Console exclusives/content - your view

[Squilliam]

Khuutra said:

Squilliam said:
If you like the idea of competing consoles fine, but there is no other media industry which forces people to buy multiple devices to be able to play all of the content. Long term its against the best interests of the industry to have too many competing standards.

Agreed, but gaming is different in that it's also the only constantly evolving medium in terms of how one interacts with it. Regardless of the technology behind a movie, watching it is the same no matter what.

Gaming presents an interesting problem. I agree that it's not necessarily a good thing, but I think it might be necessary.

Unless it isn't. Is there a possible model where it wouldn't be?

Its necessary for one console to win to give the best market conditions. Between generations its fine to have many competiting solutions, but once the generation starts a clear winner has to be chosen.

Consoles are unlike other networked products such as Cell phones in that they cannot and will not communicate with other brands. This in itself limits adoption because it prevents one console from attaining a critical mass to get other people on board to the network as well.

Lastly, developers who can target a single platform produce better results for everybody. If 100% of development effort is focused on 100% of potential gamers the net result is better games which everyone can play and enjoy.