What are the implications of the console race in Japan?

[Final-Fan]

FinalEvangelion said:
Alright, I'll give it my shot on Japanese culture, since I talk to people from the country on a regular basis.

360 - There really is no real hope to get this console moving. Most people think that MS should just stick to Windows. The first Xbox did alot of damage to their reputation. I don't think it will be more than a cult console.

PS3 - It will probably get rolling late like the PSP. Get their BC back in, make the console a little smaller, and get Final Fantasy out on it. Even though people may argue that Final Fantasy won't sell the systems itself for the game, it sets the image for the console.

Add to that what superchunk said, and I agree.

Also, with due respect to Rol, it's becoming clear that although consoles are (of course) first, last, and always primarily for games, Sony's machines are also being used to significant extent for other purposes -- PSP as multimedia device, PS3 as Blu-ray player, even PS3 as special-purpose computing device. Unless I'm mistaken the PSP's hardware sales have been significantly increased by its other capabilities, despite the well-deserved failure of UMD. (If that doesn't happen in Japan -- I have no idea -- then I guess that's bad news for the Sony consoles and Rol will be right for Japan.)