This week we talk about Apple home gaming, game ports, and the prospect of a hardcore Kinect game.

Current score

Gerry Pagan: +30

Andrew Passafiume: +395

Graham Russell: +384

Eric Schabel: +35

Shawn Vermette: +335

 

Splinter Cell, Prince of Persia trilogies coming to Xbox 360

Ubisoft recently released trilogy packs of Splinter Cell and Prince of Persia updated with HD graphics on the PlayStation 3. However, the ESRB has also rated these packs for the Xbox 360. Ubisoft refuses to comment on it, but did the ESRB let the cat out of the bag early yet again?

Gerry: It’d be of no surprise if the Prince of Persia and Splinter Cell trilogies also arrived on the 360, though it is a little curious given that only the PS3 has done the trilogy re-releases that have been gaining popularity as of late.50%

Andrew: It seems like whenever the ESRB rates something, it’s bound to be true. There’s no reason for Ubisoft not to release those HD collections on the 360. 95%

 

Graham: The ESRB is bad about letting things leak, but with re-releases like this, why the secrecy to begin with? Let people know you’re considering a release, and see how much interest it garners. It’s not like a big reveal at E3 or something would mean much with that kind of thing. Yes, they should be re-released, and soon, since we don’t know how much longer the 360 lifespan is.  86.75309%

Shawn: Considering the recent popularity of such compilation packs, I’d be very surprised if Microsoft didn’t try to get some of them released on the Xbox 360. Also taking into account the fact that both the Prince of Persia originals never appeared on the Xbox tells me this is a very likely rumor.  85%

Epic Games to announce Kinect-enabled Gears of War game by E3

Microsoft has said since the announcement of the Kinect that they would support hardcore gamers with titles that they would enjoy, not just the casual game crowd. What better way to do that than to release a Halo or Gears of War game for the Kinect? Some images have been leaked that purport to be from an on-rails Gears of War Kinect title. Could Microsoft be on the verge of finally announcing its first hardcore Kinect title?

Gerry: Not too sure on this one. Epic already has it’s team working on developing Gears 3, and with Kinect being a very… “different” type of hardware, I can’t imagine they would rush a Kinect-enabled game at Microsoft’s request. Maybe at some point, but by E3? Unlikely. 20%

 

Andrew: Microsoft has been touting the reveal/release of some “hardcore” Kinect titles sometime later this year. All of these rumors about a Kinect version of Gears of War seem to be springing up lately, despite the denial from Cliffy B himself about it not happening. I’m not sure how well it would work with the Kinect, if at all, but I could see it being one product that could draw in a lot of other 360 owners. 55%

Graham: Do I think Microsoft’s working on a Kinect title to appeal to the core? Yes. Could Epic be working on it? Certainly. But Gears of War just seems like it doesn’t line up, demographically. I could certainly see something like Infinity Blade get the Kinect treatment, but if it’s a shooter, I think they’d try to slap the Halo name on it instead. It’s a bit more mainstream. 20.175%

Shawn: I…really don’t know what to think of this rumor. On one hand, it’s definitely the type of title that would attract hardcore gamers to the Kinect. On the other hand, how in the world do you use your hands for aiming and shooting? I definitely see Microsoft pushing this through testing at least, though I don’t know if it will ever be officially announced. 40%

Games coming to Apple TV

Apple has obviously struck a gold mine of casual portable gaming with their iPad and iPhone, but they’ve repeatedly stayed away from any kind of console gaming, preferring to stay portable. However, if recent reports are true, Apple may finally be bringing gaming to the living room with Apple TV. According to Engadget, there are references in the iOS 4.3 beta firmware to “ATVGames and “ATVThunder”, which are theorized to be references to Apple TV games and a controller for those games. There are also references to a storefront, leaderboards, and game scheduling. Could Apple finally be ready to take on Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo on their home turf?

Gerry: Pretty high possibility of this happening as it’s not uncommon for companies to integrate games into other systems. Is Apple ready to take on the big three? We’ll have to wait and see. 60%

 

Andrew: If Apple ever does release “home” games, it’ll most likely be stuff you already see for the iPhone or the iPad. This could be a very distinct possibility, but I doubt Apple would actually look to take on Nintendo, Microsoft, or Sony at the console market with this.  50%

Graham: As the site’s resident heavy Mac and iOS user, I can’t even get myself to care about this. Clearly, these games would be iPhone and iPad ports, and there’s just not a very big audience for talented developers to try something for just that system. Plus, a controller? If you’re not using the iPhone or iPad as a controller, you won’t have all their capabilities, and if you are, there’s no need to even have the Apple TV. They could do it. But I don’t think it will matter. 50%

Shawn: If Apple does this, they need to understand that in order for it to be as successful as their iPad and iPhone app stores, they really will need more substantial games than what you get on their portable devices. That said, I can see Apple doing this since they’ll make money on it regardless of how widespread it actually becomes. 90%

 

Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments!

This week we crown a returning leader while covering the newly revealed NGP and Kirby.

Current score

Gerry Pagan: +30

Andrew Passafiume: +395

Graham Russell: +384

Eric Schabel: +35

Shawn Vermette: +335

 

Results

PlayStation Move will sell more units this year than Project Natal

Both Sony and Microsoft made valiant attempts to promote and sell their new motion controllers, but Microsoft’s was more successful, with 8 million Kinects sold compared to Sony’s 6 million Moves (even though players were buying multiple Moves).

Andrew 30% = +20

Graham 70% = -20

Shawn 35% = +15

 

3DS to have a ‘simultaneous US-Japan launch’

Unfortunately for potential 3DS owners in the US, Nintendo just announced a release date of March 26, 2011. A full month after its release in Japan, and just outside our window of a simultaneous launch.

Eric 75% = -25

Graham 70% = -20

Shawn 85% = -35

 

3DS to cost more than $200

Despite the recent price drop of the DSi XL in the US, Nintendo announced a starting retail price of $249.99, making it their highest priced handheld to date.

Eric 90% = +40

Graham 70% = +20

Shawn 90% = +40

 

American 3DS launch lineup to include at least 10 games

There will be 12 launch titles available for the 3DS in the US, up from the 8 revealed in Japan.

Gerry 50% = 0

Andrew 50% = 0

Graham 65% = +15

Shawn 60% = +10

 

Sony to reveal ‘PSP2’ by E3

As expected, Sony revealed the PSP2 this week at their business meeting, codenamed “Next Generation Portable.” No release date or price was revealed, though a lot of games and specs for it were revealed, including what appeared to be PS3 level graphics.

Gerry 80% = +30

Andrew 95% = +45

Graham 90% = +40

Shawn 95% = +45

 

PSP2 to have touch controls

One of the details revealed was that the NGP will have a touch screen and a touchpad on the back of the device, giving it two different touch panels.

Andrew 70% = +20

Graham 80% = +30

Shawn 75% = +25

 

NGP to cost more than $350

Sony finally unveiled a bunch of news concerning their PSP2, now dubbed the NGP (Next Generation Portable), but one detail that has not been revealed yet is the price of the NGP. EEDAR has guessed that it will be $300-$350. Is this an accurate guess or will Sony blow us all away with a $350+ price tag?

Gerry: Considering the current $300 price tag on the PS3, I find it extremely unlikely that Sony would go so far as to make the NGP cost so much more than their current main console. $300 – $350 is a rather fair estimate, in addition to not being so much of a stretch for people still choosing between the NGP and the 3DS. 10%

Andrew: I’m not sure Sony is willing to charge way more than the norm after what initially happened with the PS3, but at the same time I’d be willing to believe it cost $400 at launch. Considering the technology involved and the big plans Sony has for it, I’m sure we’ll be seeing a premium price for what they consider a premium handheld. 70%

Graham: I get this gut feeling that it will be $349. $400 is a bit steep for a portable, but if anyone would do it, it’s Sony. What’s more, I could see some $369 or $379 shenanigans too. Hrm. It’s possible, but I won’t say likely, since overpricing it would kill it at launch, and this seems like a last-ditch attempt to make strides to close the gap with Nintendo.  37.9%

Shawn: Sony has a history of pricing systems higher than anyone would expect them to, and considering the high level of graphics and technology Sony is putting in the NGP, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it pushed the $400 mark. 75%

 

3DS price to drop before NGP US release

With early rumors tagging the NGP with a potential price tag of only $50-100 more than the 3DS, here at Snackbar Games, we wonder if Nintendo might pre-empt the NGP’s launch with an early price drop to steal some of Sony’s thunder.

Gerry: Not entirely out of the question. This would probably be dependent on what the NGP’s final price is, but I’m sure it’s a move they could make. 50%

 

Andrew: If the NGP doesn’t launch until next year, I could definitely see this as a possibility. Nintendo and Sony, once again, both have completely different handhelds that will appeal to different markets, but Nintendo wants to make sure they always have the upper hand. I’m leaning slightly towards yes on this one, but I also wouldn’t be that surprised if it doesn’t happen. 65%

Graham: I get the feeling Sony won’t be competitively pricing its device. That said, Nintendo has had recent success with price drops, and while they’ll ride out the get-it-at-all-costs early adopters, they could drop to $229 for the holidays. It’s probably one more year before that happens, though, unless Sony pulls a sub-$300 price out of its hat. 24.7%

Shawn: I think this rumor strongly depends on a number of variables we don’t know yet. NGP launch price and date, and how well the 3DS sells will all play into this. Going off of my gut instincts, I’m saying Nintendo leaves the price up. 30%

New Kirby Wii game to release in 2011

Early looks at the newly revealed Kirby Wii game seem to reveal a game that might actually be a good way through production. No news has been released regarding it yet, but considering the lack of any other first-party Wii games in production for the second half of this year, we wonder if it might be expected to support the Wii through the holiday season this year.

Gerry: The skeptic in me says that a new Kirby in 2011 is unlikely. The Kirby fan in me says otherwise. 100%

 

Andrew: I wouldn’t be surprised if the new Kirby Wii game is almost finished actually. It essentially is the unfinished Kirby GameCube title but brought to the Wii, so seeing I would be very surprised if we didn’t see it released this year.  95%

Graham: Nintendo has nothing in the tank, and Kirby couldn’t possibly take very long to localize. Sure, two Kirby games in two years is unprecedented, but it’s no different in Japan. Then again, I’m the one guy on Earth who really liked Kirby Air Ride, so maybe my opinion isn’t so free of bias in this particular argument. Anyway, here’s a percentage that Shawn won’t like.  98.7654321%

Shawn: I would be very surprised if Nintendo didn’t push out this Kirby game as fast as they could. They threw everything they had at the public last year, and find themselves with no games left for this year other than the new Zelda and this new Kirby game. 90%

This week we cover the new generation of handhelds again and discuss EA’s newest shooter.

Current score

Gerry Pagan: 0

Andrew Passafiume: +310

Graham Russell: +319

Eric Schabel: +60

Shawn Vermette: +235

 

Results

Wii to outsell Xbox 360 and PS3 again this holiday season

This was a very close race, as the Xbox 360 nearly edged out the Wii in US sales this holiday season. In the end though, the Wii outsold it by a mere 200,000 systems.

Andrew 65% = +15

Graham 70% = +20

Shawn 80% = +30

 

EA to announce Medal of Honor 2 by E3

Recent job listings on EA’s website seem to be pointing to the existence of an unnamed ‘AAA’ FPS of some kind. Considering the success of the Medal of Honor reboot, it would seem likely EA would want to follow it up with a sequel. But would EA follow it up this quickly with an announcement? Or is this unannounced game a different or entirely new franchise?

Gerry: While I wouldn’t be surprised by something like a Medal of Honor spin-off title, I don’t quite it’s yet time for something like a full-fledged sequel. EA already has a few successful shooter IPs, so it also wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine them trying to craft another successful series a la Battlefield, Crysis or the upcoming Bulletstorm. 25%

Andrew: Medal of Honor did decent business for EA, although I don’t think it met sales expectations. I wouldn’t be surprised if they take some time off from the franchise to try something new, but EA has been burned in the past by new IPs. I think it’s more likely we’ll see something other than Medal of Honor, but at the same time EA still wants something big to compete with the juggernaut that is Call of Duty. Either way, whatever it is, I’m not entirely sure we’ll see it by E3. 45%

Graham: Medal of Honor was a blemish on the record of the recently-revitalized EA brand, as critics ravaged it and sales didn’t rival that of its competition. The company has a lot going for this year, and I think they can afford to let it sit and come back to it later. After all, they can only rebuild so many franchises at once.  20%

Shawn: Considering EA’s recent desires to take risks on new IPs and the sheer number of FPS franchises they control, I just can’t see any way to guarantee that this one is a Medal of Honor game. I think we’ll probably see this title at E3… but is it Medal of Honor? The odds are against it. 40%

 

American 3DS launch lineup to include at least 10 games

Launch lineups are never very strong, but Nintendo seems to usually have somewhat strong lineups, with Mario or Link headlining a number of them. With the Japanese launch lineup looking somewhat weak with just 8 retail games, and with the DS still going strong in the US, will Nintendo provide a more robust launch lineup here?

Gerry: I do want to believe in this since it’d actually give me a bigger reason to nab a 3DS at launch. If you go by most console release launch titles, the US usually has a bigger number of launch titles than Japan, the one major exception being the DS’s launch. I’m honestly torn, so I’m gonna put down my vote for an even chance of it happening. 50%

Andrew: I think this is a strong possibility, but at the same time the 3DS doesn’t launch that much longer after its Japan release. I don’t think what doesn’t come here from Japan at first will be replaced by another title released here first, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we only see eight games as well. We won’t know more until Nintendo’s upcoming event, but it could go either way pretty easily. 50%

Graham: I think it will be almost exactly ten. With the month or so we’ll wait, the mothership should be able to prep another title to pair with its Japan offering, Nintendogs+Cats. That game’s simply not a system-seller like it is across the Pacific. We’ll get the bulk of the Japanese lineup (5 or 6), an extra first-party game and a token title from Ubi, THQ, WB and EA to round things out. I don’t expect more even though it’s possible, since Nintendo has expressed a desire to pace themselves and keep a steady release flow for the system. 65%

Shawn: I think there’s a strong chance of there being a larger launch lineup here than in Japan. For one, the 3DS will sell like the DSs over there even with no games on it for launch, but in the US I believe it will be harder to gain a foothold with no or few games on it. I think Nintendo probably realizes this as well. 60%

Sony to reveal ‘PSP2’ by E3

Sony has steadfastly refused any comment on the myriad rumors swirling over their supposed next-gen handheld devices. However, recent rumors seem to indicate that may soon change. Rumor has it that Sony will unveil the ‘PSP2’ at a business meeting later this month. If that fails, they have to present something at E3 this year… don’t they?

Gerry: I stand by my comments on the last Speculator. Is it going to be revealed this year? Probably. Is it going to be revealed by E3? Why not. There’s more than enough time to show it off and from the rumors going around coming from Sony itself, it sounds like it’ll be sooner rather than later. 80%

Andrew: I feel like we’ve covered this one before. I think the PSP2 is pretty much a given at this point. There’s really nothing else that Sony has for E3 (that we know of) besides showing off some of their big exclusives and a bigger push for 3D. The PSP2 would be the perfect thing to announce at E3, if not sooner. I think at this point it’s only a matter of time. 95%

Graham: We may not know many details before E3 itself, but I have confidence that, if the PSP2 is coming this year, Sony wants people to know it before the 3DS’ presumed March release. It won’t steal the device’s thunder in all likelihood, but it should keep Sony loyalists from drifting astray. (I’m assuming they’re waiting until after the 3DS announcement to position release and pricing based on what’s revealed.)  90%

Shawn: I find it fairly likely that they’ll reveal it during their business meeting later this month. If they don’t, I’m almost certain that it’ll be revealed at E3. They’ve really got nothing else to reveal, and they need a good E3 for once. 95%

This week we break in a new panelist while prognosticating on some industry-wide events in 2011.

Current score

Gerry Pagan: 0

Andrew Passafiume: +295

Graham Russell: +299

Eric Schabel: +60

Shawn Vermette: +205

 

Results

Nintendo to reveal fate of Vitality Sensor by end of 2010

Well, 2010 came and went without any word from Nintendo regarding the Vitality Sensor. This doesn’t mean it is dead, but considering the lack of any official mention since E3 2009, it looks strongly like vaporware now.

Andrew 65% = -15

Eric 55% = -5

Graham 55% = -5

Shawn 35% = +15

Medal of Honor to sell more copies than Call of Duty: Black Ops in 2010

Despite Medal of Honor’s respectable 5 million copies sold in 2010, Black Ops continued the series’ strong showing by selling more than 13 million units.

Andrew 5% = +45

Graham 1% = +49

Shawn 10% = +40

PlayStation Phone to be confirmed by Sony in 2010

Despite early reports in September and October that appeared to leak photos and specs on a rumored PlayStation Phone, Sony has continued to remain mute on the issue of what it is, and whether it is even planned for release or simply a prototype design.

Andrew 65% = -15

Graham 85% = -35

Shawn 95% = -45

 

Xbox 360 or PS3 to surpass Wii in total U.S. sales in 2011

Ever since its launch, the Wii has outsold every competitor in the US, other than the DS. However, it has recently shown signs of weakening its stranglehold on sales, as the Xbox 360 and PS3 outsold it for a few months in 2010. Can the Wii bounce back in 2011? Or has the time come for a new champion of console sales in the US?

Gerry: As much as I want to say that this’ll be true, the fact of the matter is that the Wii is still the popular options when it comes to cheap family gifts. The odds of shovelware being sold on the Wii is much more likely than core titles on other systems, so even if Nintendo doesn’t present a particularly vast and numerous amount of first-party entries, the sales on those and third-party shovelware will more than likely keep the Wii ahead in sales. 10%

Andrew: I very much doubt that the PS3 will ever outsell the Wii, but I think the Xbox 360 has a pretty good shot at doing just that. 360 has continued to sell better than the Wii the last few months of 2010 and Wii sales have continued to decline, so it’s definitely a possibility. With the 3DS coming out this year, I doubt we’ll see any increase in Wii sales or any big releases for the system in the first part of 2011, so it could be Microsoft’s chance to take over. But at the same time, the Wii still sales fairly consistently from month to month, so it may not happen at all.65%

Graham: Sure, the 360 and PS3 gained on the Wii last year, but they did it with price cuts and new peripherals. The peripheral thing is done, and another price cut would have them practically giving away the systems. It’ll be competitive, but I can’t see anything particularly disruptive happening.  40%

Shawn: Considering the relative lack of software for the Wii, mixed with its lower sales of 2010, I’d say there’s a fairly strong possibility of the Xbox 360 outselling it in 2011. The PlayStation 3? Not so much. 80%

 

‘PSP2’ to release in 2011

While itself still a rumor, there’s growing speculation that this unconfirmed follow-up to the PSP will in fact be released during the holiday season of 2011. If this proves to be true, it will mark Sony as the first handheld creator to be successful enough against Nintendo to release a second system.

Gerry: There’s still quite a few titles that seem to be planned for the PSP, but a PSP2 being released this year isn’t unlikely. We’ve already seen things that look like prototypes for the handheld, and Sony doesn’t really have a good track record with keeping things secret. 90%

Andrew: I don’t know if the rumored PSP Phone and the PSP2 are related at all, but I could definitely see Sony releasing a new handheld this year to go against the 3DS. While nobody believes it’ll outsell Nintendo’s next handheld, I’m sure Sony wants something new on the market, whatever it ends up being.  75%

Graham: If there’s a system that could most justify a successor now, it’s the PSP. The home consoles seem to have enough legs for another year, and the 3DS takes away the PSP’s advantages in the marketplace. If there isn’t another PSP this year, there may not ever be another PSP.  80%

Shawn: I think that Sony will release a follow-up to the PSP at some point. Will it be this year though? I doubt it. The PSP seems to finally be hitting its stride in terms of game releases, so I’d actually think it has another year or so left in it, if Sony continues pushing production on it. 30%

‘Wii 2’ to release in 2011

2010 had the feel of a ‘kitchen sink’ year for the Wii. Nearly every major franchise Nintendo has access to had a new game released for it. Due to its recently flagging sales, and the sudden lack of any major franchises in development for the Wii, will Nintendo be the first to move on to the next generation of consoles this holiday season?

Gerry: 2011 sounds a little too soon for a “Wii2” launch, especially during the year of the 3DS launch. If anything, I’d find it more believable for it to be launched in 2012, after being announced at some major press event. So while I do know it’s going to come eventually, it and the 3DS being released seems like too much, too soon. 15%

Andrew: I think we might hear about a new Wii this year, but I doubt we’ll see it released, especially with Nintendo focusing solely on the launch of the 3DS. It’ll be interesting to see what they do at E3, but even if they do unveil it, I doubt it’ll be coming out this year. 25%

Graham: The 3DS is the type of juggernaut that will drive the year. That said, it’s not unprecedented for the company to release two systems in one year. A new home console to complement a new handheld can make for an interesting package to market. That said, I’m leaning toward a possible system announcement later in the year and a late 2012 release, since E3 2011 is going to be too busy for Nintendo as it is.  20%

Shawn: I know Nintendo has stuck fast to their insistence that they aren’t working on a new console, but the Wii has really started to show its age recently, and it has always been assumed that the Wii would be replaced by a new system earlier than the 360 or PS3. This year though? I think they may ride out one last holiday season and replace in it spring 2012. 40%