also do we even know what they mean by 10 year plan? As far as i know just because they have a 10 year plan doesn't mean that they won't make a new console and doesn't mean that they will continue to make games for PS3 for 10 years. It seems to me that it could mean just that they will manufacture and service PS3s for 10 years.

What do you expect him to say? Oh there's no way we'll beat the Wii, so we're just settling for 2nd, I mean that is if we can beat the 360 because as you know we are 6.5 million units behind them.

 It's a bit unclear what you mean with 'strong casual support'. You make it seem like some attribute that can just be added to the system like jam on toast, when the strong casual support is infact direct concequence of certain other attributes that are unique to Wii and indeed to some extent derivative of the actual success of it. 

 If anything, Wii is rapidly approaching a point in the northern hemisphere where everybody needs to have a Wii just like they need to have a DVD player, a microwave owen or a cell phone. There will be some time before another game console from Nintendo will be released, the mass of people who are content with games like 'Game Party' don't need  Wii 2, they just need Wii. I'm quite sure that we're only seeing the beginning of the real Wii phenomenon.

@johnsobas Exactly. Look at PS2, 10-year cycle right there.

 I'd expect him to say things were more rough year one than we planned but we've bounced back quite nicely and here's some great games we have planned.

 Have you been inside both Nintendo's and Sony's HQ and looked at their long term stratergies ? , you'd have to to make clames as bold as yours , in actual fact you can't proove anything you said in your post I also don't know how your able to reach many of the conclusions that your so certain of.

 I didn't say all the casuals would "jump to the ps3" I was making a general analysis , as for casuals always going for the Winning console that is absoloute garbage , they go where they're needs are being met the most . Following your logic the PS2 sould be outselling the Nintendo Wii on a weekly basis.

  I think it's widely accepted that one of the PS3's biggest factors determining it's current position is it's Price Point , the PS3 has sold faster than the XBOX 360 ( keeping in mind the differences in launch date) and I'd pretty much bet my life that the Wii wouldn't be as far ahead as it is now if the PS3 had been releasd with a £170 price point , the casuals do infact buy a console because it is cheap the Wii prooves it.

In 10 years he may be right. The 360 should be selling about the same as the ps3 if microsoft want to be competitive in a few years but their falling behind.

The question is how long can the Wii maintain it's momentum? I think for a long time and Sony will never beat it.

Quite frankly, the PS2's long lifespan is thanks to its mainstream appeal. It's not GTA, or MGS, or FF, or any of the usual "OMG SISTUM SELLURZ" that are cited by core gamers that keeps its popularity high. It's quirky titles like SingStar, Guitar Hero, Eye Toy, and other such products which have that effect. Products, in other words, that give an authentically unique experience instead of basically being something you can sum up as "just like (older product) but (new feature)!".

Thus far, the PS3 has little to nothing in that regard. The Eye of Judgement is "just like Eye Toy, but more powerful!". The PS3 SingStar game is "just like the PS2 SingStar, but with new songs!". The SIXAXIS/DualShock 3 is "just like the DualShock 2, but with motion sensors!". The system is the very definition of "incremental upgrade". And it is not incremental upgrades which appeal to the masses; incremental upgrades appeal to the "safe" crowd who don't want to rock the boat and who are content to re-buy and re-play the same gameplay experience with slight variations for all time. The mainstream gamers want experiences that break away from what's normal, that challenge them to play games in a new way, that give them authentically new experiences.

I don't understand why Hirai drew it this far tbh, he should be plenty proud of possibly the best comeback in videogame history (in one gen mind you, Ninty obviously made a better comeback counting last gen).

 There are no attributes of the Wii that are "unique" to it , that's what they're marketing would have you believe and it apears to be working . Casual support can indeed be added like "Jam On Toast" , Well carefully strategised and planned application of the Jam on the toast. It's really a matter of how much resources MS/Sony are willing to dedicate to apealing to the casuals , it's by no means rocket science.

Wii - Play

Wii - Sports

Wii - Fit

All these games apeal to the basic needs of human beings , playing with one another , our weight conciousness etc . It's by no means rocket science.

I don't think the Wii is apporaching the point where everyone "needs" one I also don't think that it will become as neccasery as a DVD player or mobile phone that's absoloute garbage IMO. The Wii is an advancement in gaming but not to the extent where every household will have one.

I think the future of this phenomenom is squite sketchy , excellent graphics don't work , Wii-Mote for another 5-7 years may not work  the only thing I can see Nintendo doing is releasing an entirely new pheriipheral which is highly risky or just capitalising on the Wii's weaknesses ( online play , Hard Drive etc)