I think the competition should still happen between the companies and they all do their checks and balances.
However, I would be pretty heartbroken if Nintendo or Sony left the race because they have such an awesome 1st party. If MS did, I probably wouldn't fret about it too much. The way they have been cutting their studios, they are the most easily replaceable imo. I would take Sega in the console race any day over MS. I liked MS when they focused more on PC gaming. They had some great studios like Ensemble. I think MS should form an exclusive partnership with another hardware company and keep Live running and start doing more in house development.
"Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, IT IS THE LEADERS of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is TELL THEM THEY ARE BEING ATTACKED, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. IT WORKS THE SAME IN ANY COUNTRY." --Hermann Goering, leading Nazi party member, at the Nuremberg War Crime Trials
Conservatives: Pushing for a small enough government to be a guest in your living room, or even better - your uterus.
