I believe that if every knockout punch critically hits, it can just edge out the 360 before the next gen consoles are released.

Brand equity for Sony is not what it once was. The more Sony products I buy (non-video game), the worse quality I receive. That won't help sell the PS3. (For example, my 10-year old Sony VCR continues to perform with only a slight tendency to wrankle tapes if I reverse/view too far. Meanwhile, one of two five-year old VCRs have failed and the other has remote problems).

Sony would go bankrupt if it cut the price of the PS3 too much too quickly. It is barely to the point where it is breaking even now -- and that is based upon the most optimistic of estimates.

Finally, as for first-party titles, only about 20-25% of top-selling titles on its last two systems. That's the same as Microsoft but the inverse of Nintendo (75-80%).

There is a lot of wishful thinking. But Sony lost this generation when it came out with too high a priced product (and then guaranteed second place would be tough when it removed B/C). It won the hi-def DVD format wars because of the PS3 though, so it is a split decision. But one that could have lasting impact in the wrong direction (as game consoles tend to sell more than videophile equipment).

Mike from Morgantown

These threads use to be amusing but now they're just getting old as the same fanboy "analysts" spout the same thing weak after weak.

Can't you just play your console and be happy?

The projection Sony made was for the fiscal year, not calendar..... so we have to wait until April before we know if it makes it.

So far it has managed 7,421,623 since April 2008..... it should pass 8 million with the next 2 weeks, so it needs 2 million for the 12/13 weeks of January, February and March.

 Howdy! Welcome to Earth. I assume this is your first visit.

You mean the same brand equity that made PS2 owners rush out to the store and upgrade to a PS3?

Strong brand equity indeed!

HAHA, you beat me to the punch, I was about to drop that same bomb.

When you price the system where it is, PS2 owners weren't feeling rushed to get it as an upgrade.  Then, when the price drops and you pull backwards compatibility, that doesn't help.  Then, you drop the ball on genres you were strong on, like next to no JRPGs, no full Gran Turismo, and no Tekken (except a rehash), you leave PS2 owners wondering what you are up to.

Exactly what strength does Sony now have with PS2 owners?

• Brand

You are right, the Playstation brand is powerful, but it hasn't helped that much so far, while the name "Wii" is everywhere and even "Xbox" is getting bigger and bigger

• 1st /2nd Party

Nintendo has the best 1st Party Lineup. That is a fact. Sony would kill for a mario or a Zelda. Hell even a Kirby on the DS is huge. And so far we haven't seen the great 1st party-games. Uncharted is cool, Resistance is okay but so far, there is nothing HUGE saleswise. On the other hand there is Microsoft with Halo3, the best selling HD game so far and a likely 10 million seller, Gears of War, Gears of War2, Forza and Fable2. Granted GT5 might be huge, GoWIII and Killzone2 will be good, but they won't match a Gears or a Halo3 saleswise (except GT5).

• $249 PS3

This is where things get out of control. Sony loses $50 with every PS3 sold. Such a pricecut would mean a $200 loss per console sold. Okay, lets say they reduce the developing costs by $50, they still would lose $150 per console. Calculating with a $150 loss / console, they would have lost $35,936,400 in NA last week. So calculating with a $100 loss in Europe and Japan, because of the exchange rate, they would end up in a total loss of $64,415,600 Last WEEK. Okay, it was the biggest week of the year, but this pricecut is too huge to handle for sony.

$249 ps3? Thats the funniest thing ive ever heard!