One Console to Rule Them- Could the future hold an open-source console?

CordWeekly writes:

"Man, do I want a PS3. There are going to be a great amount of games coming out soon for the thing, not the least of which is Metal Gear Solid 4, Hideo Kojima's next in his epic series of post-modern romps of stealth action. But I have a problem. I'm terribly poor, and my fiscal responsibility extends to me not being able to afford a brand new PS3. I sort of like eating food on a regular basis."

[tweaker]

Work your a$$ son. The PS3 isn't expensive.

[iAmPS3]

If he spent less time on the internet and more time out there making money he would have money for consoles and games.

I rest my case

[Harry190]

is not considering all
that you get from the box.

[slak]

eating...lol

[Alcohog]

Who can't afford $400? Get a real job and stop writing crappy articles!

[BeaArthur]

It's called Top Ramen; or get a better job.

[MetalProxy]

theres also Rice and Beans !!

[longduckdong]

because the money he spent on the computer could have been used for a PS3. And the PS3 could have been used as his computer too

[yesah]

......wtf, it's kind of hard to get through college without a computer now a days.

anyway....

Whats wrong with you people "$400 isn't much get a job." hes a college student, I'm sure he has one and still cant afford it. Not everybody's parents buys them everything, why are you complaining about him writing a blog post? some people here are being real royal asses.

[jmare]

First of all, why was this even approved? It's some random kid b1tching that he can't afford a PS3, ignoring that he already has a 360. Boo F***ing hoo. He's a big boy able to make big boy decisions and if he can't afford it he should do something about it if he really wants one.

To the actual subject of a one console future. Everyone for it seems to think that it will be some watershed moment raising gaming into some glorious utopia and never again be blighted by fanboys. Not likely. The major thing people forget is that, like every other major consumer electronic device, price is a determination of quality and features (generally). The more a TV costs, the better it is perceived to be. What I mean is that the higher the quality of the product, the higher the price. You can buy a DVD player for $30, but I can guarantee it won't be as good as the $200 upscaling DVD player/recorder. The prices are just for illustration, not for statement of current market price. This seriously ignores the fact that consoles are generally built with bleeding-edge technology (for the time they are released) and therefore are sold at a loss to increase revenues through software sales later. And the DVD format doesn't change; every few years, the standard would have to be fought over again thereby increasing the length of iteration between hardware changes.

Also, the open source standard will have companies violating it constantly because the very nature of videogames is interactive. Unlike DVD players, where you can add all the different functionality you want as long as you don't change how it plays DVDs, you cannot add functionality to an "open source" console because it would violate the standard. That means no different controllers, no added functionality, etc. Anything that changes the way you would play the games would violate the standard.

Overall, the idea of a one console future is a fairytale. It's nice to think about, but it has no chance in hell of happening.

[Horny Melon]

You can most definitely add functionality and you can charge for it. But as much as EA and the like hem and haw for opensource., it's ultimately in thier court. They could go open source right now, but then they would lose the PC and Xbox as platforms. This is how micrsoft maintains it's monopoly. It maintains the right to pull your license under a number of circumstance. Dell still has to pay Microsoft for every computer it ships with linux on it as per the licensing agreement.

[jmare]

I may not have a complete grasp of the fine points of GPL, however, I do have a basic understanding of business. The major distinction between consoles and other open standards is the fact that as a standard DVD or VHS or whatever is that they are passive in nature. You can watch a DVD on any DVD drive (for the most part) and there never is a question of whether or not you can watch a legal DVD in any player. This will not work for a console as any added functionality will violate the standard. The point being: if, as you seem to think, companies can change the terms of the license at will and thereby render the concept of the license useless, what is the point of having the license in the first place? I am referring to issues of controller functionality or the ability to play different consoles games, or any other functionality that would compromise the integrity of the license. That would violate the license because the manufacturer of said product would strive to have developers create games for their machines only, violating the standard. The very nature of this industry is competetive to a fault and having an open standard would simply complicate things further.

Another point is who will make this new open standard? The result will most likely be an unacceptable mismash of console ideas that would fail to please most.

[sfinXters]

If he's dreaming about MGS4 then why did he buy a X360?

[RealityCheck]

Competition is good for the industry (as long as done ethically) and it is good for the consumers. It keeps the prices lower, it forces the vendors to offer better features and strive for better games.

One console = monopoly. Monopoly is the worst thing that can happen to us the consumers.

[Iamback]

"But I have a problem. I’m terribly poor, and my fiscal responsibility extends to me not being able to afford a brand new PS3. I sort of like eating food on a regular basis"- sell your 360 with all games and you Wii with no games and you will have enough for incredible PS3. BTW PS3 is not expensive so cut this crap act that it is expensive. I can waste 500 dollars on a Friday night. Blue ray player, free online.....God it is so cheap.

[Iamback]

BTW- there is one console future and that once console is PS3, or some other Playstation. No one can beat or kill Playstation brand, no ONE! THey could all unite EA, Activiosion, MS and Nintedo with all American BS media and still Sony would crush them in long run......muahahahahahha to strong baby, to strong, you can only hate the KING, you can never be one.

[BeaArthur]

It's called the open zone; use it.

[jmare]

"Activiosion"

Is that anything like Activision? Or the soon to be ActiBlizz?

Just a joke.

[meepmoopmeep]

as long as it's not xbox engineers designing it... lol (joke)

[Horny Melon]

to lower prices and higher quality. Only competition innovates and forces prices down.