[They are the professional analysts whose job it is to research, keep track of, advise their clients, and opine to the media about the gaming business. Analyze This cuts right to the chase: Rather than reporting on a subject, and throwing in quotes by analysts to support or refute a point,

Gamasutra offers up a timely question pertaining to the business side of the video game industry and simply lets the analysts offer their thoughts directly to you. Each person's opinion is his own and will (probably) not necessarily agree with their fellow colleagues'.]

Since the year began, it's been a worrying topic in business news and on the minds of Americans: recession. Yet it appears that the video game industry has been immune to the effects of an economic slowdown and growing lack of consumer confidence -- or has it? Could, in fact, the industry also be facing an economic downturn sometime later this year?

We asked Nick Williams of OTX, Jesse Divnich of The simExchange, and Ed Barton of Screen Digest:

Do you think the video game industry will be recession-proof this year?

Do you believe, or project, that game consumers will spend less, more, or about the same this year?

How do you think the various game consoles and handhelds will fare in the market throughout this year? Is any one of these platforms going to face sales challenges because of the slowing economy?