People have to remember that Microsoft entered a market with 2 extremely tough competitors, a Japanese culture that doesn't seem to warm up to consoles made by outside companies, a backlash because of who they are in the computer software industry, and without the nostalgia advantage their competitors have.
Why do people bash them for trying to gain marketshare in Japan? At least they're trying to get good games (they went after GTAIV pretty hard at a time Sony was taking Take Two for granted) and they're willing to give money to see great games made for the system, from a gamer's point of view what's wrong with that? At the very least more good games are being made because of it.
Also about the people saying it's not a success because Microsoft is pouring billions into it, I say so what? Is it money coming out of your pocket? If they're willing to spend money to get great games who exactly loses? (Besides Microsoft shareholders and with the billions in profit at Microsoft they aren't hurting in the least.). Will it pay off in the end? I guess we won't know until 10 or 15 years from now but it's obvious from what Steve Ballmer has said that they're going to be in this for the long haul.
