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Michael Pachter predicts Project Natal to cost 50 bucks

Now I’ve never been one to put much stock into the speculations of industry analysts but Michael Pachter has a good track record and his latest analysis is one I like, so I shall tell you about it — Pachter predicts that the motion sensing technology from Microsoft currently entitled Project Natal will cost no more than $50.

He elaborates by saying that Natal is just a single camera and when compared to the PlayStation Motion Controller it will most likely cost a great deal less as Sony’s offering is both a controller and a camera.

Whatever the case, Microsoft is going to have to price Project Natal very competitively as it is essentially an add on for the Xbox 360 and they will have to do so to keep up with both Sony and Nintendo.

via industrygamers

Pachter: Xbox 360 ending in third place in 2015

Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter and his team have compiled a 210 page report on the future of video game industry. In it, Pachter predicts that the Wii will win this console generation, and that Nintendo will release a WiiHD, most likely in 2010. He also said that the fact that Sony’s Blu-ray won the HD disc war, it will fuel PS3 sales for years to come, eventually surpassing the Xbox 360, which will, according to Pachter, end up third by the end of this console generation. Which is in 2015, in case you’re wondering. Or at least, according to Pachter.

Pachter: Wii price drop coming

Game analyst Michael Pachter is predicting that Nintendo will drop the price of the Wii before the holiday season, noting that supply has finally exceeded demand for the console.

However, even if supply exceeds demands, it doesn’t mean a price cut is needed — surely, if you want get as many system over the counter, but Nintendo is also concerned about making a profit on each console. Alternately, it could bundle a new game with the Wii this holiday season (or a extra Wiimote) to drive sales.

Pachter: PS3 price cut could cost Sony $350 million

Noted game industry analyst Michael Pachter says that if Sony is to cut the price of the PS3 by $50, the company would slice $350 million from its profits (based on sales of 6 million units after a such price cut has taken place).

There is no doubt that the PS3 is in dire need of a price cut, the console currently retails at $400 and $500 — a lot more than the competitors. Although a $100 price cut has been rumored for a while, Pachter thinks that Sony will most likely only cut $50 off the price, and possibly bundle one of the first party titles, like Killzone 2.

Xbox Live Proving Excellent Resource For Netflix

Probably the only part of the NXE that was universally enjoyed was the possibility of streaming Netflix films from your queue for anyone with an Xbox Live Arcade Gold membership. Since the service launched in November people have been flocking to the flat-rate video rental service.

Redbush analyst Michael Pachter estimates that over eight million people are currently connecting to Xbox Live and figures that many of them are simply a few mouse clicks away from subscribing to Netflix. He places the number of Xbox subscribers who have signed up for Netflix at over 200,000 in the three months since the service launched and he expects another million to sign up in the next year, given the high install base and further expected sales for the console and Microsoft’s strong support of Xbox Live.