We’ve finally got some results on some of the rumors we’ve posted in previous editions, so before getting to this week’s rumors we’ll give you a rundown of the results along with our hits or misses.

Current score

Andrew Passafiume: +85

Graham Russell: +5

Shawn Vermette: +100

Results

Gears of War 3 to be released in April 2011

It didn’t take long for this rumor to be confirmed. Microsoft announced on Jimmy Fallon Monday night that Gears of War 3 would come out on April 5, 2011.

Andrew 95% = +45

Graham 50% = +0

Shawn 95% = +45

 

Saint’s Row 3 to be released in 2010

True, Saint’s Row 3 hasn’t even been officially announced, but the head of Volition Studios stated soon after the release of Saint’s Row 2 that they were already at work on the third installment in the series. Additionally, Saint’s Row was released in 2006 and Saint’s Row 2 was released in 2008. The timing is right, the commercial and critical success is there, and the desire appears to be there…but will it happen?

Andrew: I can see this happening, and THQ will probably make a big splash with this at E3 if it is true. Although I do find it strange that it was never really announced, and yet sequels to Darksiders and Red Faction Guerrilla were. And considering Volition, the guys behind Saint’s Row, also made Red Faction, I’m unsure which one we’ll actually see first (seeing as only one of them has already been announced). 65%

Graham: Saint’s Row 3 is scheduled to be revealed at E3 2010 and released in fiscal 2012 (the year starting April 2011). There have been official statements to this effect. Games typically don’t get released earlier…usually it goes the other way.  1%

Shawn: Honestly, I’d be surprised if the next Saint’s Row came out in 2010. It seems like fall 2010 is starting to fill up with other big titles already. Early 2011 seems more realistic to me. 40%

MVP Baseball series to return for 2011

With the release of this year’s baseball games, the exclusivity agreement between Major League Baseball and 2K Sports expires after a 5 year drought of decent baseball games on any non-Sony system. Considering the resounding disappointment of the 2K baseball games in recent years, one would think that EA would get back into the mix by re-launching its MVP Baseball series next year. However, is it even possible to bring back what was once considered the best baseball series after such a long layoff?

Andrew: EA loves to make money and they probably see the potential in bringing back their beloved baseball franchise. I really see no reason for them to start working on a new title, but I doubt that it will happen right away. 2011 seems like a nice estimate for the rebirth of the franchise. 80%

Graham: Shawn, you need to hone your ear. 2K’s agreement was seven years long, and goes through 2012. So no, MVP can’t come back in 2011. I have nothing else to say. 0%

Shawn: I really hope that EA does bring back the MVP series next year, but I half suspect EA may just stay out of the baseball genre. They’ve lost most of their MVP team, and 2K recently said they were losing $30 million a year on it. I hope it comes back though, and will support it with my vote. 65%

Portal 2 to open on PS3 after all

When Portal 2 was announced last month, it was only announced for the Xbox 360, PC, and Mac. No surprise given Valve’s outspoken dislike of the PS3. However, rumors are now swirling that Portal 2 will indeed be released on the PS3, and that it will be outsourced to the same studio that handled the Orange Box port for the PS3.

Andrew: I was willing to buy this rumor up until the point where it was said that the same team that ported The Orange Box to the PS3 would be handling this port. Valve was unhappy with EA’s port of The Orange Box onto Sony’s console, and I doubt they would rely on the same team again. And considering rumors are swirling they are releasing the original Left 4 Dead on the PS3 themselves, I cannot see them turning to another company to do the same for Portal 2. So yes to Portal 2 coming out to the PS3, but it’s probably going to be Valve who ports it. 10%

Graham: The only thing stronger than Valve’s dislike of the PS3 is our dislike of their PS3 Orange Box port. This is completely possible, but I don’t think too many people with PS3s don’t have at least one of the other systems, and Portal: Still Alive never made it over there either. I can totally see them passing. 5% 

Shawn: While I’m normally all for games coming out on as many systems as possible, the PS3 port of Orange Box was abysmal. On the other hand, more systems at release means more sales, so I think that Valve will overcome their dislike of the PS3 in time to release Portal 2 on it as well. 75%

We’ve finally got some results on some of the rumors we’ve posted in previous editions, so before getting to this week’s rumors we’ll give you a rundown of the results along with our hits or misses.

Current score

Andrew Passafiume: +40

Graham Russell: +5

Shawn Vermette: +55

Results

Take Two cancelling its NHL 2K series

Anyone this rumor wanting this rumor to be true is out of luck, as Take Two has announced that NHL 2K11 will be released on the Wii this year, with the series returning to other consoles for 2K12.

Andrew 15% = +35

Graham 50% = +0

Shawn 35% = +15

 

Gears of War 3 to be released in April 2011

At first glance, Gears of War 3 coming out next April really doesn’t make much sense. After all, Gears of War is a system selling franchise, thus why it has always been released in November. However, with the release of Halo: Reach and Project Natal both likely to happen this fall, it makes sense for Microsoft to push back Gears of War 3 to give themselves a boost in a different quarter. Additionally, April has recently proven to be a great month for releases, with Grand Theft Auto IV and Mario Kart Wii leading the way.

Andrew: Seeing as publishers now realize that the Spring is just as good of a time to release games as the Fall, this seems incredibly likely. Microsoft clearly does not want to release two of their biggest games in the same month or even the same quarter. Also, if Natal does not take off like Microsoft expects it to, then they will have a huge game to fall back on a few months later. 95%

Graham: Guys, I’m just not sold on the “here’s a random month” stuff. It could be March 30 or May 2 and you’d be wrong, and those dates have the same advantages. I just don’t see it being more likely to be April. I can see it as a first-half 2011 title, though. 50%

Shawn: It actually makes sense to me to release big games in April. Hardly any other games for your product to compete against, and everyone has recovered from their holiday shopping binges by that point. Plus, with Halo: Reach likely coming out in September, and Natal coming out soon after, Microsoft already has a full holiday slate to focus on. 95%

Microsoft to announce Xbox 360 ‘Slim’ at E3

Microsoft has revised the hardware inside the Xbox 360 a number of times already this generation, but it has never changed the form factor of its nearly 5 year old console. According to rumor though, that could change later this year. Leaked photos of a revised motherboard claiming to be for an Xbox 360 would require a change in the form factor of the system. A slimline version of the 360 would allow Microsoft to distance themselves from their launch troubles, but is this something they are considering?

Andrew: Rumors like these about upcoming hardware always seem to prove true, and perhaps the success of the PS3 Slim (and other similar systems) as well as a way for them to bounce back from all of the hardware failures, I could see this happening. I think the problem with the original system was that it was rushed, and although a lot of the hardware problems seemed to have been corrected, there are still a lot of improvements to be made. I can definitely see this system being announced at E3, and even released by the Holiday to go with the launch of Natal. 70%

Graham: They’re changing demographics with this system, originally designed to look like a powerful behemoth, to appeal to a casual, Wii-friendly audience. A slimming down would go with the Natal and NXE/Avatar decisions, and the PS3’s redesign and subsequent success can’t have gone unnoticed. 70%

Shawn: It does seem like these hardware leaks are always true, and it makes sense for Microsoft to do this. A new form factor for their system would help them get past all the hard feelings left over from their RRoD struggles, and would also allow them to rebrand their system. Perhaps they are planning it as a simultaneous launch with Natal? They have said they are treating Natal as a console launch. Regardless of the details, I believe this is simply a matter of when, not if. 85%

F.E.A.R. 3 to be released in 2010

The F.E.A.R. series has been very quiet ever since the release of F.E.A.R. 2 in early 2009, but rumor has it that silence will soon be broken with the announcement that F.E.A.R. 3 will be released this holiday season. Warner Brothers bought the rights to the franchise just before F.E.A.R. 2 came out so it’s an important series for them, but is roughly 20 months enough time develop a new game for the series?

Andrew: I don’t see this happening, as it seems like such a short time period between games. I think we will probably hear about F.E.A.R. 3 this year, most likely at E3, but it will probably not be released the same year it is announced. If anything, we will see it early next year, around the same time F.E.A.R. 2 was released. 40%

Graham: There have been some promotional materials leaked for the game, so it’s coming. I also think it’ll be announced at E3. Like Andrew and Shawn, I also think it’ll be an early 2011 release. But we could be surprised with a late-October release or something…the slate’s pretty clean for Q4 at the moment. 50% 

Shawn: I agree with Andrew that it seems too soon for us to get a new F.E.A.R. game, unless it is being developed by someone other than Monolith Games. Spring 2011 seems a more likely release date either way, as I would think F.E.A.R. would get lost amidst the holiday craze. 30%

The Game Developers Conference ran from March 9-14. As far as game conferences go, the GDC didn’t provide a lot of rumors for the mill, but what it did provide was very interesting.

Current scores:

Andrew Passafiume: 5 

Graham Russell: 5

Shawn Vermette: 40

PlayStation Move will sell more units this year than Project Natal

Sony used the Game Developers Conference to announce the name and launch window of their motion controller- the PlayStation Move will be released this fall. So as part of our GDC-centric edition of the Speculator, we’re bringing you our thoughts on whether the PlayStation Move will outsell Microsoft’s Project Natal.

Andrew: I really can’t see this happening. Microsoft has a larger install base and they seem to have a lot more going for them with Natal than Sony does with the Move. However, if the Move does launch first, I could see them taking the slight advantage, but I doubt it. 30%

Graham: Guys, I think you’re forgetting a major thing. You only need one Natal to play Natal titles. Move titles need one per player (and sometimes two), so the numbers will be inflated. Sure, it’ll top Natal like Wii Play topped game sales charts, but it’ll still do it.  70%

Shawn: I think that if Microsoft can be competitive on price then Project Natal will outsell the Move, simply due to the fact that they’ve got a much larger installed base. 35%

Project Natal to launch before PlayStation Move

After the Sony announcement of the PlayStation Move, Project Natal was very conspicuous in its absence from the GDC. We here at Snackbar Games feel it was because Microsoft might be planning to release Project Natal before the PlayStation Move and are biding their time for a big announcement- perhaps at E3.

Andrew: This is a tough one, but it seems like the Move is almost ready to launch, while we haven’t heard a thing about Natal since last year’s E3 (besides more rumors and speculations, of course). I really think this one can go either way, because Microsoft could have Natal all ready to launch right after E3 for all we know, but at this moment it seems more likely the Move will come first. 50%

Graham: Microsoft has been known to pull this kind of surprise, but…Natal is something the company is incredibly invested in. Will they launch in the same general time? Sure, but I think Microsoft will give itself a few extra weeks. They’re the favorite in a hardware launch battle for the first time in their gaming history. 75%

Shawn: This is, I think, something that would surprise many people. Since the original announcements of Project Natal and the Move at last year’s E3, it has been assumed that the Move would release first. My opinion? Microsoft surprises people again and gets Natal released before the Move. 70%

‘DS2’ will have GameCube-level graphics; otherwise be similar to DS

We’ve discussed when we felt the next DS would be released, but nothing else about it. During GDC, Joystiq bloggers went around talking to developers regarding a new DS system and the answers they got were somewhat surprising. Most said they were already at work on titles for the ‘DS2’, but more interestingly, they said it had two screens and a touch screen just like the DS does, but with unprecedented graphics for a handheld. Reportedly it is as powerful as the GameCube, and nearly capable of Wii-quality graphics due to the smaller, but high resolution screens. Does this sound like the type of system you’d be willing to replace your DS with?

Andrew: I can definitely see this happening, although I think true successor to the DS would need more than just being “another DS with better graphics.” I’m going to say I definitely see the first part happening more so than the second part of this rumor, but overall it could happen.  60% 

Graham: Nintendo’s handhelds have jumped in horsepower pretty consistently. The whole “third pillar” strategy didn’t work out, and the Big N knows backwards compatibility with DS games is important, so it’s a safe bet the two screens will return. They probably have something up their sleeve with it, but those two specs seem likely.  85%

Shawn: A DS with GameCube-level graphics? Sign me up for a preorder! The DS is my most played system, I love the games on it…and having the same system just with better graphics would be like a dream come true. More importantly, I hope Nintendo realizes that this is what most people want out of a new handheld. 75%

Nintendo’s Media Summit this week gave us ample rumor fodder for this week’s Speculator. Since that’s what we’re all talking about this week, here is an all-Nintendo edition.

Current scores:

Andrew Passafiume: 5 

Graham Russell: 5

Shawn Vermette: 40

New Legend of Zelda to come out in U.S. in 2010

According to remarks from Satoru Iwata and Cammie Dunaway, there’s a chance that the next Zelda will hit shelves this fall. Combine those off-the-cuff remarks with the fact that Nintendo just cleared out their entire inventory of big upcoming games, and this becomes a much more interesting rumor. Right now, Nintendo has no big projects announced for release after June. Could Zelda be the big one that props up their holiday lineup?

Andrew: This is a definite possibility, especially considering Nintendo’s biggest titles are all coming out before the second half of the year. Mario Galaxy 2 and Metroid: Other M both coming out in Q2? That is the biggest surprise of all. I think Nintendo needs a big title to launch for the Holidays, and Zelda seems like the best candidate. 90%

Graham: With clearing the fall of Galaxy 2 and Other M, they’ll have to announce some big stuff at E3. Zelda’s the only big title they’ve announced. My hesitation: they say it’s not ready, and they can be patient with Zelda. There’s always a chance of a New Super Mario Bros.-like announcement of a quick, surprising release.  80%

Shawn: I fully expect to see a new Zelda this year, probably during the holidays. It’s been 4 years since Twilight Princess came out, and most Zelda games have come out in roughly 4 year increments. That and the complete lack of anything resembling a holiday blockbuster on their current slate of games tells me they were clearing the way for a big announcement at E3. 85%

Nintendo to announce U.S. release of The Last Story at E3

Nintendo and Mistwalker, the studio behind Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey, are at work on a new RPG project . Unfortunately, little is known about it beyond the fact that it is scheduled to come out in 2010 in Japan and is the only project being worked on by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the famed creator of Final Fantasy. Dunaway was evasive when asked about localization of the game.

Andrew: I think this has a higher chance of happening than one may think. The game is apparently almost finished, despite us seeing next to nothing on it. It probably would not take terribly long to localize it for Western audiences, so I would definitely expect to hear about it at E3. Whether or not we’ll actually get it this year is an entirely different story, but still a possibility. 80%

Graham: With the deck-clearing of the Summit, I think there will be some announcing of games that won’t be out by the end of the year. This seems to be one of those announcements, as the localization may take a while. This one is higher-profile, but also not as far along in the development process, so it’s a toss-up. 75%

Shawn: I don’t know how likely this is, but I really, really hope it happens. I loved Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey, and am really looking forward to this next RPG from them. However, their last game was never localized, so I’m left with hope versus history on this rumor. 60%

Nintendo to announce U.S. release of Xenoblade at E3

Similar to the above rumor, Xenoblade is the newest project from Monolith Soft, creators of Xenosaga. It was shown last year at E3 as Monado, but currently is only set for release in Japan. However, Cammie Dunaway also referred to it during the Nintendo Media Summit this week. Dunaway also tried to sidestep questioning about this one, but they’ve shown it before, so is it more likely?

Andrew: That’s the point, why mention it if it isn’t going to be localized? I feel the same exact way about this as I do about The Last Story. It’s fairly obvious we’ll hear about a U.S. release this E3, but once again, who knows when we’ll actually get it. 80% 

Graham: Since there was an announcement last year (albeit a small one with no demo space), this one’s a bit more likely. Still not convinced the release will be quick, but if we get one of these in 2010, we won’t get the other, as they both hit the same demographic. 80%

Shawn: RPGs are always something I’m interested in, so yet again I’m hoping for something to happen that I’m not sure will happen. I can’t think of any reason to mention a game in the US if you don’t plan on localizing it…but Nintendo has done it before (Mother 3 is one example). 65%