This is a hard question. I think when it's discontinued is unfair, because systems are often left alive long after they have died (NES, SNES, PS1, Neo-Geo), but I also think that the replacement is unfair- look at the PS2-PS3 situation, the PS2 is still kickin butt.
Since I think I know the root of the question I will answer that. The PS3 will be produced for 10 years, there will be a PS4 long before then and software will be slim, but it will be produced. Now I'm not ragging on the PS3, just pointing out what I think will happen. Sony is not silly enough to let themselves get out classed (grfx, control, whatever else) by their competitors and not release a PS4 around the time Ninty and MS update theirs.
XBL: WiiVault Wii: PM me PSN: WiiVault
PC: AMD Athlon II Quadcore 635 (OC to 4.0ghz) , ATI Radeon 5770 1GB (x2)
MacBook Pro C2D 2.8ghz, 9600m GT 512 iMac: C2D 2.0, X2600XT 256
