Yesterday we spoke with analysts to gauge their reaction to the PlayStation 3's delay and the announcement of a worldwide launch. Today, the global research and consulting firm Strategy Analytics has chimed in with its own two cents.

According to the firm's analysis from the Strategy Analytics Connected Home Devices service, "delays to the Sony PS3 launch are likely to have limited impact on the console's long term performance."

"While 2006 sales will clearly fall short of previous expectations, Strategy Analytics maintains its previous forecast of PS3 sales of 121.8 million units through 2012," the firm noted in a release. "This compares to expected sales of Microsoft's Xbox 360 of 58.8 million units over the same period."

"The PS3 delay will give Microsoft more time to win early adopters, but this was generally anticipated," explained David Mercer, Principal Analyst at Strategy Analytics. "Any further delays could seriously damage Sony's position as a consumer technology leader. Assuming the November launch takes place as planned, we still believe that the PS3 will prove to be the dominant next generation console which will ultimately win a 65 percent share of the market."

If the researchers at Strategy Analytics are correct, the Nintendo Revolution will sell just under 18 million units worldwide through 2012, a mere fraction of the global sales of the PS3 during the same period. Furthermore, the installed PS3 user base will be more than double that of the Xbox 360, despite the fact that Microsoft will have enjoyed a full year on the market without next-gen competition.

Of course, research firms aren't always right. It'll certainly be entertaining to watch it all unfold in the next several years.