2006 Possible Year in Preview for Videogames
One thing John C. Dvorak says is that predictions in tech are almost never right unless they know something no one else does. He's right in the tech industry because it is a much more nonlinear industry. Videogame, on the other hand, are a much more linear experience. Even with that, suprises do come along. So here is my predictions for the next 12 months.
Current Gen Home(PS2, X-Box, Gamecube): Last leg for these systems. Only Zelda will make any real headway for these systems. Few BIG games will come out, mostly because developers are preparing for the next gen. Mostly, games that were supposed to come out in 2005 will exist for this year.
X-Box 360: First, there will be a price drop in Nov. or Dec. by at least $50 for the actual (not core) unit. Don't expect the core unit to go down. Instead, it will either be eliminated (as in there will only be the real 360) or some new items put in, like wireless controllers.
Some rumors are going about that an improved hard drive will come out. I believe those are true, just not as a replacement for the one already in the 360. It will be more of a external hard drive.
The Live Marketplace will get alot more small & cheap games. Some ports, like the already anounced Street Fighter 2, will come along, but don't expect too many. Expect something like Darwinia (which I expect will go on the Marketplace around E3).
You will start to see 360's on shelves as Microsoft's production catches up, but don't expect a huge slowdown in sales for a while, although hype will definately will go down.
Also, no Halo, but expect something else from Bungie.
PS3: This will not be released anywhere until the holidays. This is based on the lack of real gameplay footage and nothing at CES. It will be released in the US and Japan around Thanksgiving at around $400.
The release of games will be about the same as the 360 launch, but a few games shorter.
The controller will be redesigned to be something more similar to the Dual Shock. No new functions, except maybe wireless.
And no Metal Gear Solid 4 nor Killzone 2. We'll see sequels, but nothing too far from what we're seeing this generation.
Somewhat both PS3 and 360: The competing HD formats, Blu-ray and HD-DVD, will merge in the summer as both sides realize how stupid this is. The PS3 will still have Blu-ray for games, but will have a seperate function for HD movies. The seperate player for the 360 will also come out, but for only a few hundred dollars. The HD disk players themselves will not be worth buying because of it.
Revolution: I will take the side that the console will keep the name Revolution, if not something similar. Launch day will be around Thanksgiving for US and Japan, priced around $150 (garenteed if you give or take $50).
The launch of games will be much better then the DS', having games of similar nature to what we saw out of the DS this last holiday season. Just don't expect anything considered console-seller quality, although do expect something that will be must buy.
You will see playable demos at E3, although not many from Nintendo.
Mario 128 will be out and a must have title, but Smash Bros. 3 won't come out until 2007.
The download service will succeed as third parties release their major hits on it. Expect Sega on board with Master and Genesis games.
PSP: It still won't get its must have game. If anything, it will still be known more for the multimedia features then for games. Modders will catch up a bit to the countermeasures that Sony has been putting out, but two new upgrades will slow them down a bit.
DS: The course has been set. What we saw from the DS in 2005 will be seen in 2006, just in much greater numbers. Now that third parties know what to do with the hardware, we will see them capitalize on it.
The WiFi service will be improved, but not by much. Demos may come out for the US and everywhere else, but not too many.
GBA: Umm...not that much. Nintendo may come out with a game or two, but I expect third parties may just abandon the last full 2D system almost completely.
There you have it. Not much, and most of it is safe, but that is how I see it. Really, we won't see a clear winner between the three, as the camps are only being set up. It will be E3 2007 is when we'll see who has the advantage for the next generation of consoles and portibles.
Current Gen Home(PS2, X-Box, Gamecube): Last leg for these systems. Only Zelda will make any real headway for these systems. Few BIG games will come out, mostly because developers are preparing for the next gen. Mostly, games that were supposed to come out in 2005 will exist for this year.
X-Box 360: First, there will be a price drop in Nov. or Dec. by at least $50 for the actual (not core) unit. Don't expect the core unit to go down. Instead, it will either be eliminated (as in there will only be the real 360) or some new items put in, like wireless controllers.
Some rumors are going about that an improved hard drive will come out. I believe those are true, just not as a replacement for the one already in the 360. It will be more of a external hard drive.
The Live Marketplace will get alot more small & cheap games. Some ports, like the already anounced Street Fighter 2, will come along, but don't expect too many. Expect something like Darwinia (which I expect will go on the Marketplace around E3).
You will start to see 360's on shelves as Microsoft's production catches up, but don't expect a huge slowdown in sales for a while, although hype will definately will go down.
Also, no Halo, but expect something else from Bungie.
PS3: This will not be released anywhere until the holidays. This is based on the lack of real gameplay footage and nothing at CES. It will be released in the US and Japan around Thanksgiving at around $400.
The release of games will be about the same as the 360 launch, but a few games shorter.
The controller will be redesigned to be something more similar to the Dual Shock. No new functions, except maybe wireless.
And no Metal Gear Solid 4 nor Killzone 2. We'll see sequels, but nothing too far from what we're seeing this generation.
Somewhat both PS3 and 360: The competing HD formats, Blu-ray and HD-DVD, will merge in the summer as both sides realize how stupid this is. The PS3 will still have Blu-ray for games, but will have a seperate function for HD movies. The seperate player for the 360 will also come out, but for only a few hundred dollars. The HD disk players themselves will not be worth buying because of it.
Revolution: I will take the side that the console will keep the name Revolution, if not something similar. Launch day will be around Thanksgiving for US and Japan, priced around $150 (garenteed if you give or take $50).
The launch of games will be much better then the DS', having games of similar nature to what we saw out of the DS this last holiday season. Just don't expect anything considered console-seller quality, although do expect something that will be must buy.
You will see playable demos at E3, although not many from Nintendo.
Mario 128 will be out and a must have title, but Smash Bros. 3 won't come out until 2007.
The download service will succeed as third parties release their major hits on it. Expect Sega on board with Master and Genesis games.
PSP: It still won't get its must have game. If anything, it will still be known more for the multimedia features then for games. Modders will catch up a bit to the countermeasures that Sony has been putting out, but two new upgrades will slow them down a bit.
DS: The course has been set. What we saw from the DS in 2005 will be seen in 2006, just in much greater numbers. Now that third parties know what to do with the hardware, we will see them capitalize on it.
The WiFi service will be improved, but not by much. Demos may come out for the US and everywhere else, but not too many.
GBA: Umm...not that much. Nintendo may come out with a game or two, but I expect third parties may just abandon the last full 2D system almost completely.
There you have it. Not much, and most of it is safe, but that is how I see it. Really, we won't see a clear winner between the three, as the camps are only being set up. It will be E3 2007 is when we'll see who has the advantage for the next generation of consoles and portibles.
posted by SeanM at 4:36 PM
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