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richardhutnik on 16 May 2010
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RolStoppable said:
richardhutnik said:
RolStoppable said:
Khuutra said:
Microsoft isn't going to leave until Sony is gone, I don't think.

I think the same way, that's why I want Sony gone.

Rol, what do you think the financial markets' take on the videogame industry would be if both Sony and Microsoft pulled out of the market and Nintendo was the only one left?  Do you think there would be much funding for game development made available?  Do you think any board of directors is going to give a green light to enter into a marketspace which had large costs of entry?  Expect to see a lot of game studios go under, EA being among the top of them.

Or, maybe you think that the choices for gamers should be Apple or Nintendo.  You an Apple fan, and think they are better than Sony and Microsoft?

Last question first: No, I don't want Apple to make a console either.

I am not sure what you mean by saying "the financial markets", maybe that investors are funneling money into third party publishers with the ultimate goal that either Sony or Microsoft are able to succeed with their convergence box? That money isn't invested in those companies first and foremost to make profit through video games themselves, but rather all the rest like movies and such because the same investors also own stock in Sony and/or Microsoft? So without the hopes of creating a successful convergence box due to Sony and Microsoft exiting the hardware business, investors will pull out of the video game business altogether? Is that you wanted to say?

I am talking about the money people here, and how they treat industries and whether or not they put money into them.  If the videogame industry saw two of the three players in it leave, do you think they are going to continue to fund projects in that area?  Do you think those who advice corporations on what to do, who are in the financial industry, are going to greenlight anything related to the industry if it isn't seen one as growth?  Do you think there will be home market games being done, that have major costs associated with them?

Want to know where convergence is coming?  Look in the portable market.  It is now shaping up to be Droid vs iPhone.  That is where things are happening.  Beyond that, where exactly would a convergence box take place?  We have one convergence now... it is a called a PC.  Beyond that, in the videogame business, the most noted convergence business model was the 3DO.  Well, study the history of the 3DO to see why that business model didn't go over well, at all.  The business model that does work, outside of PCs, is the proprietary model that Apple uses.  It is very profitable with this business model.  It owns and controls everything there (distribution to the hardware), but does allow people to develop around it.  In computers, it still isn't as profitable as the PC market though.