Sony should make their ps3 as their last console. It would be better for them to focus at other electronic products to make profit.
It will be good for everyone to have only one console for all the game.
Xbox will be the choice.

Nintendo is the only one amongst them who has any real incentive to skip out on the generation game. As the masters of their Blue Ocean, they have about 8 more years of dominance assured to them even if they don't release a successor to the Wii, thanks to the wonders of the only kind of brand loyalty that counts: pioneer brand loyalty.

However, I don't think Nintendo is going to bank on that too much. The moment the Blue Ocean turns Red, they'll be ready to defend, and when that's no longer viable, to conquer with a new Blue Ocean. I also doubt they're going to play the incremental upgrade game again, even to their new values. The next Nintendo system is not going to be the "Wii 2", almost assuredly, unless Satoru Iwata randomly decides he was talking out of his arse for the last 2 years.

As for MS and Sony, they're both wildcards since neither one relies on the console industry to survive. Sony could decide to exit it tomorrow and still have made a net profit off of the PlayStation brand. Microsoft doesn't have that luxury, of course, as they've lost around $6 billion on the XBOX brand.

The questions are these, then: Will MS cut their losses and quit or lug it out until they at least break even? Will Sony decide they should risk another generation or will they back out? Each scenario has its pros and cons for each company, and neither one is in dire need of their games business to survive. Nintendo is an assured continued contender for as long as they can manage it, but these two are not.

On an off note (but related), it's almost frightening how open Nintendo has become since Iwata took the position as CEO. Before you could barely get sales numbers out of them, and now they bald-facedly post their entire reasoning and strategies behind their products in easily-found interviews on their website.

It's like they're trying to tempt some developer to look at their strategies closely enough to try and copycat it. Or perhaps as a double-bluff: say right up front what they're doing, so the competition will think they're hiding something, while doing exactly what they say. If it's the latter, it's working like a charm; the whole media seems to have permanent amnesia about everything Iwata says.

360 mistake was RROD considering their brand isn't a quality know name (Vista, millenium edition, blue scree nof dead, RROD), sony mistake was the price (even their quality name save them from expensive gadget).

what i find funny even everybody even mods are trying to counter a negative with another negative, instead of a good one for the 360.

but things are looking good, 360 still havent made up what they lost with xbox,  in 2-3 years probably won't, they will be third by the end of the generation worldwide.

rushing to the market caused a high software problem out the 10 million sold 360 only 70% was working perfecting 3 million were dead.

but they managed to get third party develop their games on the 360 first, but then most of them are porting their games to the ps3. even valve is considering to do it.

and managed to be #1 til the wii passed it. it was worth it?

sony isn't in good grounds either but both companies will make back the money they lost on other business and since there is competition its good for us.

I don't think anyone should 'skip' a generation. It might've been in Sony's best interest to tone down the capabilities of the PS3 for the sake of their finances, but what's done is done. I'm sure they won't make the same 'mistake' twice. I don't mean that the PS3 was a mistake, I just think they were rushing too far ahead. I believe they were banking too much on Blu-Ray being a success. It was very risky.

... almost as risky as Nintendo releasing a motion-based console.

However, I am expecting Nintendo to blow my socks off next generation. They have more money than anyone can count. I want virtual gaming. =)

This is the true final word.

Of course all 3 will be back.

I don't  want to see Sony for next gen console.

I think they should all skip the next generation. The Wii is going to destroy it, no matter what it is.

Sony definitely. Microsoft too if they focus more on DL only or possibly cloud avenues. I would venture to say Nintendo will not as they will launch a Wii HD to get bonus points for devs who still refuse to make games for the system due to limited tech. Nevertheless, the Wii could still be sold alongside it's HD brother for more profits.

Sony really isn't in any hurry to release the PS4. PS3's development costs were monsterous and the system is finally making money so the longer than Sony can milk the PS3, PSP and PS2 to cover the expenses of the PS3's development and the PS4's development then the better for them. Sony also has the advantage of having the most expensive system as well as having the most technologically advanced system. Since the PS3 is so expensive, that gives Sony more oppertunities to cut it's price and stimulate the console's sales. The PS3 being at $399 gives Sony 3 to 4 price-cuts before it even reaches $199. Furthermore, being the most technologically advanced system gives the PS3 more time with which to compete with any 8th generation consoles that arrive before Sony feels fit to release the PS4.

In comparison, Microsoft has a serious desision to make on their future of their console game industry. The original Xbox cost Microsoft billions and the 360 is following suit. Microsoft is learning the hard way that they can't directly compete with Sony outside of America even with a significantly cheaper console and a year headstart. Meanwhile, as they try and fail to overtake Sony, they're losing billions of dollars in the process. Personally, I think Microsoft is going to radically change their game next generation and release a profitable at launch console that may be significantly less technologically advanced as the PS4, like what Nintendo is doing. We're already seeing signs of Microsoft apparantly trying to mimic Nintendo's direction with the bare-bones Arcade model, price-cut and Avatars. I think next generation we'll see a significantly more casual push from Microsoft to try and make back the several billions they lost with the Xbox and will lose with the 360.