2012 Predictions

Tom Orry, Editor

My serious suggestion is that the internet sensation that is Benton (Fenton) the dog will be turned into an iOS game - just like Baby Monkey. No doubt someone could knock together something involving shouting the dog's name into the microphone, with Fenton running faster and faster the more you shout.

A slightly less likely prediction is that the Wii U will miss 2012 in Europe. Nintendo's next console might make it to Japan (and possibly North America) late in 2012, but us Brits and our European chums will have to wait until early 2013. I hope it doesn't come true, but given rumours over ongoing problems with the hardware I think it's a decent possibility.

Nintendo might be suffering from a hardware delay (if my clairvoyance abilities are working properly), but I reckon the company will end 2012 firmly in pole position when it comes to handhelds. With Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7 and Ocarina of Time the 3DS looks set to have a string Christmas 2011, giving it good momentum going into 2012. The PS Vita will impress, but a high price tag will see it lose more and more ground on Nintendo's handheld.

As for new consoles arriving in 2012, there's an outside chance of something from Microsoft, but my money is on Vita being the only new machine to launch in Europe during 2012.