Secrets of success for Microsoft:
Stealing Exclusives, and when they're first party, straight up ripping them off (Lips = Singstar, Scene it = Buzz)
Buying Exclusive games (too may to name, lol)
Price the system as if you don't care about profit. (Two EU price drops in less than 6 months)
Release your system early, so early that it has a huge design flaw that renders millions of consoles useless. (no explanation needed)
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The one thing I will give MS credit for is the online system, which is second to none.