I agree... but at the same time, selling the most console units doesn't neccesarily make a company #1.  Let's just say for arguement sake that MS decided to subsidize all of their consoles and sell them for $75.00 each.  If that were to happen, the XBOX 360 would "win" this console generation because in the end, its sales would destroy Nintendo & Sony on the sales charts.

But obviously that wouldn't constitute a victory.  It would cost MS billions and run their gaming division into the ground.

What I'm trying to say is, console sales alone only paints part of the picture.

Nintendo is a gaming company.  That's all they do.  If the Wii had failed, Nintendo would have slumped back into becoming a software company (like in the early 80s).

I think it goes without saying that MS & Sony have a much larger empire that trancends gaming.  They both can tank in this console generation and come back swinging harder the next generation.

Microsoft is a good example of this.  The original XBOX total sales were very meager.  XBOX was not a household name by any means.  But for MS, it was a victory (despite the fact they came in last in sales) because it helped establish the XBOX brand as a viable gaming system.

I think the same goes for Sony.  Even if the PS3 absolutely bombs and loses Sony tons of money, the PS3 played a large role in the catapulting of the Blu-ray standard (and defeat of HD DVD).  The revenue that Sony will make off of Blu-ray licensing will far out pace any of this generation's console profits.  So, although Sony got their butt kicked in the console war, the defeat really helped them win the storage media format war.

I think it's also a win for Microsoft this generation.  Despite the fact that the RROD completely tarnished the XBOX image, they still sell the consoles like hotcakes.  Obviously Microsofts goal of slowly erroding Sony's market share has worked, and it's actually a valid part of the console marketplace now. 

Don't get me wrong, both Sony & MS would love to trade places with Nintendo in marketshare.  But it is still by no means a defeat for either company.  Sometimes victories happen in the battles away from the frontlines.

^well if you want to go along that line then it can be a tie b/t the wii and the 360 as both have surpassed previous gen hardware numbers

and in that case the ps3 is really up crap creek

^^ ^^

So everyone wins?

^not until the ps3 outsells the ps2 LTD

No.  Sony's strategy was for the PS3 to not sell well because it would take sales from the PS2.  Sony wants the PS2 to remain the top selling console of all time.

Well, no, it's not a tie.  Wii is definitely winning.  MS' goal is to be #1.  I'm just saying that MS is getting closer to their goal.  Sony on the other hand is stepping backwards.  Completely ruling two straight generations and then losing their monopoly in the 3rd (but gaining a monopoly in storage media in return).

Had Sony excluded the BD format from the PS3, the console probably would have started off at $300.00 and would now be even cheaper.  They also would have delivered it to market sooner (instead of giving up valuable ground to the X360).

But had they done that, they probably wouldn't have hands down defeated Toshiba & HD DVD.  So they gave up one thing to get another.  That wasn't the plan of course, but that's what they ended up doing.

I think Sony's marketing of, "we've got Blu-ray, and MS & Nintendo don't, ha ha!" marketing was a bust.  When the average person still loves their standard DVDs, it's hard to convince them that they are all idiots who are the behind the times.

Actually, the PS3s biggest nemisis in the beginning of this console war was the PS2.  They couldn't even outsell their own antiquated console for quite awhile. 

Sony really screwed this gen up in so many ways... kinda sad for a company who annihilated everyone last gen... 1st to last.

^i would like to agree but my nin side dosnt think its sad .......

It's all in how you word it.

yes that's what i was trying to say, but your illustration is not accurate, i see it more like a Ferrari vs a Rolls Royce they are cars but  but the market is different, why would ferrari be concern about the sports vehicle market if Rolls Royce makes a limousine?

Your assertion that one cannot be a core gamer while only owning a Wii is still patently ridiculous. So ridiculous it makes me wish it were okay to report people for being ridiculous.

We should have a "Wall of Shame" here at VGChartz.