An Open Console

[ZephyrXero]

Hi guys...got an idea to run past you. Wouldn't you love it if there was an open console standard that hardware manufacturers went by instead of splitting the console market in multiple directions? I'm writing up a pretty lengthy proposal on how this could easily become a reality. One of the biggest benefits would be that there would be no licensing restrictions/fees put on developers to release games for it, so it would be perfect for small/indie developers. With the way things are going, it looks like MS and Sony at least, will be facing some pretty hard times convincing gamers to buy their next generation of systems, so this may be our chance to shift the market away from proprietary console formats. Now the first itteration of this standard would probably not be directly competing with the likes of the current Big 3, but with the 2nd or 3rd versions...who knows?

Just to put it briefly, there would be a non profit organization that would be in charge of the standard, and it would be only updated every 5-10 years. Think of it like an OpenGL for console hardware and a developer platform. Then there would be a sister company that would certify the consoles to be 100% compatible with the standard (for a small fee, kind of like HDMI works), and manufactures would then be allowed to put the logo of the the standard/certification on their machine. Any machine certified to the standard would be able to play any game released for the standard format. So now you could have a cheap basic model from someone like Apex and one with lots of bells and whistles from Panisonic, while another company has a middle ground version. It would work very much like the DVD format. Consumers do not have to buy a specific type of DVD movie to play in their particular brand machine, so why should games be any different?

I'll post the full version of this idea as soon as it's completed...

If you're just going to reply about how "it's not possible" or something, don't bother...youre wasting both our time. ;)

[Hiro_Antagonist]

If you're just going to reply about how "it's not possible" or something, don't bother...youre wasting both our time. ;)
Most people with serious plans *try* to poke holes in their plans. If the plan can't stand up to counter-arguments, weak spots, etc., and be patched to be made stronger, it doesn't really have a chance.

If you are interested in hearing some of the reasons this idea would be a stretch, I'd be happy to oblige. Not sure what it would cost you, but I can see lots of benefit to hearing the nay-sayers like me...

-Hiro_Antagonist

[PeterM]

I may have gotten the wrong end of the stick here. Is this idea somewhat like Khronos with OpenGL ES, but with implementors writing for consoles instead of mobile devices?

[Ricardo C]

This sounds a hell of a lot like the Indrema project, and that one did not end well. Just sayin'

[Sybixsus]

With the way things are going, it looks like MS and Sony at least, will be facing some pretty hard times convincing gamers to buy their next generation of systems,

Huh? I must have missed something because I see rabid fanbois drooling over blurry "screenshots" from both consoles.

[soniCron]

You seem to be biting off more than you can chew, on more than just a few occasions. Why not start with something simple, like a nice webpage (http://penguin.agrid.usm.edu/%7Edeisenhardt/emh). Maybe you can then graduate to a small game and see how that works out. Maybe, after all that works out and you've got some business experience, game development experience, quit making dubious claims ("...it looks like MS and Sony at least, will be facing some pretty hard times convincing gamers to buy their next generation of systems..."), and quit shooting yourself in the foot ("If you're just going to reply about how "it's not possible" or something, don't bother...youre wasting both our time.") you'll be able to persue something more substantial than these pipe dreams ("...this may be our chance to shift the market away from proprietary console formats.") you seem married to.

[whisperstorm]

I thought there was already an "open console" of sorts:

http://www.gbax.com/gp32review.html

[tolik]

Here's your open dream...
http://archive.gamespy.com/devdiary/october00/indrema1/
http://archive.gamespy.com/devdiary/november00/indrema2/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indrema
http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/bill/indrema/index2.php3

etc google "Indrema"

[Fry Crayola]

Unless you forced every hardware manufacturer to comply with the standard, no-one would buy it. They'd buy the better machine. The one with the proven track record.

We might get a single format in twenty years if we're lucky. And from there, an open platform.

[princec]

Sounds like a job for a Mac Mini to me.

Cas :)

[Pyabo]

I like the mandatory lurk period for new users, I think it's worked out well.

Now can we add mandatory drug screening? Cuz this dude is smokin' the rock. :D

[Robert Cummings]

I think a standardised console is a terrible idea.

I like the way consoles are all different, like arcade machines. It also encourages more innovation each cycle. You know the consoles will all have different joypads, different hardware and some unique titles each. It is what makes a console special.

And if things were standardised you might as well develop on a PC. Renderware does an excellent job of covering the different hardware out there.

If you're going to moan about developing on a console well let me tell you if you can't afford the middleware, you have no business worrying about your game on lots of different consoles.

[ZephyrXero]

Ok, well I was just testing the waters there, but I didn't expect such a negative closed minded responce from you guys.... I'd figure you guys would be much more open to this kind of idea than the corporate drones, but maybe I was wrong. You guys really shocked me with things like "I don't want a standardized console"....lol. Innovation should come in the software, not the hardware these days.

As far as innovation and whatnot goes we already started to plateau with system power this past generation and the jump for this next generation's already looking pretty small. Sure the fanboys and graphics whores will notice, but the average gamer will not. Now is the perfect time to standardize...it'll make our lives alot easier in the long run....

Sonicron, the website thing was a cheap and pointless shot...it's just a placeholder site till we're ready to show off anything, why do I care what it looks like at this point??? lol....

When I've completed the full article I'll come back and post it here. THEN, I'll be ready for the naysayers.... right now I just wanted to get a feel for if this idea had already been brought up around here, and aparently it hasn't...

PS. Indrema might be a little similar but it was never an open format. It was only going to be made by a single company...

[Ricardo C]

Ok, well I was just testing the waters there, but I didn't expect such a negative closed minded responce from you guys....

Maybe it's not close minded, just realistic.

I'd figure you guys would be much more open to this kind of idea than the corporate drones, but maybe I was wrong. You guys really shocked me with things like "I don't want a standardized console"....lol.

Not thinking your ideas are the greatest thing since VGA doesn't mean we're not open to new ideas. We're just closed to bad ideas.

Innovation should come in the software, not the hardware these days.

Bullshit, poppycock, and bollocks. Inventive coders can squeeze incredible things out of any piece of hardware, but if hardware doesn't renew itself there are things that will forever remain imposssible to attain. It's a symbiotic relationship.

As far as innovation and whatnot goes we already started to plateau with system power this past generation and the jump for this next generation's already looking pretty small.

1. People who use "whatnot" in casual conversation and are under 50, tend to be poseurs.

2. How do you quantify innovation?

3. How do you define small within the context of the new console generation?

Sure the fanboys and graphics whores will notice, but the average gamer will not. Now is the perfect time to standardize...it'll make our lives alot easier in the long run....

"Fanboys and graphics whores"? Again, how do you define those two groups? Dude, if you're going to use strawmen in your arguments, at least have the decency to clearly define them.

Sonicron, the website thing was a cheap and pointless shot...it's just a placeholder site till we're ready to show off anything, why do I care what it looks like at this point??? lol....

Not to speak for Daniel, but if you're going to put annything in the public eye, and especially if that anything is going to be seen by your peers, then presentation is key.

When I've completed the full article I'll come back and post it here. THEN, I'll be ready for the naysayers.... right now I just wanted to get a feel for if this idea had already been brought up around here, and aparently it hasn't...

You'll never be ready for the "naysayers", because you don't want a debate, just a soapbox.

PS. Indrema might be a little similar but it was never an open format. It was only going to be made by a single company...

Multiple manufacturer support will never materialize if the originator of the product can't bring it to market on its own first.

[soniCron]

...I didn't expect such a negative closed minded responce from you guys.... I'd figure you guys would be much more open to this kind of idea than the corporate drones, but maybe I was wrong. What about our responses was "closed minded"? And who, if not these "corporate drones", will pay to create this standardized console?


You guys really shocked me with things like "I don't want a standardized console"....lol. Innovation should come in the software, not the hardware these days. I'm truly sorry, but I don't understand how your retort is related to not wanting standardized consoles?


Now is the perfect time to standardize...it'll make our lives alot easier in the long run.... It will? Please, explain how.


Sonicron, the website thing was a cheap and pointless shot...it's just a placeholder site till we're ready to show off anything, why do I care what it looks like at this point??? lol.... It wasn't a "shot." I was merely suggesting that you need to prove your worth before people will take you seriously, especially with such fantastical ideas. Believe me, I know.


When I've completed the full article I'll come back and post it here. THEN, I'll be ready for the naysayers.... We'll be waiting.

[ggambett]

I didn't expect such a negative closed minded responce from you guys....
It's not close-minded - it's realistic. Most other people think your idea is extremely naive. And your "don't let me know the obvious downsides of this idea" IS a close-minded attitude.

I'm closing this thread before it turns into a full-scale flame war. We don't need another ZephyrXero vs soniCron line-by-line post dissection.