Of course game developers want this ... doesn't mean it's going to happen.

It will happen... Read: those of you who "don't see this happening", are more than likely not in the industry - so you don't see a lot of things happening.

It's inevitable man.. sorry to bring you down. The PC is a unified platform - run on a sole operating system. Make your tweaks or adjustments, almost every WindowsXP Machine can support games built for XP to a degree based on your hardware configuration... Welcome to the Next Generation of Consoles, where your home entertainment center will be based around what you want to include (DVD/CD/Kareoke?) running one GameSystemOS ... the question will be - who's Operating system will win?

You see it now with Sony scrambling to sell PS3's dropping prices and releasing new sku's, same goes for 360 releasing way too many versions of their consoles to keep up with, and both of these companies are trying to pit its different hardware config's against each other, and losing in the end. If M$ outsourced Hardware to Toshiba and said - Toshiba, make a Toshiba branded 360, throw it in a new case designed by your guys, and maybe add an extra feature or two if you want (more USB ports? etc). Compatible with all 360 games, and accessories. You wouldn't even be interested??

I dunno man, thats the way it'll go, Microsoft is testing the waters with the 360 Dashboard, once they have designed the perfect platform for that stuff, they will start selling hardware through different people. It's a for sure. Playstation's OS is a lot sleaker and sexier so I hope they can get their shit together and maybe beat M$ to the punch..

Of course the console makers want a single console, but they each want THEIR OWN console to be that single console. I just don't see them coming together and working on one grand WiiStation360 anytime soon.

Yes, PC gaming is a "unified" platform, but look at all the hassles that come along with it. Hardware isn't always constant between different machines, then you need to worry about driver updates, upgrades, etc. Much of that is still too much hassle for the common consumer.

By the way, you're Wii, PS3, and 360 all receive "driver" updates... Pretty much all support USB KB & Mice now.. Every update is a firmware/os update, meaning added support, additional drivers/features. And the platform would more than likely be closed from upgrades, much like breaking the warranty seal on your console. They would just be from different manufacturers... I don't get why some people find all this hard to comprehend?

You walk into a store - You can buy the Sony Playstation, or the Microsoft Xbox, Now - if you will, imagine you could do the same thing, but instead of games for the PS3 and games for the 360 - you only saw "GAMES"... You like the 360 controller better? Go buy a 360, and put in your GAME! What is the difference between that future and present day? Accept instead of two separate discs, we just have one build - one disc. Life is easier for everyone, games look identical, but each console has its own "feel". Hardware costs are cut a bit because they use the same components and/or factories and can produce more. Everything sounds good?? Doesn't it?

It's the PHANTOM!

I'm wasn't trying to get aggressive. Text gets interpreted how you want to read it. So I believe at most, we are getting progress on the debate!! I like the points you bring up, no doubt. The thing is though, back then wasn't the time for such a thing. Costs weren't up in the multi millions for companies back then. Things are a much different scenario in present day.

I think you guys need to look at games as a single format/medium. Thats what these guys in the industry are saying. That Music has CD, home video has DVD, and Games has a million different platforms, but this gen, little separates them.

Back in the day, we had 2 real competitors. Sega - Nintendo. Each company would one up the other by releasing hardware that doubled its competitor. 8 bit, to 16 bit, then kept multiplying. Today the consoles are running parallel almost from launch. Which is why we see so many ports/cross platform titles. This is raising dev costs, and not making sense in the grand scheme of things.

The game industry has never been as big as it is now. People may not have understood what the differences in Nintendo or Mattel's Nintendo was. People are very sketchy. It's hard to market to consumers because a majority of them follow the gang mentality as well, say - all your friends buy Xbox -> you're likely to buy one as well. While guys like us, bend over backwards to give each console a considerable debate in its unique identity, the real differences that end up settled on would more than likely be "which games are coming to which platform". Today that argument is becoming stagnet. If the only reason you want a PS3 is for MGS4, but its VERY capable of being made and played on a 360 to the exact way it's presented on PS3.. we have no differences. Granted that is not something we CAN say, due to Blu-ray discs and the fantabular capacity for data, etc.. It still can be said for about 80% of titles out there, and in dev at this moment. Why build two teams? Pay twice the amount of salary's to dev's, and end up selling the same amount of games as you would if you only made one? Can you see it from that sort of view?

Valve

PS3 - Xbox
30 mil in dev cost 30 mil in dev cost
40mil units sold 80 mil units sold

one platform
30 mil in dev costs
120 mil units sold..

But I guess we discussed already that developers love that idea... If I can't sell you on the fact that hardware manufacturers are looking at the idea, I think maybe its because your looking at it still as the Hardware makes the difference, when realistically, its also the software that runs the games. Microsoft is focusing on making it easier to dev on their console. That is a smart decision. PS dev's have complained about the lack of (dev) support and how hard it is to dev on the Cell architecture with the limited knowledge available to them about how to program for it. ALOT of time and money is going into learning this hard ware, making this hardware and trying to sell the hardware, but almost none is being made on selling the hardware. The key is in moving the units, so you are in first -> so people will buy your console, and you will make the most money. If everyone is at even strength, say - Xbox and PS3 both have 20 million units sold in 2-3 years from now and are tied basically... it is not going to make alot of sense.

Whatever the case, I think all the talk about it will be grounds for some discussion between the two - more likely just M$ and Sony, with respect to this issue... Judging by the shakeups in Sony's board of directors recently, more than likely, this idea is being batted around.

ahahha, I would say that about David Perry before Dennis Dyack.. just because at least Dyack is still making games.

The price of games would probably stay steady (like it is now), 50-60$ depending on titles. Plus its not necessarily the Hardware Manufactures that put the price point out on the game, Im sure the descretion is up to the studios. There still will be competing hardware, just not software. Remember, the technology would be licensed for use in Toshiba, Sharp, Panasonic products. You still have your choices. One would say even MORE choices. You just have security that any "game" will play on your console.

Also, Nintendo developed around the idea of a new way to play games. It could have gone either way, luckily using less expensive technology, put them at a price point they cleaned up on. The Wii like the DS was a dangerous gamble, it just happend to work - for the time being. Alot of reports now are that game sales on the wii have slowed tremendously, and also developer support is behind and yet also weary. Ppl don't know if games that arent first party will sell well. Famitsu said they estimate somewhere along the lines of 40% (I believe) of all Wii's are collecting dust. They we're a great novelty, and the Supply and Demand impacted alot of impulse and steady sales, but the long run of its appeal is in doubt.

Pick up your wii (and yes I do own one too - thats all three next gen and 20+ older consoles), and play for a bit - then throw in a game on PS3 or 360 in 1080p... and tell me when the next time you touch you're wii will be (hahah that sounds funny)

Truth is, its good for party's, especially drinking, but as far as gaming goes, I haven't felt that "Must play" mentality yet with any of their games... I should maybe start playing through Metroid Prime 3 as I have yet to crack the case seal..

And I agree with you about expansions, upgrades etc. I didnt like the N64 Expansion pack either, it isn't fair to do stuff like that really. It definately is a piss off that 360 games will DEF require a HD in the future. Although MS claims it wont be that way, games will just be Enhanced using the HD or something like that. I just envision standards set for the generation before it comes, the console manufactures build to spec, and add what other features they can without infringing on any of the specs that will elminate your console from being able to play games within the 4-6 year cycle.