[downquark1]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3706857.stm

It was at best funny, at worst insulting, as Microsoft tried to position Sony's online strategy as incompetent.

The following day and the gaming faithful gathered at the Los Angeles Center Studios for Sony's presentation.

The crowd had assembled to be wowed by Sony's new hand-held device, the PSP, but instead had to endure a long lecture on statistics, sales figures and projections.

Graph after graph after graph was shown all saying exactly the same thing: Sony is the market leader in the games console market.

It was like Sunday School, with biblical stories trotted out to children who wished they were elsewhere.

Most people however were more concerned with leaving the press conference to attend Nintendo's imminent presentation.

Where Microsoft had given us a sermon and Sony delivered the contents of an annual report, Nintendo brought the hysteria of a faith healing.

In the church of video games, Sony may have the most worshippers, but it was clear who the fervent believers were.