A PS3 Will Soon Be In All Your Homes.

Is Gran Turismo really that big a franchise? I seem to recall reading that Europe is the only region where realistic racing sims sell in decent numbers, which was why Forza 3 released here first.

God I miss the wonderful screeching sound of a tape loading – if ANY new game had that noise on an install or disc swap, I’d buy it… regardless of how good the game was.

Can’t we all just buy a MegaDrive again and learn to live and let live again?

MS will do a price cut this year, that Sony won’t be able to match unless they make a loss on each console. Also, People are basing Sony’s catch-up rate on flat 360 sales for the new few years.

If you believe MS will remain flat and not react, you’re sorely mistaken.

@TH: GoW might be one of Sony’s biggest franchises, but it’s not even in the top 25 selling PS2 games.

“Sony’s only real problem now is that they moved the date of the slim up by too much. It should have come later in the cycle to sure up long term sales, but it’s not like they had a great deal of choice.”

My guess is that Sony will do a second relaunch of the PS3 in 2-3 years. An even slimmer/smaller version of the current model, maybe with an external power-supply. And they will sell it at $149!

What do you think MS are planning *right now*? Reduced price point? Check. Stellar Q4 line-up? Check. Expect the X360 slim announced at E3 ’10, biatches.

That said, I’m pretty sure that the PS3 will have overtaken the X360 by end of FY ’11 simply due to the fact it carries a BluRay player and has Gran Turismo 5.

I thought it was 60%, at least that’s what it says on this bit of paper I found on the floor just now!?!?!!?

Sony’s only real problem now is that they moved the date of the slim up by too much. It should have come later in the cycle to sure up long term sales, but it’s not like they had a great deal of choice. They badly needed the relaunch.

(You know, I’ve heard the same thing said in 2008 and 2009 so it’s only right that people would say the same this year!)

But, MS will be happy as they will still be the most profitable, not down to Live revenues, but because they will have a lower install base but have a greater tie-ratio. More games will be sold as volume on Xbox 360 than PS3. All those 5%’s are relatively “pure” profit.

Do you honestly see yourself caring about either of these consoles in 5 years time?

And remember, its only US which is keeping 360 ahead. in PAL (18 head start I think for MS) their neck and neck and in Japan, well….you know.

There’s only one way there’s going to be a 360 with Natal built in… and that’s if it’s bundled. Unless you think it’s a good idea to have to put your console in a place where the hardmounted camera can see the room?

MS will probably hold back on all hardware refrehses this generation – if they are smart (which they no doubt are) – they will make announcements as PS3 hits early-decay stage to tease out 720 news/future of consoles etc… Try to spoil PS3′s open-market opportunity in early 2011.

I think if Microsoft are smart they will reconsider not releasing a slim 360, as hardware refreshes always reignite interest in the platform and generate more publicity than simple price cuts. Maybe the rumours of an updated 360 with Natal built in will prove to be true?