GamePro analyzes possible (and not so possible) GDC predictions

Anyone else thinks it's about time we got some news of Nintendo's online service?

(adds "news of DNF" to stupid extreme longshot)

nintendos online might turn out to be something really good without friend codes, somehting like xbox live hopefully, the worst that could happen is that we have touse friend codes again, i hope not

would it be awesome if we could use the globe from the weather channel as a lobby of sorts to find our friends when we wanted to play online?

I think GDC would be the perfect time for Nintendo to announce their online plans....for sony to show some killer software for the PS3 and for MS to finally announce a price drop. Sounds good to me.

If SSB Brawl, Mario Galaxy or Metroid get delayed again...it could get ugly.

I suspect that Nintendo is using the new 'everybody votes' channel to test the Wii's online network.

Announcement of Wii Online Model (or at least of 1 online game for US: Pokemon Battle Revolution)

I'd make it a safe bet, considering Nintendo seems to announce things 2 months before they happen (they announced Wii in September, announced Super Paper Mario in February, if Online games will come in May, i'd say a March announcement is a safe bet)

I also think the Zephyr announcement is a safe bet, and so is the Halo 3 release date

Microsoft has never initiated the price drops in the past. When Sony drops, so will MS.

Having said that, I expect Phil Harrisons speech to be based on user created experiences within games and the game communities that could spring up around that. I really hope his speech isn't 2D, 3D, HD."

#6, I think so too.

Hopefully they'll get it freakin' working soon.

Gamepro.com doesn't seem to understand that GDC is a developers conference. It is not a press event like TGS. The types of information released at GDC tends to be technical (like changes to hardware or SDKs), and not consumer oriented (like game release dates).

@ Evan

last year i might have agreed with you, but with old E3 gone, all bets are off as to what event will become the new "Mecca of gaming Press Releases"

I have my doubts about MinE3

Valve:
"Fooled you! Episode Two is coming out on Steam tommorow!"

I seriously doubt that Blizzard would announce anything until they know WoW is starting to drop interest. They rather you pay every month for the same game than have you pay once for Diablo and Starcraft.

I doubt we'll here anything on MS except som Halo 3 hype. Why should we? They percieve themselves as flowing well right now and finally making a decent profit. They'll save what they have untill Sony begins to stir (AKA: price cut), but the way sony sounds its going to be awhile before that happens.
Actually I really don't think we'll see anything to big from anyone untill we get closer to Xmas.

Microsoft will announce they have won the next-gen war.

Sony will release a new PS3 with a larger hard drive, laser 7 output, and neural sensor interface.
It will cost $2500 and sony will sell it for a loss, but "hey, we're sony, and we could crap in a box and you all would buy it".

Nintendo will show 400 videos of super mario galaxy, and everyone(including myself) will download, watch, and love every second of it.

Honestly, The biggest announcement I'm expecting from Nintendo is their salesfigures and how innovative their new systems are. :-)

Wii Online announced along with the a list of exciting titles supporting it.

MS announce new 360 (HDMI, quieter, cooler, bigger HD)

Don't think PS3 can announce much of worth

One thing I don't agree with is their prediction that Supar Mario Galaxy will get delayed... Smash Bros. maybe, but I believe Galaxy will keep the 2007 release date.

Actually... I expect them to release another Smash Bros video (like when Twilight Princess was first revealed surprisingly in E3 2004, then the next video appeared in GDC 2005). Hopefully, Smash Bros. doesn't turn into a Twilight Princess in the way that it was delayed so much, but then again, Zelda moved from GCN to Wii while Smash Bros is a Wii game altogether.

As for Halo 3 and the next Xbox 360... They better announce something, or I'll be disappointed.

I'm not getting my hopes up for anything big and crazy, so if there is anything big and crazy I'll be pleasantly surprised. I'm just looking forward to the Miyamoto keynote. That homie is my ace.

Smash Bros. in '08? Over my dead body.

Microsoft releases its 360 failure rates and recalls it to avoid impending lawsuit.

"5. Microsoft has never initiated the price drops in the past. When Sony drops, so will MS."

You may be right, but then again it's been 14 months since the launch of the 360, and Sony has said several times now that there are no plans for a PS3 price drop in the near future. I think there'll at least be a 360 price drop by the end of this year, whether the PS3 does or not.

I think it would be a good move for Microsoft to drop the 360 by $100 (or at least $50) within the next couple of months, even if they do have to start taking a hit on each console sold again. Not only would it appeal much more to casual gamers, but the massive price difference between a $200/$300 Xbox 360 and the $500/$600 PS3 could become the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back" and kill the latter on the spot. It would be a short term loss on profit per console sold, but a long term gain in that the Xbox would be more likely to dominate over the PlayStation in future generations as well.

Microsoft will not be selling a SKU for more than $399.99. At the same time, they need to unveil their larger hard drive for those who want to take advantage of their online content delivery system. When they unveil the 120GB hdd, I predict two new retail SKUs to replace the old ones:

$299.99: same as current core, add HDMI jack and 20GB hdd.

$399.99: same as current premium, black, add HDMI jack, upgrade to 120GB hdd.

I also predict that Sony's first price drop will be to move to one SKU and basically sell the current premium SKU for $499.99.

Having multiple SKUs is extremely annoying from production, distribution, development, and marketing standpoints. Development is especially important, because in the case of the X360, developers have to note that while most people have the xbox hard drive, a lot don't.

So while I would predict sony to drop its second SKU as soon as possible, if MS releases an xbox with 120GB hard drive, it will definitely keep 2 SKUs: the hard drives are too expensive of a component. An OEM 120GB, 5400rpm, 2.5", SATA hard drive (like the one that would be used in the Xbox drive caddy) is about $90 cheapest online, and wouldnt be THAT much cheaper even in bulk orders of hundreds of thousands.

"2. nintendos online might turn out to be something really good without friend codes, somehting like xbox live hopefully, the worst that could happen is that we have touse friend codes again, i hope no"

Oh, don't say that! Be optimistic! If there's one thing I've learned, it's that things can ALWAYS get worse!
I'm fully counting on Nintendo to completely fuck up their online service!
(Seriously, though, I hope that Everybody Votes isn't a test, as some have speculated, because if it is, we're in friggin' trouble)

Anyway, I don't expect much from developers conferences. I remember all the hype for Apple's developer's conference last year and that was a HUGE letdown for a lot of people. These kinds of things always deal in the more techy side of things.
I suppose there's a chance we'll hear something regarding Nintendo's online and possibly a new Xbox360 model.
...but anything concerning game announcements, I wouldn't hold my breath for.

I don't think MS should drop the price of the 360. For some reason I have the feeling that those not in know will then think "Ah HAH! It's cheap and therefore inferior!" (does not apply to wii, since the graphics actually do make it look cheap and inferior. But it's so damn FUN)

Microsoft will not cancel the core. Current owners need it as a cheap fix for out of warranty broken 360s.

I think Microsoft will introduce a new pricing structure.

$479 for the Zephyr (HDMI, 100GB, not black)
$379 for the Premium
$279 for the Core.

I have a feeling ace is on to something

Sheppy, MS will control pricing this gen. The reason MS never initiated price drops with the X-box is because Sony had the older and cheaper to manufacture hardware. It was to MS's advantage to wait for Sony to drop their price and match it because it caused them to lose less money.

With the current generation the shoe is on the other foot. MS is in the best position to reduce their prices and Sony will only drop their price in retaliation. If MS drops the the price of the Core unit to $199 and the Premium to $299. You would see the Wii fall to $149. The PS3 would have to drop in price or Sony would have to kiss their dwindling chances goodbye.

Your nuts if you think MS is going to drop their price. This company has continualy lost money on their system and for the first time is are now making a decent profit. They're not going to give that up just to please a few fanboys. They'll continue selling at the current price untill they're pressured to drop their price by the competition.

I find it strange that everyone EXPECTS the 360 to go lower now that it is making a profit. As if they are not allowed to make money.