Before I go into fanboy mode, im a little unclear on what's going on with the PS4.  The wiki states that its being released around the same time as the Nintendo Project Cafe.  But isn't the PS3 supposed to last another 6 years?  That was half the point of the system right?  That it would last for 12 years or something where the others would need replacements in 4. 

As far as the strength of the PS3 is right now im not so sure it works in Sony's favor all that much.  I read the wiki on what's been going on these past few years and I laughed.  They friggen lost the private key for encrypting software....  There is literally no piracy protection on the PS3 anymore. Screw MGS4, FF13, Uncharted, GTA4, RE5, etc the private key is like a game which tops all those games being exclusive combined.  Pirates dream system that they can do whatever the hell they want on.  They can't even fix that, its permanately screwed.  I gotta wonder if that will affect future consoles too. Seriously Sony screws up on piracy protection EVERY TIME!!!

Okay I get it now. I never saw that in the OP though.

What wiki? If you are using wikipedia for info on the ps4, then.... just leave....

Alright here, http://ps4info.com/ps4-release-date/ they say late 2012 there.  There are numerous sites but it all sounds sketchy because I can't find anything solid.  That's why im asking about that.  http://www.ps4playstation4.com/ps4-release-date-countdown-begins this one says the same thing late 2012

The piracy thing I know to be true because a friend of mine installed linux on his PS3.  I just didn't know how bad piracy got on the PS3. 

http://www.gamesradar.com/f/why-the-latest-ps3-crack-is-disastrous-for-sony-and-for-gamers/a-20110107111357213003

and theres a reliable link for the private key thing. Like I said, PS3 could be selling well simply because of this hack.  Its such a thorough hack that sony can't counter it in any way shape or form. 

prove any of that with real evidence and I'll take it into consideration. ANyone can just say words and have them sound true. Wii Has sold 100% of it's consoles under 250$.

actually, it works perfectly. More money spent on hardware for each of those, and those brands are stronger than they were. how is it mindboggling? Demand increased on both. Demand on ps3 is level with the ps2.

I don't have the data to show that X% sales happen at a certain price. I do have this top line growth, which in business is still very much important.

"Haters, if you can figure out why, then the day is yours. For me, I think it's because the playstation product, for the consumer, is healthy. And I think it will go on to sell 24M when price drops to 200$. Especially in a year as packed with hits as this one. I think their "top line growth" is just as important."

Fact is it wasn't healthy for the first few years.  Not until the release of the slim with price drop did PS3 actually start picking up.  Demand was pretty low the first few years and the numbers show it.  Very few people want to drop 600 dollars on a video game system even if it included Blu-ray. 

ah, I see. Yes, I do not mean to say that price-cuts = sales. I'm talking about in 3 months, ps3 will have been at 299$ for the same amount of time the ps2 was. And if we want to look at an inflation-based example with ps2 at 199$, it's still outselling it.

I don't have any evidence showing that price cuts improve sales. I have some factoids that help me to a conclusion though. In it's 4th year ps3 sales were higher than ever, ps2's highest sales were in its third year (doubling its first and second years) at a price of 199$. When it dropped to 179$ sales partially went down annually, same at 149, and same at 129.

Looking at all the data together it SUGGESTS that sales will increase. Using inflation, value has gone down some 30%, so we're looking at 260$ is the equivalent of 199$ in ps2 days.

Lastly, don't you think you're simplifying my conclusions a bit much? You know about market saturation, and price cuts (and how they're meant to maintain, not increase sales). But I do appreciate the opportunity to clarify.

Price cut demand does not equal higher sales. It CAN sometimes mean that, but that was not what I was trying to convey. I'm saying that given the equal demand and brand strength to the ps2, cutting the price in equivalence to the ps2 should produce the same sales as the ps2.

@299$, ps3 customers > ps2 customers
fewer consumers, or more consumers holding off?

Anyway, I understand your point about the numbers. It's all conjecture after all. Why are you getting so upset, like this thread is a service that you've been paying for, and now regret?

20% or 60%. I just think it's interesting that at the same price, ps3 is ahead by several millions of units. I just did a simple cut and paste. If that's the end of the world, and completely noobish thing to do, then I'll take your point. I concede that I did that noobish thing.

I still think it will do it.

I think what these numbers prove is that the PS3 has about as much demand for it as the PS2, but price has always been the thing holding it back.  And being the most expensive console during a recession (a full $200 more than the 360) didn't help, either.  But now that the price is reasonable, the PS3 is really seeing the best years of its lifetime.  Once it does hit $199, sales are really going to explode.