With the Electronic Entertainment Expo kicking off next week, console gamers are looking to Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony to make big announcements and hyberbolic claims about the experiences they’ll be bringing us in the year to come. Over three days I’ll be taking a look at what the ‘Big Three’ are likely to have in store.

It seems almost every year is a make-or-break E3 appearance for Nintendo. In truth the majority of their showings have been pretty successful but compared to the other two consoles, that reliably host a slew of good traditional games, you always go into a Nintendo E3 having no idea what they’re preparing to show. Start the machine.

This year they’ve promised to officially showcase their new home console, Wii U, which is set to release at the end of this year. The console supposedly rivals or exceeds the graphical and processing capabilities of current consoles, keeps the functionality with Wii’s remote-style controllers and introduces a larger controller with a 6-inch touch screen in the middle. There’s no doubt Nintendo is looking to push this thing in a big way and right the wrongs of 2011’s conference. The console was formally announced last year, but because all the focus was on the new controller and the console was barely shown at all, and because the name of the system is very similar to Wii, many mainstream news outlets either mistakenly thought the controller was an add-on for Wii, or thought thought the controller was the system, à la Apple’s iPad.

I have a lot of faith that the Wii U will be a good system and that Nintendo is already churning out some amazing games, but their main problem is one of perception. The Wii lost the company a lot of loyal gamers who just want a traditional game experience and found it more in Microsoft or Sony’s console than Nintendo’s. I’m sure the new controller will be fine to use (it looks bulky, but once you see it in someone’s hands it looks pretty comfy) but I know a lot of people have already spoken out that they don’t want a big touch screen in the middle of their controller. Nintendo will be looking for a way to prove their machine can be the home of innovative touch integration but while also not getting in the way of a more traditional approach.

The other issue is the name. Wii was a dumb name, but it got people talking and the concept and marketing was so solid it overcame the piss jokes. Wii U is just as dumb, but nowhere near as unique. It sounds like a Wii derivative. Nintendo had the exact same problem moving from DS to 3DS. I would have predicted that the company might announce a name-change at E3 and introduce an optional screen-less controller for games that want to stick solely to the classic route, but recently leaked pictures make that unlikely. The images show a revamped controller (with proper analog sticks, not the sliders it had at last year’s E3) and a little stencil on the bottom that says ‘Wii U’.

Another issue facing the Big N and its new console is one of clarity. Even if they prominently show the actual console this time the controller will still get a lot of interest from the big media outlets, and comparisons to the iPad are bound to happen. Nintendo will want to prevent this as much as possible. The Wii U’s screen is pressure based, not capacitive. Anyone who’s used a DS or 3DS knows this screen. It’s single touch, not multi-touch. There is no pinching. It’s essentially exactly like the Apple imitation product I tried to pitch to some friends a few years back called the iProd, except presumably Nintendo has engineers that can take the idea beyond the it’s-made-out-of-blutac-and-wire-it-will-probably-kill-you stage.

The screen will be (relatively) cheap to make, pretty, precise, may come with an optional stylus and will be just fine for use as a secondary screen. Anybody picking it up expecting an iPad will think it gross and clunky. However if they’re expecting a traditional game controller with a touch screen, gyroscope, camera and IR sensor that can conceivably keep track of where it, the tv and a wii remote are relative to each other they might be a little more pleased with their experience. For this reason I hope to see a lot of hands-on media demos this year.

And then there’s the software. For Wii U we know Pikmin 3 and some sort of Mario is coming. One hopes they have something epic up their sleeves like a Metroid or a Star Fox, but honestly it would probably be better if they really nail the hardware proof of concept with some smart demos that are different and more in-depth than last year. For 3DS we should see New Super Mario Bros. 2, Paper Mario, Animal Crossing and Luigi’s Mansion 2, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see English version announcements of Fire Emblem, Professor Layton and Professor Layton v Ace Attorney (please!). I would be surprised if a new 3DS iteration was announced (i.e. a hardware redesign like the DS Lite), but I wouldn’t be surprised to see new 3DS colours and more details on the mysterious Nintendo Network, a persistent online service to be launching soon.

HOPEFUL PREDICTION

We’ll get a good look at the Wii U hardware beyond the new controller and a solid demonstration of how the console, controller, tv and remotes function together. Then we’ll be shown how that relationship will lead to truly innovative and non-gimmicky gameplay. Brilliant (and surprising) first party announcements for Wii U and 3DS, plus some smart third party demos. The addition of an optional classic controller for Wii U that rivals the 360 or PS3 pad may hurt Nintendo’s pride, but would go a long way to encouraging third party support.

REALISTIC PREDICTION

Focus will be on the controller again, but Nintendo will try to stress the Wii U is a successor to, not an add on for, Wii. There will be some strong first party announcements but some underwhelming ones too, including appearances from Miis and side-scrolling Mario. Third party support for Wii U will be limited to ports from other consoles, but 3DS will pick up some pace.

WHAT MAINSTREAM PRESS WILL REPORT

‘Nintendo to launch iPad-inspired game tablet’

Nintendo’s E3 conference will take place 9am Tuesday June 5 (PDT), which is 2am Wednesday June 6 here in Australia. A live stream can be viewed here at that time.

Be sure to check out the Microsoft and Sony speculation, and come back next week to see how the actual announcements panned out.

Have your own predictions or hopes for Nintendo’s conference? Leave them below.