Just as a theoretical question - would you welcome it if instead of the current consideration, before each generation, a set of standards were developed for the next gen console, and any company was allowed to produce such a console.
This can be seen in most forms of technology - DVD players are all made to the same standards, and as such any dvd will play on any player. It has also been tried before with game consoles, but it did not work, and that is where I'm getting many of the 'cons' listed below.
As far as I see it
Pros
No more exclusives - anyone would be able to play any game without buying multiple systems
No more fanboy wars (hopefully)
A wider variety of choices in regards to certain things. With DVD players you can buy a $20 one from the cheap store, or an expensive one with all the bells and whistles. Imagine if a company could make a Wii, but give it a harddrive and make it upscale to 1080p
Cons
Who decides on the standards? If we had applied this system to the current gen we certainly wouldn't have an affordable, motion controlled console. Nor would we have a console with Blu Ray. I believe all risk taking would be kept to a minimum, and as a result, innovation would suffer.
No loss leaders, all console makers would lose a huge source of revenue - notably the fee from 3rd parties. As a result, console would be sold at a huge profit - look in the past, it has happened and that is why the console flopped.
No huge need to produce system sellers. The need to survive brings out the best in game developers, and if there wasn't the threat of complete elimination from the hardware business, there would be a lower quality of game made
Thoughts? Who would be happy with such a switch? Who wouldn't?
