Top 5 E3 Expectations

E3 season is creeping closer and along with the expectant thrill of what could be revealed mixes a certain nostalgic sureness of what viewers will probably see at the average E3 conference. Here is my list of the Top 5 things I fully expect to see  bit of at E3:

5. The Next Predictable Sports Title

I'm obviously not a big fan of sports games (excluding the perfection that is Wii Sports), so the annual Trot-Out-New-Annual-Sports-Game presentations are usually pretty boring for me. It's a new year, they need a new game; it's expected. A few times there have been some interesting turns, such as a story mode with real fleshed-out characters in a FIFA game. Other times there are just strange presentations with announcers who seem to barely know anything about video games at all.

4. Cute/Edgy Marketing Team Fail

Remember Yarny? One memorable E3, a very shy game designer presented his physics-based game Unravel while clutching a strange little yarn doll he named Yarny. His delivery was shaky and real (surely feeling the world-wide attention directed at him), inspiring the internet to explode over love for him and his quirky, adorable doll. People made their own Yarny dolls, bought the game, and generally enjoyed being part of something.

Yeah, that doesn't always happen.

For all of the sweet/quirky moments E3 can bring, there are a dozen more missteps of people trying to capture that magic. I fully expect to see some really weird presentations, strange characters, buzzy announcers with fake accents, and whatever other attention-grabbing tactic thought up by a marketing team to enchant the internet.

3. Fake Co-Op Dialogue

Let's re-create the feel of playing a co-op game with friends! But with a script! And crisp voice-acting that never could have been transmitted with a fuzzy headset over Xbox Live!

Scripted fake co-op dialogue over gameplay results in a stilted, artificial feel. People don't speak in energetic, complete sentences when they are playing a fast-paced shooter. Real people mumble, cut themselves off, and interrupt each other. Hopefully one day these types of presentations will be retired. Or, maybe, they'll just let two real people do real co-op dialogue over the real game they are really playing together.

2. Uneccessary Re-Boot with Higher Resolution

Remember that game you loved when you were twelve? It's back, and in better definition! Please buy it again. Please. (Please, this was a really good IP once and we think it's a good nostalgia-grab).

1. Ubisoft/Memery Cringe

Oh, Ubisoft. The Ubisoft conference is a hallmark of the E3 season. Want to watch weird Mortal Kombat-looking characters dance on a neon stage to advertise the next Just Dance installment? Want to watch a presenter try to make a random person in cosplay into a meme? Want to just feel uncomfortable for up to ten minutes at a time? That's what I come to expect from Ubisoft's yearly presentations. Last year was a bit mellow for them, but I'll keep this at the top of my list for steady E3 expectations.

Top 5 Most-Anticipated News for E3 2018

It's getting to be the most wonderful time of year... for people who love video games, that is. E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo is coming up June 12th. Every year gaming companies dream up cool presentations to show off upcoming games, consoles, and various updates to its paying public. Here are five things I'm really hoping to see/hear about amid the tumult of live streams and news:

5. Uh...Bethesda?

Bethesda is like...an older cousin who sometimes comes around the holidays to tell about the really cool stuff he's doing, and other times he's kind of having a mid-life crisis. The company is known for its robust single-player RPGs, like Skyrim and Fallout. Over the past couple of E3 seasons, they've definitely had their fair share of criticism for resting on these laurels and not innovating more. The Internet has seen a few glimpses of Fallout 76, so I'd like to hear more about it and see if Bethesda is ready to drop Skyrim's success from its cold, cold hands and let it rest.

4. Ooblets Updates!

I first heard about Ooblets from the PC Gaming Show at E3 2017, and I was instantly hooked. This adorable crafting/farming/creature RPG combines the best parts of Pokemon, Animal Crossing, and Stardew Valley. It's still in development with no clear release date, so I'm dying for more news. I recommend following creator nonplayercat on Tumblr and Patreon to be the most up-to-date.

3. More Switch Titles!

I was in line at midnight for the Nintendo Switch because I was sold on its unique controls, portability, and overall fun factor. Over a year later, and I still really like my Switch... I just wish it had more games! Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey were great starts for the system, but I haven't seen enough games really take advantage of the Switch's capabilities. 1, 2, Switch looked cute, but a party game isn't enough to make a system really worth it for a variety of gamers. We need more titles ranging from single-player to party games to puzzles. Also, what is up with the Virtual Console? If Nintendo let people play GameCube games on their Switch?!? Some people would carry it everywhere.

2. Indie Games, Plz

Along with more robust "Nindies" for the Switch, I would love to see more indie games in general. Big developers get somewhat stuck in a cycle. Indie developers have the room to take some risks. As a person who isn't fond of shooters, most multiplayer games, racing games, or sports games, I usually look to independent titles to find something I can really love.

1. Pokemon Stars on the Switch?

The Pokemon presentation at last year's E3 was pretty funny. I waited ready for not much when, after introducing another Pokemon fighting game along with Pokemon Sun and Moon Ultra, a Pokemon developer looked up from his desk: "Oh, by the way, we're making a brand-new Pokemon game on the Switch and answering all of your hopes and dreams."

Okay, I might be paraphrasing.

Now since then we've heard about Pokemon: Let's Go, which appears to be good ol' Pokemon Yellow with the option of Eevee as a starter, 3D graphics, and compatibility with Pokemon Go, all on the Switch. Is that the "new Pokemon game" they teased last year? I'm thinking no, but that may just been some foolish hope.

Honorable Mention

Please, Nintendo, give us a real Animal Crossing game on the Switch that makes full use of its unique controls and capabilities. Please. I've been playing New Leaf for yeeeeeaaaarrrrssss.

Top 5: Games to Play with a Significant Other

Valentine's Day is drawing near. Love is in the air, tinged with just a hint of desperation and too much focus on buying cheap gifts and chocolate at the grocery store to assuage a gnawing need for mindless calendar-based consumption... Or maybe it's just time to sit down for a good gaming session with a cute game and a cute person to play it with.

Here's my list for the Top 5 Games to Play with that Someone Special.

5. Guacamelee! 

Colorful, fun, adventurous, co-op, and scratching an itch to beat things up and make chicken jokes. That's what I call a good Valentine's Day game. My husband and I first played it when it was free for a while on the Playstation store, and we found we worked well together in co-op. Work in tandem to explore the cool level designs and melee your way to the top.

4. Diablo 3

Diablo works well as a co-op RPG, especially if one person is a little bit better at not-dying than the other. Team up to fight evil and grind through levels and magical items. The story isn't too intense to follow, and I enjoy the many layers of difficulty to Diablo 3. A no-frills playthrough can evolve into a deeper exploration of the expansions or harder difficulty levels.

3. Guitar Hero/Dance Dance Revolution/any singing or dancing or music game

Games like this work on two levels. For a casual or new relationship, it's just kind of fun to play a somewhat silly motion- or rhythm-based game. For a longer and more committed relationship, it's a good opportunity to relax together for quick game sessions or compete to get the highest score.

2. Super Mario Odyssey! 

Another co-op option, especially if one half of the couple is just a little bit better at platformers or just not dying. Mario is always a crowd pleaser for couples with wide gaps in video game interest. Multi-level difficulty is easy to manage as well. For example, one person might control the magic hat, the other controls the Mario, and we all get to have fun. This is another great game for exploration or just playing in small, manageable chunks.

1. Katamari Forever! 

Really, this could be any Katamari game, but my husband and I especially love passing the controller back and forth to try to get the best time or the highest score on a level. Roll up a big, round katamari ball as the Prince of All Cosmos cleaning up after your somewhat distant and gigantic king dad. I especially love playing this with another person because one of you will get to see all the weird side characters and strange things picked up during the katamari process while the player is focusing on their task. As a bonus, the music is intensely groovy. Sometimes I replay the level just to hear the songs.

Honorable Mentions

• Mario Kart (just don't get too competitive and ruin the evening)
• Pokemon Go (for those romantic, Pokemon-hunting walks)
• Animal Crossing: New Leaf (visit each other's towns!)
• The Wolf Among Us (interactive storytelling and great art style - make decisions together!)
• Stardew Valley (especially multiplayer when it's available, especially if you can get married in the game!)