I think the difference is between how Microsoft and Sony have faced off against Nintendo. Nintendo caught up and passed Microsoft before they really got their second wind. Microsoft is betting heavily on the holiday season and their lineup. However until they got there they were exposed. Nintendo just surged into the opening. Microsoft is building momentum and never really stopped running. They are just not running as fast as Nintendo.
Sony on the other hand fell on their face right out of the gate. Stumbled all over the track, and quickly fell into a trot. Waving at the others saying we have a ten year life cycle we are distance runners. Thus we watched Sony slump for eight solid months. Then they managed some effort with a price cut in one market, and they are working their way back into the trot.
Would have been a far more interesting race had Nintendo caught up just one month later. We might have seen a slugging match for a few weeks. However Microsoft did not have their lineup in place. I think it took a lot of composure from Microsoft to not panic. Drop their prices sooner. Release key titles sooner. Drop their prices more. That shows some serious confidence that they will not become totally buried.
I would say Microsoft put up a great fight in that they did not just roll over and play dead like Sony basically did. Microsoft was at the least picking up pace up until they got passed. Sony has had perhaps a month of mediocre momentum. Microsoft is very much in the race if their sales see a significant trend over the next few months, and if Nintendo sees a slump next year who knows where the demand ends the race could liven up. I have doubts that Sony will really be in it by that point so that might help Microsoft.
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