A few weeks before E3, I had the unique opportunity to visit the L.A. Zoo and ask the animals to “predict” what would happen at this year’s annual E3 conference. Using the information I gathered, I put together our site’sE3 2010 prediction post. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and one of my favorite posts I have ever written for the site! (you’re able to read the original post rightherefor all the details and techniques I used to make these predictions.)
So, now that E3 is over, how did they do? Was theoriginal postaccurate? Did the animals of the L.A. Zoo make correct predictions about what would happen at E3? Were their predictions better than the highly paid analysts in the industry? And, more specifically, which animal did the best?
Hit the jump for the very surprising results.
Before we get started, let me use this opportunity to once more thank theL.A. Zooand all its incredible staff for helping make this experience possible. They were unbelievably open and accommodating with this entire process. I am forever grateful. I GOT TO FEED A GIANT TORTOISE A CARROT, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!
Now, let’s get to the results!
Oh, and for arguments sake — and to help determine the mathematical accuracies of these predictions — let’s say that Nintendo “won” the press conferences. Honestly, though, I think most of us would agree with that, right?
Guncannon asks:Will Nintendo announce a newStar Foxgame?The cockatoo says:Yes.
This is accurate …ish! It is a3DS remake ofStar Fox 64, but it’s still technically a newStar Foxgame.
LK4O4 asks:Will the EA Partners project with Suda51 and Shinji Mikami finally be unveiled at E3?The cockatoo says:No.
Correct!
EdgyDude asks:WillKid Icarus Wiibe announced?The cockatoo says:No.
This is accurate. Sure, anewKid Icarusgame was announced, but it was for the 3DS.
Pedro Cortes asks:Will Nintendo releaseMother 3in the U.S.?The cockatoo says:NO!
This one is obviously correct. But I think even a rock could have guessed this one.
Studakris asks:Will we get more solid release dates on theFinal Fantasy XIIIsequels?The cockatoo says:Yes.
Elsa asks:Will Sony finally announce a valid release date forGran Turismo 5?The gorilla says:Yes.
Correct! And it was awesome!
Incorrect!
Takeshi asks:Will there be any news about anotherRatchet & Clank?The lion says:No.
Accurate!
Trebz asks:Will we receive any more information onKirbyfor the Wii?The lion says:Yes.
Absolutely correct! And the game is absolutely incredible!
Woopman asks:Is the 3DS’s name going to change?The lion says:No.
Wow. This one was a huge surprise, and the lion was right!
ZombiePlatypus asks:Will we see any gameplay fromMetal Gear Solid: Rising?The lion says:Yes.
Yup! Correct!
EdgyDude asks:Will Konami show any footage of a newSilent Hill?The lion says:No.
Tubatic asks:Will Konami announce a newZone of the Enderstitle?The giant otter says:No.
Correct.
Monodi asks:Will there be an announcement ofMirror’s Edge 2?The giant otter says:No.
Correct! NoMirror’s Edge 2… yet.
Volkarin asks:Will Respawn Entertainment announce the game they are working on?The giant otter says:No.
Even though Respawn said they would make a huge announcement, they never did. Correct!
BrunoDeckard asks:Will there be aPikminfor DS or 3DS?The giant otter says:No.
Correct. Also, BOO!
mourning orange asks:Will we see a sequel to 1991’s cult classicMetal Stormannounced for home consoles?The giant otter says:No.
LazerJoe88 asks:Will we get any info onHalf-Life 2: Episode 3?The flamingo says:No.
Mirax asks:Will Valve showPortal 2gameplay?The flamingo says:Yes.
It was behind closed doors, but … correct!
Danzflor asks:WillCall of Duty: Black Opsbe as good/sell as well as theModern Warfareseries?The flamingo says:No.
This one is tough to call this early, but I am inclined to say it is inaccurate. Thefootage shownwas pretty extraordinary.
Wolfy-Boey asks:WillThe Last Storybe playable?The flamingo says:Yes.
Nope.
Trebz asks:Will Interplay reveal more information on Project V13?The flamingo says:No.
Handy asks:Will we hear anything aboutPersona 5?The peccary says:Yes.
Not accurate.
Sebastian Paul Lopez asks:Will Nintendo announce their new home console?The peccary says:No.
Double J asks:Is this the year we will finally see the fall of the music game genre?The peccary says:No.
This is definitely correct.Dance Centralwas ahuge hit at the show!
The Silent Protagonist asks:WillCastlevania: Lords of Shadowfail to impress, just like every other 3D Castlevania?The peccary says:No.
Again, another tough call. Based on word of mouth, I say this is pretty accurate. Peopleseemed to like the game.
Matthew Razak asks:Will Nintendo actually have an impressive press conference unlike previous years’ Reggie talk-a-thons?The zebra says:No.
Incorrect! In fact, Nintendo kicked a lot of ass this year!
Grafkhun asks:Will Blizzard show anything new related toDiablo III?The zebra says:Yes.
WastelandTraveler asks:Will id Software reveal gameplay footage ofRAGE?The zebra says:No.
Incorrect.
Takeshi asks:Will Kevin Butler do the whole Sony press conference by himself?The zebra says:No.
Correct! Hewasthere, though!
Sonic9jct asks:Will Telltale announce a new episodic game based on eitherFull ThrottleorGrim Fandango?The zebra says:No.
VGFreak1225 asks:Will the newZeldahave a darker tone a laMajora’s Mask?The jaguar says:Yes.
Not determined yet, but I would say this is inaccurate … for now.
JTHomeslice asks:Will there be news on new home consoles from Nintendo? Sony? Microsoft?The jaguar says:Yes.No.Yes.
Incorrect! Correct! Incorrect! No info on new home consoles from anyone!
ZombiePlatypus asks:Will there be a Natal/Fable IIIbundle announced?The jaguar says:Yes.
Mayiplay asks:Is there still hope for bringing Virtual Console between Wii and 3DS?The jaguar says:Yes.
Mirax asks:Will Chad have a great time at E3?The jaguar says:Yes.
Perri asks:WillZelda Wiisteal the show?The giraffe says:YES!
I say this is inaccurate. The 3DS was easily the biggest success of E3.
Ramalho asks:Will a newPaper Mariobe announced?The giraffe says:No.
Incorrect! And that is great news! AnewPaper Mariogame was announcedfor the 3DS!
CelicaCrazed asks:Will Sega be announcing a newJet Grind/Set Radiogame?The lemur says:No.
Not really. This is not accurate.
Walrusmustdash asks:Will Capcom announce a newBreath of Firegame?The lemur says:No.
As much as I wanted this to be wrong, sadly, it is correct.
KyleGamgee asks:Will there be more 4-player co-op games for XBLA likeX-MenorThe Simpsons?The lemur says:Yes.
Correct!Scott Pilgrim vs. the World! Well, I guess it is not announced on XBLA yet. Let’s just call this one half-correct.
WastelandTraveler asks:Dead Space 2has been confirmed for the PC. Will it still have the same co-op mode as the console version?The lemur says:Yes.
smurfee mcgee asks:Will we see a newWii Sports?The black bear says:No.
MowDownJoe asks:WillMonster Talebe a success?The black bear says:Yes.
Again, hard to say. I will give this one an “N/A,” or, for this post, an “incorrect.”
CrimeMinister asks:Will there be a newBoktaigame?The black bear says:No.
This is accurate.
Nic128 asks:Will Namco-Bandai announce a release date forTales of VesperiaPS3 in the U.S.?The black bear says:Yes.
Blindfire asks:Will the nextRainbow Sixtitle be announced?The komodo dragon says:Yes.
The nextRainbow Sixgame was at the show, but nonewone was announced. Incorrect.
eternalplayer2345 asks:WillZelda Wiiget a release this year?The komodo dragon says:No.
Good job, komodo dragon! Correct!The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Swordwas confirmed to be released in 2011.
ZServ asks:Will aBorderlandssequel show up or be hinted at?The komodo dragon says:Yes.
Guncannon asks:Will there be any games announced that haven’t been rumored or leaked beforehand?The komodo dragon says:Yes.
Of course this is correct! Nintendo alone went crazy with surprise announcements!
SirDregan asks:Will there be anAlan Wake 2?The tiger says:No.
CelicaCrazed asks:Will Nintendo be making a newLegend of Zelda: Four Swordsgame?The tiger says:No.
VGFreak1225 asks:Will Nintendo ditch the obsolete Friend Code system with the 3DS?The tortoise says:Yes.
Not 100% determined yet, but it looks like this is accurate! Woo hoo!
manasteel88 asks:Will Atlus localize7th Dragon?The tortoise says:No.
Projectexodus asks:Will Retro Studios announce the new game they are making?The tortoise says:No.
Incorrect!Donkey Kong Country Returnsmade aglorious entrance! IT IS GLORIOUS!
Guagloves asks:Will Nintendo do more with MotionPlus or the Vitality Sensor?The tortoise says:Yes.
Professor Pew asks:Will an exclusive game be Game of E3?The rhinoceros says:Yes.
It depends on what you think the Game of E3 is. This could go either way, but I will say it is accurate, since most of the popular games are exclusives (Kirby,LittleBigPlanet 2,Zelda, etc.).
JusticeDude asks:Will Capcom revitalize theGargoyle’s Questseries or characters in any way?The rhinoceros says:No.
Tron asks:Will Sony announce PS2 and Dreamcast games on the PSN as discussed earlier in the year?The rhinoceros says:Yes.
This is semi-announced, so I am going to say the prediction is semi-accurate!
Guncannon asks:Will some games that actually use the Wii Vitality Sensor be announced?The koala says:Yes.
Incorrect! There was no Wii Vitality Sensor at E3 at all!
TheJesusNinja26 asks:Will a newStridergame be announced?The koala says:Yes.
Sadly, this is incorrect.
Xzyliac asks:Will The Clash’s “Guns of Brixton” be inRock Band 3?The koala says:No response.
I still laugh that the girl/koala didn’t recognize The Clash. Let’s say this one is accurate.
The Silent Protagonist asks:Will theMetroid Dread DSproject be revived for 3DS?The hippopotamus says:Yes.
Not accurate. BOO!
Sonic9jct asks:Will the 3DS have a handheld virtual console for Game Boy and/or Neo Geo, Game Gear, and Atari Lynx?The hippopotamus says:No.
Correct … for now, I guess.
Mayiplay asks:WillOkamidenget the attention it deserves with a loyal and wonderful ad campaign to bring in people of all types to play it?The hippopotamus says:No.
This is pretty accurate. The game was even hidden at E3!
ZombiePlatypus asks:Will Nintendo announce aStarTropicsrevival?The hippopotamus says:No.
ZombiePlatypus asks:Will there be an XBLA title to tie in withFable III, in the vein of thePub Gamesthat came out forFable II?The hippopotamus says:No.
Brain Candy asks:Will Sony announce a phone-capable PSP?The alligator says:No.
Guagloves asks:Will any info onBeyond Good and Evil 2come out of E3?The alligator says:No.
As always, this is correct
RoninZero asks:Mega Man Legends 3and/orMega Man Online: Will we learn anything at all?The alligator says:Yes.
Surprisingly, this is incorrect.
buffaloAAA asks:Will Nintendo be releasing a new Wiimote that has Motion Plus built in?The alligator says:No.
Xzyliac asks:WillGrand Theft Auto Vbe announced?The wreathed hornbill says:Yes.
Nope. Inaccurate!
superdance14 asks:Will Sony finally give me aSly Cooper 4or am I going to have to kill someone?The wreathed hornbill says:Yes.
Incorrect! NoSly 4, but aSly Collectionwas announced. Which is awesome!
eskimo bob asks:WillLeft 4 Dead 3be announced?The wreathed hornbill says:Yes.
Blindfire asks:Will we see more of the roster fromMarvel vs. Capcom 3?The wreathed hornbill says:Yes.
Masterron2 asks:Any news onKingdom Hearts 3?The big horn sheep says:Yes.
Not really. AnewKingdom Heartsfor the 3DSwasannounced— and it has a “3” in the title — but it is not the next numerical game in the series. Incorrect.
Enkido asks:Will we hear Sun DSfrom Nintendo?The big horn sheep says:Yes.
Wintersocks asks:Will a newMothergame be announced?The big horn sheep says:No.
Handy asks:Obligatory! Will aFinal Fantasy VIIremake be announced?The big horn sheep says:No.
Scanning through all 120 predictions and results, it looks like the animals of the L.A. Zoo were 60% accurate.
60%!
THEY ARE ANIMALS AND THEY MADE 60% ACCURATE PREDICTIONS!
That may not seem like a lot, but, again, THEY ARE ANIMALS! THEIR ONLY REAL JOB IS TO BE CUTE!
Are you as impressed by this as I am?
As forindividualanimals, here is the breakdown:
So it looks like the animal of the L.A. Zoo with the most videogame knowledge is thegiant otter! PERFECT SCORE! Congratulations, giant otter! I will verify to visit you for an extra long time the next time I am at the zoo.
Are you surprised by the accuracy of all these results? Which correct prediction was the most shocking? Does this make you more or less interested in listening to the professional videogame analysts of the world? How did you like this experiment? Interesting? Cute? SUPER CUTE?
Until next E3 …
