Beyond the numbers and the money, another aspect in which the game industry competes fiercely is something called “thought leadership,” the talk and the perception of both people inside the industry and those who observe it. Like ladies maneuvering for status in a period costume drama, companies in the industry experience peaks and nadirs of sentiment about them. Nintendo is the grand dame of this season’s thought leadership ball, back at the top of the heap after close to a decade of suffering through life near the sidelines (not that she would admit it). Sony, the reigning queen, has made some decidedly awkward steps on the floor this evening and people are holding their breath to see if she stumbles. And Microsoft doesn’t understand why it isn’t all about her– after all, she’s bought the best dress in town and hired the most expensive carriage!