How do Sony and Microsoft avoid PS360?

[Sullla]

Bodhesatva said:

That's the situation Sony/Microsoft are in, but in a much less severe manner. Because there isn't much to distinguish the 360 from the PS3 in terms of game selection, marketing or demographic focus, it basically ends up with this situation:

1) Consumers can choose whichever console they want
2) Developers can develop 1 game for both platforms because the interests/tastes of both platforms is very similar
3) Microsoft and Sony have to split the revenue and profit from royalties basically down the middle

Number 1 and number 2 are good, number 3 definitely isn't. 

Oh, I completely agree, Bodhesatva. I've been saying for months now that there's essentially no difference between the 360 and PS3 in the eyes of the average consumer. It's nice to see that almost everyone in this thread agrees with your point. ckmlb unintentionally shows this as well, by listing games like Resistance 2, Gears of War 2, and so on. I'd bet that your non-serious gamer can't tell much of a difference between them, and would be just as happy with either one. Same with Forza/Gran Turismo, Mass Effect/Final Fantasy, and so on. That may sound like heresy to the core fans of each series, but for your average non-gamer there's not much differentiation. You can be happy with either platform, especially since they have something like 80% of the same software library. And the two consoles will end up with largely similar lifetime sales as well at the end of the generation.

This is why I've referred to the 360/PS3 "war" as the biggest non-event in gaming history. Not many people seem to agree with that one though. I guess pointless arguing is more fun.

I have no idea what Microsoft and Sony do to create differentiate between their brands. My best suggestion would be to create new, innovative games that show gamers novel experiences they've never seen before. Instead, we're getting a ton of high-budget sequels to existing franchises... Anyway, Ajax correctly points out that a stalemate indirectly benefits Microsoft more than Sony, if only because the PS2 was so strong and the XBox so weak.