Why is EA so interested in what we want from a console?

TheBBPS.com’s Danny made a what-the-hell decision to answer an emailed Electronic Arts online survey that suddenly turned to what the hell. Why, he asks, is EA so, so interested in what you, who answer their survey, want in a next-generation console? Examples Danny posted include:

• “Which of the following (qualities) were most important to you when you were considering to purchase a next generation gaming console/platform?”
• “How often do you play your next generation console in the following situations?”
• “How would you rate the following features and attributes on your Xbox 360 console/platform?” (we presume there were equivalents for the PS3 and Wii)

The more likely scenario Danny envisions is that EA’s probably looking to make a console-exclusive game, or a set of console-exclusive games specific to each console, and wants to tailor to the audience. The wild blue-sky theory that’s lurking at the back of his mind, though, is what if EA wants to get into the console business for real?

Laughable idea, indeed, but then I remembered seeing a similar rumor, though completely unverified, popping up somewhere in teh intarwebs some time ago (just can’t remember the source, though…). Heck, EA has the money, right?

We’ll agree with Danny’s assessment that the likelihood of EA producing its own console ranks up there with a snowball’s chance in hell, but even the mere mention of such a rumor – or even as an April Fool’s joke – has frightening implications. The biggest game publishing company in the world producing its own console. The effects on economic competition are staggering.

TheBBPS.com’s Danny made a what-the-hell decision to answer an emailed Electronic Arts online survey that suddenly turned to what the hell. Why, he asks, is EA so, so interested in what you, who answer their survey, want in a next-generation console? Examples Danny posted include:

• “Which of the following (qualities) were most important to you when you were considering to purchase a next generation gaming console/platform?”
• “How often do you play your next generation console in the following situations?”
• “How would you rate the following features and attributes on your Xbox 360 console/platform?” (we presume there were equivalents for the PS3 and Wii)

The more likely scenario Danny envisions is that EA’s probably looking to make a console-exclusive game, or a set of console-exclusive games specific to each console, and wants to tailor to the audience. The wild blue-sky theory that’s lurking at the back of his mind, though, is what if EA wants to get into the console business for real?

Laughable idea, indeed, but then I remembered seeing a similar rumor, though completely unverified, popping up somewhere in teh intarwebs some time ago (just can’t remember the source, though…). Heck, EA has the money, right?

We’ll agree with Danny’s assessment that the likelihood of EA producing its own console ranks up there with a snowball’s chance in hell, but even the mere mention of such a rumor – or even as an April Fool’s joke – has frightening implications. The biggest game publishing company in the world producing its own console. The effects on economic competition are staggering.