: MS's biggest competitors at this time are in deed Apple (OS, Tablets, &
: Phones) and Google (Search Engine, Tablets, & Phones). Sony is
: currently only MS's gaming competitor. The wants/needs of the many out
: weigh the wants/needs of the few in this case.

: Microsoft CLEARLY overestimated Sony this year. The fact that they thought
: $500 was a good price WITHOUT clarifying the rumors around their console
: was/is a HUGE mistake. As is the idea of "Day One" text on the
: console is a selling good point. I'm clearly not getting a XBO on
: "Day One". Microsoft has lost the 2013 war before it's started.
: They are asking far too much from Console Gamers. They clearly don't see
: what has made consoles so popular.

: I'm VERY disappointed in the complete lack of clarification from MS. Although
: they waited til the end, Sony did clear out the rumor webs that's been
: tangling up the gaming industry in the last few months in regards to their
: console. Offline play is possible as is game trading. They also focused a
: LOT less on the Cloud tech for their games.

Sony won because they capitalized on this shaky ground Microsoft put themselves on. All they had to - and predictably and necessarily do - was say they support used games (hit #1); the $100 price cut was bonus hit #2.
Everything else was really a matter of gaming preference.
MS was very smart in getting the non-gaming stuff out of E3, but they left that controversial hole unplugged.

Simply by the fact that it was unclear - Sony's announcement was very clear. MS has some damage control to do.
I chuckled when Sony, after implying that it's all about the game, started talking about the non-gaming features (then topped it off with 'but it's FOR the gamers').

It's been a back and forth battle, very intriguing and significant. But I have to agree with a sentiment from Sony - these are gaming consoles, and the gamers are needed. Even if MS has an amazing gaming+ console, Sony's got the gaming community in their pocket this time. MS pretty much asked for it. Even if MS "clarifies" and makes the used game sharing thing moot, the damage has been done. The community has meme-ified it. Especially with the "how to" video from Sony to MS about sharing games.

Sony (and all PS community media) is going to beat that horse until it's dead.

E3 was just a battle in the war, but it was a big battle that's left an impression and a reputation. MS has a lot of work ahead of them, even if their target demographic isn't exclusively gamers, that's the big adopters. Lose that, and you're no longer in the running.

It's unfortunate, because there are legitimate things I dislike about PS; not just gaming preference, but for example the controller - I have never liked the controller layout or feel. Back to the PS1. When XB1 released, it made me enjoy console gaming again :P. But a good 360->PS controller adapter will make gaming on PS more bearable. And though I don't game much, it would still just feel weird 'moving home' from XBL to PSN. Just feels awkward. :) XB has always had more games I prefer. I have PS3, but far fewer games. I'd prefer Destiny on XBO than PS4, I'm sure. But if/when I get the PS4, Destiny would be my first game.

There is still no doubt I'll be getting XBO though. Because Halo. (side note - Halo on PS4 would be an interesting predicament :P)