| NightDragon83 said: No other digital media has software specifically designed for exclusive use with proprietary hardware. All your VHS/DVD/Blu-Rays work with their respective players, and Blu-Ray is b/c with DVD because the technology is essentially the same. All music CDs work with both regular stereo and CD-ROM drives as well as DVD/Blu-Ray players for the same reason. Software specifically designed for proprietary hardware does not work with any other hardware by definition. Is it a dick move that the videogame console industry is the only multimedia and entertainment industry in existence where you CANNOT use software and media across multiple platforms? Imagine DVDs and Blu-Rays by Sony Pictures and its affiliates being playable ONLY on Sony hardware, or only being able to stream certain TV / internet content like Netfilx on specific devices rather than just about anything with an ethernet or Wi-Fi connection that meets the minimum hardware requirements. There's a stronger case to be made for XB1 games being playable on PS4 than their is for PS3 games to be playable on PS4. |
I fully understand the difference in architecture and costs associated. But, by the time a new console is releasing you can have a very small circuit designed that could be added to your existing hardware for BC. Then adjusting the cost of the console by $20 (or eating that cost) would be greatly worth it.
Going forward I think MSony and Nintendo are laying the ground work where digital games will be BC. Then likely adding a cost system to allow physical to digital upgrades, etc ... that would be great.
