Comparing the strength of Zelda and Mario Kart to the big titles on PS3 is completely different though, and the PS3 can't be compared to the GameCube situation at all, Nintendo went off the rails with the GameCube, and it COULD have done better but the last two years of it's life it completely sucked nuts (for me anyway). I don't think it's fair to compare the historical situations to anything that is occuring this generation honestly. I think the only close comparison that can be used is the DS vs PSP because that is the strategy Nintendo is employing.

Mostley agree, but you could compare 360 with PS3 and how that would affact PS3 performace.

Every console competition is different of course.  Even the DS vs. PSP doesn't map perfectly to the Wii vs. PS3 competition.  The GameCube was mishandled by Nintendo in many ways, and the PS3 has been mishandled by Sony in many mostly different ways.  Nevertheless, my point is that for whatever reason Sony's claim that the big gun games will save the PS3 after several years of poor sales (the assumption of this thread being that the PS3 doesn't take off for several years) will turn out just as hollow as Nintendo's similar claims did.