Another aspect of the headstart that gets overlooked is the impact of gamerscores and Live.
MS now has a large user base with large percentage "hooked" on achievements and an even larger group hooked on MP over Live. So not only is Sony playing catchup in terms of installed base and their library but now they have to contend with some elements that 360 gamers are not going to give up easily. Obviously both factors can be matched if enough resources are thrown at it but but MS won't make it easy.
Another obvious benefit of the headstart is that the installed base that the 360 has developed is going to draw more and more developers - nobody is going to ignore 13M potential customers ...
So I think the headstart was a key element of MS being able to overcome the momentum Sony had generated with the PS2 and make the PS3/360 battle a much more balanced "war" than Sony had anticipated.
ioi - "I have always endorsed NPD and have always conceded that their figures are obviously far more accurate than ours ..." - Posted on: 06/14/07, 22:22
