More Versions = Less Quality?

While there are obviously exceptions to this rule, I feel that most games released for multiple platforms (especially at the same time) would have been better if they had only been designed with one console in mind. The extra time needed for the conversions and the tendency to design the game around a lowest common console denominator generally hampers the overall quality of the end product. In most cases, one console ends up with a decent version, while the others get stuck with lackluster versions. However, none of them get the best version possible. I think that fact will be especially true of this coming generation. Just considering the basic architecture of the Xbox 360 and the PS3, one can tell that ports are going to be that much more challenging, unless the developers really design around a lower, common ground.

I don't know about you but I miss the days of consoles having identities. A specific sort of gamer owned a Nintendo system; a different sort owned a Sega or Sony system. Console wars were in full swing and each of the three companies really tried to push as many exclusives out there as possible. Even 3rd parties tended to make specific games for specific systems in an attempt to cater to a certain type of gamer.

Over the years, though, the line between consoles has started to blur, as more and more companies develop across multiple systems. Pretty soon, we are going to reach a point when most of the games that are released for a console appear on other consoles, as well. And, with fewer games being made by first parties, due to lengthy development times, there won't be much difference between future consoles, game-wise. Fortunately, at least for right now, the business-centric decision of releasing games across multiple SKUs mostly resides with North American companies. The Japanese - bless them - still like to mainly design games around a specific system and what they feel that fan base would like. This, as with anything, is likely to change at some point in the future and to a great degree. I feel it's inevitable, as development costs continue to rise, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

As a compromise, companies should do some research and choose one particular console to develop a game for. Push that console to the max and throw in all the bells and whistles. Then, three to six months later, release versions optimized for the other consoles, but also use that extra time to add new features and other extras and take advantage of any system-specific abilities. That way, everyone is happy. The only real downside is that marketing spend will have to be split up in order to make gamers aware of both groups of releases. But, if companies like Rockstar can do it, surely others can too. What do you think?