This all depend on when the new wave of consoles come out. Well i think it will come 1st in the end, my reasons for this is when everyone realises the ps wands can do pretty much everyhing the wii remotes can do but with better graphics(if sonys software is up to scratch) the wii will look outdated so they will be first to bring out a new machine maybe within the next 2-3 years also they are the only one who is in any position to bring out a new console(MS could do but thats just throwing money away not that they haven't got it to throw away). Wii people might be looking for an upgrade before the new wii comes out.

Then we have the 360 which is already starting to look outdated and falling behind the PS in hardware sales (since redesign/price drop).I can't really see what MS has up there sleves to counter this. Natal?im not too sure about. (Just looks like a pimped PS eye) good games but so does sony. So i can't really see the 360 being too much of a problem to overtake and im thinking will be about 4 years untill MS bring out there new system(wanting to recoup some losses) sales will drop off even more by then.

these are just my thoughts please dont skin alive im new :P

If MS and Nintendo start the 8th gen too early I predict the PS3 will compete with them and do quite well. PS4 can come out 2 years after the start of the 8th gen and still be a success if it has a good sales curve, even if that still puts them behind (total wise) of the other two.

Third place isn't bad if you make a profit, look at Nintendo. And now that Nintendo is first place, their third place mentality has made them the most profit ever in the gaming industry.

Oh alright, I just see that claim made often so I gave my take on it.

On topic, it all depends on how badly each company wants "second place." If Microsoft really wants to, they can easily hold onto it, but it'd cost them money (which may or may not be worth it). If they keep cruising as they are now (currently profitable), they'll probably end up in 3rd, but make plenty of bank in the process.

As for first place, I'm not sure why people think Sony can simply copy the Wiimote and Wii Sports - it isn't as easy as it seems. I mean, Nintendo just released another probable 20mil+ seller, NSMB Wii - a game that requires nothing unique to the Wii, just a D-pad and 2 buttons. If it were just the hardware that were an issue, Sony or Microsoft should have no problem with games like this, that capture the "casuals."

They have yet to pull it off, though.

I honestly don't care, but at the rate its going, 2nd is a "Maybe" now more then ever.

1st place is impossible though.

Wii just got it's first price cut.  This isn't a tit for tat sort of interplay between Wii and PS3, Wii is absolutely dominating this gen. I mean, even GameCube managed to outsell PS2 briefly at one point.

And financials are always relevant.  This is business, and profit is just as reasonable a metric as any to use when determining a rank and order for these competitors.  It's also likely a good indicator of the future... knowing each company's financial outlook makes it easier to predict what sort of moves they'll make.

Realistically, 2nd place by 2011 or 2012.

2nd. Next year, 360 momentum will be at a new low. Also, there may be several weeks of the PS3 outpacing the Wii but at the end of this, the PS3 will fall short.

After the end of the generation this is where most PS3s will end up:

• Rubbish dump.
• Storage at home, sharing the closet with the Wii.
• Recycling centre.

I would guess that 90% of PS3s ever made will be in those places by 2016.

Eventually the PS3 may overtake the 360, but in software sales it never will.

1st place.