Full PC/Console integration, consoles using PC parts?

I am a big fan of emulating other game systems on the PC and have emulated Capcom's CPS arcade systems on the PC to play games like Marvel Vs. Capcom for a while. I had looked on Wikipedia to see recent arcade boards and was surprised to see several of Sega's recent arcade boards using entirely PC components.

For instance, the Sega Lindbergh uses a 3.0ghz Pentium 4, DDR1 ram, Geforce 6800. The Sega Europa-R uses an Intel Pentium Dual-Core, 4gb of ram and Geforce 8800. The newest Sega RingEdge uses similar components as the Europa-R and Windows Embedded Standard 2009 as its OS.

I am thinking that it should be quite easy to port many of these arcade games to the PC but such has not happened to my knowledge. Hopefully, emulating these platforms on the PC can be a relatively easy task and soon. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the Playstation 2 has been very difficult to emulate on the PC due to its very complex and different architecture from the PC and even though the console is 10 years old, few modern PCs can emulate it at a playable speed.

I'm curious as to whether the next generation of consoles may just use PC components and run a special version of Windows or other PC OS, I say why hasn't this been done already? It should be simplier than designing a custom processor, GPU and other parts for the console no? Of course make it so that it cannot be upgraded so console gamers who buy the system in 2010 can enjoy games for it released in 2015 with no issue just like consoles.

For instance, why not have Microsoft completely integrate the Xbox and Games for Windows? For instance have the Xbox 720 have a 2ghz Core 2 Duo, 2gb of ram, 250gb HDD, Geforce 9800GT, etc. The only thing that can be upgraded is the hard drive.

Make it so that the game can run on the Xbox 720 as well as the PC, as long as its specifications are at least the same as the Xbox 720s, meeting the minimum requirements. But if you have a higher end PC, you have the option of turning up the graphical settings, playing with a mouse/keyboard, mod support, etc. Don't make a PC and 360 version of the game, make a copy of the game that can run on both platforms. Both platforms can enjoy all the same DLC, all games will be online cross-platform, etc.

I don't think piracy would be easier just because a console and PC would use the same components. A console needs to be modified to play pirated software unlike a PC and so the Xbox 720 can use a special DVD drive or firmware and so the average gamer could not pirate games on the system, only enthusiasts could pirate which they do on current consoles anyways.

I'm sure I am missing many technical and other hurdles that would arise. But what do you think of it at least as a concept?

 

Hmm...This kind of got me thinking. It sounds like a really great idea. Though if we begin to delve deeper into this we might get to a barrier, like OnLive. It sounds good on paper and i would love to see this happen.

Though you gotta think, we are already geting our PC games consolized ever since CoD4 came out for the PC. This would only make it worse and make it even less ecouraging for our current console gamers to cross over to the PC world. We already have a small enough user base as it is on the PC side of things, something like this would only make it worse.

What companies need to do is find a way to absolutely kill of all the PC pirates so that we can enjoy more pc exclusives. Not this. That is my take on it.

 

then there wouldn't be any incentive for someone to buy additional hardware (consoles) when they already have a capable gaming PC. why do you think microsoft/sony/nintendo have exclusive titles and pay 3rd party huge sum of money for that right. to sell more hardware (which leads to more software sales). why make a game that will run on console and PC when you can make boat load of money by making someone buy PC, XBOX360, PS3, Wii just to play games that are exclusive to in the individual hardware. it's same with OSX being exclusive to apple hardware.

 

I believe that exclusivity is becoming less important, both the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 have lost exclusives to each other, such as Final Fantasy 13, Virtua Fighter 5, Tekken 6, Devil May Cry 4, etc. to Xbox 360 and Ninja Gaiden 2, Tales of Vesperia, Eternal Sonata, etc. to Playstation 3. The majority of both console's games are on the other system.

I suppose because I spent most of my money on a powerful PC, I don't want to spend extra on an Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 and just have their games be playable on my PC.

 

Currently for the price systems are so much cheaper than the equivalent computers so they still sell. I think they will get ride of systems before they integrate them. Also systems are more appealing to the younger audience with not having to worry about a full computer.