From a player’s perspective I would add this to the debate:

Why do games now cost more to develop yet offer me fewer gameplay hours?

I know some reasons of course, but I wonder if it is taken into consideration.
The buisiness model for online, subscription based games seems to work at present, better than most, however I’m unsure of how many of these projects fail and how much growth there is before the novelty runs dry. The only games I really play now are online, so perhaps things have changed in the year or so since I bought my last console game, but I doubt it.

I’ve enjoyed reading your summary of Develop Brighton 2006, as always you seem to provide a very balanced view on things, taking in the big picture. Your understanding of the issues, from the technical to the subjective emotional, never ceases to impress me. I look forward to seeing the industry’s future through your blog and my own perspective. Hopefully I’ll take my place in the industry in time, and see you at a future Develop conference.