Sony 2009 Predictions (PSP, PS3)

PS3

2008 was a bit of a ho hum year for Sony. We saw great games (Little Big Planet, Resistance 2, MLB08) but the system still didn't sell near as good as the 360 or the Wii. I predict that 2009 is the year that Sony makes a foothold in the gaming market and starts to catch up.

I predict that Sony will drop the price for the PS3 sometime around E3 to $349. It costs Sony less to manufacture consoles than it did when the PS3 launched. I feel that $349 is not the sweet spot that consumers are looking for, but it's getting there. For the record, I feel that $400 is quite a deal for what you get with the PS3. Built in Wireless, BluRay, and a built in Hard Drive that is easily accessible to change out is well worth the price, but compared to $299 for the 360 and $249 for the Wii, Sony's console still is too expensive to most consumers, especially in the economic times we live in.

Killzone 2 will sell systems as will MLB09, but I feel that if God of War III comes out at some point this year, it will sell an enormous amount of systems. I foresee a Red PS3 "God of War" bundle with game and a Kratos Facsimile on the console. The Metal Gear Solid bundle sold well for Sony, and I predict that a God of War bundle will sell well.

Playstation Home will continue to be the disaster that it is right now. It's a mess and is largely worthless at least in my mind. It needs a hook and as of right now, it just doesn't have one. It would not surprise me totally to see Sony abandon Home at some point before the end of the year.

SOCOM will see a full fledged release before 2009 ends. It will have single player and the multiplayer will not be as horrid as Confrontation is. Sony isn't happy about how Confrontation has been reviewed and will do whatever it takes to right the ship.

PSP

I predict that PSP2 will make it's way out to retailers before the end of the year.
The reason, Sony is tired of seeing the PSP lag way behind the DS and is tired of seeing little to no software make it's way out for the system. I predict that Sony will spend a large amount of money to stop piracy on the PSP2 since that is what's killing software sales for the original PSP. I predict that the PSP2 will have a touch screen as well due to the success of the IPhone and other touch based technology. It will have dual analog sticks as well as a whole compliment of buttons and will come out at $199. I think Sony will have several fantastic launch games (a new Lumines, Madden, as well as a new God of War for the system) Again, this is all a guess on my part. I'd love to see a new PSP as I've had a blast out of the original.

Well that's it for Sony and wraps up the gaming predictions for 2009. Let's hope some of them come true. I really feel that this is Sony's year.