Power Up: Could '09 be the year PS3 gets back into the game?

By now, you've probably finished all of the video games you received as gifts. You may even be looking for your new game fix.

If so, rest assured: 2009 is poised to be a terrific year for gamers. But it also could be a critical, perhaps even a make-or-break year for the PlayStation 3.

As most gamers know, Sony's flagship system, launched with great fanfare in November 2006, has so far run a distant third among consoles in this generation. According to a recent Nielsen survey, the PS3 even trails a pair of last-gen systems, the PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox, in gamer usage.

The reasons for the PS3's disappointing showing are no secret. At $399, the PS3 is by far the highest-priced console on the market, and it has been since its inception. The price disparity vis-a-vis competing systems from Nintendo and Microsoft is even more significant given consumers' general reluctance to part with a buck during the current recession. The good news is that some industry analysts are predicting a PS3 price drop early this year, which should help sales.

A lack of killer exclusives also has hurt. To date, the PS3 has failed to deliver an effective counterpunch to Xbox 360 monster hits like Halo 3 and the Gears of War series. That may soon change, thanks to an impressive 2009 release calendar that includes titles like God of War 3, Killzone 2, inFamous, and Heavy Rain. When you factor in 2008 exclusives such as Little Big Planet, Metal Gear Solid 4, and Resistance 2, the library of games available only on PS3 suddenly looks very respectable. And, if Sony can manage to release long-awaited racing epic Gran Turismo 5 in time for the 2009 holiday season, it would be very good news, indeed.

The PS3 also has suffered from a dreary online presence, especially in comparison to the Xbox 360. Recently, however, Sony has taken a step in the right direction with the beta launch of PlayStation Home, a 3-D virtual interface reminiscent of Second Life. While all of the bugs haven't been worked out, PlayStation Home looks very promising and is an important bullet point in Sony's 2009 PS3 marketing plan.

Finally, the PS3's built-in Blu-ray drive represents a huge technological advantage over the Xbox 360's DVD drive and the hard-drive-less Nintendo Wii. While persuading consumers to migrate their movie viewing from DVD to Blu-ray has been a slower-than-expected process, there is some evidence that buyers are moving in that direction. A recent European market study, for example, predicted that sales of Blu-ray disc players will triple in 2009. That can only benefit the PS3. Nor is the system's Blu-ray drive just about movies. The extra data storage capacity of Blu-ray means developers can pack more graphics and excitement into their games than they can with the Xbox 360's DVD format.

The PS3 may, indeed, have a fighting chance. But the system faces an uphill stream against well-entrenched competition, and in a sagging economy to boot. Will the PS3 survive, and perhaps even prosper? We should have a pretty good idea by this time next year.