Exclusive Game Content – Does Everyone Lose?

This will be a debateable article for many of you, and some will simply say it is a cry piece about not having the right console, or a PC for that matter. However, to the open minded, this is a true reflection on how we have all been affected, penalised, punished or, dare I say it, betrayed by the games we love and hold dear to our hearts for simply not having the right gaming platform.

[Saaking]

MS is rumored to have pay 50 million for GTA IV DLC. With that kind of money they could have developed a new IP or two. Exclusive DLC on a MULTIPLATFORM game should NOT be allowed; otherwise why not make the whole game exclusive in the first place?

[Press_Agree]

The game Genji: Dawn of the Samurai is a great example of exclusive game content. Press Agree

[Pandamobile]

Yeah and they didn't even release it on Windows Live. Way to go Microsoft.

[gamesR4fun]

as long as were paying they dont much care what we think.

also wth is with the exclusive content for ordering at x retailer. Normally idc if its stuff thats jus added bling or unlockable later on. But tons of games now u can only get lvl x from this shop or that one...

jus takes away from the game imo and I blame M$ for taking it so far.

[Tony P]

I'd rather have it go back to competition through exclusive games, not exclusive features in the same game. It's getting really ridiculous. Once again greed abuses what was once a good concept in DLC.

[-MD-]

It's a way to shift consoles and sell more copies.

GTA4 was one of the biggest games this generation and MS secured an exclusive deal. It worked.

[Boody-Bandit]

Exclusive content included free? No problem

DLC with a price tag? Not interested

[FarEastOrient]

Some exclusive DLC makes sense, for example DLC that is released for a later version because it couldn't on a single DVD.

Couldn't fit on a DVD:
Ninja Gaiden Sigma series
Tales of Vesperia Complete
Fallout 3 GoY (PS3) Contains all 5 episodes and original game on same disc

Or as an incentive for consumers to buy a game already previously released:
Bioshock
Eternal Sonata

Or because of unique hardware properties:
Assassin's Creed II w/ PSP
Tales VS

Or simply because a company just paid for it:
Gran Theft Auto IV: Episodes

Or out of the blue the company felt like it:
Dead Space
Mirror's Edge

[XxSolid SnakexX]

your right M$ has no right to make dlc either timed exclusive with fallout 3 or just exclusive period with gta 4 there is a huge fanbase including myself who the ps3 version of gta 4 for ps3 and we want the dlc but we can't get it because M$ like to screw us gamers in the A$$ thanks M$ for ruining my gaming experince as well as other gamers

[THE MAX SPEED 21]

lol they have no right? what do you mean by that?

If microsoft pays for the right to do it . guess what? they have all the right to do it.

you should have said something like ; I dont like them doing this , but dont say they dont have the right because in front of the law they paid for it so they can do whatever they feel like doing.

I like those GTA DLC

[Lou-Cipher]

I think we can all agree that Microsoft is a very dirty company, and I'm never suprised when they do something to support their own greed.

I definitely think we should start directing some of our anger towards the game developers that are agreeing to such bull$hit deals.

Why don't we give Rockstar/Infinity Ward/Eidos/Bethesda a bit more he11, they deserve some negativity for doing these ignorant deals too.

[giovonni]

Microsoft is free to do what they want. It's their money! The same as if you payed a large some of money to get a popular article plus a little more services availiable to you and you only... Keep in mind you paid for it. So, with you guys logic it's unfair? Wow, lets look at some facts before we start calling MS snakes, and ignorant

First, last time I checked couldn't Sony pay to have their own DLC? I don't want to hear that BS Sony is God its a logical company that will not compromise it's fans. It's a respectable company, they wouldn't dare do that... yeah that logic is as cheesy as a afternoon soap opera

Second, I thought Sony fans didn't care about the DLC. MS paid 50 million for a flop. Now that it's grown in popularity now it's unfair? I mean Jesus Joe Ebony Christ

Third, It's not like you Sony loyals can't play it, what's the saying? If you want to play the exclusive buy a ps3... Yeah, why don't you Sony loyalist take your own advice if you want to play the download content buy a 360, or just take the loss. No excuses of "it will RROD on me in 2 hours," "why buy an inferior console....."

Fourth, why would a company not accept 50 million? They are in business to stay in business. what they gonna say " No, I will not accept 50 million because I'm going to upset a small percent of fans, or "look here, Microsoft. give us Half that money and after 6 months we can make it possible to port it over to PS3"... Righhhhhhhht!

and Finally, the only ones complaining are those who only own one system. Man Up! If you truly want to enjoy gaming stop complaining it's already proven that this is no longer a one console race. This ol 3rd grade mentality, name game is ridiculous. If anything why aren't you guys blaming Sony for not securing its own DLC for Grand Theft?

[pippoppow]

The point is exclusive content for a multiplatform title is bull. For instance, the new Batman game that has exclusive joker content for the PS3. Both 360 and PS3 owners pay the same price for it. The joker content should at the very least be available for free on XBL, although MS probably will charge for it. Why should people who support a game just as much as others on another platform suffer. I personally don't care for most DLC but it doesn't mean I can't see there is something wrong with shunning a portion of a companies fanbase for the money. And no, the PS3 should just, for the most part keep putting most of their money into 1st/2nd party exclusives. Not DLC and advertising.

[Amir51]

They might have the right, but doing it lost them a lot of dignity and respect. It was a petty action and came across desperate in my eyes.

And at the end of the day, its debatable how much effect it had, seeing that the attach rate on both consoles was pretty much the same.

And im not saying its just pathetic when microsoft do it, if sony come out and say we paid 50 million for FF13 DLC then they lose just as much dignity.

[mrv321]

They have all the right to make content exclusive, it's their money afterall, it's stupid for them to spend 50 million on two pieces of DLC instead of making games.

What really annoyed me is the fact Microsoft closed down a studio the one for making Halo Wars which is a good game. That what really gets to me, how Microsoft can fire hundreds of people just after releasing their game while spending 50 million on DLC.

[giovonni]

It should piss you off when the unemployment rate is at an all time high rate period point blank. It's MS's choice to do what they want with their money. This same distasteful feeling you have for MS should go across the board for companies like Tyco, Worldcom etc. Businesses have been closing parts of their company and pouring money into others for years. Which goes to show you it's all about the money. Sony has laid off people restructured this is life. I really think if Sony would have reached deep in their pockets and secured the DLC their wouldn't be so much complaining

[mrv321]

I agree, but Sony would have it's 20 first party studios, Microsoft is seriously lacking in that area.

[ceedubya9]

to put a lot of time and money into first party studios. Sony has built their studios up over 3 generations of consoles. It was only mid-late in the PS2 life that Sony's console was not leaning on 3rd party games. Only now are they really cranking out 1st and 2nd party franchises that rival Nintendo.

Investing in new IPS and 1st party studios is risky and can really hurt you if they don't pan out. It seems like Microsoft is taking the safe approach and mostly going to what sells instead of trying the unknown. A lot of people bash them for being unoriginal, but they are still growing as a game company and are only on their 2nd console.

[skeletonss]

When you got the joker dlc for batman

[THE MAX SPEED 21]

EXACTLY!

but but we got The Jokerz!!!!!

[pippoppow]

That's wrong too. I'd be pissed if a game I really liked and thought great wasn't getting DLC on my platform of choice and I shelled out the same $60 as another gamer playing the same game on another platform. It's wrong. I know some will subscribe to the rewarding of selfishness and greed that business ideology is built upon especially when it benefits them but sooner or later it won't. I'm sure 360 fans would not like it if the PS3 was the one to get GTA4 and Fallout3 DLC. All companies are guilty in this regard but the major blame lies with the Devs who take the offer and turn their backs on a certain segment of their fans.

[Tinted Eyes]

Because an extra character is just like an entire expansion, I like your logic.

[theEnemy]

lol

[Noctis Aftermath]

Are you refering to the author of this article? if so you completely missed the point he was making.

[dagreylion]

The only ones losing is Microsoft. There paying for all this exclusive DLC assuming every 1 person that brought the game will buy the DLC. Then the devs look bad cuz they made the content and not getting their return with satisfaction. Then they want to pass it off to the other console, making it a bad port, and by that time nobody wants its. Sorry L&D, and Gay Tony, there's more games on the horizon with a little more ump to it.

[KingKionic]

Dlc is great.

It just sucks when you favorite game has exclusive dlc to another game console .

But exclusive dlc does make a multi plat sell more .

[dagreylion]

First link unreliable and qoute: we don't know exactly how many copies of Lost & Damned Microsoft and Rockstar managed to sell. We do know, however, it's more than 323,000. How can they say they don't know, but its more than!

Second link states and qoute: Microsoft "declares" that GTA IV eclipsed first day revenue for all DLC on XBL, and goes on to say L&D detail are short very short! The word declares means to make known or to proclaim. Again it's an assumption.

Third link and qoute: Rockstar Games and Microsoft haven't disclosed exact sales of the Grand Theft Auto IV expansion The Lost and Damned, only boasting that it has broken Xbox Live Arcade records. Havent diclosed exact sales figures, think about that for a moment!

These are all assumptions made by Microsoft. It would be embrassing to announce real sales because of there investment.

[Muthafodder]

I for one will not ever buy a Rockstar game on day one for turning their back on the company that made them who they are. All future Rockstar games will be bought used if at all. Thanks Rockstar!!!

[Amir51]

This is not the fault of Rockstar, they were offered a bucket of money and it would be stupid of them not to accept.

It was like Microsoft was saying

'Were bigger than you, and were gonna show it by throwing out a cool 50 milllion on something that probably wont make that much difference, but it doesnt matter cause we have a bottomless pit of money.'

[keysy420]

they buy dlc so that it makes up for their lack of games. and as a response to sod\a pop they didn't make their money back if they didnt sell 5 million so another waste of money for xbox

[danielle007]

I wish that the exclusive DLC would stop, I would gladly share the 360 exclusive DLC with PS3 owners, as long as I got to play as Joker too. Dealio? :]

[Orange Juice]

Well there is a chance that both MS and SONY will be a little more cautious before forking out so much money for dlc after what happened with gta. Gay Tony and meth dealing bikers are nice to have exclusive on your system but R* North turned around and is now making a full blown exclusive IP for the playstation 3, most definitely partially funded by the 50 million that MS payed. Now since MS blew their load on gta4 dlc they aren't getting AGENT at all, while all future GTA4 episodes will be multiplatform (the deal was only for the first two). So you can see how being over ambitious with your bribing budget can turn around and bite you.

[JD_Shadow]

...if the other system ends up getting completely locked out of being able to get any DLC for the game at all. That what we were all scared of from the GTA4 deal. There were rumors (which Rockstar killed later in the April 08 issue of USPSM) that the MS deal also tied their hands to make PS3 DLC. To my knowledge, no other exclusive DLC deal ever had THAT controversy on it, and it shouldn't.

If this is going to continue, then don't do this lock out. Allow the other side to have SOMETHING for it. Either that or give the other system something exclusive for the multiplat game.

[giovonni]

Remember a company can secure a deal of their own. All Sony had to do was say, hey if you going to give them exclusive content lets work out a deal that will have us getting something too. It doesn't have to be as big. Bottom line If I'm a company and I pay for exclusive content and you are using a rivals equipment, why would I want you to have it? Times have changed, these companies are fighting for shares of the market, and something has to be done to separate the competition.

Expect more deals to take shape such as what we saw with Microsoft, Sony will also dive into the expansion content, but also will use their 1 party to over come the content. Now, I think it would be real shady for MS to be trying to buy over God of War, Ratchet, Mario, Zelda, etc.

[rjgbyrne]

Remember the days when Amiga and Atari ST games were for both consoles and the strengths of those consoles where programmed into the software. Better graphics on Amiga, better sound the ST. Today its all about having one up on the competitor. I believe its a corporate game, nothing more, nothing less. All of today's consoles have something to offer everyone, but as an xbox owner I think MS should allow Rockstar to publish the 2 download episodes on PS3. Maybe make some profit too for their original 50Million. But the same goes for Sony. Joker for Xbox, Ghostbusters on the same day... what are both companies so paranoid about. People will buy it for their preferred or choice console. The game sells, everyone wins. I did hear Microsoft help development of multiplat games regardless of the final product going to PS3 as well, I like this idea, but is it ture!?! Sony and MS should spend money on developing their own engines like Unreal 3 and optimise it for their consoles but allow developers to make games for all machines. Its a travesty that Capcom have not released SF4 on Wii, it would easily be compatible as a slightly downgraded PC version. Add the arcade sticks and Vola! More revenue for Marvel VS Capcom 3-D now that Disney own the IP it should be easy. Nintendo didn't play fair with Goldeneye either, I think they need a kick up the backside too! I have only an xbox but I will invest in a PS3 soon, I have o admit it, Sony done a great service to consumers with PS3 Slim. I hope it pays off in truckloads.