PS3 has a GPU with similar functionality to the 360 or any PC GPU. Only the CPU is different, and even the Cell has a main core which is the same as a 360 CPU core, which can be used as a starting point (or both as the start and the end point, which is probably why some ports run like crap on the PS3).

The GPU design affects much more stuff than the CPU does, since artistic assets have to be reworked to look acceptable without shaders. A change in CPU design only affects the programmers.

I think we'll have to wait and see. Big publishers like EA are still bleeding money, let's see if having 4 easy-to-port-between platforms gets them the audience size they need to make their games profitable without decreasing the budgets.

I can give 1 very good reason it's a good thing that is economic based.

Amortization of costs.   The more platforms a publisher can amortize funds across, the greater the chance for a higher return.   The figures below are for example only and do not reflect any known real world development data.

Game = $30 million to develop on 1 console | $32 million for 2 consoles | $34 million for 3 consoles | $36 million for 3 consoles plus PC.

1 console with a $20 publish rate.  Must sell 1.5 million units on one console.

2 consoles with a $20 publish rate.  Must sell 750,000 per console.

3 consoles with a $20 publish rate.  Must sell 500,000 per console.

3 consoles plus PC with a $20 publish rate.  Must sell 375,000 per platform.

In the early days of HD console development, scenario 1 and 2 were the only options and as we saw, dozens of studios either closed up shop or had to merge with a bigger studio just to survive.   As the console plus PC option become more valid, it helped ensure studios remained solvent.   With a 4th platform, publishers are excited because it goes even further to ensure a return on investment.

True, and some of them probably meant it, but maybe then they encountered the scalibility problem... Publishers (as opposed to developers) were probably mostly against Wii exclusives (until it was too late), and Wii versions of multiplats basically had to be rebuilt from the bottom up in order to work well.

The WiiU on the other hand apparently will not have the scalibility problem, and so while I again don't expect many 3rd party exclusives, at least WiiU will hopefully get most if not all 3rd party multiplats, and between that and Nintendo 1st party exclusives, I (and I am certain many others) will be more than happy and content.

Maybe he's noticing that Wii u is powerful than all the 7th Gen systems.

The more the merrier. Remember the talks of the Portal port on Wii... Wiimote portals.

Now I can postpone my Portal 2 purchase for a future WiiU Valve pack :D (adds wish to sig)

Gabe don't talk make me HL3 now! That's an order! NOW!

i'm happy that Gabe is interested in supporting nintendo's next console even though i dont give a rats ass about portal... i wouldnt mind a left 4 dead game though lol

Just to expand, even if you assume that developers devote an unusual amout of resources towards taking full advantage of the special features of a platform by adding specific content and this increases the development costs by 33% per additional platform ...

With 2 platforms you need to sell 66% as many copies per platform as selling the game on one platform
With 3 platforms you need to sell 55% as many copies per platform as selling the game on one platform
With 4 platforms you need to sell 50% as many copies per platform as selling the game on one platform

Of course, with this approach you would likely see savings with each additional platform supported because it is likely that some of the additional content and features would apply to more than one system. As a result, the first additional system might add 33% of the initial cost while the second additional system might only add 25% of initial cost, and more and more systems would reduce the need for additional content.

I can't concieve any reason why any third party would not put a multiplat on the WiiU at least initially. However a year or two after the PS4/next XBOX are released it might be a different story. That will not be until 2015 at the earliest. The immediate concern is whether the third parties are willing to come up with compelling uses for Wii U controller on these titles, since that is what will drive hardcore gamers to adopt the console. Marginally better graphics won't be enough.