IMO, I think it would be a mistake to launch on wiiU's anniversary, especially if the system is really really good. Considering that the WiiU's power is comparable to the 360, why should they feel pressured to release new systems?

What about the kinect redesign? That could boost sales quite well, and ps3 is still at 250. I can't see Sony releasing a console until ps3 is at 179 or 199.

Slimebeast said: theprof00 said: superchunk said: Why do people keep saying that ps360 show no signs of slowing down? Thy are both only a couple million above Wii for the year and have double digit YOY declines. They are on their way out too. 2013. Who says that? They are definitely slowing, the question is "at what rate". They are down 20% and neither have received price cuts. That's not very impressive. At 20% rate drop every year, we're looking at another 18 million each over the next two years not including this holiday. At a 30% and 40% subsequent, we're looking at 14m over the next two, not including this holiday. Q4 2013 is not as obvious as some might think it appears. There is still a lot of money to be made. Contrast this with the wii, which lost 40%, then 60%. 20% is not so bad, especially when both are still coming out with blockbusters and could each receive pricedrops. There is still money to be made but with another 20% drop (at least) in sales for PS3 and X360 in 2013 those are simply too small sales to continue without also launching a new, fresh generation. Just ask yourself, of all announced upcoming games that look current gen (Tomb Raider, Bioshock Infinite, GTA5), why are they all slated for Spring 2013? Meanwhile the games that look next gen haven't got any release dates (Metal Gear Ground Zeroes, Star Wars 1313, Watch Dogs), namely because next gen consoles aren't officially announced yet. Why is Sony planning to release The Last of Us, Beyond and God of War Ascension all in Spring 2013? Similarily MS has got Gears of War Judgment planned for Spring 2013. Why release all these big current gen games in Spring 2013 and none in the Holidays of the same year? It's all because the PS4 and Nextbox will release in Holidays 2013.

Games are rarely announced so far ahead. For example, games releasing in late 2012 were usually announced in early 2012, or the very end of 2011. While games released in spring 2012 were of course announced in 2011. It's October which is a bit early to announce games releasing late next year. Expect announcements for late 2013 games in a few months. It's like this every year. And I can almost guarantee that a lot of games scheduled for spring 2013 aren't going to release until late 2013.

I think both Microsoft and Sony are planning something big with their new consoles. I also believe they have some kind of agreement, both companies need to make up their losses (Microsoft's first 4 years and 8 billion losses, Sony needs to fix their company), and them milking their current consoles is the way to go.

Jay520 said: Slimebeast said: There is still money to be made but with another 20% drop (at least) in sales for PS3 and X360 in 2013 those are simply too small sales to continue without also launching a new, fresh generation. Just ask yourself, of all announced upcoming games that look current gen (Tomb Raider, Bioshock Infinite, GTA5), why are they all slated for Spring 2013? Meanwhile the games that look next gen haven't got any release dates (Metal Gear Ground Zeroes, Star Wars 1313, Watch Dogs), namely because next gen consoles aren't officially announced yet. Why is Sony planning to release The Last of Us, Beyond and God of War Ascension all in Spring 2013? Similarily MS has got Gears of War Judgment planned for Spring 2013. Why release all these big current gen games in Spring 2013 and none in the Holidays of the same year? It's all because the PS4 and Nextbox will release in Holidays 2013. Games are rarely announced so far ahead. For example, games releasing in late 2012 were usually announced in early 2012, or the very end of 2011. While games released in spring 2012 were of course announced in 2011. It's October which is a bit early to announce games releasing late next year. Expect announcements for late 2013 games in a few months. It's like this every year. And I can almost guarantee that a lot of games scheduled for spring 2013 aren't going to release until late 2013.

exactly what I was going to say.

Lots of games come out spring. Every year that happens.

curl-6 said: theprof00 said: I believe MS and Sony have agreed to hold off releasing new consoles. I fear you are correct. :(

Don't fear, just be patient. 

I'm actually glad that Sony and MS have delayed gratification.  That would mean better console specs overall.  Or have we forgotten about RROD so quickly?

Look, they are amassing their arsenal for the next console war.  How much better are we for it?  They've still got plenty of steam from current consoles and now are making money.  Let's let them worry about when it'll release and let's just play the games coming out.

Black Ops 2 is coming out...

Yeah, I for one am kinda happy that new consoles aren't coming out. I have to get a wiiU, so that would be a lot of other games I wouldn't be able to afford.

There's still so much to be done with the PS3.
The Super Slim and the new PS Store update is proof that Sony still has lots of plans for it.

Microsoft is trying to steal the Wii audience with Kinect and so far they've been successful at that.

This will be the last BIG holiday for PS3 and 360 before they start nearing doom levels next summer. The Wii U is going to start selling like hotcakes.

Agree on some points but point number 5 is so wrong that it hurts. Wii U releases soon, quite underpowered(*) already at the launch. In 2 years, it will be totally obsolete. I am thinking Wii U will have hard time against 360/PS3 once "the nintendo-crowd" has bought their consoles. I also think that this is the perfect strategy for Sony/MS, Nintendo might run in to trouble with Wii U and it's successor in 2015.

(*)
3ghz tri-core
2gb ram
5650 or something like that GPU

Compared to a somewhat modern pc, that is quite sad.

runqvist said: (*) 3ghz tri-core 2gb ram 5650 or something like that GPU Compared to a somewhat modern pc, that is quite sad.

Wii U isn't designed for overwhelming power, affordability, reliability, and power consumption are priorities too.

To MS and Sony there are far more factors to releasing a console too soon.
Seriously, how much do you think a nextgen game will retail for?

Consider the cost of developing HD games at the start of this gen.

If, as it seems to be the case, kinect and move (along with whatever else is thought up) is integrated into the next generation of MS and Sony systems, more time and money is added to the development cost.

Are consumers ready to pay this price? Is the current economic crisis engulfing their biggest markets going to get worse?

Will consumers pay the high price for a high-powered console, even if subsidised?

These are questions I am sure are being asked.

Best to milk this generation for what it's worth but be ready with a nextgen console as plan b.

Nintendo (and I am sure it's deliberate) did the right thing and eased the wii u's game price into the current HD price range.