There's no "could be" about it, it IS detrimental for the business. 3DS might sell 100 million units eventually (though that could be a high ball estimate), but that's still more than 50 million units less than DS did. Wii U will struggle to 20 million units, a decline of 80 million units from one generation to another. Of course that's detrimental to the business. Even with PS4 off to a very strong start, Sony won't be able to match PS3 AND make up for the loss of unit sales that a weaker Nintendo brings, especially not with Vita's poor performance. We're looking at 130 million fewer Nintendo units sold, and tens of millions fewer units of Sony portables sold. That is bad for the business, no ifs, but or "could be".

Weaker Nintendo is an opportunity for Sony, though. In the long-term a cheap PS4, with the right software (think Singstar/EyeToy/Guitar Hero as late PS2 games) could gobble up the family market and allow Sony to move millions more consoles. Nintendo haven't been able to undercut Sony and hit the family market in Japan, Europe and North America from day one the way they did with Wii, and the main beneficiary of that in Europe and Japan will be Sony.

They are ahead in total hardware sales because you mentioned all of the consoles of last gen (they are currently ahead in this generation as well).  It doesn't matter if Sony is selling more THIS week, because at the end they will still have sold less overall.  The only console that they will sell more of is between the PS4 and WiiU.  The PS4 will not likely outsell the 3DS.  The PS3 will not outsell the Wii (even though it's on the market much longer).  In fact, why do you even mention the PS3?  They are taking LONGER, to sell LESS consoles, and at LESS profit.  That's a pretty silly way to back up your 'annihilation' argument. 

As a whole, Sony is doing terrible.  Their stock just got downgraded to junk status and they are selling off major assets to stay afloat.  They're in bad shape (much worse than Nintendo).  As a division, SCE is almost always outperformed by Nintendo in profit.  Another area where they are not 'annihilating' anyone. 

Nobody added Nintendo sales since 1983.  I'm not sure where you even got that garbage.  I added up the consoles that YOU were comparing (304.1m vs 175.31m).  I didn't bring them up, you did.  Sony has a lot of catching up to do, regardless of how this week is going.  Winning a fight but losing the war. 

I never claimed that Nintendo isn't doing worse today, or that they aren't underperforming - they are.  However, looking at the big picture (bigger than 1 week of sales), I fail to see where this 'annihilation' is happening.  In fact it seems quite the opposite of what you're claiming.  If you'd like to disregard how badly Sony was outsold all of last generation, then don't bring up last gen consoles to prove your point.    Statisically on a weekly basis the PS4=3DS and Vita=WiiU - which is not an 'annihilation'. 

"In fact, if you disregard the Wii and the DS, you'll see ALL of NIntendo hardware and software being in decline since the NES"  -  Why are we disregarding the Wii and DS?  Because it fits your agenda?  Because it was only a 'fluke'?  I mean, if you disregard PS2, you'll see Sony has been in a steady decline since PSX.  What does that prove exactly?  Nothing, that's what.

Sony is right for at least two reasons:
1) Only Ninty can properly make Ninty games, without it, its know-how, and the market it generates, would be lost, without anybody to gain from it, it would be a huge net loss for gaming.
2) MS is a mighty competitor, if it could compete with just one strong console maker, it could easily crush it and become a near-monopolist, but competing with two strong ones it cannot do it. Three big players bring a not perfect but acceptable balance to the market, and even the smallest one can thrive, if it's carefully managed.

Sony is right, they knew full well that a lot of their Playstation audience begins gaming on Nintendo handhelds and/or consoles.

I've met so many Call of Duty fanatics who cite GoldenEye as the game that got them into FPS shooters for example, so even in that genre.

Just wow.  Saying that 'Sony is annihilating Nintendo' can easily refer to 1 week of sales, 1 month of sales, 1 year of sales, 1 decade of sales, total sales, etc.  Claiming it can only work as present progressive (meaning only 1 week of sales count) is pure nonsense.  I wasn't desperately reaching for 7th gen sales.  I didn't even bring them up - YOU did.  Does that make you desperate?  I'm not 'spinning' anything, nor am I 'defending' anyone.  I fully agree that Nintendo is not performing well.  They have been underperforming since well before the PS4 released.  That in itself completely revokes your 'Sony is annihilating Nintendo' claim.  If anything, Nintendo is annihilating Nintendo. 

Statistically (in weekly sales) the PS4=3ds and Vita=WiiU.  For an 'annihilation' to be occuring, Sony would need to completely destroy Nintendo in sales.  That is simply not happening.  A weekly sales difference of 188,218 v 176,447 is a ridiculus thing to call an annihilation.  In fact, the difference is statistically insignificant - it's below the margin of error and could be completely reversed with revisions.  I agree that the difference will be larger when PS4 launches in Japan; but are we talking about the present or the future?  Including last gen's weekly sales to make Sony look good, while ignoring just how vastly outsold they were, is most certainly cherrypicking.      

The PS3 is still selling well, but for how long?  It's not the PS2 and it never will be.  There is no reason to even make the comparison.  It's down significantly year-on-year and it's sales are likely to continue their slide.  I'm not aware of any major software planned for it that will significantly move consoles.  If the PS3 is able to keep it's current sales rate 67K (unlikely), it would still take well over 5 years (almost 6) just to catch up.  I might be wrong (wouln't be the first time), but I just don't see that happening.  The PS4 is tracking really well (and will undoubtedly sell a lot of consoles), but you can't come to conclusions based on a couple months of sales (especially post launch).  The only conclusion we can really come to is that it will be a successful console.  I'm not sure who you saw that upgraded Sony's stock, but I can't find anyone that has (not suprising considering their last projection). 

It's true that I like Nintendo, but I also like Sony.  It's not as if I have to choose only one.  I will likely own both 8th gen console, just like I owned both 7th and 6th gen consoles (I have no dislike for xbox, but my funds won't support 3 consoles).  My only goal was to point out just how off your 'Sony is annihilating Nintendo on every level' comment was.  You may love Sony and you should be excited for their successes (ps4), but that statement was/is most certainly false.  I'm not sure your intentions, but you seem almost fanatical.

Oh man, no doubt! It's crazy to me that the grunge scene is considered classic these days! Kids look back at the 90s the way I used to look back at the 70s. And I ask all these people in their late teens and early 20's if they recognize names like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Metallica - and I get an all round "NO". It's so shocking to me! I mean, i still feel young, but...but...am I old?! hahaha!