[QUOTE="Ninja-Vox"]

This is still a rumour of course, but according to the story gamespot is running, people seem to be speculating that microsoft plan to announce at CES that the 360 will be licensed to other companies. While they deny that they're releasing a 360 with built-in HD-DVD drive, licensing the 360 to other companies would pretty much guarantee Toshiba bringing out an HD-DVD 360 as soon as they possibly can.

So; licensing? Makes the console much cheaper to produce and sell, very bad news for Sony as their biggest rivals step into the gaming market which they've managed to keep them out of until now. Downsides? Well... can we expect consoles to basically become PCs with reiterations releasing every year if more than one company is making them?

Thoughts?

Pro_wrestler

I'm not sure. I don't remember this ever taking place with previous gaming hardware developers. Looking at the unchanging side of things, this doesn't affect current 360 owners in any way; This could pose as an oppertunity for MSFT tap into the hardcore electronics enthusiast, bringing in potentially new gamers.

Given Toshibas track record of reliable electronics, maybe this could be the end of the TRL while taking pressure off of MSFT's shoulders.

This seems likely with New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. going Blu-ray exclusive, this seems like it could be a big counter on Toshibas part.

Now that I think about it, I can't seem any harm done. At best, console gaming would become even more like PC gaming in a sense that, these X360's are able to play games but that may not be sole reason your buying into it. At worse, they won't sell any and the idea will flop but 'regular' 360 sales will go unaffected. For MSFT, it seems like a win/win.

When you think about it, it actually makes a lot of sense business-wise. Microsoft lose money whenever they sell a 360. And they have to pay other companies for all of the componants anyway. It makes sense to allow a company like Toshiba which can produce the 360 and make profit on it to manufacture it instead, allowing microsoft to just stick to stuff like Live and games where the actual money-making comes in.

So long as they control which companies produce it and what they do with it; nobody wants a Panasonic Xbox, a Toshiba Xbox, a Thomson Xbox.... all of which are different and dont work together do well.

Ninja-Vox

[QUOTE="lordxymor"]

Well, they would still have the OS lock in the 3rd party manufactured 360s in order for them to play 360 games. They long know making hardware isn't as profitable as making software.

Interesting rumor, where did you heard it?

Ninja-Vox

It's on the gamespot front-page in the article about the rumoured 360 Ultimate. Basically is says that microsoft deny they have any plans to make a new 360 SKU with HD-DVD, and then goes on to quote different publications which speculate an announcement at CES that the 360 is planned to be licensed to other companies.

[QUOTE="pins_basic"][QUOTE="Arsuz"][QUOTE="dream431ca"][QUOTE="Riverwolf007"]

I guess you could look to the history of licensed consoles to see what could happen.

I know for sure the 3DO was produced by multiple firms and I never heard too many horror stories about the system itself, it's horror stories all came from the price and the software.

Panzer_Zwei

You can think how confusing this would get, especially if that company wanted to use more powerful hardware....what about the developers? Will all of their games work on these licensed consoles? I see many potential problems.

All these problem are quite easily overcome. All companies that hold the license must hold to certain regulations stipulated by microsoft. They would only have freedome to alter things that in no way inhibit the working of the console with all games. They basiacally need to use the xenon for example. The can however use a totally different DVD-Drive, or maybe an HD-DVD or even blu-ray. Differente case maybe? Why not? A different controller? Sure.

All microsoft has to do is slight quality assurance. This would be a dream come true!

*EDIT* They might be the ones supplying all the controllers which they would make a killing off of.

this will effectively make consoles into PC's. whats the difference at this point? you start with a base package and add on whatever the manufacturer wants. i think this will ruin console gaming, but perphaps this was MS plan all along. maybe they didnt care how much money they lost to establish an install base, they knew if they licensed out their console when no one else did they would win. how can sony and the wii compete if this happens? all consoles will become the same thing, PC's.cliff122316

[QUOTE="dream431ca"][QUOTE="Riverwolf007"]

I guess you could look to the history of licensed consoles to see what could happen.

I know for sure the 3DO was produced by multiple firms and I never heard too many horror stories about the system itself, it's horror stories all came from the price and the software.

Arsuz

You can think how confusing this would get, especially if that company wanted to use more powerful hardware....what about the developers? Will all of their games work on these licensed consoles? I see many potential problems.

All these problem are quite easily overcome. All companies that hold the license must hold to certain regulations stipulated by microsoft. They would only have freedome to alter things that in no way inhibit the working of the console with all games. They basiacally need to use the xenon for example. The can however use a totally different DVD-Drive, or maybe an HD-DVD or even blu-ray. Differente case maybe? Why not? A different controller? Sure.

All microsoft has to do is slight quality assurance. This would be a dream come true!

*EDIT* They might be the ones supplying all the controllers which they would make a killing off of.

[QUOTE="Riverwolf007"]

I guess you could look to the history of licensed consoles to see what could happen.

I know for sure the 3DO was produced by multiple firms and I never heard too many horror stories about the system itself, it's horror stories all came from the price and the software.

dream431ca

You can think how confusing this would get, especially if that company wanted to use more powerful hardware....what about the developers? Will all of their games work on these licensed consoles? I see many potential problems.