I hope it does considering the gameplay is apparently the least important component when they made this "thing"

The game was always meant to be about the story.

I've got a feeling that it will be received badly both critically and commercially.

Just not really true. It is just a different style of game and kind of an experiment in storytelling in games

Why not announce a port to PS4? I'm dumbfounded by the stupidity. I am a 360 exclusive owner looking to switch ship to PS4 but it makes 0 sense for me to buy a PS3 just to play one title.

Sony doesn't like to abandon old platforms.  That's why PS3 is having one of it's best software years if not its absolute best ever this year.  They want to support their platforms up to and even past the successor coming out.  Gaikai may send lots of these late PS3 games to PS4.

I think it might be overshadowed in the beginning, but it should be the kind of game that has a long life based on word of mouth sales. Should do good overall.

There are definitely some negative aspects to supporting the PS3 this late, but it also sends a message that when you buy a Sony system, it's going to have support for years to come (unless you're American and its a PSP).  Wii owners who bought the Wii in 2010 may feel a little burned, but PS3 owners who bought the console in 2011 will still see some very nice support.  When these late bloomers are finally upgrading to the next gen, that might play a factor in their decisions.

I don't think it will bomb unless it's expectations are more than heavy rain or it gets horrendous reviews. I expect it to sell less than heavy rain, because of point in lifecycle, and the people that tried heavy rain to pique their interest but ended up not liking it.

But, heavy rain definitely has it's niche, and there's very few games that fill that niche.

It will profit for sure, but I think Cage wants far more than is to be expected. It is a highly cinematic game.