New 'Gears of War' title unveiled
LucasArts unveils 'Star Wars 1313'

E3 2012 preview: The 10 big questions

By Brett Molina, USA TODAY
Updated

The best time to cover the Electronic Entertainment Expo is when new hardware is introduced, particularly the kind that sits in your living room.

Lucky for us, we get up close and personal with a fresh video game console at E3 2012, on top of a host of upcoming video games across all platforms.

As usual, with new hardware and software comes a host of interesting questions. Here's a look at 10 of them:

1. What is the audience for the Wii U?

Nintendo dominated Microsoft and Sony with a Wii console focused on the casual game player, trading in complex mechanics for simpler, motion-based controls. And although the Wii U will still include some of the same accessibility, the addition of features such as high-definition graphics suggests an attempt to woo core players back.

"Is the Wii U going to be targeted more towards the Call of Duty players, the casual audience, or both," says Electronic Entertainment Design and Research analyst Jesse Divnich. "It is critical that Nintendo set a clear identity early on as it will aid developers in how they develop their titles for this unique piece of hardware."

Considering the rise of gaming across other platforms such as mobile devices, it might serve Nintendo best to recapture the traditional game player. "I think that (non-traditional) gamers have moved on to social games, tablet and smartphone games, or gave it up as a fad, and are unlikely to be won back," says Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter.

E3 2012:  Full coverage from gaming's biggest event

2. What is the must-have feature for Wii U?

The tablet controller really sets the Nintendo device apart from its competitors, as will its unique library starring beloved franchises Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda and Metroid. The boost to HD graphics should also help place it on par with the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

However, there's one area Nintendo will likely need to address for Wii U to flourish: its online network. "How can the company compete with Xbox Live and PlayStation Network? Now that they want to court hardcore gamers a robust online plan is necessary," says GameTrailers' Geoff Keighley.

And it goes beyond creating a strong environment for multiplayer matches. Consoles are morphing into entertainment devices, adding apps for Netflix, Hulu and a host of other services. Nintendo has shown hints of this with the Wii, but expect a big jump with Wii U.

3. What kind of Wii U game lineup can players expect?

It's clear games running on the PS3 and Xbox 360 will move to the Wii U, including Aliens: Colonial Marines, NBA 2K13 and Batman: Arkham City. The real issue is what games can fans anticipate from the company's stellar first-party library.

The Wii launched in 2006 with The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Excite Truck and the bundled Wii Sports, which just happened to help Nintendo sell more than 90 million consoles to date. Sample demos showcased at E3 last year featured HD Legend of Zelda and a revamp of New Super Mario Bros., and expect to see other titles built to leverage the tablet controller.

"They need a game that somebody sees and goes, 'I could only play that on that console,' " says Morgan Webb, co-host of G4's X-Play.

4. How will Microsoft and Sony generate buzz at E3?

It definitely won't be through hardware. Both Microsoft and Sony have said they won't unveil next-generation hardware. Most experts have an unveiling pegged for E3 2013. So what will they focus on? The expansion of the Xbox 360 and PS3 libraries as well as fresh partnerships.

"I expect both Microsoft and Sony to provide additional announcements regarding movie and television media partners, which will help in each of their messaging that their respective consoles offer a true total entertainment experience," says Divnich.

Video game players may also learn more about options that move them beyond the TV. "Second screen experiences will be a big theme, whether it's the Wii U's tablet controller, PS Vita interacting with PS3, or Xbox working with your PC or tablet," says Keighley.

MORE:  Game Hunters' guide to E3 2012

5. How will Nintendo and Sony revitalize their handhelds?

Smartphones and tablets are pounding the traditional handheld market, thanks to cheaper, more accessible games. It doesn't help that the recent slate of games for the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita have been really weak.

"Both Vita and 3DS need more quality software now," says M2 Research analyst Billy Pidgeon. "I'm expecting Sony and Nintendo to stand up and deliver impressive titles at the show."

Adds Divnich: "It will be interesting to see what Sony and Nintendo announce that will continue to excite consumers and justify the $30 price point entertainment experience."

However, it might be too late, says Pachter. "The handheld category is probably 50% as large as it was five years ago, and will possibly continue to shrink," he says. "Sony and Nintendo are fighting for a shrinking share, and will split it, with both disappointed."

Webb agrees: "The writing is sort of on the wall that we are beginning to see the end of dedicated handheld market."

6. How will the Halo franchise fare after Bungie?

Having moved on to a new project with publisher Activision, Bungie hands over the keys to the Xbox's most important franchise to 343 Industries. Judging from early trailers and images, the return of Master Chief certainly looks like the series video game players know and love. But should they be worried?

"I was very skeptical about Halo 4 at first, but I've seen some of the game recently and I'm excited by how 343 is pushing the storytelling in a new direction," says Keighley.

Among the new wrinkles, Spartan Ops, a cooperative campaign with regular releases similar to an episodic television series. "I've long been waiting for a developer to tackle single player DLC, and Halo is the first game that is promising a big commitment to new content every week," says Keighley.

Sounds promising, but 343 still needs to create an experience that's textbook Halo. "There are a lot of intangibles that made Halo what it is today," says Dan "Shoe" Hsu of GamesBeat, the gaming division of VentureBeat. "It's not just marketing, hype, good timing, and a slick-looking protagonist. The games all played extremely well -- only Call of Duty can really compete on a gameplay level -- so we'll have to see if the new gang can get those little things right."

7. Have we finally reached Call of Duty fatigue?

Activision has embarked on a historic ride with its video game juggernaut. According to NPD Group, since 1995, four of the top 10 selling games bear the Call of Duty name.

However, we might be seeing signs of a slowdown. As Gamasutra reported in April, analysts believe sales of Modern Warfare 3 are behind the pace of Black Ops, even though the Infinity Ward title boasted a stronger debut.

Also, this will mark the eighth consecutive year video game players will find a new Call of Duty title on store shelves this holiday. How studio Treyarch plans to freshen up the franchise, particularly its popular multiplayer mode, will determine whether the series maintains momentum.

8. Will God of War multiplayer really work?

Kratos has always worked as a loner, taking down an entire hierarchy of Greek gods en route to ruling them all through his exploits in God of War. But the prequel God of War: Ascension for PlayStation 3 will have players duking it out with friends in a competitive multiplayer mode.

It appears like an odd fit, as teams of two compete in a domination-style match before vanquishing a massive boss. It looks epic, but will it feel like a unique, enjoyable experience or a feature shoehorned in to justify its worth?

9. Is a change of scenery enough for Assassin's Creed?

For a moment, it appeared Ubisoft's stellar action series featuring a line of assassins was starting to lose its luster. Three straight years of titles featuring the same stealthy killer in largely the same environment will do that.

But Assassin's Creed III takes players away from the Renaissance and into the American Revolution as Connor, an assassin caught up in the Revolutionary War. "I think that is the setting that is going to bring a lot of older fans back into the fold that maybe gave up after some of the recent offerings," says X-Play co-host Blair Herter.

So far, it looks incredible. But is it just the same game with a fresh coat of paint, or will developers push the concepts of Assassin's Creed gameplay even further? Players may get their first sense of that during the show.

10. When will the sequel madness slow down?

It is growing increasingly difficult to find video games appearing at E3 that are original properties, such as PlayStation 3 title The Last of Us or 2K action title Spec Ops: The Line.

There's nothing wrong with sequels. They are often an opportunity to tweak and improve elements from previous iterations, but they seem to be coming more frequently, either annually or every two years. Take Gears of War, where a fresh title has been revealed months after last fall's Gears of War 3. Hopefully, some upcoming franchises are among the surprises unveiled at E3.

PHOTOS:  Fifteen games to watch at E3

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