Net Ten: The 10 Most Important Events of 2006 (page2) Subscribe to this RSS feed

#5 PS3 Will Miss Spring - [ PS3 ]

Practically a no-show at CES, the only electronics-related expo before E3, the PS3 is still AWOL. If you still believe the PS3 is going to launch anywhere within the next four months, then you and Ken Kutaragi are smoking the same stuff. Rumor has it Sony is having troubles with its Cell processor; developers are unfamiliar with its multi-core technology, and Cell dev kits are even reportedly overheating. Whether those rumors are true or not, Sony needs to draw back the curtain soon if the PS3 has any chance of launching in 2006, let alone April.

#5 PS3 Will Miss Spring
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#4 Gamers Will Stratify - [ DS ]

Nintendo has been saying it for a while now--gamers will no longer care about flashy graphics and derivative gameplay. To keep veteran gamers happy, and lure in new ones, developers will need to come up with new and innovative ways to keep players immersed. Nintendo's wireless Revolution controller is a huge step in this direction, but don't overlook Xbox Live and its array of simple but addictive arcade games like Geometry Wars.

#4 Gamers Will Stratify
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#3 Nintendo Will Still Surprise Us - [ ]

Whatever you may think of Nintendo's new console, you can't deny that Nintendo is a master at innovation. But Nintendo has more up its sleeve. We know the controller provides unique locational control and a port to allow for expansions, so what's the Big N hiding? Knowing Nintendo, we won't learn anything until their big unveiling at E3. Some say the secret is additional tactile feedback and resistance, while others suggest that Nintendo is preparing a 3D-type visor to create the ultimate immersive experience. Whatever it proves to be, Nbots will equate it to the second coming. Detractors will claim it just another gimmick.

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#2 Companies Will Continue to Consolidate - [ Xbox 360 ]

Videogaming is a big industry, but it's also proven to be an expensive one. The video game market is truly make-or-break, and some companies are finding it better to stand together than to sink separately. You can bet that Electronic Arts will continue to gobble up smaller developers, but EA isn't the only company that will think in dollars and cents. In 2006, small and big firms alike will be looking for ways to swallow next-gen development costs, meaning more mergers, aquisitions, and ultimately, fewer independent developers.

#2 Companies Will Continue to Consolidate
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#1 Gaming's Going to Get More Expensive - [ Xbox 360 ]

Which leads us to our final point: the heyday of $50 games is officially over. In truth, we were lucky it lasted an entire generation. After all, plenty of Nintendo 64 titles broke the $60 barrier with ease. Gaming was never a particularly inexpensive hobby, but you'll be paying more than ever when next-gen goes into full swing. Most troubling, though, is the likelihood of "accessory creep", as console manufacturers push add-ons and additional hardware to our existing console to "maximize" the experience. The Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive is just one example--more will follow.

#1 Gaming's Going to Get More Expensive
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