With rumours after rumour about Sony's upcoming console. Will 3rd time be a charm.

First of all PS3 had an awful launch as we all know, but has come to be a moderate success. Selling more than many expected when it first launched. However it had dismal sales for quite a while and failed to reach the sales levels of its two predecessors. 

Second. The recently released PS Vita is selling extremely poorly with its high price, small number of games and increased competition from smart phones. It doesnt look like its going to sell anywhere near PSP numbers but anythign could happen who would have thought PS3 would get to what it has when it first launched.

Third time a charm? Will the Next Playstation have a launch comparable to the last two PS consoles or will it laucnh like the PS1/PS2?  Will Sony try to sell out from day one or is it their strategy to sell it a higher price to the hard core fans who will pay, then lower the price for mass market?

Does it matter how it sells in the begining or are the end sales more important? 

You threw the match. Don't throw the match into gasoline.

Comes down to price and games.

it wasn't for the ps3 lol

The PS4 is set to dominate. It won't have to catch up to the Xbox anymore, Sony will be smart enough to launch it at a decent price, Xbox3 will have a hard time when it launches at the same time and price as the PS4.

The WiiU is not a threat, there is significantly low hype for the WiiU. Nintendo won't have the casual crowd it gained with the Wii.

The point is, will their next console be able to defeat the current streak of awful launches.

I believe it can dominate, if launched at the correct price and before or at the same time as the nextbox. The PS brand is still very strong in europe and Japan, not bad in America, obviously xbox is currently bigger but that can change quick in the Americas. They don't seem to have brand loyalty there, they just buy what ever is "cool". So if Sony can manage to release in Europe same time as nextbox it will sell more even at a higher price. America it needs to be the "cool" console that everyone has, also needs to be the same price or cheaper in the Americas.

Sony's 1st system was the Playstation and it was highly successful
Sony's 2nd system was the PS2 and it was highly successful
Sony's 3rd system was the PSP and it struggled but eventually was moderately successful
Sony's 4th system was the PS3 and it struggled but eventually was moderately successful
Sony's 5th system is the PS-Vita and it has been a sales disaster so far
Sony's 6th system will be the PS4 ...

Ultimately, I'm doubtful about the PS4. At the current time, Sony is in a position that is similar to being placed in a dangerous forest surrounded by deadily animals and traps while blindfolded and handcuffed where the only path to survival is narrow and difficult to find.

/thread

PSP a moderate success? It sold nearly 80m units in the face of the most popular handheld. No other non Nintendo handheld ever came close. PSP was definetly a success story in terms of sales.