Personally I think it will be far harder as time goes on to dominate the global market. Especially in North America. As the US takes protective messures to protect American products I am guessing Microsoft will likely begin moving all of its manufacturing jobs to America. With a huge tax cut promised by Obama and other politicians in the US they will have a huge upper hand in NA. In Japan Microsoft's little foot hold will now dwindle further the soaring yen and economic crisis will hit console sales. Europe doesn't have a major home platform to call its own. However the economic crisis will hit sales there as well.
Your ideas are great. However I don't think anyone will win global dominance next generation with a console that cost more then 350$ at launch unless they all cost 400$+. This new generation will be a budget generation. People in the western world are going broke and game consoles will not sell nearly as easily as they have in the past.
I think the current WiiU might have a chance, launch under 400$. The rumored Next-box sounds like it could launch at a competitive price if not beat Nintendo's. Sony better not choose to go for a high end graphical power house they will be slaughtered.
I am not entirely sure what features will be necessary. Except for free online and a great online network. Games of course as well. But I think price will define the next generation, not hardware capabilities.
-JC7
"In God We Trust - In Games We Play " - Joel Reimer
