It seems as though Bungee is for all intents still part of MS for the time being even though they are on paper independant.  Until they start developing games for non Microsoft platforms (doesn't have to be PS3, they could go back to their mac roots too) I'm going to say they are functionally under the MS umbrella as much as Lionshead or Rare.

   I did forget about the Forza makers, thoguh I think the other studio you are referencing is the one that makes flight simulator and from what I read they were all canned (despite that game being pretty much the best software Microsoft makes hands down, and I mean that in the best possible way, its awesome even on the iphone).

JRPGs rarely sell well. Unless its Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Kingdom Hearts or Pokemon there is a good chance it won't break a million.

Sony really doesn't have that many games in the pipeline for 2009 after KZ2 , most of the games fanboys are hyping are 2010 titles . I can thnk of only uncharted2 and infamous being released in 2009 and MS has nothing to be afraid of . I am pretty sure that we will see splinter cell:conviction and alan wake this year along with halo OSDT plus there's halo wars and SO4 coming out in the next few weeks (and ninja blade but MS has condemn this game to be a niche one ). I expect 2-3 more exclusives and that's about it really .

you forget yakuza 3, possibly a ratchet and clank game, maybe a team ico game and maybe some more announcements are to follow just as how ms probably has soMe aces up theo sleeve to.

you forgot quantum theory.and heavy rain.

If rumour is true, that uncharted may raise the bar higher then kz2 in terms of graphics, you have to think how this will effect ms. If it does, then ms may have to worry with the continues release of high quality games that 360 hasn't shown yet to match yet.

Please note, I'm not saying the 360 can't, I'm saying it hasn't yet!

eyepet, demon souls, mag, DC universe online, jak4 and gt5 may also make an appearence.

I have played geow and uncharted is on par with it. You may ask anyone who has played both. It is reasonable to believe that uncharted2 can go one up!

As i mentioned earlier, IF the maybe games are released ( even just some of them) it will only add more pressure to ms.

OT though, I prefers ms's style not hyping and announci g games a trillion years before release. They strike whilst the iron is hot and so far it has worked for them unlike Sony.

I mean, clearly this has worked for them so far. At expos and such, they show off Resident Evil 5 and Fallout 3 alongside their exclusives. I think they're trying to make sure the games coming out right now sell well, exclusive or not, and curry favor with third parties by doing so. But I totally understand seece's complaint as well.

I am arguably a Sony critic, as people can probably tell by my posting patterns here.  I am more pro-XBox (my preferred system).  But, I desire to give credit where credit is due.   And, on this note, I will say that Uncharted is worth paying attention to.  The original was GREAT storytelling through a game medium.  And the graphics rank right up towards the top of this generation (facial animation is tops).  The cover system worked better than the original Gears also (Gears 2 fixed it so can't say that).  Uncharted make it so Tomb Raiders needs to pack it in.

So, I would give credit where credit is due.  As for it being a system seller, that depends on what people would want to play.  It IS a reason to own a Playstation 3.