On the verge of any big event, the rumors are sometimes the most exciting part. Trying to guess what a certain company will announce is everyone’s favorite game, especially when it is about video games and gaming companies. And it seems like this year’s E3 makes no exception.

And as you might have guessed already, the Big Three, Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony will be the main actors. Locked in a three-way battle over the next-generation gaming console, each company seems to have something in store to wow its fans.

Already Microsoft has started the race by announcing a new Xbox 360 version, which will replace the Xbox 360 Pro. The Redmond-based company has confirmed that it has lowered the price of its Xbox 360 Pro with $50. The model, which includes a 20 GB hard drive, will sell starting today for $299 instead of $349.

But as the stores stocks will wear off, the Xbox 360 Pro will be replaced by an upgraded version of Xbox 360, which features a 60 GB hard drive and will go on sale in early August for $349.

Besides the new 60 GB version, Microsoft will continue to sell the Xbox 360 Arcade version, which comes with a 256MB memory unit and five Xbox LIVE Arcade games for $279 and the premium Xbox 360 Elite console that includes a 120GB hard drive for $449.

According to the rumors, Microsoft is also ready to start a huge marketing campaign in order to reposition its gaming platform as a device for casual gaming. It seems like the success of Nintendo inspired Microsoft to fight with the same weapons.

Also, Microsoft said that the price cut and the new Xbox 360 will not be the only announcement and that it has a “big surprise” for the Xbox 360 fans.

Could it be the announcement of Halo 4? Or maybe the rumors about a Wii-like remote controller for Xbox 360 were true?
In case you forgot, in April the famous gaming blog, 8-Bit Joystick said that Microsoft is working on a controller, code-named Newton. 8-Bit claimed that “Newton is also going to use an LED sensor bar that can be powered by the USB ports on the 360, it is going to have an LED sensor on the front accelerometer and gyroscope sensor that can detect tilt and motion, rumble motors, wireless two way data communication with the 360, a built in Microphone for Xbox Live and voice-activated games”.

An Xbox 360 with a new revolutionary controller and a lower price could mean a big hit for Microsoft and it could spell trouble for Nintendo.

On the other hand, after exhausting its “games” ammunition with the release of Halo 3 and Mass Effect, Microsoft desperately needs new games. So, maybe some demos of Fable 2 and Gears Of War 2 will be shown at E3 Expo.

As for PlayStation 3, its officials have already said that they are not willing to play the “let’s cut the price” game. As Sony CFO Nobuyuki Oneda said the company wishes to make its console more profitable. In a report released last month, Forbes said that Play Station 3 has cost Sony an incredible $3 billion, mainly because of the company’s pricing strategy for the product.
Instead, Sony will focus to solve one of the problems that have plagued its gaming console since the beginning: the lack of good gaming titles.

The Japanese company is expected to show demos of Killzone2, Resistance 2 and LittleBigPlanet.

On the other hand, Sony has just announced its movies download service for PS3 and PSP and probably it will use its presentation at E3 to share more details. Also, downloadable PlayStation 2 games for the PS3 is just another rumor that is floating around.

Last month it was reported that Sony is working to create a new controller for its next- PlayStation 3, inspired by the already famous Wiimote. The gaming site Gamesindustry.biz reported that the new controller will have the ability to “break apart” in two units, which with its own accelerometer.

Commenting about this rumor, another gaming site, Kotaku, said that is not about a “break apart” controller, but in fact Sony will created a device that can be attached to the gamers’ body.

Kotaku has quoted an unnamed source, who said that the controller will include two or four units, which can be attached to the hands and feet in order to move a character’s body. As you can imagine Sony denied commenting on the rumors, but maybe they will have something to say at E3. Or not…

As for Nintendo, the big announcements seem to be games-related. There aare already third-party publishers that are already interested to release new games, especially created to use the successful Wii Balance Board. Electronic Arts has announced Skate It, a game from the Skate franchise, that will include support for the famous Wii Balance board. Also there are rumors, that Electronic Arts is preparing for this autumn, Boogie Superstar, a sequel to its Boogie game, that will also take advantage of the Wii Balance Board.

In April, Ubisoft has released a trailer for its upcoming Rayman Raving Rabbids 3, hinting that the game will also use the Balance Board.

THQ confirmed for this autumn All Star Cheer Squad, a cheerleading video game and first THQ’s original property created specifically for girls.

In fact the third-party games are one of the Nintendo’s Wii problems. Nintendo Wii was conceived as a gaming platform for the casual gamers and now with Sony and Microsoft turning their attention to the same market, this could be a serious problem and Nintendo Wii will need more games to stay ahead its competitors.

Still the gaming consoles are not the only topic at E3 and some announcements are expected also from the gaming companies.
For example, Electronic Arts is expected to give more details about its upcoming Red Alert 3. In February this year, Electronic Arts announced the return of this famous franchise.

Created by Westwood Studios, the first game from Red Alert series was released in 1996 as a prequel to the Command & Conquer and the story of the game was centered around the question “What would happen if World War II hadn't happened?" The game was followed by several expansion packs and by Red Alert 2, released in 2000, after Electronic Arts acquired Westwood Studios.

EA said that the development of the game was assigned to EA Los Angeles and it has promised wonderful weapons and technologies such as Tesla coils, heavily armed War Blimps, teleportation, armored bears, intelligent dolphins, floating island fortresses, and transforming tanks. As a surprise, it seems like the new game will feature a new faction.

Initially, EA said that Red Alert 3 will be released on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3, but in June the company confirmed for the UK gaming site CVG that the PlayStation 3 version was put “on hold”. The game is due to be released this autumn and an official spokesperson said that EA Los Angeles was focusing resources on developing the games for the PC and Xbox 360.

Another much-anticipated game, which will surely be one of the stars of E3, is Will Wright’s Spore. Wright presented his concept about Spore at GDC 2005 and since then the game has received several awards. For example, at E3 2005 Spore won the following Game Critics Awards: Best of Show, Best Original Game, Best PC Game, and Best Simulation Game.

Next year, also at E3, Spore received another three Game Critic Awards: Best PC Game, Best Original Game, and Best Simulation.

Spore that follows under the God game category, aims to be the best simulation game ever. The player will take the control of a simple microbe and with the Editors offered by the game, it will transform the simple form of life into an intelligent, tool-using race.

And this is just the beginning. The player should guide his species to build and evolve in a huge, lush world populated with creatures evolved by other players and shared over Spore’s central servers. The game is scheduled to be released on September 7.

Also, Activision said it will hold its own independent “press event” at E3, so maybe we will have some news about StarCraft II or Diablo 3. Anyway, stay tuned to see what rumors will turn in the real things.