The roots of this phenomenon go all the way back to the 16-bit wars between Nintendo and SEGA, where fans of both companies became more tribalized and would frequently use the sales / popularity of their preferred console when arguing which was better. This of course carried over to the 32/64-bit gen when Sony entered the fray and promptly laid claim to the top spot in the console "wars", and it's pretty much been that way ever since with gamers split among the 3 tribes... Sony, M$ and Nintendo.
Couple all that with the fact that the gaming industry is the most sales-driven and dependent out of all the major entertainment industries (music and movies), and you have a recipe for one of the biggest weapons that fanboys love to bludgeon each other with in the console wars.
The closest comparison in other industries would be the way it's currently Apple fans vs everybody else in the mobile market.
On 2/24/13, MB1025 said:
You know I was always wondering why no one ever used the dollar sign for $ony, but then I realized they have no money so it would be pointless.
