I think the 360 has been a phenomenal success even if it does eventually succumb to the PS3. It's managed to garner a very large market share especially compared to the previous generation. It's gotten it's name out there as a serious gaming machine, and not just another unsuccessful attempt. It's done alot better in Japan this time around, even if it still isn't that great. The US now considers the Xbox brand to be THE brand for hardcore gaming. And it's still taking a bit out of the PS3s potential userbase. If their goal is to climb a bit further up the latter with each generation, they are succeeding admirably. Unlike Sony in the PSX days, Microsoft did not come at an opportune time and snatch victory up. It came at a time when it had no chance of victory, and is now embroiled in one of the fiercest console wars in history. Given that they are the new kid on the block, and doing this well, they deserve some credit, even if they don't win in the end.

Sooo let's see:

360: 16.1 million - 8.1 million = 8 million

PS3: 8.9 million - 1.4 million = 7.5 million

8 million > 7.5 million

 Ahhh I see someone already beat me to it, didn't even know that feature was available.

Anyhow, those numbers included the huge PS3 launch in Europe and 2 PS3 pricedrops, Sony has a good chance to win this year but this year but the 360 hitting the sweet spot of $200 could ruin that. 

The PS3 didn't sell out in Europe on launch day, You had 3 months supply satisfied in one week. Every single european who was waiting for a console got it.  Not to mention that sales drop soon within a month to 30k, and then even dipped under 20k.

The 360 has had $50 of price cuts.
The PS3 has had $200 of price cuts, and is just barely outselling the 360.

The PS3's biggest games started production waaaay before the console was out, and it's been losing exclusives faster than it's been gaining them. The one year head start in software production also hasn't gone anywhere.

Not exactly undeniable proof that the 360 is going to win, but I'd call it enough to say it has a good chance. I think we should all admit that both HD consoles still have a chance of ending up ahead of the other.

Maybe because they don't realize there is still something like 90-100 millions PS2 users out there that still haven't switch to "next-gen", and that they are quite likely going to remain faithfull to Sony.

SONY had one of the worst year in marketing a new product ever, The 360 had a year head start, there can be no excuse for the 360 to finish 3rd, none.

Ps3 is gonna murder 360 in future sales.

PPL at M$ got a couple tricks up their sleeves tho. :)

Oh but march 23 - 12 weeks later(june 17th) They sold 1,047,906 consoles

Hehe, 732,388 of those units where sold in the first 4 weeks... it took another 8 weeks to sell the last quarter and the sales kept falling till the first price cut wa offered.

If we pretend that the PS3 came out Jan 1st then we have to believe that the sales would of kept dropping till the price cut. In total the PS3 wouldn't of had more then 360,000 units extra (and I'm being generous by pretending those extra weeks would of sold at a 30k average)

This is a great point ps3 has way better games, japanese support and variety. 360 just has shooters and more than half of them suck. ps3 is just losing now bcuz 360 has a head start this year it is over for 360 the only games saving it is gears 2 ninja gaiden 2.i would say gta buy its multiplatform. ps3 has mgs4 ,gt5, ffxiii, killzone 2, tekken 6, etc