Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo: Who’s got your attention at E3?

It's officially June, folks, which means it's time to begin the E3 predictions and hype articles. While last year's Electronic Entertainment Expo was lackluster, to say the least, this year promises the continuation of next-gen console reveals — at least from Microsoft and Sony. With the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 officially announced, we are full steam ahead in the next-gen console war.

There's plenty of questions surrounding both the Xbox One and PS4, that make for some intriguing press conferences. Microsoft has promised plenty of games, while Sony has promised even more games on a system "all about the gamers." Nintendo, meanwhile, is sort of this forgotten third-party. The Wii U/3DS maker is playing it quiet this year, opting to skip out on the glitz and glamor of a press conference and instead going with its popular Nintendo Direct online broadcast. But just because Nintendo isn't hosting a big show doesn't meant they don't have plenty to offer gamers.

We're less than two weeks away, ladies and gents. Which of the big three — Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo — are you most excited to hear more from at E3?

Max Baehr Follow on Twitter

Nintendo. Yep. The one not doing a big dog-and-pony show. The one with the already-launched, struggling mid-gen console. The one who’s declared that 2013 will be the year of video gaming’s most iconic sidekick (sorry, Tails). There’s some mystique around Nintendo right now, and I wanna see what they’ve got up the sleeves of those iconic coveralls.

Whaddya mean coveralls don’t have sleeves?! Go away.

Anyway, we know a bunch about the PS4. We also know what we don’t know, and what we’d like to hear, and what we wouldn’t. Same goes for Xbox One. Hell, we even know (from last week’s Roundtable) what we think of the two of them pitted against each other. Yes, it’s all interesting stuff, but the jokes have all been set up — we’re just waiting for the punchlines.

What we DON’T know is what Nintendo has planned for E3 other than not-a-stage-show, and some off-campus hands-on kiosks in a partnership with Best Buy. And that’s got me a bit excited. They already have their (dark) horse in the race with the Wii U, we know it’s the Year of Luigi, and 3DS is absolutely killing the handheld market right now. I have no clue what they’re planning, although I will say — give us a Wii U Pokemon game that uses the handheld to collect digital trading cards, tie it in with a 3DS friend-battling game with augmented-reality cards, and watch that s!@# sell like hotcakes.

Verdict: Nintendo. Yup, I said it.

Andrew Clouther Follow on Twitter

Microsoft. Out of all the press conferences, Microsoft revealed the least about their games and talked big about all these new franchises. WHAT ARE THEY? I'm figuring that the reason Microsoft said so little about their games is because they want to go big at E3. Quite honestly, they better do that or their teetering fan base may take a turn for the worst.

I’m curious about Sony and Nintendo exclusives but they played their hand pretty strongly already. I’d love a new Metroid game that won’t make me question my love for the franchise. I want surprises. Surprise me dammit.

Verdict: Microsoft, but I really just want to be surprised.

Matt Liebl Follow on Twitter

I'm honestly surprised Andrew didn't say he was most excited for the PC press confered (#He'saPCfanboy). But to answer this question, I'd have to say I'm most excited for Microsoft and the Xbox One. Don't get me wrong, as of right now, I'm team Sony/PS4. Yes, I'm excited to see what other games Sony will show off and to see what the actual system looks like, but Sony already has my attention. And because of that I really want to see if Microsoft can recover from that blunder of a reveal.

Major Nelson has already said the focus will be on games, and only games. That's a good start, but what games will they show off? Microsoft has reportedly spent $1 billion on exclusives for the Xbox One. I want to see where that money went to. Did it actually go towards full-featured exclusive titles? Or did it go towards some more Kinect shovelware? Or was the $1 billion spent on "exclusive features" for multiplatform games?

The whole "focus on games" has been used broadly in Microsoft's attempt to drum up hype heading into E3. It's time for them to put up or shut up.

Verdict: Microsoft, I challenge you to wow me.

Lance Liebl Follow on Twitter

I would say I'm most excited for Nintendo, mainly because I want to see reveals and gameplay from their big-name titles that'll never get released. Unfortunately, there's too much going on with Sony and Microsoft for me to be too excited about Nintendo.

So it comes down to Microsoft and Sony. Microsoft doesn't hasn't made me a buyer of the Xbox One with what they've shown yet. I don't want to use the Kinect more. I have no use for how the Xbox One will function with a TV. I'm only interested in the games that they'll show. Even then, there's so little momentum on their side right now that it's hard to get excited.

That's why I'm most excited for Sony. Between the PS4 and the Xbox One, I'm more likely to buy a PS4. I want to see what the console looks like. I want to hear more of their plans for online services, see more of their games, and learn what their plans for used games are. Sony is saying all the right things right now to appeal to gamers, so I'm most excited to see if they can lock me up as an early adopter of the PS4 with an E3 press conference that blows me out of the water.

Verdict: Sony has made me a believer.

Tatiana Morris Follow on Twitter

This E3 I'm ready to hear any news from Sony and Microsoft. Nintendo really isn't a contender; they are off doing their own thing in the Miiverse. I'm thoroughly excited to see the Great Console War of 2013's final showdown. If I had to choose between Sony and Microsoft…I'd have to side with Microsoft. Although I find myself most interested in the PlayStation 4…I want to see what Microsoft is going to do to redeem themselves. They may have taken two steps forward by revealing the Xbox One, but they took a week's worth of steps back by the utter confusion that followed their reveal.

Microsoft has a lot of ground to cover at their conference. I'm hoping to hear about their used game policy (DRM), how watchful the Kinect actually is, and pricing for both games and the actual console — you know, the things that are improtant to a gamer. So here's to you Microsoft, you made your bed – now lay in it.

Verdict: I want Microsoft to redeem themselves.

Mike Splechta Follow on Twitter

I couldn't be more torn on this question, since all three have something I'm extremely excited to see. Obviously more information on both new consoles is enticing, as E3 will most likely be my deciding factor whether I invest in the Xbox One or the PlayStation 4 at launch. Nintendo also has some rumored blockbusters in store, like the new Super Smash Bros. and the new 3D Mario Wii U game.

New consoles are always a bit more exciting when it comes to press conferences, which means Nintendo gets third place. It's tough to not be wary of Microsoft, with their big push toward the entertainment market. Not to mention, Kinect is still very much a thing, which makes me wary of the new exclusives Microsoft is promising.

Sony honestly has the most potential in winning me over. Much of that has to do with what we already know about the PS4. We already know that Gaikai will be a big partner, allowing games to be streamed to the console. Since backwards compatibility is a huge issue for me, the PS4 offers the next best thing with PS3 titles able to be streamed through Gaikai's service. If Sony elaborates more on that matter, and gives a clear schedule of when it plans to make it happen, I'll be happy.

But obviously it's all about exclusives, and I'm still very hopeful that Square Enix decides to finally announce Kingdom Hearts 3, or perhaps an entirely new Final Fantasy title for the PS4. It's also rumored that classic Sony franchises will make a return to the PS4, which makes me hopeful for a possible Crash Bandicoot or Spyro reboot. In any case, Sony certainly has me most excited and I'm stoked to see what they'll deliver come June 10th.

Verdict: Sony, for the hope of awesome exclusives.

Whose press conference are you most looking forward to: Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter: @GameZoneOnline.