Xbox Gaming in South Africa

The biggest event on the gaming industry calender is but a few days away, with Microsoft's E3 presentation ready to kick things off on Monday, 14 June. Those mysterious fortunetellers over at Joystiq have put together a E3 Prediction Bingo card of all the big announcements, and we've decided to take them up on their offer to play, while adding a few of our own.

Already Confirmed:

• Rock Band 3 unveiling: USA Today has confirmed a new 25-key, two octave range MIDI keyboard controller, a "Pro" mode which will support controllers with actual strings, and a partial track list.
• Dreamcast Classics: Sega has announced that Dreamcast classics are heading to XBLA, with Crazy Taxi and Sonic Adventure already named.
• Day-and-date game releases: Although not specifically confirmed for Xbox LIVE, the Games on Demand service for Windows LIVE will be getting day-and-date game releases, so it's just a matter of time before it heads across to the Xbox 360.

We'll tick those:

• Timed Exclusives: It's becoming far more difficult for the likes of Sony and Microsoft to secure console exclusives, so the next best thing is timed exclusives. Microsoft love these, and we'll definitely see more of them.
• Limbo to headline Summer of Arcade 2010: Limbo is certainly one of the most impressive upcoming titles, with amazing use of black and white. It will certainly be one of the top titles in Microsoft's upcoming XBLA schedule. Other titles which will likely feature include Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Hydro Thunder Hurricane, Comic Jumper and Breach.
• Additional Video services: We're going to lob both Youtube and Hulu into this one. Microsoft has been harping on about bringing more media services to the Xbox 360, so we reckon there will at least be one announced. Hulu seems the best bet.
• Microsoft will reveal Project Natal focused bundles.
• Microsoft's conference will show off demos of Milo, Gears of War 3, Fable 3 Natal and Call of Duty: Black Ops.
• New Xbox LIVE servies announced due to Xbox 1 online services being shutdown. These will include 100+ friends limit removed, and possibly clan support.
• Rare will reveal their new wares at the Microsoft conference.
• PrimeTime will return with an improved schedule.

Our additions:

• Joy Ride will become a Natal game.
• Natal enabled dashboard: Minority Report navigating here we come.
• Castlevania: Harmony of Despair will be revealed. Also possibly part of the Summer of Arcade line-up.
• A World Wide Xbox LIVE service: There's a strong possibility that Microsoft will finally open Xbox LIVE to the world - including South Africa - lifting the 26 country restriction. However, it will have content and service restrictions. It may even have a different billing scheme.

Hopefully:

• Xbox 360 slim announced.
• Xbox LIVE price drop.
• Shadow Complex 2 revealed.
• Call of Duty: Black Ops multiplayer beta announced.

Right, enough of the crystal ball staring, we'll just have to wait until Monday to find out for sure.