What Do Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo Have to Prove at E3?

Big reveals put the pressure on Nintendo and Sony, while Microsoft can (probably) stay the course. But all three will have something to prove going into the show.

• by Kat Bailey, and Chris Holt
• June 03, 2011 16:00 PM PT

We've officially hit the year of transition.

Nintendo is still settling into the Nintendo 3DS era, and they're set to unveil the successor to the Nintendo Wii. Sony is still dealing with the fallout of the PSN disaster and they've got a handheld of their own to show off. Microsoft is probably in the best shape of the Big Three, but even they will want to prove that Kinect is more than a gimmicky accessory.

This is one of the rare years in which all three companies get to set a new narrative for themselves. So with that in mind, Chris and I asked ourselves, "What do the Big Three have to prove going into E3?"

Nintendo: ... That Project Cafe and 3DS Are More Than Just Gimmicks

I still think the Nintendo Wii is one of the boldest risks in the gaming industry. Knowing that they couldn't compete with Microsoft and Sony when it came to pure power, Nintendo went against the grain and de-emphasized graphics in favor of their new control scheme. And they've made it work for five years and counting, even with the proliferation of high-definition televisions.

But the Wii's run is coming to an end and the 3DS is scuffling along through its first year. Nintendo certainly has plenty to prove with Project Cafe, particularly to disaffected gamers who keenly remember the year that they tried to sell them on a lineup consisting of Wii Music, Wii Fit and Animal Crossing. There have been a few oblique references to Project Cafe catering to core gamers and bringing in better third-party support, but that's the same song and dance we were hearing way back in 2001 with the GameCube. Time for Nintendo to show us.

Last year, Nintendo managed to wow audiences by proving the viability of glasses-less 3D and bringing in a slew of well-known third-party developers. Much of that glow has faded now that the 3DS is actually on the market, but Nintendo at least has a road map for Project Cafe. Prove that Project Cafe's gimmick works and announce a killer app or two, and we'll be duly excited.

I expect we'll be seeing plenty of Mario and Zelda during this press conference, along with word that a high-definition Skyward Sword is being ported to Project Cafe. But in the spirit of the enormous risk that they ran with the Wii, I hope that Nintendo will have it in them to venture beyond their comfort zone with both the 3DS and Project Cafe. In what may be one of the most critical years in Nintendo history, something tells me remakes and high-definition ports aren't going to cut it.

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