I can see Microsoft in first if they have good Japanese developer support, and can gain more sales in PAL, and come out a year before the competition, they could win a console generation. As long as their console is the cheapest, or close to it.

I'd say second time is working well enough for them. They're actually making money (something the original box never did), and racing neck-to-neck with the PS3 after both consoles have been out for two years. That's a lot better than what people were expecting three years ago.

Alright I'll bite.  What exactly was false about that particular statement?

Microsoft "should" be able to really make progress in the next generation if they've learned their lessons ...

In my opinion they should focus on reusing the basic architecture of the XBox 360 to keep R&D costs down, increase processing power to a fairly modest level, and focus on selling a single SKU system for $300 with minimal hardware losses. They need a break through in Japan and should have the most agressive line-up of high quality Japaneese focused games from the day the system is released.

Above all else though, Microsoft needs to define the XBox in a way that differentiates it from the Playstation line of consoles; it has to be something distinct and desireable to a wide group of gamers, and can not just be the clone of a popular system that is targeted towards the "Hard-Core" demographic.

yes it is selling, but they lost alot of money fixing the RROD error,

also, xbox got a year head start, so for it to be neck to neck with the ps3 is pretty embarrassing,

 if the ps3 came out a year before the xbox nooone would even bother with it. 

the did an excellent job with the games this year, but what was really holding them back was the rrod. 

This generation has been interesting as to things Sony,MS and Nintendo have been learning.

Sony might have learned not to launch a console at $600 ever again (then again,it pushed Blu-Ray to victory over HD-DVD,so they might not regret it at all >_>)

MS probably learned not to rush a system.

Nintendo made a bet and it´s been paying off,who knew a system not much more powerful than the GC, equipped with motion controls as standard was just the thing lots of people wanted?...then again,next generation there´s no guarantee.

well, this isn't the fucking playstation forum so bitch all you want.

 I've seen you mention this several times. Am I such a fool simply because I wanted a HD movie player as well as a next-gen console which I knew I would eventually take advantage of game-wise? I had a feeling blu-ray would win, so that was a huge plus, I eventually wanted FFXIII, so it'd have been silly to purchase a 360 on a relatively limited budget with accordance to my wants. 

On topic: MS has obviously made HUGE inroads in NA and, to a lesser extent,  the EU. I'm not sure if they ever will make the same sort of gains in Japan as they have elsewhere. I think you are right though, it certainly is possible that MS can win next gen withough Japan, I just don't think that it is probable.

Are you going to tell me in all honesty that on a "limited" budget you bought a PS3 as a Blu-Ray player because you had a "feeling" the format would win?

I'll want Versus when it comes out in 2009/10, but I didn't buy a PS3 at twice what it will cost in 2009, in 2006.  Sony had no games in 2006 and for most of 2007, but 5 million people bought the console at full price in that period, just like Sony said they would.

Sony may be arrogant, but they are often right.