New console frenzy looms next year !

So says this article, but I don't believe it.

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http://www.mcvuk.com/html/news/story.jsp?newsId=1926268


New console frenzy looms

28 November 2003 By Lisa Byron
2004 could well be a bumper year for the global interactive entertainment
industry, with senior sources suggesting that up to four new formats could
be introduced within the next 12 months.
Rumours about the arrival of the Gen3 console platforms have been rife for
some time, with many predicting a 2005/2006 roll-out for new systems from
Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo.

But this week two major publisher bosses and a development head all hinted
to MCV that new consoles from both Microsoft and Nintendo will be launched
next year, with a new Game Boy also set to emerge early in the New Year to
counter the arrival of Sony's PSP in the fourth quarter.

Microsoft
It has long been acknowledged that Microsoft will not give Sony a lead in
the next round of the console battle, with Xbox's Euro launch having been a
year and a half after the arrival of PS2. But if rumours are to be believed,
Xbox 2 looks set to have a significant headstart on PS3, with the launch
tipped for 2004.

Some news sites have suggested that Xbox 2 will be unveiled at the Game
Developer Conference in March, although it is unlikely that the machine will
be launched until later in the year at the earliest.

Nintendo
A major internal conference of Nintendo bigwigs from across the globe is
believed to be taking place in early December, to give territory bosses a
heads-up on forthcoming announcements. And a full rundown of the games giant
's next home console is expected to be top of the agenda.

Meanwhile, Nintendo's senior MD Yoshihiro Mori earlier this month confirmed
to a news conference that the firm will be unveiling a new machine at E3 in
May next year, with the hope of a roll-out in Japan at least by the end of
the year.

Reports are claiming that the E3 announcement will not be a successor to
GameCube or Game Boy Advance. However, MCV understands that both a home
console and a new handheld are in the pipeline, with the handheld set to
launch early in the year - ahead of Sony's PSP - and the static console
following in Q4.

Sony
The firm may well be pipped to the post in both the static and handheld
console sectors - but at least as far as the PSP is concerned, Sony is
aiming for a market much greater than the traditional gaming audience. And
the mooted £250 price point for the PSP - which is tipped to feature music
and video playback, as well as gaming functionality - gives Sony's unit a
clear advantage over the likes of the Apple iPod and the Archos AV300
movie/music player. The PSP is set for launch in Q4.

Meanwhile, Sony is rumoured to be lining up a conference to reveal
PlayStation 3 at E3.


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Again, i don't believe this.   i think that article is made of bullshit.
they're grasping at straws, extracting things that probably are not there.
but whatever.