NINTENDO

"Bridge Games" will be Nintendo's watch-word. While impressions of Mario Super Sluggers are somewhat mixed, Nintendo will continue to try to build the bridge from Wii Sports to more complete titles:

• The rumored "Punch-Out!!" Wii title will be there. The punching will be like Wii Sports Boxing (but more polished), but the dodging will be based on optional Balance Board controls.
• Either Mario Golf or Mario Tennis will be announced, and given a November release date, using Wii Sports Golf or Wii Sports Tennis, respectively, as their base.
• The title not announced, Golf or Tennis, will be in the works

Both titles will be under the authority of EAD Software Group No. 5, because EAD Software Group No. 2 will be busy with Animal Crossing and because of Software Group No. 5's previous work with the Balance Board.

Wii Music will be unceremoniously put on hold, as it has been outclassed by the Rock Band's and Guitar Heroes of the world.

Nintendo will announce a new entry into one of their "lower-tier" (that is to say not Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Pokemon) franchises is under development by a third party.

It will be one of the following:

• StarFox
  

  Developer: Q-Games
  

  System: Wii

• Pilot Wings
  

  Developer: Factor 5
  

  System: Wii

Kid Icarus, if present, will NOT be Factor 5's new project. It will be done internally by EAD3 (aka "Zelda Team"), because Nintendo will want to set the "image" of the franchise. Aonuma will not lead the project, and he will also delegate the next Wii Zelda.

Said Zelda title will be hinted at, but not shown.

Nintendo will start to position Aonuma further from Miyamoto's shadow. He will manage both projects, and be their public face.

Monolith will be there with a title, but it will not be Disaster: Day of Crisis.

NAMCO

Namco will show their three known Tales games, destined for Nintendo systems, at their at the E3 press conference.

• Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World will be playable (in English)
• Tales of Hearts will get a Japanese release date and notice of international release
• The currently "Untitled" Tales game, for Wii, will be featured extensively.

However, Namco's big "Tales" announcement will be at Nintendo's press conference. They will announce a Tales based game using a Nintendo franchise. Think "Pokemon Mystery Dungeon," but not terrible.

Grasshopper Manufacture

Besides Fatal Frame, Goichi Suda will have another Wii game in development. It will be unusually non-violent, but, as usual, surreal

Tell us what you think of our predictions and offer up some of your own in the talkback thread.