I agree, with one caveat, sooner or later theyre going to have to stop cutting the Arcade the same dollar amount as the others. Because as a percentage, as the Arcade price lowers, the percent of a given dollar amount grows. Example: a straight 50 cut is a 17% drop for the Elite, but a 25% drop for the Arcade.

Also I think 150 is just getting too low on the Arcade. PS2 was 129 not long ago.

So I'd expect MS to start doing the cuts in more of a ratio. 17% of 199 is 33.83. However round that off to $30 and I expect 169.99 to be the new Arcade price. So basically 249 Elite and 169 Arcade.

I think Sony is losing too much money to drop the PS3 price this year, while Nintendo doesn't have much need.

I also think Natal could throw a wrench in things. Microsoft will pack it in all SKU's most likely and it will add some hardware cost, possibly even precluding a 360 price drop.

If I was to lay odds for a cut in 2010 for each player off the top of my head I'd say maybe Microsoft 70%, Sony 20%, Nintendo 5%.

By May (or April if you consider its earlier launch) of this year is when the PS2 got its third price cut of $30, bringing it down to $150. The Wii coming down further in price is possible, though Nintendo will only do so if it really underperforms during the year. It's highly unlikely, I'd say. The Wii would end up costing less than the DSi XL!

The PS3 does not need a cut, and will not get one. It's selling fine as it is. Any more seems pushing it, especially when you consider how long the X360 held onto its $300 price.

The X360 will get its cut, definitely. It has been a long time since. Keep in mind that the X360 core model launched at $300. It has retained its original price better than the PS2, which also debuted at $300, yet fell to $150 by May of its 4th year, and $130 by April in its 6th. This is the X360's 5th year on the market.

All 3? I don't see that happening. This year, for home consoles, I see one price drop- for the 360. It will be when Natal launches, and the non-Natal 360s will get a price drop to try to clear them out, making only Natal bundles availiable for new system owners. Sony's margin on the PS3 is still too thin, and the shareholders are going to want to see ROI on the PS3. So that won't drop in price this year. I'm also thinking that Nintendo's game this year will be finally getting us new colors, and that will invigorate sales without needing a price cut.

Now, if he said portables, I might believe him. The DSiLL is slated for the west, with a rumored price of $229.99. A price higher than the Wii won't fly, nor will a price equal to the Wii. I see it launching at $179.99. The original DSi, at $169.99, will be too close to the LL, and I see a small drop to $149.99 on it. DSL is the tricky one. I think that Nintendo is not going to want to support 3 different DS models (all in several colors), and the DSL will be quietly phased out. If it takes too long, it may get a drop to $99.99 to try to clear it out.

The PSP is even tougher, as I see 2 different possible scenarios. There will be a price drop on the PSP Go, I think that's a given. In case 1, it will see a drop to $199.99. And to further push the regular PSP value, I think that the 3000 will drop in price to $149.99, partially in an effort to stave off the DS price drop boost. Case 2 will have Sony leaning very heavily on the PSP Go. The 3000 will stay at $169.99, but the Go will see a huge relaunch, and an equally huge price cut, to $149.99. This will be to try to persuade new PSP owners to get the Go, where Sony has the ability more to restrict game resale, and piracy is harder to do. The only problem I see with this is that it kills the Go's margin. But if Sony really wants to push PSN and PSP downloads, aggressively pricing the Go is a must, since all of its consumers who want to buy games don't have another option.

What an idiot... The wii is still selling record numbers of hardware even with the "tempting" PS3 price point

patcher is ALWAYS wrong, so every console will raise price

Based on Fils Aime's comments last year I can't a Wii price cut until 2011. A 360 price cut depends on if Natal is bundled with all models going forward. I can't see an arcade+Natal combo at less than $200 but then again I'm not even sure Natal would work with an arcade. Super Elite+Natal will probably be $300 or maybe, and this is a very big maybe, $250. Standalone arcade will probably fall to $150 if Natal ends up not being compatable with it. Super-Super Elite (320 or possibly 500 gig)+Natal will probably be $400. A PS3 price cut seems unlikely but I wouldn't totally rule it out. I can see a cut to $275 in the fall if the PSN premium service is introduced in the spring and is successful.

I can see it happening, i expect:

360 - Arcade $179 / Elite - $249 / Elite+NATAL - $299
PS3 - ~120gb $249 / ~250gb $299
Wii - $179

I also expect it to be Microsoft who drops price first, with SONY countering late in the year and Nintendo being forced to drop the price again due to be down YoY ....

Price cut for the 360? Yes if no Natal packed in. PS3? They are trying to make a profit and the Slim + Price Cut will still help them for months to come (look at the recent charts they are beating the 360 by 40k+ on the worst of times for sales.) Wii? Doesn't need one has shortages for January, and I'm sure it will sell insanely well in the winter especially when Wal-Mart decides to throw in another gift card deal.

360 is the most likely.

Wii and PS3 are doing to good to recieve price cuts.