10 Bold Gaming Predictions For 2012

By BSip on December 30, 2011@http://twitter.com/#!/Brian_Sipple

As 2011 ends, we’d like to thank everyone who made this our best year yet at Stick Skills. But before we wander into the vast, unknown domain of 2012, Dougie and I have complied a list of 10 bold predictions to get us ready for the new year in gaming.

5 Predictions From Dougie Veney:

1. Star Wars: Battlefront 3 will be announced – The hearts of many gamers have been played with in regards to the supposed “announcement” of this title year in and year out. 2012 will finally be the year that the title is announced, and a reveal will come during E3.

2. Grand Theft Auto V will feature co-op – The initial trailer was impressive, but I’m fully expecting to see cooperative play make it into the story. Grand Theft Auto shocked the world nearly a decade a go, and will change the gaming world on its head with Grand Theft Auto V.

3. The next generation will be announced – While we don’t expect to see a new console until 2013 or 2014, at least one of the next-generation consoles will be announced next year. Rumor has it that Microsoft may unveil it during CES 12, but don’t count Sony out either.

4. A new PS Vita will be announced – The Playstation Vita is already experiencing problems in Japan, and we’re expecting Sony to at least let it slip that a revised Playstation Vita will be announced. Early adopters might have fun, but the revised system will have better battery life and a more durable system overall.

5. Space will be the new “it” location – A good bit bold here, but we’re thinking that Respawn Entertainment’s title and a few other studios will make the move to “space”. Zombies were all the rage recently, but we’re seeing a lot of studios take their shooters and adventure titles to outerspace.

5 Predictions from Brian Sipple

1. Steven Spielberg will galvanize the gaming industry at E3 by announcing direct involvement with a next-gen Xbox and PS4 project. We all know Spielberg is an avid gamer, but unfortunately, his most recent deal with EA to collaborate on three different projects didn’t amount to very much. My guess is that the 65-year old director sees the next generation of consoles as the time when he can fully realize his artistic vision for gaming. We may or may not find out when the PlayStation 4 or Xbox Whatever-It’s-Called is arriving, but we’ll learn who’s authoring their first chapter.

2. Red Dead Redemption 2 is announced at the 2012 Video Game Awards. I don’t want to spoil the ending of Red Dead Redemption for anyone who hasn’t played it, but from what we know, little Johnny Marston Jr. is every bit the quick draw as dad. After riding the wave of Grand Theft Auto V in 2012, Rockstar saddles up for 2013 by showing off a reveal trailer for RDR 2 at Spike TV’s annual awards show.

3. Assassin’s Creed III will be on shelves by November and will take place in your own backyard. Well, figuratively speaking, of course…and I suppose you’d have to live in America. That’s because the next Assassin’s Creed title will be the full-fledged AC III fans have been waiting for, and it’s destination will be none other than the American Revolution. Expect cities like Boston, Philadelphia, and New York to get the full throwback makeover the game is so well known for.

4. Call of Duty will again feature contrived controversy in its most unsurprisingly disturbing scene yet. The last two Modern Warfare games have blatantly aimed stir up a media frenzy with with “No Russian,” and more recently, forcing you to walk towards your wife and daughter before a truck bomb kills the three of you. The first one was essential to gameplay. The second one tried way too hard. In 2012, Treyarch ups the ante even further. If recent rumors are true about the developer making a Black Ops sequel, get ready to start off as Jackie Kennedy enjoying the sights and sounds of Dealey Plaza.

5. Introducing Your Madden 13 Cover Athlete: Tim Tebow. After beating the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday and inspiring his rag-tag outfit of “football” players to the playoffs, Tim Tebow will make it all the way to the AFC Championship Game by shocking the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Divisional round. When the Broncos get the ball, down by four with 30 seconds to go in the game, Tebow will complete his second pass of the evening by deflecting it off James Harrison’s helmet, catching it himself, and running it 52 yards for the game-winning touchdown. These divine and heroic feats lead to him winning the fan vote for the cover of Madden 13, announced by Skip Bayless on ESPN First Take.

What are your bold predictions for 2012? Feel free to share in the comments or join our great community in the forums!

In addition to being an editor for Stick Skills and a connoisseur of all things awesome, Brian is also studying business at Iowa State University. His Xbox Gamertag is Sidewinder57 and you can follow him via Twitter: @Brian_Sipple by clicking the little orange button in this box.