2012 Predictions

Tom Orry, Editor

My serious suggestion is that the internet sensation that is Benton (Fenton) the dog will be turned into an iOS game – just like Baby Monkey. No doubt someone could knock together something involving shouting the dog’s name into the microphone, with Fenton running faster and faster the more you shout.

A slightly less likely prediction is that the Wii U will miss 2012 in Europe. Nintendo’s next console might make it to Japan (and possibly North America) late in 2012, but us Brits and our European chums will have to wait until early 2013. I hope it doesn’t come true, but given rumours over ongoing problems with the hardware I think it’s a decent possibility.

Nintendo might be suffering from a hardware delay (if my clairvoyance abilities are working properly), but I reckon the company will end 2012 firmly in pole position when it comes to handhelds. With Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7 and Ocarina of Time the 3DS looks set to have a string Christmas 2011, giving it good momentum going into 2012. The PS Vita will impress, but a high price tag will see it lose more and more ground on Nintendo’s handheld.

As for new consoles arriving in 2012, there’s an outside chance of something from Microsoft, but my money is on Vita being the only new machine to launch in Europe during 2012.

Neon Kelly, Deputy Editor

The Vita will be well-received at launch, getting a warmer response than the 3DS from critics and gamers alike – but it won’t sell in the volume that Sony wants. I think it’s an impressive-looking piece of kit, and it’ll be easier to promote than the 3DS, but I think lots of people will still be put off by the cost involved. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see an official price cut – just a small one – in time for Christmas next year.

Contrary to Tom’s predictions, I think that Nintendo is going to have a difficult year. The 3DS is showing signs of improvement, but it won’t be long before Vita shows up to steal the limelight – though I think both platforms are going to be scrapping over a relatively small user base, thanks to the ever-swelling popularity of iOS and Android gaming. Elsewhere, scepticism over the Wii U will grow – especially when Microsoft’s new console steals all the attention at E3.

Speaking of E3, I think this is when we’ll see the next game from David Cage and Quantic Dream. Structurally it’ll be similar to Heavy Rain, but the QTE-style controls will be tweaked slightly. As that’s not a particularly brave prediction, I’ll take a stab at the plot, too: it will be a science fiction story of sorts, but closer in tone to Children of Men than to the likes of Blade Runner, or Star Wars. It’ll be set in a relatively recognisable version of our world, but against the backdrop of either an invasion, or a natural disaster of some kind – something huge that’s threatening society as we know it.

Martin Gaston, Previews Editor

I think Nintendo will jigger the Wii U so it can support a second one of those wacky tablet controller things – do they even have a name yet? – but I also think Nintendo is going to release a redesigned 3DS at E3. I expect we’ll see a slightly better battery life and that second circle pad integrated as standard – mainly because the idea of a circle pad attachment that requires a battery is probably the most awful thing I’ve seen since the Sega 32X. I also think that partially explains why the market has not one but two limited edition 3DS’ this Christmas – what better way to use up some of the old stock before beginning production on a new model?

Really, though, I expect the current development trends to continue: we’ll see plenty of high-quality games that are sadly lacking in any noticeable innovation, and every single publisher in the world will continue chasing Call of Duty’s enormous money trail until the entire industry implodes in a pit of tedious modern shooters that probably won’t even be as good as next year’s Call of Duty.

I also predict the Mass Effect 3 multiplayer mode will be complete horses***.

Emily Gera, Staff Writer

MMOs will begin catering more to a casual pick-up-and-play crowd. We’re already seeing the likes of Blizzard beginning to take steps toward appealing to the casual/social market by simplifying its skill system, adopting a new microtransaction system with Battle.net Balance, and piling in gentler elements like Pokemon-styled mini-games and playable Pandas. Similarly, we already have Rift offering “Instant Adventures”, built for users who want a fast, drop-in/drop-out experience.

With that in mind, it’s likely Star Wars: The Old Republic is going to pull away a major section of hardcore users from WoW. With enough of WoW’s fanbase left disenchanted by the direction the game is taking, and no expansion likely to be seen until late spring, Blizzard doesn’t have enough content to keep users from migrating to a new title. If WoW continues its 18 month development cycle, this will leave SWTOR in the clear for roughly six months before Mists of Pandaria comes out.

Final Fantasy XIV will go back to being free-to-play. Because even after months of being patched and re-designed, its userbase has gotten a taste of a free game, while those who aren’t part of its fanbase are well aware of the horror story that was its initial launch. If it wants a fresh start and a decent influx of users, it needs to take a page out of DC Universe Online’s book, a game that reached 1 million users on PC and PS3 after taking the F2P route.