Who will come out on top?

We're somewhere in the middle of the life cycles of this current generation. As to who's winning the console war, no one can tell you. But if there was a time as any to clearly define who is the top console, it's going to be this E3. I've broken down who has the likely chances of coming out on top come June 1st.

3. The Playstation 3

Hate to say it Playstation 3 owners: but this year looks to be as fantastic as last year. Big name announcements and big name developers. What is lacking from the PS3 that can make it take the illustrious first place is its lack of a console defining title. Nintendo has Mario. Microsoft has Master Chief. Sony has who? Sure they have the God of War Series, Twisted Metal Series, and even Little Big Planet. Yet the console doesn't yet have a series that's pushing out PS3's. Put that on top of the hard to swallow price point and you come down with a case of "I'd love to buy a PS3, but..."

Two things need to happen for Sony to take top spot. First is drop the price of the PS3. It's expensive, too expensive. The console has become niche because of the idea that you need to take out a second mortgage for one. Also a console defining title is needed, that could be God of War III but again, nothings going to start selling unless Sony drops that price.

2. Wii

The Wii interested everyone at first. Motion controls. New and exciting Game play. What was now fresh and exciting has grown stale, the Wii now carries on with casual party games and movie licensed games with poor visuals and drab controls. There have been some gems including the Triforce of Mario (Super Mario Galaxy), Zelda (Twilight Princess), and Samus (Metroid Prime III)

This can't be reiterated enough. The casual market is under control. Nintendo needs to recapture that core Nintendo market. If they don't then there sales means nothing in the long term sense. Without some creative ingenuity, the Wii fails to become nothing more then the casual gaming machine it's strived for

1. Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 has trailed the Wii and DS in sales now for quite some time. It's improving, especially in key areas like Japan. What the Microsoft does best is exclusivity. By getting the 360 version of Grand Theft Auto IV, you were able to get two episodic downloads for the game. Both Devil May Cry 4 and Final Fantasy XIII are coming (came) to Xbox 360. These previous Sony-exclusive franchises are coming to 360 amidst high development costs for the Playstation 3.

Expanding Xbox Live. Try some new things .Keeping the steady stream of action games. All is doable. All that's left is for the other to slip.

Predictions?