Consoles are closed off monopolistic piles of BS, there should be only one.

[KBG29]

@Squilliam

Thank you for this topic.

Now, to the people that say this is a bad idea, this takes away innovation, this takes away competition.

WTF?

PLEASE, listen for one time.

A ONE CONSOLE FUTURE DOES NOT TAKE AWAY COMPETITION IN ANY FORM

A one console future does not mean ONE (1) console. Why in the world people are to ignorant to understand this blows me away. A one console future means electronic companies making a machine to a spec that allows all devs to make one version of every game, and sell one sku to every consumer. Thus giving no no software or hardware manufacturer complete control. Here is an example of how this would work.

Hardware Manufacturers
-Sony
-Toshiba
-Samsung
-Panasonic
-LG
-Phillips
-Pioneer
-JVC

In the one console future we would see all of these companies competeing on the hardware side. We would see high and low end models, and a much bigger battle to get prices down. Every console would be nearly identical, just as every DVD or Blu-ray player is nearly identical. Some would feature games only, and some would do more than the PS3 and 360 do today. This would give consumers much more choices, and allow those that want a dedicated games machine to have one, and those that want an unltimate entertainment device to also see that.

Software Publishers
-Sony
-Microsoft
-Nintendo
-EA
-Activision Blizard
-THQ
-UBi Soft

Every publisher would be making games for only this one format. This would allow for a much more competitive market on the software side. No longer would people with a Microsoft console not be able to play a Sony or Nintedno game or visa versa. Every gamer would have access to every game. Stores only have to carry one sku which give them room to show more games, this allows more games to have a chance. Devs working on Multiplats no longer have to waste time making three differant games, because it is all the same platform. This means more time spent on making a better game instead of trying to create something in one form, and then make it work over and over in differant variations.

A ONE CONSOLE FUTURE ELEMINATES CONSUMER CONFUSION

This is a major problem with the games industry. People walk into a store with interest in a console, but they have interest in multiple differant games. Some of these games are exclusive to one console, some to another. Then they get told that some games on all platforms offer more on console X, but on other games, consoles y, and z have more options. With all of that said, the consumer becomes confused, frusterated, and uniterested. That is not a problem in a one console future.

ONE UNIFIDE USERBASE

A one console future eleminates the game of chance publishers take supporting one of the consoles in the current model. Having only one console allows devs, and publishers to focus all their resources in this one platform without the risk of it going up in flames.

ROYALTY FEES

In a one console future royalty fees would no longer exist for publishers, because in this system, everyone has stake in the industry instead of just one soul owner. This takes away even more of the risk, and allows devs to possibly make games cheaper in the future.

WHY ARE YOU WORRYING ABOUT INNOVATION

In this enviornment you are bringing more players into the hardware feild which makes it only more competitive, which in turns makes it even more innovative. Giving everyone stake in the industry means more companies working on what the future format is going to be able to achive, which in turn means more innovation and bigger leaps between generations.

Also controlls will not just simply be one standard. Has anyone been paying attention to the last five years. Nintendo gave us motion, and the balance board. We have seen seen developers give us a complete bands worth the instrument controllers. Sony gave us the Eye Toy, which other companies are now taking to even greater levels. Just because there is a standard controller does not mean devs are limited to that small scope. By making the industry more main stream, growing the userbase, and lowering royalties, it would give devs even more oppertunity to give you more control schemes.

WRAP-UP

A one console future is the best thing that can happen to this industry on every front. It saves wasted man power, and money. It eleminates consumer confusion. It brings more competition into the industry, and breed more innovation. Most importantly though. It gets rid of these stupid fanboy wars, and gets back to being about good games.

AND TO GET THE POINT ACROSS ONE MORE TIME

A one console future does not mean one box from one manufacture. It is a coloberation of the entire electronic indusrty, and development industry.

Squilliam, once again, thank you for bring up this topic.