Alright with the recent rumours about Apple looking to break into the industry with an aquisition of EA or Sony, this begs the question. Do we as gamers really want Apple to break into the industry, do we really want a fourth competitor? What can Apple add to the industry that would make it appealing to us gamers?

Do you want to see Apple join the console wars with their own console, or do you want them to just leave our industry the hell alone?

unless they join with one of them 

an 4th competitor will fragment the industry more and 3 is enough really. 

They bring everything that people want, before they know they want it. Have faith young padawan!

Imo, Microsoft can leave the biz for Apple to take its place and make it a trifecta of consoles for next gen. But if we do get Apple into next gen, Sony might aswell leave since Sony is just a poor mans version of an Apple product. And a head to head with Nintendo wouldn't really be a fair fight for the Japs, so we might aswell just make it an Apple generation for next gen. Bring it.

Wow! I was the first one to welcome them.

They would bring innovation, as they always do. That would be great for me.

i would say bring apple in the fold woo

Exactly why I don't want to see Apple join. They would tear the industry to pieces.

Worst case scenario Apple buys Sony. Enters the industry with the I-Station. Throws a billion into ads and another billion into aquiring exclusives. They launch the product with the I-branding and PlayStation branding, bring in I-Tunes and all of Apple's other features. Apple then makes Sony music and movies exclusive to I-Tunes and other I devices like I-Station , Apple TV and I-Pads.They launch I-Station and a buying spree purchasing many more small publishers and developers. They then make game companies produce a certain amount of exclusives for their console and black list any company that disagrees. It'll be the I-Phone all over again this time with the games industry.

Best case scenario. Apple Buys EA, enters the industry as a fourth competitor. takes a big enough market share to force one of the other three out of the industry (Probubly Sony as you said) With Sony gone Nintendo goes head to head with Apple possibly holding its own. Microsoft likely pores the remainder of its wealth into X-Box and puts up a hell of a fight. In the end we loose Sony and see Nintendo and Microsoft badly damaged if both are still in the console industry.

Either way Apple will destroy the industry. They are the second largest corporation in the world with over 51-billion dollars in reserve (Spending money) None of the big three can compete with that much financial power.

What innovation are you talking about?

The iPhone? No, smphones were there before the iPhone.

The iPad? No, Tablet PCs (it's not even a full Tablet PC) were there before the iPad.

The iPod or iTunes? don't make me laugh. MP3 players and MP3 shops came LONG before Apple did this.

Really, Apple doesn't innovate anything.  All they do is bring it under one hut and stamp their expensive name on it. The major selling point of Apple products is design and blind worship. They make it casual friendly and add widespread appeal, though, so much I give to them.

They must enter...

only to see they meltdown from the haters... geez it's like apple rape their childeren and their wife and left 10 dollars on the table..

I want them to join and fail. This premium product-stuff does not work in the videogame industry. You can't sell a inferior console with a higher pricetag. The "design" won't do the trick. Apple needs to make portable devices so people can show them off. Sad but true.

That is why Apple TV or Apple desktop computer are not doing so well.

They already did with Iphone/Ipad/Ipod ;)

And i'm happy for that since they will steal casuals which will force Sony and Nintendo to concentrate on games for core gamers on handhelds.