Judith on 10/4/2009 at 12:29
I never liked the whole idea of exclusive titles. What's the point in thinning (not sure whether it's the proper word in this context) the source of possible revenue, anyway? Ok, maybe it was good idea when the new console model was introduced on the market ("system sellers", etc.), but in the present day?
Personally, I'm the X360 owner, I also have a decent PC for gaming. I really don't see the problem if the GoW 2 appears on the PC (map making and possibly modding perspective), or PS3. Likewise, I'd be happy to see titles like MGS 4 on LBP on PC or X360 (or better, both).
I already saw threads on Epic Games Forums with the GoW2 PC petition, where X360 users voted "no", saying something like: "you should be happy that you have Gow 1, that's more than enough for you". And there were many thick-headed people like that. I mean what's in it for them, that this game is for X360 only? If it's not something beyond just growing their e-penises ("teh internets - serious business", and such) then it's really dumb and childish.
EvaUnit02 on 10/4/2009 at 14:54
Fanboyism is shit, I entirely agree, but the concept of exclusives themselves is necessary in the video gaming medium. Competition between companies is needed, otherwise development can become stagnant and hardware prices would be high. It's a necessary evil and consumers as a whole are better off.
Concerning console exclusives and not factoring in PC, these days they can come into play as huge deciding factors which hardware you'd want to buy. The majority of third party developed games will be multi-platform or be timed exclusives. Microsoft has realised and hence they've made exclusive DLC deals on a few big titles, eg GTA4, Fallout 3 and Tomb Raider: Underworld. Exclusive XBLA/PSN titles are another big deal, eg the roaring success of the Pixel Junk games.
Also exclusives can be optimised play to a system's strengths if they're made exclusively for one system. Eg the storage capacity granted by Blu-ray. Having to develop for the lowest common denominator (the DVD-based 360) can potentially compromise a developer's vision, I bet that Kojima highly likely wouldn't have wanted MGS4 to span multiple discs. Some may not be possible on other machines. Eg consider what the brings to the table with its motion control and 1-to-1 cursor.
The targeted platforms can influence an entire game's philosophy. For example both Neverwinter Nights were made to be seen more so as toolset for the community to create their own scenarios, stories, etc. - like how the a Dungeon Master in the table-top D&D game would. Hence why the games' main campaigns are so uninspired and dull. For the longest time ideas like this were only possible on the PC, only now is the console world beginning to catch up.
Ostriig on 10/4/2009 at 15:01
Quote Posted by EvaUnit02
Are people really that thick?
Yes.
Quote Posted by Judith
I never liked the whole idea of exclusive titles. What's the point in thinning (not sure whether it's the proper word in this context) the source of possible revenue, anyway? Ok, maybe it was good idea when the new console model was introduced on the market ("system sellers", etc.), but in the present day?
I don't follow, why would that not be the case anymore? Last I recall, both Sony and Microsoft were still boasting with high volume console sales.
Quote:
If it's not something beyond just growing their e-penises ("teh internets - serious business", and such) then it's really dumb and childish.
I don't think we have any reason to assume that those saying it were, otherwise, intelligent adults.
june gloom on 10/4/2009 at 17:13
Quote Posted by EvaUnit02
Fanboyism is shit, I entirely agree, but the concept of exclusives themselves is necessary in the video gaming medium. Competition between companies is needed, otherwise development can become stagnant and hardware prices would be high. It's a necessary evil and consumers as a whole are better off.
Case in point: Nintendo vs. Sega back in the 90s.
I've long been the kind of person who doesn't care about platforms, only the games, though I've yet to be convinced that the Wii and its odious position of having the shittiest wireless controller I have ever seen is worth the money. Especially since there's no games on the Wii that I can think of that I'd want.