I predict Nintendo will continue to outsell both.

So the conclusion is that the best Sony can hope for is to keep slightly beating the 360, unless the 360 gets its long due price cut.

If we state it that way I agree, although I don't think this best case will happen. The MGS4 effect will quickly wear off, and then it's back to business as usual.

I think I agree with the OP in theory. If there was no X factor, the PS3 should edge out the 360 from now on, in NPD after this month.

However, I highly doubt that will happen, as a price-cut or supply shortage or something should mess up the PS3's momentum for at least one month in the US this year.

I still say the 80GB that has come back with BC will result in a more sustained spike than MGS4 could've pulled of

THe 80Gb MGSIV bundle is substituting the Motorstorm one ,so its here to stay.

Considering the PS3 has beat the 360 for two months this year and the have been neck and neck the two other months then I consider its a distinct possibility that PS3 outsells the 360 from now on.

And if 360 drops the price .....Sony will do the same.

It's possible, but Wii still wins overall once PS3 goes back to more normal levels. And that's basically still cause of the fact that the Wii is nowhere to be found in most places. :x

Than again, the real big titles come in September, so it could be that the 360 will loose terrain on PS3 but not that much. If they wanted that, they had to release real killer games during the summer too.

Gears 2, well I'm not thinking it's a hardware seller. It's more likely that it will please the people that enjoyed Halo and the first Gears. It's merely the fact that Sony has still so many users to win for themselves that they could reach a larger audience with their releaselist for the end of this year. But that's mainly because so many people have a Wii or 360 allready. I wish for a huge pricedrop (at least 100 dollar/euros) at the start of October, when LBP comes. Probably MS will follow, but the larger each consoles userbase gets, the better. :)

Lookie, lookie a NPD cookie. My guess doesn't seem so farfetched for the upcoming months. (chuckle)

didn't it outself 360 almost every month this year except one?

It's really not a "bold" prediction, just a prediction that's really needless.

yeah i agree

Does it really matter? =))
MGS4 will prove, that GREAT games sell GREAT on PS3. =)
Developers will be more CONFIDENT in PS3 and wil release MORE GREAT exclusive games.
The DOMINATION begins. =]