According to the official GDC 2011 conference website, SCEA’s David Coombes will lead a presentation on March 2 entitled "Next Generation Portable Platform" to discuss new details about Sony’s NGP.
"In this presentation we will introduce a new handheld console," reads Coombes’ lecture description. "We will talk about the devices broad range of input and connectivity options and how these create exciting new opportunities for game designers."
Wednesday, March 2 may be an important day for Sony; gamers and analysts will be paying close attention to everything from hardware features and game software to NGP’s price and launch date. It’s highly unlikely all these details will be revealed at GDC 2011, but price is already a hot discussion topic.
The NGP’s price has to rival the Nintendo 3DS’ $249 USD price point — several analysts have pointed to a possible $299 USD price point. For his part, Sony Europe chief Andrew House stated the NGP will sport "an affordable price that’s appropriate for the handheld gaming space," Also, the question remains if Sony will raise the price of their handheld games in a push to cover increasing development costs.
For independent developers who have yet to receive dev kits for the NGP, Coombes’ GDC presentation will offer them the opportunity to see what Sony’s new hardware is capable of, and if it is a platform they want to support.
The GDC 2011 conference will take place from February 28 to March 4 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. Coombes’ presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, March 2 at 1:30 – 2:30 PST.