With gaming conference E3 less than three months away, companies are starting to give hints as to what we’ll see at this year’s press conferences and booths. While I’m sure there will be tons of surprises, here are the top 10 things that I want to see this year. Please note that I’m trying to be realistic here. Anyone who knows me knows that the personal #1 on my list for the third year in a row will be “Zack & Wiki 2″. Come on, Capcom…pretty please?

10. Project Natal used in various gaming situations

This one is pretty much a given, since Microsoft recently announced that they’re doing a second press conference just to show of Natal. Last year’s show was impressive, but I want to see the full potential of this system. Give me more than talking to an on-screen character or games that look like they belong on the Wii. Photo credit: Jake Metcalf

9. A reason to buy a Wii balance board

I don’t use my Wii to work out, and snowboarding isn’t really my thing…so I haven’t bought a balance board yet. I hope Nintendo gives us some reason to make the peripheral worth the money, because so far, I haven’t felt the need to buy one. Photo credit: Dddeco

8. An MMORPG to take on WoW

We’ll undoubtedly see some Final Fantasy XIV (aka Final Fantasy Online 2) at E3, but to be honest, I’m skeptical about that game and it definitely has a much different audience than WoW. I want to see something that is perhaps comparable to Everquest. Right now, WoW has definitely taken over the MMO market, and it would be great to see a competitor that doesn’t fail (I’m looking at you, Age of Conan).

7. inFamous 2

Ok, a little disclaimer here: I didn’t play the first one. Yet. It’s on my list, I swear. It doesn’t matter – I know from others’ reviews that it is an awesome game, and I wouldn’t be sad to see a sequel announced at E3.

6. A demo of Fable 3

Personally, I feel like Fable 2 was a bit of a let-down, so it is time for the franchise to redeem itself. It’s certainly coming at some point in 2010, and I hope it is shown at E3 in demo., which is most likely to happen in the Project Natal press conference.

5. A PS3 price drop

My hope to see a PS3 price drop is completely fueled by the fact that I want to purchase a Ps3 in the coming year. I think it is unlikely, but hey, you never know. What I do think is more likely is some kind of price drop for the PSP, especially if Nintendo’s handheld is going 3D. Photo credit: Ffgamera

4. Brink in full force

Everyone cried when this new Bethesda game was delayed, so to make up for it, they better have it out in full force at E3 this year. I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t, to be honest, and I’m excited to see more of it.

3. A release date for the next Wii Zelda

There’s no question about it – a new Zelda game is definitely in the works at Nintendo. I think asking for a demo may be too much at this point, but I definitely want to see a trailer, hear Miyamoto talk about it, and get a release date. It’s in Nintendo’s best interest to have something fore core gamers on the table other than Metroid: Other M, which we’ll almost certain see in demo, to help counteract all the casual games they’ll also likely showcase.

2. A demo of The Last Guardian

It was a major blow to Sony fans when it was announced that Final Fantasy would be available on Xbox as well as the PS3. One of the big titles that Sony does have going for them, though, is The Last Guardian. The trailer for this game, which is a successor to Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, gave me chills when they showed it off last year, and it will undoubtedly be one of the best games to show off the visual capabilities of the console.

1. Something new and awesome from Valve

Hopefully, the team at Valve will give us a Portal 2 update (a release date would be nice), but to be honest, what I’m really hoping for is something completely new from the company. They’ve been living on the Left 4 Dead franchise for awhile now, and while I love killing zombies as much as the next person, Left 4 Dead 3 is not the answer, especially when fans are still a bit miffed that the sequel came so soon after the original. Give me a new, innovative series, Valve!

Tags:

Brink, E3, E3 2010, Fable 3, inFamous, inFamous 2, Legend of Zelda, Microsoft, MMORPG, Nintendo, Playstation 3, Portal, Project Natal, Sony, The Last Guardian, Valve, video games, Wii, Wii balance board, World of Warcraft, Xobx 360, Zelda