PlayStation redefined videogames for a new generation of gamers between their late teens (18) and 40 years old (no longer Nintendo kids), and made videogames COOL (for the general audience), not just some toy for kiddies like it was still considered during the 16-bit era. And it was Sony who engineered that culture from the design of the console and its peripherals to the content and communication with the public. And a big LOL to the OP who thinks he can measure companies in terms of a couple big hit "exclusive franchises". Sony only Gran Turismo? I'm no encyclopedia to inform you better, so please do some research and educate yourself it seems like you were born yesterday, and I mean no offense.

One word: variety

Like you said, Nintendo has its Mario, and Microsoft has its Halo. But what's the game that Sony has?

Not a single one, but many. If there was a "face" to the Playstation brand, it wouldn't be one game/character. It'd be a collage of many, many things

Not sure I'm the kind of person you're looking for an answer from, as I have to loyalty (in terms of basic brand) to any console really.  But, so far this gen the PS3 has been my favourite choice for console gaming as - this gen - it has the titles that interest me the most and which I personally prefer - LittleBigPlanet, Uncharted, Racthet & Clank, and in anticipation the new title from Team ICO.  I guess I also still associate some IP more with Playstation, like Silent Hill for example.

However, if Gears, etc. appealed more I'd have bought 360 without any reluctance and happily focused on 360 (actually I've just bought one, but anyway you get the point).

For me the console itself is just a device and I'll purchase whichever consoles appeal to me in terms of their own basic features plus their games library.

It's an interesting question, whilst I'm a Nintendo fan first and foremost, I've owned every Sony console (bar the PSP), but the games I've played on each one have been different for the most part. I'll likely get a PS4, and if history repeats itself for a fourth time I'll be buying it for a totally different set of games, which I naturally know nothing about right now.

Sony certainly have variety, but I wouldn't say that is exclusive to them. Nintendo have plenty of variety as well, and there are franchises from both that I love, and there are those that I hate from both as well. The difference is that the Sony ones may only last for a generation or two at a time, whereas the Nintendo ones are like a big list that has a few additions each time. What can be said is that Sony keep the quality levels high despite the franchises virtually being refreshed each time, which when you think about it, is pretty impressive.

What I would say is that when we move between generations and I come to buy the next Sony console, I may not know what games I'll be buying for the console, but I'll be fairly certain that they will be of a high level of quality as before.

I dont want to sound like a dick, but arent we all a little bit too old to care about mascots?? and they do have a mascot that cat thing but only in Japan. Im a PS fan because you never know what Sony is gonna do next. Ninty is all good but IMHO they rely way to much on old IPs they've improved this gen but where the hell are the core new IPs??? MS seems to absolutely straight up refuse to get off their lazy asses and make their own games. Sony is all about making new IPs even when fans were begging for them to revive their old IPS they stuck with their guns and now we have IMO the best 1st party line-up AND their getting great 3rd party support, even the PSP gets decent support. THe crazy thing is they still have old IPs in the stable that they can pull out their ass.