
Chris Kohler of Wired magazine recently took a moment to list exclusives that Sony has lost to Microsoft. Perhaps the most intriguing titles on the list are GTAIV and Assassin's Creed, both of which were offered as exclusives to Sony. Sony didn't pursue the titles as exclusives, and two major titles became simultaneous releases for multiple platforms. Another interesting story is Beautiful Katamari which began as a mutliplatform title and is now slated only for Xbox 360. Finally, according to the article, Metal Gear Solid 4 on 360 is only a matter of time. The article is a decent read and serves as a good conversation starter (without even considering once Sony-only franchises like Ace Combat). It begs the question: are console exclusives as important as they once were?
Console exclusive titles have historically been very important in the video game industry. One need only look back at the incredible success of Grand Theft Auto III (originally available only for the Playstation 2) to see that one great game can move consoles off of store shelves and into gamers' homes. Halo, for example, was Microsoft's killer app for the Xbox, and it went a long way toward securing the hardcore base that the Xbox still enjoys today. However, as game design becomes more complex and consequently more expensive, developers are much more concerned with getting a return on their investment. This fact has likely become more apparent to Sony over the last year or so, as more and more previously exclusive titles are finding their way to the Xbox 360. Still, even with the rising cost of development, it seems Microsoft has managed to snag its fair share of exclusives like Dead Rising, Dead or Alive 4, and Gears of War. There are more on the way too: BioShock, Alan Wake, Mass Effect, Halo 3 and many others. Whether or not these games are enough to sway gamers from a PS3 purchase remains to be seen. They certainly make a powerful argument.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
7-03-2007 @ 1:41PM
puhssy liquors said...
Sony is getting pwnd.
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7-03-2007 @ 1:42PM
df_toro said...
1st post!
"Are console exclusives as important as they once were?"
They certainly are, because Microsoft is aqcuiring more exclusives faster than Sony can produce a good game.
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7-03-2007 @ 1:43PM
df_toro said...
@1, dam you...now I walk in shame.
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7-03-2007 @ 1:51PM
TheGuy said...
Rising costs to maintain exclusive deals, plus the complicated nature of the PS3's hardware has made Sony focus on the development of first-party games. Once Sony itself gets past the learning curve of the PS3 and really show improvements in the PS3's graphics, not-only will it pressure third-party game developers releasing games on the PS3 to step-up their game, but Sony will also be-able to offer better developer assistance.
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7-03-2007 @ 1:53PM
webnet said...
Well I am not against exclusives but I think that it doesn't make economic sense to make an exclusive if you are a third party if your making that exclusive for ps3. Let me give you my reasoning, the system does not have a large install base. There are less systems in gamers hands and which means fewer possible buyers. I think that if the ps3's sales do not start to ramp up Metal Gear and Final Fantasy will have to go cross platform. This isn't like the last generation, you could put a game on ps2 and it would be successful no matter what, because of its huge install base. I think the first party exclusives make complete since but third parties have a hard time risking the possible sales with an exclusive. Unless Sony is dropping a major money hat in Square and Konami's lap they are going to have a hard time justifying exclusives.
Don't get me wrong, I am not against Sony, in fact I want a PS3 when the price drops and it has some games that I want to play (Ratchet, Final Fantasy, Metal Gear, and Kingdom Hearts). I am a gamer and if there are games to play that I like I will buy the system.
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7-03-2007 @ 1:54PM
wei said...
As an owner of both platforms, I have to say, the PS3 is a barren land compared to the 360. Well, that's even an understatement. For gaming, PS3 is absolute rubbish. I don't own a single PS3 game. I just use it as a Blu-ray player. The only saving graces at this point are MGS4, Final Fantasy XIII, and Gran Turismo 5. And of those 3 games, only GT5 is guaranteed to be an exclusive..
I think Microsoft has done a commendable job of beefing up its software library this time around.. but I hate to always bring up the elephant in the room.. but they seriously need to address the hardware faults before they can move from being a contender to the dominant position. I think they have a chance, if they'll take a risk and admit to the rampant problems with the 360 hardware.. and recall it
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7-03-2007 @ 2:06PM
Neoxkc said...
"but they seriously need to address the hardware faults before they can move from being a contender to the dominant position. I think they have a chance, if they'll take a risk and admit to the rampant problems with the 360 hardware.. and recall it"
That is just ignorant. How many problems where there last gen with all the defective PS2s that stopped reading disc? Are you implying that PS2 wasn't on top last time because of hardware defects, I think not.
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7-03-2007 @ 2:13PM
TheGuy said...
@Neoxkc
True, but the problem wasn't nearly as widespread as the 360 hardware problems.
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7-03-2007 @ 2:22PM
cfsage said...
I don't care if its exclusive or not, I want good games period.
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7-03-2007 @ 2:23PM
Neoxkc said...
@TheGuy
Well, that is arguable.
Myself, I have had one Xbox 360 fail in one year's time. I had 3 PS2s fail in one year a few years back, before the new redesigned PSTwo came out.
I guess sometimes it's just the luck of the draw.
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7-03-2007 @ 2:28PM
Tony said...
I'd say it was probably more widespread on the PS2... but this is mostly just based on people I know. It's definitely arguable.
The blow was softened by a few things:
1.) Sony, as part of a lawsuit supposedly, had to fix laser issues for free. Even out of warranty.
2.) While you had to pay for shipping it out there, you usually received it by 2 weeks later.
I think the time involved and the potential out of warranty costs for the 360 repairs kind of offset this and make more people angry.
Regardless, something has to be done about it.
Anyway, PS3 has its share of exclusives. There's still things that remain to be seen (MGS4, Tekken, etc), but it all seems more possible every week.
Coincidentally, the game Heavy Rain was recently re-branded as PS3 only... which is interesting since I think it was initially figured to be coming to both 360 and PS3.
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7-03-2007 @ 2:33PM
Tony said...
I also like this comment on there:
"Once you're done paying for 3-4 years of Live , you've equaled the price-point of the PS3."
I guess somewhere around $200 is the same as somewhere around $600.
The thing would have to be $400 less expensive in four years for it to even be skewed as remotely correct lol.
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7-03-2007 @ 2:34PM
thebigfatj said...
I've been considering a 360 for a while now, but due to the extremely high failure rate and even recent consoles failing, I've been determined to wait. There are only a few games I really want on the 360 right now anyhow.
However, it seems like every month I wait the PS3 becomes more attractive. Look -- it has a normal video game system failure rate (estimated to be less than 1%) with the first revision. It doesn't overheat. It's less unattractive, and there are quite a few good games coming.
The 360 *is* more powerful for games than the PS3 (more fill rate, much more general purpose CPU power), but I may also become interested in having a BD player if it wins the format wars. If the PS3 is $400 or less by the time the 360 is reliable, it will be a difficult decision for me.
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7-03-2007 @ 2:42PM
DocParanoia said...
I would do most anything to get MGS4 on the 360. I have played every Metal Gear game and I don't want to miss out on this one.
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7-03-2007 @ 2:44PM
Ikke2003 said...
@13
I think there will be a major price drop by the end of 2007 (together with Assassin's creed, Halo 3, ...) so by the time the ps3 costs 400$ there will probably be 199$ xbox360's.
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7-03-2007 @ 2:51PM
Neoxkc said...
@ Tony
Well, when my 360 had to be shipped off. I got it back in less than 2 weeks. This may be because I live in Texas though, as the refurb plant is in Texas.
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7-03-2007 @ 2:53PM
GRT said...
I own both systems. I actually use the PS3 more... just not for gaming. :) I'm happy to own it for the Blu-Ray player and to stream media from my PC to it (yes, I know I can stream media to the 360 as well, but the PS3 is quiet and is always on so its easier and faster to use).
However, the writing is pretty much on the wall at this point. Sony has failed to deliver a gaming console. They're beaten. Finished. In an Xbox360 vs PS3 world, the 360 has won the war.
But it isn't an XBox360 vs PS3 world.
The XBox360 fanboys keep stomping on the PS3's bloodied corpse and they're ignoring The Flood which is creeping in all around.. I refer to the Nintendo Wii, of course.
If MS doesn't get up off its ass and start fighting back, they're going to lose this generation to that stupid waggle-box. Peter Moore, at least, seems to realize this... you don't hear much about the "Wii60" any more, do you?
360 Fanboys chortle with glee at the fact that the Wii is outselling the PS3 6-1 in Japan. But y'know, it's outselling the 360 by even more!
The future of high-def gaming is at stake here. You're going to end up with a Pyrrhic victory over the PS3 as the 360 loses more and more support to the Wii, just because your granny can bowl on the damned thing. Developers aren't going to care about the relatively small installed base of the 360 or the PS3 if the Wii craze continues for much longer...
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7-03-2007 @ 2:56PM
thisguyrighthere said...
Exclusives are idiotic. If the cost to adapt a title to multiple platforms is less than the projected profit from the greater sale of that software it shuould be multi platform. Thats just good business.
I like the illusion of exclusivity though. How many "exclusive" titles have broken ranks over the years?
I can understand why Microsoft and Sony want to publish exclusives. They want to push their hardware sales. Software independent of Nintendo, Sony or MS, should do everything they can to maximize profits. Why should they take a loss to prop up a console manufacturer? Now if you want to cut me an obscene check to make a game exclusive we can talk but it better be disgustingly obscene.
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7-03-2007 @ 3:07PM
thebigfatj said...
@15:
Yeah, I realize that. But I only want one more console (I already play a Wii between 15 and 30 hours a week, and if I had more time I'd play WC3 or CS) and I'm willing to pay $400 for it. But not $600.
Heck, just last year you could get 360's for $199. But if the failure rate is still unacceptable and it's $200 + $140 in two years, that's almost $400 already. I'd say that the cost of the 360 is whatever it costs + the extended warranty, as not paying for the extended warranty is literally a bad gamble with the 360 (but a smart gamble for other consoles).
Even so, the extended warranty doesn't cover it for the life of the console.
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7-03-2007 @ 3:20PM
Gapsky412 said...
lol @ metal gear solid 4 on 360
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