OK OK OK - last thing from me.
Microsoft's marketing strategy is not the problem. In fact, the marketing is the least of any one's concerns. They have plans to drown out any racket Sony can muster. Whether that means partnering with soft drink manufacturers, fast food chains, or product placement in television shows; it isn't even a question.
The problem is half baked development. The Xbox team has some very specific goals, ambitions, and constraints. They have some brilliant minds working under the roof. The team who works on Direct X, ex-AMD folk, and hardware engineers with laundry lists of accolades. With all that said, if you have a thermal constraint and a maximum size in mind; no amount of talent can give you 2 TF.
The other side of the coin is first party. Studios, from what I am hearing, are having a hard time establishing a proper development culture. This is mostly in reference to Black Tusk, and a heavy reliance on third party titles from unproven studios (Respawn's Titan, Lucid's PGR6, etc).
The last little bit: they started late. Sony actually started developing before MS. Microsoft wanted to launch last year, believe it or not, but things didn't pan out than, and they are hurrying their teams now. There is actually a game released now that was supposed to be a Durango launch title.
It's the constellation of difficulties that is causing Microsoft to work harder and faster. It's frenetic, but it will eventually iron itself out. The most concerning thing is the games, and I am told to not get my hopes too high for their first party effort at launch.
