EA pushes for open gaming platform

[cavalierlwt]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7052420.stm

Hmm, hard to picture how that would work without stifling innovation.

[Wesley]

go figure EA wants a cheaper way to make even more money.

[Darknut]

go figure EA wants a cheaper way to make even more money.

Because EA is the only business that would like to reduce its costs.

There is actually many benefits to the consumer.
-- Reduction in hardware clutter.
-- Access to a unified gaming library as opposed to a platform specific one.
-- Transparent platform upgrades.
---- So long as your set-top is capable you wouldn't need to upgrade any hardware to play newer games.
---- Patches would be applied automatically as well.
-- Potential for unlimited gaming access via subscription. Akin to rentals, membership could give you access to every game in your service.
-- Native online support.
-- Lack of physical mediums to store and maintain.
-- Significant reduction in fanboyism as nobody would need to own a console.

Producers benefit because they only need to develop one version of the game as the platform it is being run on would be completely transparent to the end user.

Also this type of technology has many other benefits. Imagine having a single device that gives you access to TV, movies, music, games, internet and applications. You need only one device to gain access to all of these and you no longer need to concern yourself with hardware upgrades and software upgrades. It's a good setup for a multi-tiered subscription service for consumers looking for convenience and ease of use. How many people have separate devices just to use the aforementioned content? How many people don't know who to properly use those devices. At least now, they'll only have to learn one device.

I've been all for terminals, which is essentially what these services are, as they minimize the damage a user can do.

[cavalierlwt]

Good idea, but not realistic IMHO. As a model, I submit Blu-Ray/HD-DVD: Two different groups come up with two slightly different concepts that do essentially the same thing, perform essentially the same. Both groups refuse to abandon their 'innovations' in favor of the other groups system, thus they don't merge into one standard. Now they've screwed the consumer, and screwed themselves with their stubborness.

I think the same would happen a single platform. As different groups take different paths, no one would be willing to compromise and decide on a standard.

[Darknut]

Good idea, but not realistic IMHO. As a model, I submit Blu-Ray/HD-DVD: Two different groups come up with two slightly different concepts that do essentially the same thing, perform essentially the same. Both groups refuse to abandon their 'innovations' in favor of the other groups system, thus they don't merge into one standard. Now they've screwed the consumer, and screwed themselves with their stubborness.

I think the same would happen a single platform. As different groups take different paths, no one would be willing to compromise and decide on a standard.

True. Now enter terminals. With a terminal, the hardware used behind the scenes. If terminals--settop boxes--became the perferred method of distribution on the consumer end that would mean companies that produce new technologies would be gearing their technology towards distributors rather than consumers. In the event that two rival formats do not reach a compromise it would make no different to the consumer as they wouldn't be aware of the medium used for their content anyway. Content creators would only have to decide upon the format they'd want to use and would not have to concern themselves with porting their content to rival formats as no matter the format, the same content is streamed to the same user base.

The idea is to create a service to stream content to the user with the providers of the service taking on the burden of maintaining, upgrading, and choosing the hardware they wish to use. They could opt, say in the console market, to integrate every console into their service. The single detail to work out in that respect is how input would be obtained. Of course, this could be simplified by having manufacturers agree upon a wireless standard and a wired standard of device connection. However this detail could be easily overcome with adapters and that some controllers (Xbox 360 and Wiimote) will natively interface with a PC.

In the long run, should terminals become a significant portion of the market, hardware manufacturers will be forced to opt for open communication protocols and connections in order to ensure maximum compatibility.