Blu Ray would have been in because Sony owns a large part of the rights to the tech just like DVD was obviously going to be in in 2001. Yes the gen might have started a bit later (especially given how well the PS2 continues to do) but I doubt it would have been 2008.
The PS2 had no real competition and still was a beast of a machine for the time. This idea that MS is doing everyone a favor by making Sony and Nintendo try harder is just patently untrue. Sony makes quality machines with high end capabilities both because thats the kind of company Sony is, and because high end machines sell high end hardware (Bravia HDTVs, Sony speakers, Sony receivers with HDMI support, blu rays ect). Their electronics profits have grown by leaps and bounds since the release of the PS3 and I doubt thats a coincidence.
MS is doing noone a favor by being in video games as anything more then a publisher, not even their shareholders (since it can't maintain profitability).
PSN ID: ChosenOne feel free to add me
