2009 Game Industry Outlook

Sorry Nintendo and Microsoft fans but none of your consoles will be featured in this because I don't own any of them yet.

Possible Announcements

Expect Sony to counter Netflix on XBL by signing Blockbuster to a contract with them.

NCSoft should demo Guild Wars 2 for PC and PS3 at E3 or GDC.

Sony will probably announce their contract with TiVo and make the PS3 a DVR in America, it already is a feature in Europe under Sky Network.

Insomniac will probably announce the next Ratchet and Clank this year.

National Geographic and Sony will probably announce their partnership for Afrika(now National Geographic Africa in the U.S.) at GDC.

Sony will probably purchase Media Molecule and announce a second Little Big Planet game, most likely it will feature similar creation option but be a different genre, I don't expect this till the latter half of the year though. Until then we'll continue to see Level packs released for LBP.

Expect more PsOne and PSN games this year.

I expect both The Agency and DC Universe Online to be announced as free-to-play/micro-transaction MMOs.

I expect 2-3 more MMOs announced for PS3. Probably Guild Wars 2, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Square Enix's MMO.

More exclusive DLC, WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 was a start but is nothing compared to what Microsoft got with GTA. I think Bioshock 2 might be the title that gives the PS3 exclusive DLC.

I expect the overall size of the industry to reduce, I expect the larger companies to start purchasing other smaller companies as a result of the economic depression.

Definitely expect a price-drop this year, Sony knows that without a price drop they're out of the running.

Games I am looking forward to:

PS3:
Killzone 2
The Agency
Ratchet and Clank Future Sequel
Tekken 6
God of War III
National Geographic Africa
DC Universe Online
Final Fantasy Versus XIII
Gran Turismo 5
MAG: Massive Action Game
Uncharted 2
inFamous
Flower
MLB 09: The Show

On Watch:
White Knight Chronicles
Eyepet
Savage Moon
Fat Princess
Brutal Legend
Skate 2
Final Fantasy XIII



PC:
Lord of the Rings: Conquest
The Sims 3
Commander in Chief
Empire: Total War
Battlefield Heroes
Damnation
Champions Online
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Cities XL
Free Realms

PSP:
LocoRoco 2
Resistance: Retribution
Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep
Gran Turismo Mobile

Some videos for you to enjoy

I have something new to do with my time between making games and doing homework. Pixeljunk Eden, it's an innovative new platformer from Q Games. You play as a 'grimp' that use a silken string to collect pollen that collects in seeds that you jump onto in order to grow. You then use those to collect spectras which are needed to complete the levels. Online ranking and trophies add a bit of replay value to the game, but the best part is just the relaxing music and gameplay. It's hard to actually get angry at the game. But anywho the game has a video recording option so I decided to record a few videos and post them up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd8gmL72AOQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWBC7rZjF6U&feature=user

Top 10 most anticipated games of E3

1. God of War III
2. Tekken 6
3. Wii Music
4. Lord of the Rings: Conquest
5. Indiana Jones
6. Mirror's Edge
7. Resistance 2
8. Saboteur
9. Rock Band 2
10. Gears of War 2