Recently, I was asked to participate in a debate discussing the future of consoles. I was so proud of what I wrote out, I thought I'd place it here and ask you all what you think about the subject. Please submit your responses to see how you all feel about the future of video game consoles. Please remember to be respectful of each other's opinions. Here are my thoughts:

I would have to say that "traditional" consoles days are numbered and by that I mean we aren't going to be worrying about Sony's PS4 vs the Xbox 720. I think the technology is so similar coupled with the fact that game companies are less and less likely to go with exclusive games per system because of cost, we are about to see a new way of thinking as far as consoles are concerned.

Think of it like this. Let's say you wanted to buy Casino Royale on DVD. But you could only watch it on a Sony DVD player. If you wanted to get something like Toy Story, you'd have to by a whole new DVD player made from say, Panasonic. If this was the case the DVD market would not survive. This is why someone will eventually win the BluRay/HD-DVD race. Too many formats will suffocate the market and it'll dry up.

I think we are at that point with video games as well. When you really look at the PS3 and the Xbox 360, they are really quite similar in capabilities. I think what will happen is games will be released as DVD movies are. If you have a Sony machine or a Microsoft machine, the game will still play. And, as such, the difference in quality of gaming machines will vary just as it does between a top of the line Toshiba DVD player and some cheap $30.00 DVD player you pick up from WalMart.

I also think game machines will be integrated with home devices like BluRay or HD-DVD players. One machine will do it all. DVD players already play CDs and game machines like the Xbox 360 and PS3 can get online, play DVDs, CDs, and also work Ipods and other MP3 players.

We are heading toward an exciting time in videogame development. Traditional thought for game consoles are on the way out. Games are too expensive to make if they are limited to only one machine. Home entertainment has grown and will continue to grow beyond the current methods. Games will still be made and played. Sony and Microsoft will continue to innovate. The internet will continue to grow and will eventually make discs of any kind obsolete. But rest assured, games are not going anywhere. One day we will have one machine that does it all. It may be manufactured by Sony, Microsoft, Hitachi, Toshiba...  and each will offer their own set of uniquie features. But like any other product that we have now, the same will reign true when that time comes; you get what you pay for.