According to the BBC website today, EA has said they would like to see what is basically a combined technology gaming machine which will play every game for every current format.
To which I have to ask: Why?
Many companies have single-format deals, meaning the only make games for either one or the other. A lot of companies develop for both. Companies like EA and Codemasters.
Developing the same game for both formats is the best idea, because it generates healthy competition and helps to lower prices. If you can buy a game for cheaper on one console than the other, obviously people with both will go for that one. This inspires the rival to drop their price until they both even out.
In the situation EA would like (unsurprisingly right enough, with EA being the most dispicable evil software developer and publisher in the world) means that you're only making one disc and then it runs automatically on whichever system you want.
So what's to stop a developer charging £100 for their new game? If you want it, there's no other choice. Why would they drop their price if there's no incentive or benefit to the company?
Likewise, the hardware would have the same issue. If you only sell one box, you can charge what you like for it. £1000? £5000? If there was no competition to drive the price down, the only limiting factor would be what people are willing to pay. And from the way a lot of hardcore gamers behave, some of them would spend that.
Basically, the only people this would benefit are the hardware and software companies. Big shock then that moneypit-yearly-game-recycling-unimaginative-cess-pool Electronic Arts wants it that way.
Arseholes.
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