The PS3 actually isn't that expensive...

[A Black Falcon]

For Microsoft to have a broader reach, a global reach, they did right when they made the core. Online gaming is increasing here and in Europe, but in some countries MS is trying to break into it is nearly non-existant or completely ignored. You don't make those people pay for things they won't use or need..that's not how you reach out to new consumers. Sony will learn that. I honestly don't think the PS3 will achieve its predecessors' success, and it's because of the price.

Sony well might not reach that level, and the price definitely might be a part of it, but MS isn't necessarially going to capitalize on it. Here's the thing -- while the X360 is selling great in the US, and as we all know has bombed in Japan, it isn't selling as well as expected in Europe either. And I'm not betting on the Wii winning the European market; Nintendo has never been successful at all there, and I don't think that will change now... they are trying to change some of their worse policies, but there's only so much they can do to change long-held knowledge of how many problems Nintendo's European departments have had. Yes, the PS3's price in Europe is insane, and maybe that will limit things, but console prices there are always higher...

Japan, though? Wii should do fantastically, driven by Nintendo fans and nongamers/casual gamers drawn in by what will surely be its DS-like game selection and marketing campaign in Japan... PS3 will do well too though. Could be a split? I don't know, there has always been one clear dominating platform in Japan each console generation, will that change this time?

America... I don't know. It's just too early to tell.

About Xbox Live and the fee...it's a fantastic service that keeps getting better. You will NOT see the Wii or PS3 online component come close to matching it.

Agreed, I am sure this is true. But sometimes people will accept a lesser service if it costs less... as I've said before though, if Wii online is like DS online, I don't think I'll like it much at all... DS online is just so horribly broken, and if they do that again... it'd be very sad. :(

The Xbox Live attach rate is so high because every 360 comes with a silver subscription. All you need is broadband and you're good to go. Last I heard, Microsoft would not devulge what the numbers were between silver and gold subscriptions.

That's a very imporant distinction though, since everybody with a 360 has Silver, or could, while Gold is the one that really matters...