Open-standard consoles the future?

[Space Pirate Roberts]

EA and now Denis Dyack have expressed the desire to evolve to an undivided market. Personally, I think this is the essential next step if videogames want to attain the same cultural respect as movies and other mass media. Right now, no matter how good a given game is, its audience is limited to the people who've bought into the particular box it's on, which is limited by the price set by the single company manufacturing said box - and by the time the price hits the mass-market point it would have hit much sooner with true competition, it's already time to buy the next box.

[Rumpy]

I think it's a good idea too, but who would make the system?

[Space Pirate Roberts]

Anyone who makes consumer electronics and wants a piece of the pie, just like DVD players. That's what an open standard means.

[bbobb]

Great idea, but never going to happen.

Hell Nintendo alone would never be willing to do it.

[RoleTroll]

I'd like to see one company (Sega?) release an open system. Nintendo is pretty close to being open content-wise, but it still charges franchise fees. All you'd need to do is follow the Wii model of selling a $100 system for a much higher price.* The console manufacturer has little risk as each unit is highly profitable.

That wouldn't stop there from being competition. As long as there are first parties with titles like Mario and Halo, third parties will need to make games for those consoles. But they could release whatever content they want on the open console without paying franchise fees. It would be like the 3DO, except a $100 system selling for $300 instead of a $500 system selling for a back-breaking $700. And we now know that gamers will buy a system with last-gen graphics.


* Yes, the Wii costs more than $100 to make. But a bare-bones system would not. A system as powerful as the 360 with no hard drive would probably cost $100 to make by the time the next console generation arrives.

[Mr_B]

yeah, this isn't happening. I don't want it to happen either, cause then who's determining when its time for a new box with better hardware? Some round table of dipshits. While all 3, have dipshits making decisions. Its best to keep them seperated, because while they are trying to out wit each other. They may actually brainfart a good idea and I might actually get something worthwhile as a consumer.

[YellerDog]

Say it with me: "P." "C.".

[gamevet]

Say it with me: "P." "C.".

That's not exactly the same as a standardized console. The PC is a constantly evolving product, with so many levels of hardware out there. A top of the line PC today, would be nearly obsolete in 4 to 5 years and most top of the line software would outdo what the hardware could perform.


I like console gaming the way it is. If you can't afford a couple of consoles, stick with the one you can afford and be happy about it. I don't need no stinkin standardization bringing the console world to stagnation.

[Giga Power]

Worst. Idea. Ever.

[NeoZeedeater]

I fully support a console standard because:

- Hardware makers will have no ability to censor games or deny their existence in certain regions. It will be up to the game makers themselves.

- The lack of licensee fee will mean cheaper games and it will also allow smaller developers a chance at making console games.

- We won't have to deal with several incompatible pieces of hardware which the gamer is forced to buy if he wants access to all the console games.

Critics of this will argue that this will get rid of the uniqueness of multiple consoles but I don't think that advantage really exists anymore anyway. It's not like back in the '80s and '90s where each console had a very distinctive look and sound. Today, aside from the level of graphic detail, that isn't the case. Controllers don't count because companies can make different ones compatible with the standard.

- With hundreds of console manufacturers you don't have to be stuck supporting some defective machine-making company to have access to the games. Consoles will be initially more expensive since they won't be manufactured at a loss but the money you save on not buying several machines will make up for it. Plus they will drop in price fairly quickly like other standards do.

Bring on the revolution.