That is what was hinted at CES this week when Nanea Reeves, CPO of Gaikai, predicted that one of the current console makers would be making a next generation device. Gaikai is a cloud-based gaming company that streams full games to web browsers.

At a panel titled, “The State of the Games Industry” panelists were asked about current and future trends that will affect the games industry. During this panel, Reeves was quoted by Industry Gamers as saying, “I think some will have one more cycle and I think others will not. I think that will be the big news at E3. That’s just my prediction.”

She declined to say which one she thought would drop out, but she remained adamant that one of the three console manufacturers would.

To add fuel to the fire, Mike Vorhaus of Magid Advisors, said that he thinks Nintendo would announce their dropping out of next gen hardware.

The only thing wrong with that is that the Wii U is their next console that debuted last year at E3 and is still being shown at trade events like CES.

The other two, Sony and Microsoft, present other theories. Sony has already confirmed that there won’t be a showing of their next generation of hardware at E3 and Microsoft has said nothing. There have been unconfirmed reports though of the next Xbox being a tablet-based Windows 8 experience.

My personal opinion is that it’s too early to tell. As E3 in June draws closer and more details are revealed, it might be easier to make a conclusion. It could have just been wishful thinking on the part of Reeves as her company is focused on cloud gaming, which is in direct competition with the convenience of physical media-based consoles.

Either way, it’s an interesting way to start the year and to get the speculation rolling. The last major player to drop out of the console race was Sega in 2001. If it were to happen again, it would be the biggest news of the year.

The line consists of three controllers – two assault rifles and a sniper rifle – and a range of peripherals. The two assault rifles are designed to work just like the PS3’s DualShock controllers, with buttons positioned in such a way as to be comfortable for both right and left-handed players. The sniper rifle is only compatible with PlayStation Move and its corresponding games. Other accessories include a universal gaming backpack designed to accommodate any of the three major consoles – Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii – with a padded main compartment and multiple pockets. The line also includes three headsets: a Universal Gaming Headset with 3D Effect that appears to be compatible with pretty much anything with a 3.5 mm headphone jack (including Xbox 360, most computers, and even iOS devices), a bluetooth Throat Mic Headset compatible with the PS3 and any bluetooth-equipped computer, and a wired Throad Mic Headset with a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

CTA’s announcement does not give any pricing or release date information on any of these items, saying only that they “will soon be available at major retailers.” Given the criticism that has been leveled at violent video games in the past, it will be interesting to see what kind of reception these accessories receive. Rest assured that there will be at least a few accusations of the Army using these controllers to try and sway impressionable young gamers into enlisting. Personally, all I really want to know is whether that bluetooth throat mic will work with my iPhone.

What do you think of these controllers? Will you buy them? Should the Army be in the business of making video game controllers? Sound off in the comments.

[Source: CTA Digital]

However, if the mischievous Internet collective known as Anonymous has its way, the PlayStation Network (PSN) will once again be brought to its knees. Because of Sony’s support of the SOPA legislation, they are once again a target of the infamous hacking collective. Perhaps these two entities collaborated in order to get more coverage, seeing how the hubbub surrounding both parties, Sony and Anonymous, has been relatively quiet after a busy spring/summer.

While that’s about as ludicrous as it sounds, stranger things have happened. As for Anonymous’ message, here it is, in YouTube format:

Hello, SONY.
We are Anonymous.

It has come to the attention of the Anonymous activist community that you have chosen to stand by the Stop Online Piracy Act. This act will halt online businesses and restrict access to many sites for many users. Supporting SOPA is like trying to throw an entire company from off a bridge. Your support to the act is a signed death warrant to SONY Company and Associates. Therefore, yet again, we have decided to destroy your network. We will dismantle your phantom from the internet. Prepare to be extinguished. Justice will be swift, and it will be for the people, whether some like it or not. Sony, you have been warned.

To those doubting our powers. We’ve infiltrated the servers of Bank of America, The United States Department of Defense, The United Nations, and Lockheed Martin. In one day.

For their approval to SOPA, we have also declared that our fury be brought upon the following persons. Justin Bieber. Lady Gaga. Kim Kardashian. and Taylor Swift.

Operation Blackout, engaged.
Operation Mayhem, engaged.
Operation LulzXmas, engaged.

We are Anonymous.
We are Legion.
We do not forgive.
We do not forget.
Supporters of SOPA, you should’ve expected us.

There are even instructions listed for those of you who’d like to help Anonymous takedown the PSN:

How to join the attack:
1) Download NetTalk6.exe
2) Connect to this IP address: irc.anonops.li OR ipv6.anonops.li
3) TYPE IN: /join #opsony

It’s surprising that Sony hasn’t asked YouTube to pull the video, considering the directions in the description. Granted, Anonymous could broadcast these instructions over many different web mediums, but the fact remains, the attack directions could be inferred as inciting others to act in a destructive manner.

What’s most interesting is how people are making the direct connection between the Avenger controller, N-Control, and the company they hired for PR and customer service. N-Control is trying to eliminate this connection, with a press release issued earlier today. It’s rather lengthy and provides all the details between N-Control, the controller creator – David Kotkin, and the infamous Ocean Marketing.

AVENGER CONTROLLER DISMISSES MARKETING CONSULTANT, TAKES BACK MARKETING AND SALES OPERATIONS

Miami, FL— Wednesday, December 28, 2011— N-Control, makers of the Avenger Controller accessory, have categorically dismissed third party contractor Paul Christoforo and his marketing operation, known alternately as Ocean Distribution or Ocean Marketing. This separation from Mr. Christoforo extends to all business interests of N-Control, its founders, and its officers. Mr. Christoforo does not and never did own, in whole or in part, a stake in N-Control LLC nor its affiliated companies (Kotkin Enterprises, iControl LLC).

Following the publication of an email chain between Mr. Christoforo and one of N-Control’s customers, punctuated by Mr. Christoforo’s acknowledgement of his conduct, N-Control immediately proceeded to extricate Mr. Christoforo’s access to their email and social media accounts, a process that is still ongoing. In the interim, a Gmail address and Twitter account (AvengerDefender@gmail.com and @AvengerDefender, respectively) have been set up for press inquiries and customer service needs.

David Kotkin, the inventor and founder of the Avenger Controller, created the product to help one of his students who had a physical disability. The student wanted to play games the way that everyone else could. The Avenger evolved from a homemade solution for a deserving child into an even more sophisticated controller accessory, capable of enhancing even the most skilled gamer’s performance.

“Everyone deserves the opportunity to be a part of the gaming community in a fun, positive way.” said David Kotkin, Avenger founder. “I created the Avenger to make people happy. I deeply regret that so many people have any negative feelings toward it as a result of what has happened, especially since I’ve seen first-hand what an impact it can have on gameplay.”

Kotkin continued, “What I’m most concerned about is doing right by our customers. We have dropped the ball by giving them delivery estimates that did not come through as expected. We didn’t expect that the demand would be so great, and we should have done a better job communicating that. Our new team is taking all necessary action to correct that going forward. I hope that people will give us a chance to earn back the faith they may have lost.”

All existing orders will be honored, and PS3 Avenger pre-order customers will all be extended the same $10 discount that some have already received. To clarify, customers who have already received $10 off their pre-order are not eligible for an additional discount. N-Control agrees with “Customer Dave” that all of our PS3 early adopters deserve to be rewarded for their trust in the Avenger.

N-Control would like to publicly apologize to existing and potential customers, as well as the gaming community at large, for allowing Mr. Christoforo to abuse his power so unforgivably. The Avenger was invented to provide greater accessibility to disabled gamers, and bullying tactics are the last thing that should be associated with this product.

In the effort to dispel various misconceptions that have been forwarded via news reports and social media, N-Control is offering the following clarifications on a variety of subjects:

N-Control has hired an independent consultant, Austin, Texas-based Moisés Chiullan (@moiseschiu), to field press inquiries and oversee sales and marketing operations going forward. They ask that customers and the press alike bear with them as they field the tens of thousands of emails and other messages that N-Control has received. It is his intent that N-Control should respond personally to everyone who has emailed theinfo@avengercontroller.com address regarding this situation.

“We have to move forward and take care of Avenger’s customers,” Chiullan said. “I can’t worry about the fact that there isn’t a bus big enough for me to throw Paul Christoforo under. The internet did that for me. I think they set him on fire too.” He continued, “I just hope that people will have the common decency to leave his wife and child out of all this. They didn’t send those emails, Paul did.”

All PS3 Avenger pre-orders are currently slated to ship by January 15th at the latest. Some orders will ship in advance of January 15th. In consideration of the events of the past two days, N-Control ask their customers to bear with them as they sort out updating individual order estimates. General updates regarding shipping will be regularly delivered to customers starting next week.

At no time during his tenure with N-Control did Mr. Christoforo have direct access to customer credit card information. N-Control does not retain any customer credit card data for online orders, which are all processed via Google Checkout or Paypal.

Ocean Marketing aka Paul Christoforo owns no stake in the Avenger Controller nor N-Control, and does not stand to profit from further sales of the device either through N-Control or authorized resellers.

Contrary to how Mr. Christoforo may have presented events (in public or private), N-Control never directly endorsed nor had knowledge of his communication with customers in the manner found in his correspondence with “Customer Dave”, who still wants his Avengers, despite everything that has transpired.

Steps have been taken to ensure that all future customer communication is transparently visible to management at N-Control. N-Control regrets sincerely that the trust they placed in Mr. Christoforo was so abused and betrayed and, as a result, may have tainted their reputation with existing and potential customers and partners.

Regarding “Afternoon Artists”, a company registered with the Florida Division of Corporations that lists Paul Christoforo as Treasurer, N-Control has the following statement: “This secondary business has never so much as opened a bank account, much less operated in any form outside of paperwork being filed. It was originally intended that Mr. Christoforo would serve as an investor in this company, which, again, has never operated in any capacity, nor will it in the future.”

N-Control employs Eli Schwartz as a part-time Social Media Consultant. He is an enthusiastic high school student who became one of the Avenger’s earliest super fans, meeting the founder at a trade show. Mr. Kotkin is proud to encourage the development of a bright, enthusiastic young person like Eli.

Eli Schwartz is not, however, in charge of Marketing or PR for N-Control. Previous news reports have credited him as Marketing Manager, a title Mr. Schwartz gave himself without the consent or advance knowledge or N-Control management. This occurred during the period of greatest upheaval following Mr. Christoforo’s dismissal, and N-Control regrets that this mixed messaging reached the public. All press inquiries and media requests should instead be directed to Moisés Chiullan at the AvengerDefender@gmail.com address.

Contrary to rumors and speculation, Eli Schwartz’s Twitter account is his own and not controlled by Paul Christoforo. Mr. Schwartz is a minor, and consequently, N-Control would appreciate the press and the public’s discretion in their dealings with him.

For the foreseeable future, N-Control’s official Twitter account will be “@AvengerControl”, as N-Control does not have access to “@NControlAvenger”. N-Control is not responsible for the content of any Twitter feeds associated with Paul Christoforo.

For the foreseeable future, N-Control requests that customers discontinue use of the toll-free phone number displayed on the AvengerController.com website, as well as any other means of contact found there. Instead, customers should direct communication to AvengerDefender@gmail.com. They ask for patience due to the events of the last two days. Keep an eye on @AvengerControl on Twitter for updates.

For more details regarding N-Control and Avenger Controller, contact press agent Moisés Chiullan, at AvengerDefender@gmail.com.

For more information, follow Avenger Controllers on Twitter: @AvengerControl

After reading the press release, it’s as if N-Control didn’t learn their lesson from Ocean Marketing’s hiring. Announcing in a formal press release that you’ve hired a high school kid, albeit an enthusiastic fan as a “part time Social Media Consultant” can’t be the best reaction to a PR nightmare which has taken place the past couple of days.

Of course, N-Control is looking for any fan these days as they’ve really taken a beating. Amazon has the product listed as a 1.5 star reviewed item. With these three reviews listed as the “Most Helpful”:

The product is a joke – manufacturing delays have made it unavailable even to pre-orders who were promised delivery before Christmas. Customer service will do nothing but curse at you in broken English.

Check out the facts courtesy of Penny Arcade: [...]

—————-

Pushed back dates, disrespect and mockery of their customers. No product to review. Laughs at people that have yet to receive their preorder. You’ve blown it, this time.

—————-

Id recommend anyone who considers themselves as a gamer to steer clear of this product, and all other products by OceanMarketing, delays and appauling PR make this a no-no for anyone. I suggest any prospective buyers visit conventions (such as PAX) where they can find a much broader and higher quality pallette of controllers and meet the sellers in person.

If you visit the product page on GameStop, they’ve already taken the product down from their listing.

The biggest shame with all of this is the control peripheral has been lauded as a great way for people with disabilities to enjoy their video games a little easier. There have been those who have been able to look through the sea of anger, and remind people the company behind the product isn’t the same as the PR company they hired.

It will be interesting to see if N-Control can rebound from this fiasco. If anything, it provides a perfect scenario to companies as to why they should be extremely careful who they hire to handle their social media and customer relation needs.

Let’s look a little deeper.

There are a few things we do know about the game. First, we know it is a PS3 exclusive due to an initial report of a billboard in Times Square, teasing a PS3 exclusive being announced at the Spike VGA 2011 Award Show. The game was later to be revealed The Last of Us. On the website, the date 12.10.11 is shown, strongly hinting at the show reveal.

The teaser trailer that has all us PS3 owners sweating in anticipation is this:

There’s a long list of take-aways from the teaser. First, we know this game is going to deal with the violent aspect of humanity. Considering most of the clips involve riots, and acts of violence. Also, we’re going to be dealing with an infection of some sort as there’s plenty of medical masks and quarantine zone signs in the video as well.

While all of these aspects of video are readily apparent, there are a few things to take note of while watching. First, the YouTube channel that hosts this video has been around since 2006. Meaning, this game has been in development for over six years or they paid a YouTube user for the account. My initial guess is the former, which would mean the idea for this has been around for quite some time. Also, the narrator has a gruff and sad sounding inflection in his voice. Perhaps telling us all of the events leading up to the game have taken place.

Along with the first trailer, we have two screenshots we can salivate over. Each looking crisp and beautiful, especially if you look at the textures for the forest wallpaper screenshot.

(Click to Enlarge)

The first screenshot is the most revealing and interesting, showing a paper reporting on events which have left millions dead or “infected”. There are two news headlines, “Texas, New Mexico Quarantine Fails” and “England Latest To Declare Martial Law“. These could perhaps be hints at possible locations in the game; if true the game might take us around the globe for gameplay locations.

The second screenshot doesn’t provide as much, but looking beyond the obvious there are a couple of details to note. First, is how well rendered this screenshot is for a game that has zero presence, and one where the developer is a complete mystery. Also, it’s an odd choice for a background considering the teaser trailer has shown us urban locations.

The final piece of the puzzle, as of now, is a second teaser trailer which is even more abstract and head-scratching than the first.

It’s a clip of an ant that appears to be suffering from a rare, and real life zombie fungus. The clip shows the beginning stages, but it has been confirmed that the clip is from an actual BBC special.

All of this speculation leads us back to the initial question; what the hell is this game? Will it involve crazed zombies, who eat away at flesh? Will it be a shooter or more of an adventure game?

What I find most interesting is no developer has been attached to this, which is odd. Many times, vague teases will be announced but companies will still attach themselves to the teaser. However, the site doesn’t have any copyright information and there haven’t been any whispers as to who’s behind this.

In conclusion, I’d like to submit my own theory; I believe we’re looking at Hideo Kojima’s next project. The game developer who brought us the likes of the Metal Gear Solid series, and Zone of the Enders. He has expressed interest in moving away from the MGS series, and hasn’t been a director for any MGS game since Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. He really likes to keep his games a secret, and surprise his fans as much as possible. He is no stranger to the apocalyptic setting as well; he developed a series which sounds extremely close to this, titled – Snatcher. Also, this game is being revealed at the VGA’s which has grown in popularity, and Sony would really need some heavy ammunition to impress viewers. What better ammunition is there than Hideo Kojima?

All of the mind bending like tactics seem to have Kojima’s distinct style attached to them. If you’ve ever played a MGS game, you know your mind is going to be messed with on more than one occasion. What other developer do you know would use an ant related zombie fungus video to tease a game?

We’ll know the truth Saturday, sometime between 8 and 10 PM.

The commercial has done so well that Sony has started an entire marketing campaign based around it. They’re using their Facebook page to allow gamers to gain entry into the “Hall of Play“, like Michael did in the commercial. Here’s a teaser trailer for the Hall of Play, from Kevin Butler, the “VP of Everything” for Sony.

The premise of the Hall of Play is simple. All that it requires is a connection to a webcam or a photo on your computer. A flash video pops up on Sony’s Facebook page, which walks you through the Hall of Play, including some comedic explanations from Kevin Butler.

Once your through with that, you will enter the Hall of Play. There are a few things you can click through. The most interesting is the Michael ad will play, and at the end the photo you selected will appear in the frame. Curiously enough, if your name is Michael then they leave it in, otherwise a generic “you” is used instead.

Starting next week, on Halloween, it looks as though they will feature a specific gamer in the hall, which again is teased by a Kevin Butler video:

The most interesting aspect of this marketing campaign is all the interactivity is done through Facebook. If you actually visit www.hallofplay.com, you’re taken to Sony’s Facebook page. Proving how many corporations are really starting to invest solely into social media marketing.

Today, they have announced the fruit of that campaign. The culmination is “Michael,” a two minute advert that, according to Sony, “honors gamers from all walks of life and recognizes [them] for making PlayStation who they are today.”

After weeks of anticipation, I can finally reveal the complete ambition behind Long Live Play. I’m delighted to announce that we’ve painstakingly reviewed each submission and selected a dozen or so die-hard gamers to represent the PlayStation Nation in a brand new Long Live Play campaign that will air on national TV starting October 5th. We think this film provides an insider’s look into what it’s like to be immersed in our universe and why it’s so compelling to game on the PS3.

Full Disclosure: I’m not a PS3 guy. But it doesn’t matter, because this ad is amazing. Check it out –

I’m sure you recognize many of the characters from your favorite games. The PlayStation blog says that the “experience” is loaded with PlayStation easter eggs so it requires repeat viewing. Michael was the chosen gamer that got the salute, but at the end of the clip you will see that the walls and ceiling are adorned with other pictures that were submitted by PS3 gamers.

The ad is simple: You are the hero. Will it help to sell more PS3s? On YouTube user commented “*throws money at Sony* Don’t even give me a PS3 in return, just…take it.”

Who knows if others feel this way. One thing’s for sure – if nothing else, it is definitely a damned fine two minutes of gaming nostalgia.

Nevertheless, since correcting and/or the merciful end of the errors that plagued Sony during the Spring–console hacks, lawsuits that made a certain hacker infamous enough to land a job at Facebook, the downed PSN service debacle that almost resulted in an exodus of PS3 supporters–Sony has been working incredibly hard to improve the moral surrounding its next-gen console.

This includes an impressive “Welcome Back” package that allowed customers to download two free games from the now-restored PlayStation Network. Speaking of the word “inFAMOUS,” that was one of the games included in the free, “we’re sorry” booty.

The latest move by Sony is the aforementioned price drop, which takes $50 off the top of each version of the PS3 console. This means the 160 gigabyte model is now $249.00 and, more impressively, the 320 gigabyte model is now only $299.

Jack Tretton, the President and CEO of SCEA (Sony Computer Entertainment of America), posted about the adjustment over at the official PlayStation blog:

Today, I believe that value becomes even more evident. I’m excited to share with you that effective immediately at retailers throughout North America, the 160 GB PS3 and the 320GB PS3 are now available for $249 and $299, respectively. In addition, a limited edition inFAMOUS 2 bundle is now available at participating retailers across North America. The bundle retails for $299 and includes a 320 GB PlayStation 3, a copy of inFAMOUS 2 and a 30-day membership to PlayStation Plus.

It should be noted that Amazon has not yet adjusted their PS3 prices, at least for the 320 GB model. Maybe tomorrow? The 160 gig already has the updated price.

Naturally, Sony took to Twitter to spread the word, and while one of the announcement tweets were retweed over 100 times, reaction has been fairly muted on the national stage.

It should be noted that it is the promoted Twitter trend of the moment, so it’ll be interesting to see how well Twitter’s new advertising service is working.

While this may not be looked at as a big deal–even the official forums are fairly muted about it–the move is significant in relation to the ongoing Xbox 360/PS3 war. With the price drop move, you can now buy a console with many more capabilities than the 360, at least when it comes to home entertainment, and has a larger internal storage device than Xbox’s largest model–no, the special edition 320 gigabyte models don’t count–for exactly the same price.

70 gigabytes may not seem like a huge gap, but when people are storing movies and other forms of content besides games, and then you throw in the ever-growing size of the game saves themselves, and the difference is noticeable.

With that in mind, expect an Xbox 360 price drop any day now.

The PlayStation Vita will launch in the U.S. and Europe sometime in early 2012. Sony had previously planned to launch the Vita in 2011. Of course, this push-back will means that the Vita will not be available for purchase during the 2011 holiday season – a big loss for Sony.

Except in Japan. According to Bloomberg, the initial launch of the Vita will occur in Japan “before the end of December.”

The PlayStation brand has become a bigger part of Sony’s revenue over the last few years. Last year, 40% of Sony’s Christmas revenue came from the U.S and Europe.

“The PlayStation business is a key pillar,” said Sony’s Kazuo Hirai. “The video-game industry is evolving constantly. My expectation is for the PlayStation business to remain at the forefront of this very dynamic industry.”

If his name sounds very familiar, it’s because he was one of the main PR voices and man-of-apology during the PlayStation Network hacking debacle that crippled Sony’s online gaming community for weeks.

The Vita will launch (eventually) with a 5-inch OLED touch screen and a rear touch pad. It will feature GPS and wi-fi capabilities along with a front and rear camera. As long as you are playing compatible titles, you will be able to enjoy continuous gameplay between the Vita and your PS3.

Unlike Nintendo who recently said they will slash the price of their handheld Nintendo 3DS from $249 to $169, Sony says that they won’t be lowering the price of the Vita. It will start at $249 and go up to $299 for the 3G and wi-fi model.

It looks like the PlayStation Network may be getting a huge facelift.

According to The Register, a massive redesign is being “quietly tested” by Sony. The new PSN would have an entirely different layout, in that it would be more “image-driven.” This means that the interface would look more like the Xbox Live menus that have proved successful for Microsoft. Apparently PS3 gamers feel like the PSN is way too text-heavy in its current form.

Apparently, the redesign would “de-clutter” the screen by using “logically marked sections and rolodex lists.”

Here are some more elements of the new design -

• Live search feature, with results appearing as users search
• Scrapping the blue background and opting for brighter colors on a black background
• More detailed information when browsing movies with an “IMDB-style database”
• New “deals” section for games and other content

The hush-hush testing of a dramatic new interface should spawn discussion about their motivations. Does Sony just feel it’s time for a new look? Have they heard the complaints of users about the text-happy menus and feel they need to change?

Could they be updating the PSN for the upcoming release of a new console?

DigiTimes reported on Monday that Sony will begin production on the PS4 near the end of 2011. According to “component makers,” the new console will have full motion-control integration. This would make sense considering the massive success of Microsoft’s Kinect.

This DigiTimes report has already drawn skepticism, however, with many inside the gaming circle wondering why Sony would rush out a next-gen console considering the PS3 just became truly profitable recently.

Any discussion about the future of the PlayStation console is great for Sony considering the nightmare of the past few months.

Yesterday, for a brief period, the PlayStation Network went down for scheduled maintenance.