I'd like an "everybody wins" scenario because I've invested in every platform and I want to get my money's worth. I'd also like some COMPETITION to push the leader to its maximum. If Microsoft and Nintendo can't keep up with Sony this gen, Microsoft may just up and quit. Meanwhile any attepmts my Nintendo to innovate (for example, a controller with a screen) may actually be awesome but with Sony so far ahead, there would be no reason to even impliment it. What we are looking at may go from competition to domination in a short amount of time.
So let's say Nintendo goes back to the drawing board. Their next console is fantastic. Great. Unfortunately, console life spans are like 5-6 years. That's a long time to wait whereas as a new cell phone comes out every time I take a shit. In the meantime, relationships with developers and customers are being strained. The PS1 and PS2 were so dominat that it allowed Sony to really drop the ball with the PS3 because they felt so powerful, and still come away somewhat okay (in the public eye--not financially).
The much loved Playstation Plus came about to counter the much loved Xbox Live. The much loved Trophies came about to counter the much loved Achievements. The free online stayed around to counter the paid online of M$. If the Xbox weren't doing so well, what would have been Sony's motivation? If the PS3 had overtaken Xbox 360 in 2007 would Sony have done a lot of the things they've done to turn the PS3 around? Would they have changed anything with the PS4 (ie: The low asking price)?
And the success of the competiton did NOT impede innovation. It made the makers more creative last gen. For better or worse, we got Playstation Home. 1 vs. 100, Kinect and Move, Netflix, Indie game exclusives, and more in an effort to gain some sort of edge over the competition. Franchises that used to only belong on one platform went multi-plat because there was more than one viable platform selling hardware. Games that were "Wii Only" went to the PS3 because there was potential to sell there and specialized hardware that could do what the Wii was doing. Every gamer was winning because, in a way, none of the console makers would admit defeat. The market was highly competitive.
So if Sony is the only one eating off of the plate, what happens? Are we already ready for the 9th gen to begin?
/end counter-rant
