mrstickball said:
WiiStation360 said:
I do not see the benefit of doing this for the consumer, or for Microsoft. |
There are a very, very important benefits for MS and the Consumer if they did this:
- Better Hardware what if a 3rd party was able to take the RROD-machine (although Falcon has done a much better job), and employed smarter, better ideas into the 360, like making sure the GPU/CPU weren't directly on top of the drive? How about a slimmer, better looking 360?
- New Innovations/Features One of the things that we've talked about for quite some time is the whole 360/IPTV intergration. If Microsoft allowed that a 3rd party was able to make the machines, they could re-do the 360 to be 360 game compatible, but allow for DVR-compatability, Blu-Ray, or a host of other options.
- Lower Cost with it being built by other parties, chances are, costs will decrease...Fast. If other parties are able to set their own prices, we could see a DVD-type war go on, and see prices race below $300, $250, $200, or lower quickly, as 3rd parties try to pump out the cheapest 360's available.
On Microsoft's end we see:
- Appeal lets face it, Microsoft isn't the most well-loved manufacturer out there. However, if Toshiba, Samsung, or a game company like Namco got ahold of 360-compatible gaming, the 360 might sell quite a bit more than we see now. It'll be hard to track if it comes to pass, but re-badged 360s might sell well in areas that it currently does not (Japan).
- Licensing Fees Microsoft, like Sony's Blu-Ray, would get a decent sum of money for every 360 licensed out, just like the accessories. Certainly wouldn't hurt Microsoft.
- Developer Support it's a long stretch, but if the device is more prolific in the marketplace, "regular" games-driven 360 owners will see more support for the console in the long run.
So it's a win-win for everyone involved if it came true. If Microsoft doesn't hold all the cards with their system, consumers will win out: just like when off-brand DVD players, and TVs come out. It'll keep the device competitively priced, and in the marketplace for quite some time. Look at off-brand 360 accessories...I can get a perfectly decent hard-wired 360 controller for $25 - $15 less than the official MS controller. A 360 would be the same way, and could even be better than the official box.
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