This whole generation Sony has been pushed to do things they didnt want to do.
Add the 20GB PS3 for $499.99 was not in the plan. Because of the incredible bad press on the $599.99 launch price Sony was forced to come up with the 20GB PS3 even though they barely made any.
Remove PS2 backwards compatibility. To be able to reduce price earlier than planned they had to remove the capability to play PS2 games.
Price cut after price cut. The general available PS3 has gone from $599.99 to $499.99 to $399.99 to $299.99 to todays $249.99. I believe all of these cuts are at a minimum 1 year ahead of plan.
I believe all of this has allowed MS to coast along add features and build the brand at move into the black earlier in the life cycle (Except for the RRoD writeoff) much sooner than MS planned. This has allowed MS to also reinvest in the platform and let MS say go ahead Sony play catchup you will get close or pass us, but by the time the next generation starts you will be hurting so much it wont matter if you pass us at the end of this generation when no one is really paying attention any longer.
Its libraries that sell systems not a single game.
