I think this will be a very long generation as:
1 - All current consoles have attained a considerable market share and have healthy sales both hardware and software
2 - The consoles are powerfull (specially the HD twins) and with a lot of potential;
3 - Sony and Microsoft will try to make as much profit as possible to recoup last and current gen losses;
4 - Emerging markets are huge (China, India, Brasil,...) and much less demanding (i.e. Sony just opened a new PS2 factory in Brasil);
We have to keep in mind that a new console represents a big investment for both manufactors and developers and currently, excepting Nintendo, none seems to be laughing all the way to the bank. This might make Nintendo think twice before making a new machine as the risk of being "ignored" by third parties unwiling to invest so soon in a new machine is very real IMO
That said I believe that the big three will keep on updating their consoles with slims, Natals, motion +,... for a few years. I don't see a next system before 2012, and even when the next system launches I'm very confident that the current systems won't be discontinued for some years more. In fact I'm very confident that by 2015 you will still find upgrades of the pswii360 on a store near you (and even some ps2 !!
)
Quote ---> about X360, MS made a BIG anti-piracy system, it is called 3RLs, or RRoD. I know a bunch of ppl afraid to open a X360 and void warrant because they will need it...
