While we're not one to hang on every word coming out of Electronic Arts' collective mouth, we still think this statement is worth taking heed of. The Executive VP of EA, Gerhard Florin, sees Europe as the main battleground in the fight for supremacy this console generation. Quoth Florin: "I believe the biggest fight will be in Europe... Whoever wins the hardware war in Europe, most likely will be the overall winner."During a speech given in France at the Reuters Technology, Media and Telecoms summit, Florin also expressed the ideal of a future where hardware isn't the driving factor for consumers and games: "Everybody gets carried away with the technology. When the technology gets more usable ... then the story tellers get more to the forefront. My hope is, but I can't tell you when it will be, that we reach the peak in perfection so that the consumer doesn't see the difference in technology anymore - then it is a pure race for entertainment."
Sounds like an idealist notion to me. Hardware directly impacts the amount of entertainment garnered by the hardcore gamer. Unless the world slips into casual gaming, the hardware is always going to be a point to consider when tossing some heavy change at a new console. I want the AI to get smarter, the graphics to look better than myself in the mirror (pah, fat chance of that!), more complex modes of gameplay (because linear switches are so PS2), and whatever else hardware will assist with. Anyone else out there in accord?
[via CVG]
