Source?

In terms of quality of games, better exclusive games, Blu-Ray player, better hardware quality, free online, PS3 controller is better for most games genres, selling systems at a 15% faster rate than the X360: the PS3 clearly wins over the X360. It is surprising the X360 has been able to remain competitive with the PS3 this generation.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/ps3-has-lost-sony-4-7-billion-may-be-profitable-next-year/

Have you actually read the article or looked at the date, not to mention the obvious things such as the development of blu-ray was included in that hyped up figure which frankly should not be a R&D cost slapped onto the PS3? 

The figure also includes the profits of the PS2 and PSP in that era which will likely far outstrip the R&D costs of Bluray.  Also much of the R&D cost of Bluray was split between all the Bluray consortium, Sony didn't "invent" it themselves.  In fact much of the initial work was done when Toshiba were still inpartnership with them before the HD-DVD/Bluray divide.  The PS3 has lost Sony billions, it's a fact that is pointless arguing.  Sony seemed satisfied to lose billions to keep the Playstation brand viable for the future.

I did read that article and while it is old, it doesn't change the fact that it was true at the time it was written.  You also have to bear in mind that shortly after that article was published the global downturn occurred and the strong yen butchered profits on Sony's exports for the last few years.  It's unlikely Sony made much of that back although it's hard to tell too much for the last 12 months as there will be some R&D costs of the PS4 eating into the profits.

It is also a fact that the 360 has made more profit/less loss this generation even with the RROD debacle.  All in all your original post was awful and factually completely incorrect.

PS3 is probably on par with X360's install base globally, or about to surpass X360, which is great, but a failure for sony compared to a generation ago

The PS3 has been succesful in sales...but grom the looks of how shoddy Sony is, sales success =/= profit....even though it really should. For exmaple, how the hell did Sony lose $2 B in 07? What the hell were they doing when every bit of R&D was split between other companies (IBM for the APU etc)? I am amazed they have bothered to make a new console and would be very intrested to see how they will turn a profit on this, or if consoles have now become dead due to dev costs being too high.

That being said, and I think Micro & Nintendo need to take note of this  http://www.vg247.com/2013/02/07/sony-financials-game-profits-down-86-4-in-q3/  , all the money is made in games, not hardware. A 15% drop in games = 86% drop in profit? How much does it cost then to make these consoles and what loss are you working at? No wonder no small companies try to get involved with consoles - it's retarded.

Nintendo make money from hardware and software.  The issue was last generation both Sony and Microsoft priced the hardware at a loss to drive sales, unfortunately for Sony they really did get the price ridiculously wrong at the start. It looks from the current reported spec of the PS4 and rumours of the nextbox specs that both companies are being more reserved in their hardware costs for the coming generation.

man stop arguing people.

ps3 - sony lost lots of money, with psn+ sales and stuff they would at best break even but i doubt it.
360 - microsoft initially lost money, clawed it back in later revisions, hardware hasnt been majorly profitable, XLB on the other hand raked in mega cash
outcome : microsoft won this gen financially (of the two)
wii won in all other aspects, sales, financial gain, etc.

anyone who disputes this is clearly wearing fan tinted glasses.

Now on to other things.
PS3 fans, it's silly to say PS3 did better than 360 because PS3 did terribly at first and Sony lost out financially, a lot, as well as tarnishing the previously good household name.
360 fans, it's silly to say the 360 did better than the PS3, because the PS3 has caught up in sales despite a year less on the market
And with that?, Wii won this gen, PS3 and 360 are tied for second place, now get on with your lives.

Thanks for posting your opinion. Others have other opinions.