This year's CES had some gaming news, though many of the announcements were short on details (proving that E3 is still where the real news breaks):
- Microsoft announced its motion-sensing peripheral known as Project Natal will ship for holiday 2010, so expect it in November. Product name and pricing will no doubt be revealed at E3.
- Game Room, a new take on Xbox Live Arcade, will launch this spring. Based on what we've seen, it's a customizable virtual space you can fill with cartoony arcade cabinets where avatars can do more than wave. It's not clear whether friends can play games they don't own with you or just access demos, but pricing is $3 for a game on one platform (Xbox 360 or Windows PC) or $5 to have access to both. If you're insane (or rich and decidedly old school), you could pay 50 cents each time you play.
- Sony will expand its PlayStation Network to deliver content for Blu-Ray players and its Bravia TVs. Your PS3/PSP login will be reusable and, we can only imagine, movie publishers will start charging to unlock bonus features. (Hey, it's no different than EA charging for cheat codes.)
- Xbox 360 exclusive Alan Wake is due this year (isn't this the third year we've heard about it?!) and will offer episodic downloadable content. Also, Modern Warfare 2 DLC will arrive on 360 first this spring, and then PS3 and PC after an undisclosed period of exclusivity.
- Nintendo hinted that their next handheld would have some sort of movement-detecting sensor and confirmed a new Legend of Zelda game (ostensibly for the Wii) is due in 2010.
- Netflix revealed a deal with Warner Brothers to withhold new releases on DVD and Blu-ray for 28 days. In return, they'll get more back catalog films for instant play. Fair trade? I can wait 28 days later if it's a movie I wouldn't want to buy anyway, and perhaps this will shorten the gap for new releases moving to instant play once their retail sales drop off. One Twitter friend indicated she'll defect to Blockbuster, which doesn't charge extra for Blu-rays, but she will miss instant play.
- 3D televisions, blah blah blah, Avatar, blah, something something, let me know when it ships...
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