Regarding the Question of the Week posed at Gamasutra, Can Sony Convince Developers and Consumers of the PS3's Dominance?, here are my thoughts:

Nintendo and Sony have taken opposite approaches.  Nintendo has set out to build, as always, a fun, inexpensive gaming appliance. 

Sony has set out to build a general-purpose computer, which puts them on a collision course with Windows platform itself.  This lies at the heart of the matter and deserves attention.

 

Consider the strengths of the Windows platform.  It is backed by the largest software developer in the world.  It has extensive experience in

networking and is a primary contributor to Web Service standards.  It has a razor-like focus on "platform-building", that is, extending Windows to every computing device on earth.  It has had not inconsiderable success in doing so: from desktop, to mobile, to server, to media devices and the home theatre, and crucially to gaming devices.  Virtually every product that has attempted to compete with Windows has failed (with the possible exception of Apple and Linux in specific categories).

 

Developer tools are a major part of the Windows platform.  The all-encompassing Visual Studio is the platform for development on all devices, and it benefits from integration with hundreds of major third-party software products, and is multi-language to boot.  A gaming company can hire developers from a broad range of disciplines yet they are all familiar with the same tool.

 

DirectX, XNA, and the .NET Framework are key advantages as well.  Developers can target Windows and Xbox simultaneously using the highly-productive and mainstream .NET Framework.  It is perhaps worth noting that the XNA platform can be used to assist the development of "other platform" games as well.

 

Let's not forget the Windows Media juggernaut, providing the DRM backbone for virtually all non-Apple media hardware today.  The synergy is undeniable in subscribing to music with a third-party such as Napster, streaming the content to 360 or a media device, then sharing the music with friends, legally using DRM technology.  I, for one, anticipate that the Nintendo Wii will function as a Windows Media Center Extender.

 

Xbox Live requires no explanation as it is a huge success.  No wonder – Microsoft has extensive experience in networking and is a primary contributor to Web standards.   With respect to the fact that usage is not free, it should be considered that maintaining servers for online play is difficult and expensive, and many games in the PC space have suffered for it.  This is why top-tier PC games use a for-pay model.  I am thrilled that for as little as $5/month I ensure that any game I buy or rent (an important and overlooked matter in my opinion) will have a good online experience.  Note that free Gold subscriptions often come bundled with games as well.

 

Finally, Microsoft recently announced that XNA and Xbox Live will support user-created content.  Just as Microsoft has always done with the Windows platform, hobbyists and companies can create games for Xbox without needing expensive licenses and tooling.

 

This is the framework for understanding the Sony/Microsoft conflict.  Can Sony create a compelling alternative universe to Windows?  To what extent will Sony integrate with the Windows platform?