Analysts are known for scrutinizing trends and then making predictions based on those trends. In this case, David Cole of DFC Intelligence has his own take on the Xbox 360's performance in Europe. Interestingly, it includes a predicted switching of loyalties as well. Analyze the details in the full article after the jump.

Okay, so you've got your agenda finalized. What's the next thing to do? Why, it's to announce the All-Star Speakers, of course.

Evergreen Events, the organizer of the 2008 ION Game Conference, has done precisely that. It's mentioned four important names to take note of. Find out who these four people are after the jump.

Year after year we see a vicious cycle of war and hate between the super powers of the video gaming and interactive entertainment industry. People choose their sides and fight for their favorite consoles, hoping to come out the winner in the end. At this stage of the battle, DFC Intelligence has given out their latest forecasts and hard numbers on who's leading the console wars race.

DFC has given out several forecasts and outlooks at the best and worst case scenarios for each console system to see which one will come out on top of the rest.

1. DFC forecasts that the Wii will sell the most hardware units in Japan and could be the overall worldwide winner. However, the PlayStation 3 could be a strong second. Furthermore, by 2012 the PlayStation 3 may actually lead in software revenue even though the Wii has sold more units.
2. Under DFC’s best case scenario for the Xbox 360, the system is in a virtual tie with both the Wii and the PlayStation 3. However, unless the Xbox 360 can kick it into gear in the fourth quarter and through 2008, the system will probably finish in a fairly distant third. A big challenge for the Xbox 360 is building a base outside North America.
3. The PlayStation 3 is looking to make a strong play for 2009 and beyond. For software revenue, the PlayStation 3 looks to be a solid platform for the 2009-2012 time period.

DFC also published interesting numbers regarding the ever rising growth of the PC interactive entertainment market, as well as the portable game market and the definite niche each platform has made for itself already. However, according to their own conclusions, no one was satisfied with their somewhat lukewarm response to the question, "so which console will win?" Their answer: none.

 

DFC Intelligence, expert in video game and entertainment market research, recently released forecasts for the gaming industry. According to the research firm, Microsoft's Xbox 360 could lose the so-called "console war" and fall in a distant third place when year 2009 kicks in.

Various sources make it quite clear that the Nintendo Wii is zooming past its competition in terms of sales but Microsoft's horse trails close behind. DFC researchers, however, found weakness in 360's recent sales. If the current pace goes on for a couple of years, the Wii will dominate until 2008 ends. Sony's year will be 2009, when PlayStation 3 sales move into overdrive as DFC foresees.

DFC analyst David Cole pointed out how likely Sony will be leading in the software race even if Nintendo's console continues to sell. In order to share Xbox 360's presence to the scene, Microsoft "will need to build a strong base outside North America," said Cole.

By 2009, DFC expects US$ 47 billion in revenue for the gaming industry. Sales of the three big consoles are to reach numbers between 180 million to 210 million when 2012 comes - if DFC's projections are correct, that is. During the same year, PC gaming could be racking up $US 13 billion in revenue thanks to the ever-growing online games market and convenient digital distribution.

DFC's research is strongly positive toward handhelds. Cole stated that the Nintendo DS could be on top as the best-selling game system ever five years from now. Nothing is set in stone, but we can be sure of one thing: it'll be fun to watch how everything unfolds, and gamers win in the end.

The gaming industry is now shaping up to become one of the most lucrative businesses ever. Just a few days after NPD's sunny US$ 18 billion prediction, DFC Intelligence released a statement that the interactive entertainment industry is set to skyrocket and gain about as much as US$ 47 billion worth of revenue come 2009. The prediction covers all video game markets, including PC gaming.

Furthermore, DFC also predicted that the PC gaming market will earn as much as US$ 13 billion once year 2012 hits.

While the DFC puts (unsurprisingly) a high amount of confidence towards the portable gaming market ( particularly the Nintendo DS) they are still uncertain about the individual outcome for each of the three competing next-gen consoles: Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii.

Apart from the DS, DFC also raised its forecast for the Wii, as well as the PS3. However, their forecast for Microsoft's Xbox 360 has been lowered, saying that Microsoft needs to improve on their market outside North America.

However, despite the unpredictability of the next-gen console race, the DFC forecasts that the combined effort of the three competing systems will yield a high sales rate of 180 to 210 million units by year 2012.

According to a recent report from DFC Intelligence, the portable gaming industry stands to outgrow its console-based counterpart within the next few years.

"Under the right scenario, by 2011 the combined installed base of the DS and PSP could exceed that for the Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360," said DFC analyst David Cole, in line with DFC's recently released report, "The Market for Portable Video Games".

DFC's report further analyzed that in 2007, Nintendo and Sony potentially stand to earn US$ 10 billion in worldwide revenue via the DS and PSP portable gaming systems. The report also reiterated on the Nintendo DS' current sales success, and followed up with reassurance on the Sony PSP developing a solid sales market in the years to come - so long as Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) backed up its portable with strong promotional support.

The report indicates that other groups standing to benefit from this trend are third-party publishers and developers of PC-based RPGs, MMOGs, and turn-based strategy games. This sounds pretty much on the mark - the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP have been picking up a healthy crop of the aforementioned genres. We're imagining video games like Field Commander, Maple Story, or Final Fantasy Tactics, which is a hint of the promising games these two portables will be receiving in the near future.