While that is true you have to be aware that with downloadable games being a major force this gen people will feel more invested into a particular ecosystem and are more inclined to migrate to the console which is able to use that same ecosystem again.

Just like you probably want to get an iPhone/Pod/Pad again if you have some hundreds of iTunes songs and/or iOs apps.

Sony's realistic aim should be to get to ~1:1 with MS in NA the next gen as being outpaced ~2:1 in the most profitable market by a console that offers almost completely the same experience as their own is a pretty disastrous result.

Im going to get on my soapbox and preach to the masses about the great and all powerful Sony. Praise be to Kaz. haha. If Sony keeps doing what It's doing they will win in NA. (thump)(thump)(thump)(thump)WAAAAARRRR!!

Sony wont take America back next gen but they can DEFINITELY not be so far behind like they were this gen

They wont take it back because of Halo

but in order for Sony to NOT lag behind they need to AT LEAST launch at $399 with a fully up to par online and they have to make sure that the next-gen Grand Theft Auto doesn't get exclusive dlc 1st on 720.

I think Call Of Duty and The Elder Scrolls will continue to have stuff released 1st on the M$ console so they can atleast make sure that it doesn't continue to happen with GTA(it is a PlayStation known game anyways)

I don't know dude.  The reasons PS1/PS2 were so popular is because they were actually quality systems with huge libraries of quality games. Gaming was far less mainstream in the last two gens as it was this gen.  The whole social aspect craze (playing online with friends) didn't even exist which meant less people buying a system just to play a few games online with their friends.

Things are different now. With the way information is spread (facebook/twiiter/sites) the pressure to buy into what is popular is greater than ever. Gaming is now more mainstream than it ever was. This has brought in an absolute huge amount of casuals into the industry and those people will more than likely go with what is perceived as the coolest choice. Right now that's the 360 and I don't see that changing any time soon.

It isn't really about what system offers the most, or what different kinds of gaming experiences can be played. It's about doing what everyone else is doing to stay socially relevant. (unfortunately)

Like I said, if everyone who bought videogames were actually real gamers who were passionate about the hobby and actually cared about the experiences they could be having with games, I doubt Microsoft would have seen as much success as it has this gen. But not everyone is. Most "gamers" I see over here are far more concerned with doing what everyone else is doing and riding on whatever is trendy.

Sorry if I keep repeating myself, I'm pretty tired right now actually lol.

Please double check your numbers again please.

Xbox 360 42 millions

PS3 26 millions

That's not on par in any way you look at it. lol

I've seen that here in Australia with all three 7th gen consoles; people buying Wiis, 360s and PS3s simply because it's the "cool" piece of kit and their mates all have one.
Definitely not a Microsoft exclusive phenomenon over here, if anything I think I've seen it more with the PS3 and Wii.

If you live in the US, haven't you've already seen plenty of Sony's dominance over the past 2 console generations?  Sony has already had their time in the sun as the "cool" and "hip" videogame company in NA during the PS1+2 eras, just as SEGA did back in the 16-bit era.  Now it's M$'s time in the sun.

It is pretty funny though watching Sony fans lament the fact that the very things that worked in Sony's favor during the PS1+2 days like the "cool and hip" factor, trendy marketing (remember the Crash Bandicoot anti-Nintendo ads?), being the console of choice for "mature" gamers, huge 3rd party library etc, are now working against them and in favor of M$.

Now all of a sudden they pretend like none of those things matter, and all you hear Sony fans talk about is how they have the best 1st party exclusives and how Sony deserves to be the defacto leader of the videogame industry because they "care" so much about it since it's now the primary focus of the company.  Hmmm, now where have I heard all that before?  Oh right... sounds just like everything Nintendo fans were saying back during the N64/GC days, doesn't it?

Sony will definetly try it, they'll focus a lot on NA next gen. I don't expect PS4 to be nr1 there though, after 6-7 years of next gen I predict the gap between PS4 and 720 to be less than 5m, which is very minimal. Right now PS360 gap is 15m, and yet worldwide they're very close.

Even if the PS4 would be successful it would be not enough. Sony is near bankruptcy, they even sold their headquarter in Tokyo(!), and I don' think that Vita or PS4 has a future.

PS4 have a bright future but the VIta doesn't seem to have one. Which is sad because I rather have it the other way around.