Apologies for the Bruce Everiss moment, but as I predicted, PS3 and Xbox 360 will likely sell about the same from here on in until next-year's quasi-generation starts. For sure, I expected the 100K difference to be the other way like everybody else. I'm sure MS did too.

Whatever happens though, the likely ordering of the consoles in the US is now definitively locked, if it wasn't already before. I said at E3 Microsoft were all about 2010 and their plan was to sit on their hands for much of 2009, ride out the PS3 slim price cut we all knew was coming and hope to emerge with as little damage as possible. They've done that in spades.

The Slim has definitely worked for the PS3 and the system will now sell at a decent level but this year was their last chance to put a serious dent in Microsoft marketshare in the US and it hasn't happened. It won't next year. There is some great PS3 software coming out over the next 12 months but so do Microsoft. Moreover, they have Halo and Natal which amounts to a pair of Aces vs Sony's pair of Kings. In a a heads up game between the two, the former is going to win in most scenarios.

That's not what we have of course, as the Wii is still shifting units at PS2-esque levels. In a Poker game, they've got an even better hand. The only remaining question for me is if Microsoft are capable of producing a "Wii Sports for Natal" as that's their one and only shot at doing anything about the Wii (and is also dependant on them executing to perfection in terms of marketing.) I'm not sure the Borg has it in them and thus the status quo will continue. i.e;

PS3 remains in a close third place. does *relatively* better than in previous years. Will be supported by third parties constantly.

360 continues to remain the "hardcore" gamers console of choice, remains in comfortable (but distant) 2nd place and is the third parties go to platform in terms of making money out of selling games.

Wii continues to sell at PS2 levels but non-Nintendo software continues to struggle. As a result, third parties focus their AAA efforts on the other two because they can't figure it out.

That's definitely the picture I see until the end of next year and potentially through to 2013 depending on how Microsoft and Sony motion control is received.

It cornered the bro demographic.

No, you're not the only one. I don't mind the popularity of the genre one bit though, since they're my favorite games.

In fact, I'm going to go play some COD right now.

Wii has been supply constrained since December, not surprising after selling 3.8m units in one month :) 360 bump is impressive though, not sure what caused it. Better than usual software for this time of year?