Consoles are typically specialized units each with their unique hardware (and software) design, not part of some long-term platform, like say PC clones.

PCs with Windows at least generally can run anything from the XP era on the very newest hardware and software too, since so much emphasis is on backwards compatability from Microsoft.



For a console (or any computer really) to emulate another platform it typically has to be substantially beefier than the machine it emulates, that's just the reality of emulation. The reason early PS3s had some PS2 compatability was because they smacked most of the PS2 chips on the motherboard too, but it was expensive and never really 100% compatible.

 

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I was the same up until the PS1 came out. I never even owned a N64. Last non-Sony console I owned was a super NES when I was in the army.


ETA: This would also signal the end of B&M video game stores, not that that's necessarily a bad thing for anyone other than those whose jobs would be lost.

 

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The chances of the 720 not playing games is 99% actually. In exchange they will make a little bit more money through the exclusives promised to them through deals made before announcing this. "Possibility". The ps4 on the other hand, IS just a rumor atm. It won't be announed that it's not a rumor until the system is about to be released. They don't want microsoft to back out of doing this. The xbox nickle and dimes it's users already and the ps4/wiiu will have free internet, back used games and will have many more features I can't speak on or shinto will destroy me.

 

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Nickel and diming your customers is the way to go. They sold tons of xboxes based on the $100 lower sticker price to people who have now ended up paying $300 more than they would have for a PS3 based on the xbox live subscription costs. And who probably paid the same amount anyhow because they bought the $40 remote and other gadgets.

If the PS4 played used games their market dominance would be a sure thing.

But I think it will be more important to them to "play ball" within the industry, than listen to consumers.

So, console gaming is on the way out. All someone needs to do is make a user-friendly way of remotely hooking up computers to living room TVs, in a way that mouth-breathing console users can actually figure out, and consoles will go the way of Palm Treos.

 

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I think these are trial balloons to see how bad the feed back is. They've been slowly twisting the consumer in this direction with DLC, EA has been the worst. I don't know if I'll buy one. I mostly play games on my PC anyhow.

 

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Consoles will make money via interweb subscriptions and DLC content....not on the actual units themselves.

They will sell hundreds of millions of whatever they come out with even if they put a sticker on the box that says "ou have to pay us 5 bucks every time you turn this bitch on".

The target market of consoles are they same people who buy a new iPod every year because they came out with a new color or the new one has a different button that makes it uber somehow.....

And it's mostly ea making these exclusive deals with microsoft for the 720. Games like madden, nhl, nba will be exclusive.

 

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