Works for one but not the other?

[Anthony P]

how come coexistance can exist for one but not for the other? In videogames there has always been multiple consoles and it all worked. (Well exept the videogames crash of the 1970s.) But how come when it comes to video/audio distribution it doesn't work. I mean 360 and PS3 works in coexistance yet laser disc and DVD didn't work out together?

because like you said videogames have always been proprietary and movies have never been. Might sound simple but it is that simple. Games started as individual games (arcade machines) then some of these makers (like Atari) started home versions and then consoles. So they owned it and made it available at home and every one knew it, so if you wanted Atari's arcade games you bought an Atari, later it was Sega and Nintendo. Now there are many SW companies and they just make games for any console (like Ubisoft or EA or Eidos or…..) but the rest remains true (you want Nintendo games you buy a Nintendo, Sony games you get a Sony and MS games you get MS). On the other hand if you want a Fox movie or a Disney or a Universal or a WB studio movie they all played in the same theatre near your home, they all played on your VHS they all play on your DVD. People are used to not needing specialized players for their movies, it is how it is always have been. Then when you have a format war, you have three things happening

1) most people don’t want to have two players because Paramount comes in a red box and Lion’s gate in a blue one.
2) Most people realize that eventually there can be but one format and they risk wasting the money on the wrong choice.
3) People realize DVD is simpler so why complicate life (all movies on one, only some if they move to HDM)
So people stay away until there is one (comfortable situation) and that kills both. So the only possible outcomes are one winning or neither.