Console gaming is NOT defined by the means by which you get your content. Eventually, disks could go away. All consoles could have a version of OnLive. People end up getting digital distribution, even if it is streamed to you. What goes away is the disks. Carts went away, and disks could also.
What console gaming is, is a dedicated platform for playing games. That is it. The argument about it going away is that people will game on multi-use devices only, like computers or smart phones. Is that going to come? I don't see it personally happening. Also, will retail go away? I don't see that either. Console makers need to have a distribution channel to get their platform in place. And console makers will NOT support the "one platform will rule them all, and in the darkness bind them" bit either. Sony and Microsoft want to control the living room, and the standards there. Nintendo wants a piece to. The arguments about the end of dedicated devices to play games, and replace them with multiuse devices just isn't going to hold, for multiple reasons.
