This is in reply to some of the bold remarks that Kaz Hirai has made recently regarding the Xbox as 'lacking longevity' and the PS3 being 'thought of as market leader':
http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/kaz-hirai-no-way-will-competition-have-higher-installed-base-than-ps3/?biz=1

Microsoft responds with: 
http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/microsoft-sony-is-complacent-and-out-of-touch-with-consumers/?biz=1
Greenberg has called Sony "out of touch" and he doesn't see a scenario in which Xbox 360 could lose its installed base lead to PS3.

Found a good article that balances the two views. Michael Pachter says both views are right. 
http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/pachter-aaron-greenberg-and-kaz-hirai-are-both-right/?biz=1

""Please keep in mind that both consoles are offered in North America, Europe and Japan. Sony likely has a 4 million unit lead in Japan, is behind by 7 million in North America, and is behind in Europe by 2 million. My guess is that Sony can sell 2 million PS3s per year more than Microsoft in Japan for the next several years, and can catch up in Europe in two or three years. So by the end of 2011, Sony should be even in Europe, ahead by 10 million units in Japan, and behind by a greater margin than 7 million in North America. If the Xbox 360 outsells the PS3 by 1 million units per year for 2009, 2010 and 2011, the two consoles will be in a dead heat by the end of 2011."

I've been reading on Vgchartz, a fair bit these last few weeks. It's interesting to see that most debated threads on the Sony forums revolve massively around negativism (the Sony will dwindle, the gaming division will be disbanded! argument.) because of the current financial state of affairs with Sony Corporation atm.

I thought Pachter's forecast was a helpful read, to remind us to keep seeing things in perspective. 

It's also interesting to notice how much these boards worry about stuff when things go bad, or how much shouting you like to do when things are going good. The Australian boards whirlpool.net.au where I came from has none of this nonsense. There is only news about our gaming experience or no news at all.

4 million unit lead in japan?

Has VGC undertracked the ps3 in japan!

didn't this guy say the ps3 was da-hoom'd not so long ago now he's say it's not so bad...?

Pachter doesnt know crap end of story

UGH this guy makes my blood boil, he knows crap! he probably picks his next "prediction" out of a hat.

Why is this under the Sony Section?

Sales Disscusion of the forum would be a great place for this thread..

Yea GAF pretty much dropped the hammer on him for saying they have a lead of 4 million in Japan when it is yet to even sell 3, haha not to mention the 360 at ~900k as well.

lol 4 million lead in Japan.

Frightening to think some people really believe him -_-

2 million more per year in Japan? It is only selling about 1 million a year right now so it will need to more then double sales in Japan. I am sure FFXIII will give it a huge boost, maybe enough to make it to 2 million this year, not enough to make it to the 2.4 it would need to lead the 360 by 2M. And then after the burst from FF release it will settle much lower then 2M a year. The way Japan is buying consoles even the Wii struggling there relative to other markets.

And if Sony has a 4M unit lead in Japan then one of the other markets is over tracked because the totals match up against their shipped number don't they?

As far as in others I buy they PS3 can take second there over time if things go right.

I think what is more likely to happen then Japan become suddenly a much larger market is for the US HD market to shrink due to economic issues and the even more complete dominance of Wii there. If that happens then the race for second might get very close since others sales will dominant. I say that is more likely, but I do not think it will happen.