Starphoenix
How Long Have I Been Asleep?
Guess I was mistaken on the PS3's profitability, somehow I had heard they still lose more money on the system then they make? I still can't see Microsoft putting out a new console anytime soon. This just being from personal experience, working in a store. About every week I work, there is one customer calling on a phone asking about Xbox's or Kinect. Out of all the systems we sell and stock the most are the 360 bundles. My location isn't a big city, but a small town (not like where I used to live let me tell you...) So my reasoning isn't based upon much more than what I have seen coupled with the things I've read online.Sony's going to stay with the PS3 for awhile. MS, no. Kinect just has to be compatible with the next Xbox, like the Wii peripherals are with the Wii U.
The PS3 is an incredibly solid gaming system that has been steadily improving over time, and their customer install base yields profits from both video games AND Blu-Rays which is a market that Sony owns. They're making a profit on each PS3 sold (have been since year 2 of the PS3 I believe) and have pushed their "10 year console" concept over and over again. The PSN debacle is over and people don't care that much anymore. Even if they do care, they certainly didn't tell Sony that with their wallets. Besides, Sony has said they aren't making a PS4, and with all the **** that went down with the profits they lost from the earthquake (something like $3billion IIRC) they definitely won't be spending the money on a brand new console this early.
For Nintendo, if they stay their current course, I can see them going the way of Sega (rather Sega + handhelds) in 2 more consoles if they don't shape up. And I don't necessarily think that would be a bad thing for them. I actually think it would allow them to focus on developing to produce some extremely high quality games in the future. Think about it; Microsoft and Sony make a couple in-house big hits (Halo, God of War, etc.) but nothing NEARLY to the level of Nintendo. Ninty is at the same time a prolific developer AND have their own console. I give them a lot of crap for their business plans, but to be honest its impressive that they're able to do as much as they have been for so long.
Also, I'm heading to bed now :X
I'm out for the evening.