The Scorpio may turn out great, but this "Scorpio will be a premium console", 2nd sku idea is pure marketing bs; it's the X-box 2 (or 4, or whatever). I'm not saying that makes it bad, but I'm just sick of the marketing blitz already; the X-box One was beaten badly so just like Nintendo and Sega and other companies have done in the past, they're introducing their next machine early in this generation but are spinning it because everyone knows they can't take anymore bad press. Tiered sku's have never worked, from the 360 to the Wii U; if it sells it'll be a very short period before they cut the base model. Again, the marketing is annoying, I'd be thrilled if any reporter would point out that most consoles are the most powerful in the world when they launch. They bragged how the original X-box was the most powerful console at the time and it got trounced by the PS2, of course so was the N64 which was blown out by the PSX and the PS3 was supposed to usher in a change in the concept of computing before the 360 blew it out. Yes, the PS3 did make a comeback, but only after years of hardeare changes, price cuts and a huge change in corporate thinking and presentation; does that sound familiar?

Good article. The real question isn't which one will survive but which one will be forced out first. Simply put, the competition for a shrinking entertainment dollar is getting tighter and tighter while development bugets continue to skyrocket. The reasons for all 3 to drop out are not only valid but almost inevitable. I play more xbox then anything but realistically Microsofts whole focus is in software platforms, staying in the hardware business is unlikely. Nintendo has always been the company that could in spite of (debatable) failures for 2 console generations. Most likely the WiiU will have to be a success for them to stay in the hardware business and I'm very skeptical. Last, the PS3 may be selling well now that costs have come down and they can price it at a market acceptable rate but can Sony survive the financial beating it took in the first few years again? I doubt it and to top it off the article is right about the brand damage, I can't believe any but the most hardcore would "take on a part time job" to pay for the PS4.

The differences are almost nonexistant at this point, which leads to the deciding factor. If you are buying your first new-gen console, and you don't want a Wii (or you want something to go with it), which one has the exclusive games you want most? While Sony is finally getting it's act together on this, for the majority of people, due to quantity if nothing else, that goes to Xbox. If you already own an Xbox, with it's head start and cheaper price until recently, is there enough exclusives to justify the cost of purchasing a PS3. Thats the boat I'm in, and I'm happy it's finally priced in the realm of possibility, but since I'm not a fan of MGS, for every Gran Turismo theres a Forza, I'm left with the Uncharteds as the only PS3 games to make that decision. Sorry Sony, as good as they may be it's still not cheap enough to buy a second machine in this economy; for that price I could buy how many great Xbox games? If it had been priced competitive from the beginning or offered something like Drake early on before I bought my 360 then this may be different, but reality is business and until the PS3 starts living up to the "next gen-past 360" thats been touted for years, Sony is going to struggle with the existing market.

Give me Blue Stinger, Skies of Arcadia, Sword of the Beserker and even Incomming! I asked about what was big on pre-order, and he suggested the next Halo, or the next Call of Duty, or the next blah blah blah. They'll probably be great games, but it isn't the same. I'm going to go plug my DC back in and see if the Soul still burns

I ran the local Babbage's from the intro of the system throught the good times, and it was great! I remember being in the store straight through from the day before accepting the shipment, splitting the pre-orders, and doing an overnight drive to another store to help them make up for thier shortage (they didn't have enough to cover the pre-orders). I came back home with no sleep, showered and right back to the store to be ready for the 6:00 opening. We all worked through the day and had a ball, so I went by that store on the anniversary and the manager is a guy I hired then to help cover the launch demand. We talked for a while, and between us we've seen the other consoles from both sides of the counter; and nothing has generated as much excitement since. Sure the newer machines have sold more, and they have a laundry list of features, etc. etc.; but where is the soul? Outside of Sonic, nobody was waiting for the new machine so we could get the next chapter/port/remake of a running game. I remember talking graphics non-stop, but it was the new gameplay, different game types and variety that fired everyone up. Now its just polygons, achievements and sequels; the promise of a new system isn't adventure and wonder anymore, it's about how many players on a map and which one has the better light bloom (I even slipped in a joke/reference from '99).

By the way, what "business" is actually conducted at E3 anymore? Do developers use what they see of the competition to change thier own games? Do they use it to decide what game engines and middleware to adopt? To devs and publishers use this to make deals? Which of these is precluded by opening up the floor to the public? Couldn't some private meetings or 1 closed day do the same? The only people this really seems to "help" is the gaming media. I'm sorry, but making it more convenient to Gamespot, GameInformer and EGM at the cost of smaller companies getting attention and first hand recommendations from gamers doesn't wash for me.

It's funny that the geniuses behind E3 have never figured out that when the game store employees and bloggers started getting into the old Expo when it wasn't only games was what caused it's popularity to explode. Magazine coverage has always been viewed as suspect by fans, but I remember word of mouth from attendees driving the excitement. The hardcore fans drove the attention and the sales.

I love my DS and all... but with that sleek sexy new look, the incredible world leading interface, beautiful brilliant new screen, great new functions and awsome... Yeah, I'm getting an iPhone

Someone has got to corner Phil Harrison and ask him how this fits with his "Playstation Legacy" speech. If I hear one more Sony guy say that people are going to ignore the Wii and 360 because of Sony loyalty due to the PS Legacy, I'm gonna poke 'em in the eye. After reading the EGM interview, I think he could run for president. He does a great job sticking to his "talking points", dodging answers, and using selective facts to support the status quo.

Just a thought... if Sony says they dropped hardware support in favor of emulators, but they did it because they want to focus their work on next-gen development... wouldn't taking away the instant bc component and replacing it with software (programmers spending time to develop emulators and fix bugs) sort of take people away from new development?