Why is Sony winning the console war?

[IAmCrimsonLegion]

Probably because they played their cards right, unlike Microsoft and Nintendo. Sony was the only one out of the three who did not show their hands until the other two decided to go ahead and screw up.

What I mean by that is, Microsoft gambled immensely on concepts (DRM/Always Online/Kinect) and Nintendo gambled immensely on a concept (Gamepad). Sony did not gamble on an "out there" concept for console gamers. Neither concept from Nintendo or Microsoft resonated too well with the majority of consumers who are still playing games (not counting the Wii audience that just up and left). You could say they played it safe, and you'd be right. This was to their advantage, however, because after the relative failure of the PS3 Move to do anything substantial and the complete failure of Microsoft and Nintendo to sustain the audience they captured with the Kinect and Wiimote, respectively, Sony would've been crazy to do anything that would've "rocked the boat" so to speak. Market trends being what they are, a powerful video game console without too much fluff and priced competitively was what was wanted. Sony did that. Microsoft and Nintendo did not.

Nintendo could not foresee that the audience that they gained with the Wii would leave 'em midway and leave 'em for good. They gambled on the Gamepad tablet controller and lost valuable marketshare. They still make a profit, but the Wii days are gone. Microsoft should've been smart to see that the Kinect lost some steam after awhile and should not have built their console around it the initial time around. Also, you can't kill off things that people have been accustomed to just like that. They have to be eased into it, not forced. Microsoft should've been savvy enough to see their concepts were just not going to work this time around, especially if the other guy doesn't follow you. That's a recipe for disaster.

All in all, certain territories like Japan/Asia and most of Europe would've been Sony anyway, with Nintendo having some ground in Japan of course. Microsoft lost out in UK and US to Sony because the machine they developed was not to the average gamer's taste. They did a 180, but the damage was done. Sometimes, repairing reception takes years. You need to build that trust again. Nintendo gambled too much on one horse and did not bother betting on one or two others just to be safe.