I wonder if, with the PS4, we're already seeing a bit of the Install base's size and rapid expansion working to help maintain its continuing growth. The Xbox 360 had a massive NPD win-streak, even after their non-Kinect exclusive titles dried up to consist of Halo, Forza, Fable and Gears, and in large part it was probably because their existing sales lead fed higher sales going forward; the idea that, especially in a social console with multiplayer, you are significantly more likely to make your first console purchase the same one your friends have. The more consoles you sell, and the more quickly you sell them, the more word-of-mouth you have from other gamers telling their friends 'You must geeeet one! WE MUST GAMEZ TOGETHERZ!" And word-of-mouth can be a VERY powerful force when it comes to advertising a new product.
The PS4 pretty much blew past the Xbox One, and the WiiU when you consider Nintendo's long head start. It may be that this sales momentum is beginning to feed itself, leading to a lot of consoles being purchased by the friends/relatives of existing owners. This means, theoretically, that the larger the sales lead grows over its individual competitors, the faster is will continue to sell compared to the Xbox One and WiiU. Especially when heavy hitters start coming out.
To be clear, this isn't intended to downplay the positive qualities of the PS4; it definitely has games I want to get my mitts on, no doubting. But compared to how 2015 and onwards is likely to go, the exclusive lineup IS likely going to seem a bit weak by comparison, as all first-year consoles go.
It might explain all of Microsoft's turnabouts; they don't want to risk letting Sony gain that kind of foothold, especially in the U.S., because they don't want to have to face the same difficulties catching up to the PS4 in their home territory that the PS3 had keeping up with the Xbox 360. Especially since, unlike the PS3, Microsoft will have no other strongholds to compensate for that loss.
Zanten, Doer Of The Things
Unless He Forgets In Which Case Zanten, Forgetter Of The Things
Or He Procrascinates, In Which Case Zanten, Doer Of The Things Later
Or It Involves Moving Furniture, in Which Case Zanten, F*** You.
