data into the machine. They have innovated in the past by making touch-screens standard with the DS, using motion controls and balance boards for the Wii, and now with the 3DS. I think E3 2011 will give us more insight into their revolutionary plans for expanding the video game genre, with new hardware coming fall of 2012.
4) Agent, Final Fantasy Versus XIII, and the vaporware category:
These are some of the most wished for games, but never seem to progress or have any new information released about them. I'm going to predict if we'll hear any information or a release for these titles in this upcoming year.
Agent - Originally revealed at Sony’s 2009 E3 conference, nothing else has been heard about this game. I think Sony will mention the game at their E3 conference, but will not show a trailer. However, I think it will be finally unveiled at the 2011 VGA’s, and have a late 2012 or early 2013 release date. I think it will launch as exclusive, but eventually will make its way over to the Xbox 360.
Final Fantasy Versus XIII - I am not an expert on Japanese games or developers, but apparently more information will be revealed about this game in January 2011 at the Fabula Nova Crystallis Conference, and a playable build for the public at E3. I think this game will be exclusive to the PS3 in Japan, and multiplatform everywhere else, similar to the launch of FF XIII. The game will release in Spring/Summer 2012.
Halo 4 - 343 Industries finally shows an announcement trailer this summer at E3, and the game will release Fall 2013. This has potential to be an Xbox 3 launch title, depending on when, or if, Microsoft delivers a hardware successor.
Half-Life 2: Episode 3 - I didn't forget about you PC guys. Valve's website lists 1 game, Portal 2, in development for 2011. They definitely have more things up their sleeve, and I think 2011 will finally be the year for the Half-Life franchise. Expect a formal announcement this year.
Wii Vitality Sensor - This goes along with my 3rd prediction above. I think this will be incorporated into the next hardware revision for the Wii, instead of as a stand-alone peripheral.
Kingdom Hearts 3 - Nothing is known about this, and has never been confirmed to be in existence. 2011 will not bring any news about this, but gamers will eventually get the game in 2013. A Kingdom Hearts HD Collection will release in 2012.
Pragmata has sold 1 million copies in two days, Capcom has announced.
I didn't know it came out last Friday, or I would have bought the game. I will try again for this upcoming weekend.
Im really digging it. It reminds me of games from the PS2 era, not visually or how it plays, but like the spirit of it. If you were around for that golden age of gaming, you’ll get what I mean when you play this.
Have you tried Kanitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess (also Capcom)? That feels like a PS2-era Capcom game.
Agreed! The art style is amazing in that game. I bought it immediately after I played the demo but haven't started it lol
The next thing I'm mine when I've had my fill of crimson desert. A nice linear action game to contrast the open ended 😗👌
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has now become the second title to win Game of the Year at all five major awards shows.
It just wasn't for you in that way i guess. Can't really argue with it when it wins all the awards and it's the highest rating by players of all time
I thought this game was a load of rubbish. Trying too hard to be art(sy) by people who don’t really understand art but want to make it look like they do. Found it obvious and shallow and just not a fun game. Just seemed like every relentless second they were clutching at trying to feed this superior narrative… the irony being that’s kind of what I’m doing now… maybe that’s art imitating art….
Didn't know the Golden Joystick fan votum was considered one of the "major awards"?
I always thought it's "only" the Big Four - VGA, Bafta, GDC and DICE.
Former Naughty Dog artist Gabriel Betancourt explains why the "sweet spot" for game teams is under 200 people and how AAA "factories" kill creativity.
You may be right about The Last Guardian delay. I was really hoping The Last Guardian would make it's Holiday 2011 release window but If it means better sales, I guess I can wait until spring 2012. I think The Last Guardian will be better than most games released in 2011 but since it doesn't have a well known title it won't do huge numbers.
It will sell to the people who are fans of Team Ico and to newcomers who buy The Team Ico collection. Hopefully word will get out about how good the game is and that will boost sales.
I'm reluctantly in agreement with you about TLG (I think). I dunno, it's just the same as with a number of other games (like FFXIII Versus) where there's just such a little amount of info out there that it seems near impossible for the devs to meet the release date.
As for FFXIII Versus, I'm still on the fence about whether it's gonna end up sticking as an exclusive for the PS3 or whether it'll go to the Xbox. I'm more confident about it sticking as an exclusive because most people who know Nomura's work seem confident that he definitely wants to stick to the PS3 and that when he says something like that he'll stick to it. To add to that, I can't remember particularly well but I don't think the sales for FFXIII were extremely impressive on X360 (I think they were decent for a series making it's debut on the system, but in regards to what SE were expecting, probably not). Thirdly it certainly looks like they're trying to make sure they optimise this for the PS3 and there's nothing at the moment hinting that they're looking at it multiplatform or that they're hiding anything to do with that so I'm hoping it'll stick to an exclusive and that it'll live up to some sort of the hype it'll probably gain.
As for it's release, well who knows, 2012 would be lucky at this stage, maybe Spring-Autumn? I'd say that's realistic.
Oh and I'm definitely in agreement with you about a Wii-2 of some sort, in fact personally I think an announcement on it is well on it's way in early this year, it just seems like it might be the right time.
Agree with most of your predictions except for Halo 4.I think Gearbox is developing that one,not 343.Gearbox has stated they have been working on a secret project for a few years now and EGM did let it slip out that Gearbox was working on a Halo game.
Nomura said there probably wont be a KH collection because there is not enough time. That could change but it wont. There probably will be KH3 news this year case KH3DS comes out this year and We already know a little about it from various secret endings to portable games. And FFVS13 probably will not go multiplat and if it does it will be in both countries because it is supposed to have a simultaneous release date. Plus Nomura said he worked extensively hard to make the graphics in gameplay incredible. From that short clip of gameplay it looks like he achieved that goal. I do not think they will be able to do that on the Xbox.