The diversity aspect is an interesting one.  It likely connects to the question of "Where is Playstation mascot?"  You ask Nintendo, and it is... Mario.  You ask Microsoft and it is... Master Chief.  But Sony?  People have said "Gran Turismo car".  There was also Crash Bandicoot for awhile, but a lot jumped ship to go third party, like Crash did and also Spyro did.  I guess Sackboy is kind of, and may be shaping up at such, but I don't see LittleBigPlanet as being THE defining game on the Playstation, or representing THE defining genre, that is why people buy a Playstation console either.  And another case is that LittleBigPlanet with LBP2 is morphing itself into something that is NOT a product that fits any game genre at all.

So, in this, you see title after title rolled off as being excellent in nature but not really clustering anywhere, which gets back to my question of then what is in common here that would be why someone buys a Playstation home console.  Seems like more like a dozen niches, which can collectively form a reason to buy, as opposed to that ONE.  The question then is to try to find that ONE, and it isn't there I guess.  And I hope people see why I mention Gran Turismo as the game off the top of my head to try to ask about.  it doesn't represent the Playstation platform sufficiently.

first off im not saying this in a mean way towards you.  But just the fact that you even posted this a topic shows how games have changed in my opinion, mainly because of xbox.  ever since 360 started getting bigger gamers have been subjected to halo and gears.  both very big name games and good games dont get me wrong.  But it seems to be the norm now that a  console can only release a certain small number of hugely hyped games (HALO, GEARS)  and that has to be your main reason for liking a console. 

Sony on the other hand have released countless amazing title this gen but for some reason you can only think of gran turismo to name for this article??  And I know why its because like you said, you only think short term.  Thats the problem, you cant think like that.  Next year sony has around 10 confirmed first party exclusived with 3 or 4 more rumored games.  xbox has gears and maybe forza.  But for some reason all anyone talks about is gears 3.  when 10 or more amazing first party exclusive title are coming for ps3 all of which are probably better quality then gears 3 will be, and I dont just say that with no reason behind it.  look at the quality of the top sony games(uncharted, god of war III, Gran Turismo, Heavy Rain, Killzone, Little Big Planet, Modnation Racers, white knight chronicles, MAG, Infamous,) versus xbox (Halo, Gears, Fable, Forza), its undeniable that sony has better quality games even if you dont like that particular genre you can just tell.

But to finish off this post I will say the reason I am a fan of sony, is quite simply they have never let me down. Ever.  each console they release they support it with a wide variety of well made titles by there own talented studios, they dont pay millions of dollars to steal other consoles exclusives at the last minute (Xbox).   Sony knows how to make consoles that last the test of time.  PS3 was built to last ten years, microsoft just claims theres was after they relized how long ps2 was selling.  Really I could go on for pages about free online(and equal if not better in some aspects to LIVE), Blu-Ray, better quality games, superior procesing power, wifi included with all models, hardrive included with all models, reliable consoles (no rrod), better variety of games, battery free wireless controllers, 3D, playstation move( the most accurate and applicable to traditional games motion controller on the market)

You can say all you want about opinions and you can like certain types of games more then others I agree with that.  But even if sony dosent come in first this gen in sales like they always do.  But I think its safe to say If you dont see that sony has one this gen in terms of quality then there is something wrong with you.  In one word I am loyal to sony because of QUALITY...

What I ask is NOT about what the best games are on the PS3.  I am a fan of characters on the Playstation franchise, from Uncharted, to Ratchet and Clank.  I also want a Sackboy keychain (LittleBigPlanet 2 is on preorder).  I think inFamous is the best sandbox superhero game ever made.  I respect Gran Turismo franchise for what it is, think it is epic and own Gran Turismo 5.  I can name numerous reasons to own a PS3 now, and a PS3, and original Playstation.  Shoot, I am also a HUGE fan of Kevin Butler.  I also own Move, not Kinect.  I don't have room for Kinect for one thing.  Also, I am not able to take advantage of full body movement.

My question isn't one of why one should buy a PS3, but why is someone loyal to the Playstation brand.  For me, I have emotional attachment to Atari and also Sega to some degree.  I can go into the why.  The Playstation brand is something I have played on, just like I have a TV set.  It is a place to get content.  It is not a brand I am particularly attached to.  So, my question is what makes someone a person who is emotionally attached to the Playstation brand.  That is the question here and what I am asking.

Is this an acceptable answer for you?

I don't know what I am.  I started gaming on Atari.  My first console was the Nes.  I just new in my heart that Nintendo was the greatest gaming company, ever.  During the PS1 era, I gravitated to Sony--even selling my N64 at one point.  Last gen, I championed the Gamecube while buying/playing more PS2 games.  Somewhere in there, I fell in love with Sega's Dreamcast.

Now, I openly admit that the Wii is my least favorite system, the PSP is my favorite portable, and I can't get enough Xbox 360.  Hmm....

If I had to guess, it't because the PS1 DID open gaming up to a new audience.  Not like the Wii--the system is bringing in new gamers but gamers of a different type.  The PS1 introduced new gamers to new franchises like Res Evil and Crash while becoming the new home for old franchises like Metal Gear and Final Fantasy.  The PS1 was the place to be and the only place some gamers ever were.  Just like how I identify with Nintendo, a lot of gamers think "Playstation IS videogames".  They're loyal.  They stick with their brand through good and bad.  And I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

Now if we could just stop PS3 fans from being so damn smug all the time....