I think the criteria for "winning" a console generation is changing as we speak. It used to be simply Hardware sales because software tie in ratios were similar across consoles and profit off of HW only came after years of losing money off the HW.
I think to "win" the console war in the present generation, a company needs equally healthy Hardware & Software sales, while also making a profit.
Nintendo could be the winner even if they sell less SW as long as their HW total is significantly higher and they are able to continue to sell it quite above cost. Their SW sales would have to improve a little and look adequate.
MS could win if they continue to have such unprecedented high SW tie in ratios, as long as they start making a profit off the 360. Even if they sold less HW but still came close to Nintendo they could be the winner when one considers the large difference in SW sales for Wii-360.
Sony could win by most HW sales chiefly, because their SW tie in ratios will probably only come close to or just above 360 SW tie in ratios.
I think we could have each company with different levels of HW & SW success and thus a winner not readily apparent, even having each company say they "won" but it will be up to each persons interpretation, only decided after very careful analysis.
Thus, 1st party vs 3rd party is not the determination, won't be IMO. What will mattter is simply overall hardware & software sales, while also considering profitability.
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I think to "win" the console war in the present generation, a company needs equally healthy Hardware & Software sales, while also making a profit.
Nintendo could be the winner even if they sell less SW as long as their HW total is significantly higher and they are able to continue to sell it quite above cost. Their SW sales would have to improve a little and look adequate.
MS could win if they continue to have such unprecedented high SW tie in ratios, as long as they start making a profit off the 360. Even if they sold less HW but still came close to Nintendo they could be the winner when one considers the large difference in SW sales for Wii-360.
Sony could win by most HW sales chiefly, because their SW tie in ratios will probably only come close to or just above 360 SW tie in ratios.
I think we could have each company with different levels of HW & SW success and thus a winner not readily apparent, even having each company say they "won" but it will be up to each persons interpretation, only decided after very careful analysis.
Thus, 1st party vs 3rd party is not the determination, won't be IMO. What will mattter is simply overall hardware & software sales, while also considering profitability.