Recently many gamedevelopers have spoken out, and believe that the future for games is one platform, contrary to todays market with many different platforms. One of those advocating a “one platform future” is Silicons Knights boss Denis Dyacks and God of War director David Jaffe.
From a consumer and gamedevelopers view its a great idea, with one platform that will improve the development process for the gamemaker, and not confuse the consumer.
But the thing I’m sceptical about is what kind of market it will create, where the only competision is between the gamemakers, and one company “owns” and have complete controll over the platform. It will lead to monopoly, that will result in one company that basicly controls and decides the whole market! That isn´t development, and I think it will harm the developers and consumer more than it will benefit them. One good example is the Mircosoft operatingsystem monopoly.
Its good with many actors on the market, its healty and they complement each other. People want choices, depending on that kind of player, person or finacial situation they have.
But what I would like to see more of is integrasion between the different platforms. The consolesmaker wants everybody to buy there console and its games and peripherals, but why fuckit up for the players to be able to play the game with each other over the Internet, no mather what console they have!?
“One platform to rule them all, One platform to find them, One platform to bring them all and in the darkness bind them”
Update:
In an interview with EAs Gerhard Florin, he talk about one future “open gaming platform”, where the developers and publishers can make one version of the game and release it one time. Instead of today when they have to modify it for each platform. He don´t see one console, but rather one standard! Better, but I´m still critical.