An average console life-span is between 5-6 years and the recent celebration of half a decade with Sony's console has really put things into perspective for them. Where they are and where they're headed as both a gaming, tech and media company. Jim Ryan, the CEO of SCEE (Sony Computer Entertainment Europe), has said that while the media may be focusing on the announcement of next-gen consoles (we sure have), Sony is still committed to provide for the PS3.

In an interview with EuroGamer, Ryan told them simply there was still "a lot of unfinished business on the PS3" and that if you took a look at th PS2, they had over "150 million units installed globally".  That's huge considering that they did it at a good cost (less than a hundred and fifty pounds), but the PS3 just broke less than 199 ($288 here in Australia) , so there is a "considerable untapped...market" there. Ryan is showing the fact that the recent price drops - especially around Christmas - really push consumers to purchase consoles and is hoping they'll go for the PS3.

If you think back when all this seventh gen hoopla started, 360 was keen out of the gate back in November of '05 and PS3 didn't even start till almost a full year later. Ryan says they hope to not make the same mistake again. So either they're going to follow Microsoft on their journey into the unkonwn with the Loop and may rush their tech, or they'll play it cool, like Sony often has...kinda.

Ryan said they would consider it "undesirable" to be late in the next genration, which I think is true when it comes to getting your foot in the door with consumers.  But what's really going to push the next generation is going to have the gaming consoles be a media appropriated item. Sony is almost that with their headstart on Blu-Ray, but Microsoft has more popular and better utilised streaming services and Nintendo is just catching up with Netflix and HD gaming,as always time will tell.

Via [GamesIndustry.Biz]

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