I'll have to more buy more playstations... one for my room... one for my kitchen.. one for the WC...

no red eyes this time? :P

Well, at least his glass is half full.

PS3 is definitely built for longevity. I would have to say I mostly agree with his point of view here.

I'll buy the next playstation even the next one after that. I started gaming on Playstation and the brand never let me down I mean yes Bumppy start for PS3 but they are making it up for lost time.

Wait for history to render judgment? Sounds like the leader of another enterprise we're all familiar with...

I might pick up a second PS3 in a year or two when I get an HDTV for my bedroom.

"Let's just hope that controller vibration doesn't become passe technology again. We're not sure we could handle another blow like that."

Just hope they don't get sued again!

Why does he insist on making his machine look worse than it actually does? The PS3 is doing really well, both globally and in the States. I think the success of the Wii was something that he was not expecting, and so maybe he's a little shell-shocked by how much thunder the Wii has stolen in Japan, but the PS3 is still doing fine. I don't even own a PS3, and this kind of lack of confidence makes me a little perturbed.

@Ryosukekun21:

I hope you never limited yourself to only playstation, because if you did then you missed out an a ton of great games.

"Very difficult to say," says Kaz. There's a great deal to consider, before the Sony engineers run off and start crafting the PS4, the DualShock 4, the next EyeToy.

It's true the lawsuits that will cripple the duel shock 4 have yet to even occur.!

Im pretty sure he is right, Microsoft & Nintendo will be far far into another generation in 2016.. So by that time Id say Its a safe to say PS3 will have sold more than X360 & Wii will have...

well...it worked with the PSone.

You know I hope this gen really does last a full ten years. Or at least 8. MS let us down with an short 4 year run and now we have the new gen and it's already been 3 years and some change. We just scratched the surface.

Also considering how pricing has become a factor and I'd much rather the companies take their time amd expand on what we are using now instead of look forward so soon.

Wii will have a 4 year run I think though or at most 6. I figure it's like a gameboy/DS type of deal. Milk it until it's dry and get on with the next iteration. Nintendo doesn't seem to be running on the same timetable as the other companies now.

It'll take the lead over the 360, by that time we'll have the next Xbox.

@silkylove: I only limit myself to Playstation, Nintendo, and PC. never owned an xbox or Sega system :P

Don't know why people pick on lack of vibration in controllers. This gen of consoles, where the controllers are wireless I turned the vibration off to save on the battery life, it doesn't make any difference to gameplay and the only thing that made me remember that there ever was such thing as vibration in controllers was you mentioning it in the article.

As for the winner of the console war I don't think that we will have to wait a decade to find out who wins this gen. I am sure the winner will be clear by 2010.

@Datheron:

Heh. This is different, though.

Just look at the PS2. It's been out for 8 years and people are still buying it. I see the same thing with the PS3. 8 years from now I think people will still be buying PS3s but I'm not so sure about the competition. Maybe the Wii but definitely not the 360. I think Microsoft will have moved on already to it's successor.

@Rebel Without Applause,

Yea are you willing to shed another 400-500 in just 4 years again like the first X-box? I was happy with my Ps1 for 8 years and I still have my PS2 to play imports and I got a PS3 at Launch. I expect PS3 to follow in the PS2 footsteps as the next best console.

In the end, anyone worth their gaming salt will have all 3 consoles of this generation anyway, so nobody really "wins" the war because everyone will have to buy all 3 systems to play their favorite games anyway.

If anything, the consumer will lose because a longer console development cycle means fewer releases of actually innovative and technologically advanced hardware like the Wii. Sure, we don't have to pay as much to stay up to date as with, say, a PC gamer, but if you want those 1-to-1 lightsaber controls, thorough Smash Bros online multiplayer experience, and graphics that rival what DX10 is setting out to do... don't expect it in this generation.

All this talk about winning the console war is rubbish to the consumer and, in the end, only profits matter to the company - in which case Nintendo is just eating up the cake on software sales and Microsoft is eating the cake on Live subscriptions. Even if the PS3 lasts a decade, it'll be eating up crumbs if it doesn't set itself apart from the rest in some way.

I guess it's safe to say that even when the next console launches, they'll keep on supporting the PS3. Then again, they've done that with the PS1 when the PS2 launched and the PS2 itself.

The PS2 is still selling worldwide after 8 years.

@peAr_nectAr:

It's a tough balancing act for the execs, I guess. Act too confident, and people would say they are cocky despite all the problems they are facing.

Own up too much, and people would say that if the execs themselves do not have confidence in the product, how can they expect the people to buy into their products?

I do prefer the current Sony stance though. I always thought it's better to under-promise and over-deliver.

@2SBs: Because vibration adds to the gameplay? It immerses you, and can be used in very creative ways to create fun gameplay mechanics like feeling lock picks or sensing an enemy coming.

Not to mention that simply, it's become a part of console gaming and taking it away is uncalled for. We've gotten accustomed to it.

I honestly don't think the PS3 is going to be so successful. I think they will be third in America always. In Japan and elsewhere, who knows. But I don't see PS3 being the PS2 of this gen at all.

You know, I never like buying consoles further than 1 year after they launched. When I bought the PS1, it already had the huge library of games and I just didn't know what to spend money on and when to play what. I much more enjoy the constant stream of great games hitting the PS3, 360 or Wii and building up excitement till each title launches. Then, suck that title in and play it nonstop for a couple of days. Repeat with the next anticipated game.

@Rebel Without Applause: Doesn't mean we won't have the PS4. Heck, if anything, the PS2 showed that Sony needs to support both nextgen and current/lastgen consoles. They could keep up support for companies to release games on the PS3 while the PS4 is already out for another 3 to 4 years to hit the 10 year cycle. That's what I can see them doing as well.

@Netnavi: 4 to 6 years for the Wii? Wow, that's positive thinking right there. I hear market penetration of HDTVs in the US was about 20% last year, no doubt it'll be close to 30% by now. People are soon going to "see the difference". And they'll like it. I really doubt Nintendo will keep the Wii going without a console that outputs HD and boasts better technology at the same time for longer than 2 years from now. Or maybe I'm too half-empty on this.

I don't see why they should keep innovating. Why not just stick with proven technology. The PS4 should just be two PS3's strapped together. R&D = done!

Just kidding.

@2SBs:

I thought it was a big deal until I played Tf2 on the 360. It didnt have rumble until the most recent patch. I didn't even notice. Its still nice to have though. Besides if you're a 360 owner it won't really affect battery life that much. 360 wireless controller out of the box with AAs has a 56 hour battery life. the six axis(no rumble of course)has a 20 hour battery life.

Also I think people will still be buying Wiis by then. Kaz wants this 10 year console cycle, but just because its happened before doesn't mean it will happen again. I really don't see microsoft dumping the 360 either. They did that with the xbox because they had no choice. They had to cut their losses, move on, and beat Sony and nintendo to the gate if they were to have any real chance.

@rrghy,
Yea I agree with you but you also have to see the pressure they were in and all the bull Microsoft was throw at the public about them. Because Microsoft lost the console race last gen they got all butt hurt and tried dirt tactics to try to win. Now it's going to hurt them.

@KEELr: exactly.. the 360 isn't going to be around for 8 more years.. my bets are that in 2012 we'll already have the next xbox! and then sony will have to push out a PS4 to compete with that.. i'm not really into longevity when it comes to a games console.. i think 5 years is good enough for most of them because, let's face it, in 5 years there's a huge leap in technology and there's a need to, at least, keep up with PC performance! there's no way the PS3 will compete with even a low-budget PC in 2016..

A decade? At the end of a whole decade we'll probably see the end of the PS4's lifespan.

Unless you're talking about two years from now instead of ten, but even then I have a feeling we'll be calling this the PS2 decade.

Something tells me console fans are probably going to look back on the PS3 the same way RPG fans look back on PS3. SEE WHAT I DID THERE?

What's up with the rash of Sony chest puffing. Do they sense a predator near or something. Jeeze! Give it a rest... wait till NPD to brag.

pfffft, by that time Nintendo and Micro$oft will have next gen console on it's way

Dual Shock 4 will not have tilt because it's passe. Oh, Sony, I love your silliness. Honestly the 7th generation has really helped Sony despite the fact that they're last in worldwide sales. I love Sony, but they were too arrogant for their own good. These past few years have been one big slice of humble pie and really made them put their nose to the grindstone to churn out quality on all fronts. Here's to Sony and their continuing to make excellent products!

@DaveKap: I disagree! The console war has already affected consumers. It's not a given that high quality games will come out on each console no matter what the install bases look like.

Who know how splitting the bill for multiplat games has already influenced quality. If there was only Nintendo, then who would waste time with Hi-def assets. If there was only Xbox who would waste time figuring out cell programming.

On the plus side, pressure between the big three probably has enhanced console online services more than it would have been otherwise.

@Candlejack:

Maybe I am a little optimistic for the Wii but I am basing it on the success of the DS. They modeled the Wii off of the DS. That is to say that the DS was an experiment to see if people would even like this concept of interactivity. How long has the DS been around? And it's still selling well.

Nintendo changed their game with the DS/Wii and I think as long as people keep buying them they will keep making them. At least Until Nintendo knows what will make them more money later on.

And though a lot of people own HDTVs I can see them all running SD DVDs and 360s running in 480p. The majority don't think about the wires too much and just plug it in like their old stuff. More people complain about "the black bars" on the DVDs so I think Nintendo can keep milking them for a while.

Unfortunately for us because Wii would look a lot better in HD. Even with the last gen graphics.

They're still selling PS2s and the software for them. That's pretty amazing actually. There is a market for such (now) cheap game hardware and there will continue to be so. Not just for people who can't afford a current generation game but for people who just don't want or need that kind of power.

People are putting PS2s in their cars, in RVs, in passenger jets and hotel rooms. I wonder that Microsoft didn't put out a cheap low-form-factor XBox. But then Microsoft has always been weary of splitting it's own customer base with self-competing products. I think they missed the boat this time.

XBox is holding strong right now on the justifiable strength of it's Live service. But Sony is learning from that and will catch up via firmware updates. The PS3s user upgradeable hard drive, Blu-Ray drive and firmware updatability give it much longer legs than the 360 or Wii can claim and as developers come more to grips with it's Cell technology (you have no idea how tricky using 7 processors at the same time to their best abilities is) the software on it will get better and better. As it already is. And it can serve as a pretty decent Linux box.

Yes you will see a new XBox before you see a new PS3, because Microsoft was planning another 4 year cycle and Sony wasn't.

I'm not saying this as a Sony fanboy, Mostly I game on the PC. I have a PS3 because my wife wanted something that would play a hi-def format and decided Blu-Ray was the way to go (thankfully) and the PS3 would get firmware updates, and can play games. So far I've been impressed with it as a piece of hardware, but the software availability has been anemic and I suffer achievement envy...

@Ryosukekun21:

Dirty tactics? It's not dirty tactics. It's a risk, and if done right it's smart. Sega did it 3 times in a row and it failed for them pretty much every time, but I don't remember anyone saying they were using dirty tactics. Whatever thats supposed to mean.

@DaveKap:

I'd given the software and Live edge to MS, while Nintendo profits on hardware. You do have a point since Sony doesn't have the volume of the PS2 this time, so it's hard to pin point their long-term profit angle.

Forgot to point out the obvious, but like MS, it's a given that Sony has started R&D on the next console. As preliminary it may be.

Btw, correct me if Im wrong but installed base=Users who own the console, and play it/buy games for it regularly right? I know PS2 sales are like 120million, but the installed base isnt that much. If that was the case then logically every new PS2 game should sell at least 1,000,000 copies worldwide and that is not happening.

@henri1kk: The gap is already here, the gpus inside the 360 and ps3 cant compete anymore with the current budget cards (3870hd and 9600gt) and with the new cards around the corner (the geforce98XX and the ati48XX) the gap will be even bigger...

@DaveKap: "In the end, anyone worth their gaming salt will have all 3 consoles of this generation"

No, I don't think so.

@CCCombobreaker: My plug and play cable is broken so I have to use rechargeable batteries, for some reason I can't get around to sending the broken cable to MS so they can replace it.

I wasn't including the Wii in my "projections" because we all know that its gonna be the "Wiiner" (sorry couldn't resist) this time around, I was looking at the battle between MS and SONY

@karasu is my homeboy: All I was saying that since I turned the vibration of in my controller, I forgot that it ever existed, and yes you have a point that if I wasn't able to turn vibration by choice and was forced to play without it I would have been extremely angry.

@Candlejack:

Candlejack, the problem with your argument is that the mar

@DaveKap: The best way to judge consoles is to know and play them. I do agree people don't need all 3 consoles but you should try and experience all 3 consoles and not limit yourself. I had all 3 consoles last generation and it opened me up to the nintendo side for the first time ever. Unfortunately nothing has changed, I don't believe Nintendo consoles are for me as pretty much apart from the Nintendo titles it's very scarce for good exclusives. I won't own a Wii this time because it just isn't for me. Doesn't mean I'm not worth my salt though, I just know what's for me.

@TOCATL: Traditionally console gpus have always run far behind current technology.

Up until now they could get away with it because tube televisions had such low resolution and poor-mans anti-aliasing built in. The advent of HDTV has changed that, I wonder if Sony planned that into their longer life cycle adequately or if the continuing advances in video technology will force them to hurry up a PS4 to compete with XBoxes release cycle.

Interesting.

it's ironic because i want the Ps3 to get the recognition it deserves in mindshare and sales

but...

Nintendo may very well have this generation in the bag. That would be a bit tragic considering it would go down as the first generation that was won without the core demographic. Frightening when you think about it.

But WiiFit anticipation is starting to reach "ridiculous" levels. I've actually heard core gamers saying they plan on buying it. Reminded me of Nintendogs and Animal Crossing on DS. Legions were buying those games and I couldn't figure out why...as I tried to get my digital mutt to stop losing our tournaments in the final stretch of competition.

MS did a good job with 360 but is hamstrung by RRoD and limited expansion options (I'm sorry, but if I stick a 500GB HDD in a 360, I don't want the machine to gimp the partition and only recognize a preset limit in storage, defeating the purpose of buying more than 120GBs) It has a robust library but Wii generated more anticipation than 360 ever did with a suspect library and limited tech. Not good.

Ps3...ahhhh, Sony....you were such bastards in the ten+ years running up to this point. You almost killed 2D gaming...something I'll never forget and the hype machine carried the PS2 until the Matrix was no longer your number one seller. You released a great machine with the 60GB PS3 but with no games and a ball breaker to develop for. Not a good combination. 10 years to take the lead? I don't see it. Maybe a number two spot since 360 will never sell in Japan and Europe isn't looking too peachy for 360 at the moment. who could have predicted this Wii success.

Talk about the proverbial monkey wrench.

Anyways...Ps3 is my first console of choice these days. It's getting a lot of mileage from PSN games, the MGO Beta and Warhawk and UT3. Wii is getting much love from Mario Kart Online (which is very addictive) SSBB (which could be addictive but the slideshows are still there if not as much as before) and a few VC games...360...well...RRoD is like the grim reaper hovering over the console as it plays. You can't see him, but you know he's there...just waiting. That's a dealbreaker so no love there.

Who knows, maybe Wii will fall off suddenly and Sony can make a run for it...who knows...

So let me get this straight. They'll "win" the "console war" after this set of consoles have long since left the market and .. a new string of boxes have hit the market?

For Christ's sake.. he never stops with the anti-logic, does he?

it is easy to declare yourself the winner...3 or 4 years after your competion has moved on.

Just found the link to Kaz's interview.

[news.bbc.co.uk]

@Llost: Hard core gamers are not a market big enough to support any of the big three console manufacturers. You may feel like you're the target demographic, and you are part of it, but you're not the biggest part of it.

The vast majority of gamers and families who buy a console are only going to buy one, and they're going to buy the one that they perceive offers the most fun for the money with maybe the benefit of being a DVR or HD movie player at the same time.

@2SBs:

My friends uses rechargeable AAs as well. He has 4. So 2 go in the controller, 2 are in the charging station thing. when they need charged he swaps out the other 2.

A decade?
Won't the twii come out then?

@CCCombobreaker: I've got 8, 2 in 360 controller, 2 in GH controller, 4 in the Wiimotes, so it's a pain in the ass going through all of them trying to find working ones when one set runs out. :P