Forget everything that you know about the ridiculous hype machine that is E3 because CES is bigger. Much bigger, as in over 40,000 more attendees bigger. What was a modest event in 1967 has ballooned into a gaudy spectacle of high tech gadgets, mobs of sweaty attendees, and lots of porn, and it all takes place in sin city, Las Vegas, Nevada.

The upcoming CES, which takes place at the Las Vegas Convention Center as well as the Sands Expo and Convention Center and it runs from January 5 to the 8 promises to be the biggest electronics show the world has ever seen. People from over 110 countries will be present as well as 2500 exhibitors (including Panasonic, Honda, Sony, Samsung, and Logitech, just to name a few) that plan to demo the latest technology, and this includes the newest HDTVs, Blu-Ray, wireless toys (including naughty ones), crap for people's cars, and a slew of other delectable items, but more so than ever, gaming will be front and center and for good reason. With the Xbox 360's recent worldwide launch, Microsoft may take the opportunity to not only boast about its sales numbers (providing these figures are worth boasting about), but to show off some of the latest games for the platform, and while I don't know exactly what's going to go down at CES, I do know that something's definitely going down, but Microsoft may not have anything to do with it. Therefore, let's take a look at how Sony and Microsoft could shape the console industry's future by stealing the show.

Sony
Say what you want about the glory that is Xbox 360, but this is Sony's show to win. Since many consumers are super pissed that they couldn't find an Xbox 360 on launch day, now is the perfect time to leak out some delicious PlayStation 3 information. Sony doesn't have to reveal the official design of its new controller or announce launch plans. Instead, all it has to do is put some videos front and center, and if they're real ballsy, toss some playable demos onto the show floor, though I highly doubt anyone will be able to get hands on time with the machine. But at the very least, some key announcements should be made and there should be multiple displays set up within a (hoping) PlayStation area that includes both PS2 and PSP demos.

Doing this would really knock Microsoft back a few steps because it reminds the entire world that Sony's busy working on its next generation console, and if folks are angry about the Xbox 360 shortages as well as the bothersome heating issues, whatever Sony showcases might be just enough to convince them to wait for PlayStation 3.

The primary reason why Sony needs to dropkick Microsoft in the face is because there's no bigger stage than CES, and unless the company plans to host its own press event before E3 (which would probably suck compared to CES) there's no other time to strike. Besides, not doing anything allows Microsoft to enjoy almost five months of uninterrupted sales, and if it gets its ass in gear and manages to crank out plenty of machines while publishers toss the likes of Full Auto, Gears of War, Oblivion, and Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter onto the shelves, Sony may be staring into a 2-4 million hole by the time Kaz Hirai begins the May press conference.

Microsoft
When you launch first you allow your opponent a chance to counter and Sony's going to unleash a fierce barrage of dropkicks, fire balls, and neck breakers. It's at the point where even a simple announcement, let's say, a Dragon Quest 9 PS3 exclusive, could whip the media (particularly the international press) into a frenzy.

What Microsoft should do is create space for the 360 and demo some of its hottest games, particularly the ones slated for the first half of 2006. Seeing as how I don't expect Sony to come through with actual demos, Microsoft can fight back by allowing attendees to get their hands on Gears of War, Oblivion, Full Auto, and some other games. It doesn't need to be incredibly huge, but just enough to whet our appetites and remind us that these games are coming out well before PS3 launches anywhere.

I'd also like to see Microsoft make some big announcements, because as good as the games look, I don't think that's enough to slow Sony. So if J Allard and his crew have managed to snag some huge exclusive, now may be a great time to unleash it. And it absolutely has to appeal to all audiences. Japan has practically kicked the Xbox to the curb, and since the PS3 will likely launch in that territory first, whatever Microsoft has to say, it better grab lots of international attention.

The prediction
The PS3 will definitely be at CES, though at what capacity is uncertain. I think there will be videos to check out and the console will be prominently displayed, especially since it's rumored that Sony's booth is going to be bigger than North Dakota. Sure, people love Sony HDTVs and the other products it pumps out, but this company has planned something that's bigger than any flat screen. Welcome to Blu-Ray. Welcome to PlayStation 3.

Microsoft will have demos on the show floor because it's afraid of what Sony's going to do, so I expect a pretty elaborate booth. I'd also like to say that there will be some major announcements, but I doubt it. There will be 360 games to play, but whatever magical BS Sony pulls will net them tons more press.

As for Nintendo, it was rumored that it was going to attend the show but I cannot find it on the official exhibitor list, so if you were eagerly anticipating some hot Revolution news, check back in May.

I'll be attending the 2006 CES, so expect on the floor reports as well as previews and hands on with everything except the porn stars.