This year @ E3 Sony had very little to present.  The biggest announcements were focused on the Vita (formerly known as the Next Generation Portable, NGP) and Uncharted 3.  Of course a large focus was their attention to the issues of the PSN Hack.  The question arises from many websites "When's the PS4 Coming out?" A few others still "Nothing is coming for a few more years!" and then of course everything in between where speculators and artists decide to throw out mockups.

Tai Chiem PS4 Mockup

Tai Chiem Mockup

Personally, I would love to see a Tai Chiem designed console sitting on my desk.  However, that will be unlikely, because awesome is not always the dish that is awesome, even if we get amazing...

The rumor mill and hubbub lately has been over the arguments that Sony is only getting caught up Microsoft, especially when you consider they were behind for 1 year while the 360 took over the market.  That essentially with all the development they are receiving for the PS3/PSN, they would not be planning on releasing anything by 2013 let alone 2014.

Take into account that Wii is moving forward and now recently rumored "Microsoft will announce @ E3 2012 the new 720 and then release it that November." which is flying all over the place.  I take no credence in such things.

While it would be spectacular to see a new console coming out; whether it makes it to market at the end of the 2012 year or 2013 - yes an announcement would rock.  However, most of this speculation comes from a Halo 4 announcment @ E3 this year.

While yes this blew my mind, I knew after playing 3, it would eventually come...

Now, why take that into account and have assumptions that it's going to release for a new console...?  Because of a lot of random interviews or insider rumors, and people talking from pure speculation.  Take the push that exists, that Microsoft may unveil their next gen system, and of course the rumor mill will be replete with "What about Sony?" - The rest of the Big three is moving, they most certainly will do something...

Right? Well, Shit...Maybe!?

I like more of the concrete evidence, and as we already saw in the past, Sony waited to put out the PS3 as opposed to releasing a console they did not want, and even then had multiple variations on the models from the awesome Card Reader versions to the myriad of Harddrive sizes, to Wifi or Not, then bundles and so on...It drove us nuts.  While I think perhaps they learned a lesson there, finally landing on the slims that we all love.  there are two conclusions from history and with what is coming.

1. We don't know anything about what Microsoft will do next year, until they do it.
2. Sony doesn't dance to the beat of Microsoft's Drum.