Sony should sit the next generation out!

[binary solo]

I dunno about sit out the next gen. This implies Sony should not produce another console until ~2017 when Ninty and Microsoft are gearing up to launch their next next gen console(it does nicely coincide with their 10YP I'll admit). I don't see Sony doing this. I think Sony's 10YP will morph into the next console being based around the PS3 architecture, but with beefed up specs (Teh C3ll II) for even greater performance. I don't honestly see PS3 being Sony's lead console for a whole 10 years. It will just fall so far behind the technology.

Sony could release PS4 somewhat out of synch with the other 2 companies, but pricing would become a drawback. However if it was a sufficiently superior tech, and long enough into the other companies' next generation you could get people adopting the new console even if the launch price is $100 - $150 above the MS / Ninty price. PS3 will be well below the next gen console prices and will do a PS2 until PS4 gets some momentum. But PS4 needs to be sufficiently advanced that what Ninty and MS come out with 3 or so years later won't totally kick PS4's arse in the performance dept.

All this really points to PS4 coming out within the general release ark of the competitions' consoles. The massive multiplat market pretty much dictates that consoles of comparable technical capability need to be on the market at the same time, so Sony can't really get out of synch. PS3 isn't good enough to be in the same technical league as MS's and Ninty's next offering.

In the final analysis our consumer electronics culture means that people want the latest and greatest. Anything that has an old time vibe to it falls away. I don't think there will be another PS2 phenomenon again any time soon.