- Vita price cut early in the year from $249 to $149, 3G model discontinued or heavily-bundled, with price dropped to $199
E3 -time and after:
- Xbox 3 and PS4 unveilings with near-completed software shown at E3, both due by November 2013
- Kinect Next set to be bundled and built-in to every Xbox 3, price set at $399. $199 if buyers opt to do a 12-month contract with monthly fee
- PS4 price set for $399 despite very advanced hardware, Sony selling at heavy loss to ensure sales momentum in order to build decent install base
- PS4's "innovation" is 4K support for all first-party games. High-capacity Blu-ray still the format used for games. 4K versions must be downloaded from PSN Store
- Xbox 3 uses Blu-ray and is backwards-compatible with Xbox 360, but only through software emulation as 360 was with Xbox
- Controllers bundled with both new consoles unlikely to be much if at all different from their predecessors
- Optional tablet controller sold seperately for Xbox 3, with internal memory and HD screen. Smaller, lighter, and more expensive than Wii U GamePad, but has all buttons and analog sticks.
Nintendo -
- Five or six huge first-party Nintendo heavy-hitters shown at E3 and given launch windows for holiday period and into 2014. Some for 3DS, most for Wii U
- Complete bombshell dropped either in Nintendo Direct or at E3 about a huge 3rd-party game turning into a Wii U exclusive due to development costs, as Nintendo happily agrees to pay for publishing
- Nintendo announces Miiverse and eShop apps for iOS and Android, which link to Wii U as well as 3DS. eShop games can now be browsed and purchased on smartphone/tablet devices, but obviously can only be downloaded and played on 3DS/ Wii U.
- A third 3DS model, smaller and lighter. Similar to what they did from DS to DS Lite. Priced at $149 just like the DS and DS Lite. No second circle pad.
- 3DS price drop from $169 to $149. XL remains at $199 as it is selling well enough that no reduction is necessary
- Some kind of 3DS peripheral that allows 3DS games to be played through Wii U --similar to the Super Game Boy or the GCN's GameBoy Player-- but obviously lacking 3D support as Nintendo doesn't care about 3D in home consoles as 3DTV's have not sold well
- Wii U price cut in November from $349 to $299, and a discontinuation of the Basic set altogether
The Screamapillar is easily identified by its constant screaming—it even screams in its sleep. The Screamapillar is the favorite food of everything, is sexually attracted to fire, and needs constant reassurance or it will die.
