| Dodece said: Based on what is said in this thread one would think there was no advantage to launching sooner rather then later. That is simply not the case. Microsoft gained a lot of advantages from their early launch window this generation. Being first let Microsoft have complete control over their pricing and manufacturing. Gave them an established base of consumers that ensured support in spite of later competition. They even controlled the third party developer learning curve. They became the default format for high definition games. That gave them more games and preferential launches. Basically the strategy worked it allowed Microsoft not only to be more profitable. This allowed them to have a strategic edge in controlling the situation to not only their benefit, but the very real detriment of Sony. Which is their long term strategic goal. They want to make the console market so unattractive to Sony that they will concede it to Microsoft. They actually would have Sony where they want them if they launch sooner. Launching later actually helps Sony to reverse the trend that might push them out. Microsoft launching the console by the end of next year will mean that Sony has to do one of the following. Match them in the launch. Which not only means truncating the PS3, but that the loss lead on the next console would cover any profits being made by the PS3 at that point. Launch later which runs the chance of repeating this generation all over again. Launch later but as profit out of the box. Which is basically conceding hardware parity with Microsoft. All three scenarios benefit Microsoft. All three scenarios cost Sony something. A early launch keeps Sony from following their own business strategy. People forget how dire the straights were for Sony early this generation. Their console was a money pit the first year, and Sony kept pouring cash in to keep it afloat. That is probably something that would be fairly interesting to Microsoft. They could be in a position to shove Sony off the ledge. In fact this may be their best chance to do just that. Now that they are very profitable it probably means they will have the resources to be even more aggressive in the next round. So I would say yes it is fairly likely Microsoft will unveil and launch next year.
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Except it actually didn't work as they wished outside of USA, PS3 shrunk the gap WW and gained a lead in EMEAA and Japan. Not to mention that while MS merrily fights the PlayStation menace, far more dangerous threats are arising outside of the console market, where not even the best seller home console ever, PS2, actually managed to make inroads into as Sony initially clumsily boasted before actually achieving a position of strength and unleashing MS' wrath. But what's even worse, while MS was attacking Sony and Sony resisted beyond expectations, given PS3's awful start, Wii quickly conquered the world leadership MS thought to have secured. So no, focusing on launching first and fighting Sony won't take MS anywhere, Sony is neither the sole nor the biggest threat for MS currently, indeed all the other competitors in every market MS is in are very eager to see MS distracted by a threat that isn't the most serious anymore to attack it more effectively. Crushing power is nothing if its drawback is being so slow to keep on trying to crush an old enemy while a newer one is growing stronger and more dangerous, and actually being so slow to not be even able to crush to death the older and wounded one.
