The first one didn't sell like MGS2/3 or FFX or FFXII because it was a new franchise on a well matured system that already had a ton of massive franchises. The second one wasn't able to pull the kind of numbers like the first one because, like some of you have said, it was released in March of this year with all the hype of the next-gen systems. What new franchise on the PS2 (or any system for that matter) that came out in the time frame of the GOW series has sold better than it? If the games had come out two years earlier, I'm sure the numbers would have been much higher. By the final years of the PS2 the market had be pretty saturated with very good games, so people didn't feel as compelled to buy GOW. A lot of people even skipped out on MGS3 and FFXII for this same reason. I think it's pretty safe to say GOW3 will be a huge seller and will be a major reason why people buy the PS3
My Top 5:
Shadow of the Colossus, Metal Gear Solid 3, Shenmue, Skies of Arcadia, Chrono Trigger
My 2 nex-gen systems: PS3 
and Wii 
Prediction Aug '08: We see the PSP2 released fall '09. Graphically, it's basically the same as the current system. UMD drive ditched and replaced by 4-8gb on board flash memory. Other upgrades: 2nd analog nub, touchscreen, blutooth, motion sensor. Design: Flip-style or slider. Size: Think Iphone. Cost: $199. Will be profitable on day 1.
