Well, it seamed at first that Microsoft was going to take the gold. It turns out, however, that Nintendo is the current key holder being the owner of the DS that's sold more systems than any other gaming console out there, and Sony has all but rolled over. As the next couple years go by, things should get interesting, especially seeing as how Sony CEO says that by 2011 they will have sold more PS3s than any console has achieved in history. hmm

Well, I wouldn't count Sony out. I definately don't think they're going to replicate what happened with the PS2.

As far as Microsoft goes, it's apparent what a year headstart can do. In all though, this year isn't very stable. Sony and MS can't figure out SKUs, confusing the consumer with too many variables, and Nintendo has very little in terms of substantial content for the Wii, thus far.

I hesitate placing the DS/PSP - and hell, even Zune - in the console war; they're trying to achieve different goals/purpose. The whole Sony integration and technology thing is just a little too far ahead of what consumers are looking far (or what they want to spend).

Ultimately, I'm calling this generation a transition year. MS has proved they can sustain, and produce a quality product - albeit bugged with problems; Sony shows that they're still there, and will never concede; and Nintendo is the good 'ol standby.

Well, in terms of profit and just the sake of 'getting their stuff out there', I believe that gaming computers such as the DS and the PSP are large factors. They're cheaper to make, and sell for almost the same prices. If not for the PSP, I doubt Sony would be even close to where they are now in this generation's gaming, and I don't think it's false to say that the DS has helped Nintendo out quite a bit in the last year.

It's easy to say exactly what you are saying here.... OOO xbox has some sales over Sony right now they are definitely winning. This is a viewpoint that a lot of people have and seems to catch on with everyone who has bought a 360. I happen to disagree. I dislike the Wii with a passion because I think that other than a few A+ titles its just a bunch of mini-games. I think the 360 is the best console out there at this point in time in terms of games but with little coming next year I believe PS3 is going to be the system to beat soon.
I think they released the systems too early(360 for sure given its really bad design and obvious flaws). Which means that before long we will be looking at xbox 720 and maybe just maybe PS4. Both consoles have loads of potential and I think that not next year but the year after will be the year that the race becomes clear when Sony's "graphical power advantage" starts to flex its muscles

Only PS3 exclusives will take full advantage of that power though. Why would other developers go out of their way to make the PS3 versions of their games look better than the 360 versions?

I agree with Banana's thoughts on the Wii (just take a look at my Wii editorial).

But also, we should take into account the fact of how much later games for PS3 come out when they've been on Xbox 360 for months. For example, Orange Box came out for 360 back in October, and it's just releasing for PS3.

Here's the deal: PS3's problem is developers hate it. Development tools on it suck, plus the architecture is a problem because it's way ahead of what they're used to dealing with. The most amount of cores any developer has ever worked with is one in mind. ONE CORE. As in the standard Pentium 4 processor, which is still most prevelant. That's changing, of course, to dual core processors, but even super high-end games like Crysis are made to run on single core processors. The fact that multi-core processors exists doesn't mean the game is made differently for them...yet.

Soon PC game developers will work with dual core processors as their mainstream, meaning that anyone with single-core processors will be, suffice to say, screwed. By the time 8 (or 9, depending on how you look at it) core processors are mainstream, the PS3 will have dug such a hole for itself that Sony will put all it's efforts into making sure it doesn't simply lose them more money.

Why did this happen? Because Sony took too long and is looking too far ahead. Microsoft made a system who's architecture was simple. 3 processors, one solely for the in-game dashboard, and two for the developers discretion. Then they made easy developer tools, which are, as said by many developers, wonderful, and even by John Carmack (who if you don't know...go look it up) who said it's easier than vista. EASIER THAN VISTA!. How sick is that? Sure, that proves that MS has some serious issues with their company structure, but at least their gaming side knows wtf their doing.

So Sony is stuck in a rut because they took the most important group of people and left them out of their deductions: developers. Look at Valve, one of the biggest developers right now. They said the PS3 was shit. SHIT! Now who are you going to believe, Sony or Valve, who's brought you some of the greatest games ever made, EVER?

The choice is yours, but if Sony was the one who released the PS3 first, the roles would have likely been in reverse. Developers would have been forced to learn the architecture, and thereby finding the 360 weak in comparison. Instead, the PS3 is only faster in computing power (not ram) and while it doesn't sell better as a Blu-ray player, it doesn't mean that Sony won't work on the PS4.

Except that since it won't come out till after 2012, there's no point for them to even try.

Valve is a good point but to be honest I could not care less about them because for the most part it seems like they will continue to focus on PC and if not then there are many other developers.
I think Insomniac games has been helping the PS3 developers a lot by sharing all of their secrets for anyone to see. They seem to have the architecture down fine so if more companies go by their example then things should be fine. I think everyone jumped off Sony's boat too early because they will never really dig themselves too much of a hole because if they win the new HD format war then they should be all set.
I predict 360 starts to show its age by the end of 2008 and the wii fad will end after this holiday season. After that its sony's race to win if they do good like they have been promising with Home Killzone little big planet and MGS 4 then they will do very well for themselves if not then its going to be a tough decade for them

I wouldn't count Valve out in the console scene. In fact, they've just begun, starting with the Orange Box.