180°

Why timed exclusives is a waste of resources

Rumors surfaced the other day about an upcoming announcement of a partnership between Microsoft and EA. While I’m sure this won’t mean exclusive games, it most definitely will involve exclusive content and timed DLC deals. This is a bad practice.

MariaHelFutura4053d ago

Timed exclusives are ridiculous, regardless of the platform. Unless, it's a super small studio that just can't develop them simultaneously.

Knight_Crawler4053d ago

While I do agree with you from a gamers perspective I have to disagree with you from a business perspective - take Mine Craft for example, the game is a 360 console exclusive and has sold over 1 million on the 360 and I can tell you that some casuals bought a 360 just to play MC.

Also Call of Duty time exclusives benefits MS alot when it comes to console sales.

kreate4053d ago

I highly doubt a casual gamer bought a 360 just to play minecraft. Assuming the gamer didnt have one from the beginning.

dcbronco4053d ago (Edited 4053d ago )

@Knight

That is what too many don't get. I know they believe they are special to companies but it's always about money. Companies will be good to you if the two issues can coexist. Everyone can agree that a large number of the original 360's failed and are most likely dead. Yet that timed deal for CoD made the 360 version sell more copies. By a couple of million. At ten dollars a copy that is a good business win. The 360 has fewer consoles live. Yet it sold more copies.

But there is no reason to believe they can't be doing an exclusive title. MS has more than enough money to get it done. It's not as if Sony is the only company that can get a third party exclusive. It's not like MS owns Epic. It is the smarter way of doing things. Look at what they have and give them a check for exclusivity.

sway_z4053d ago (Edited 4053d ago )

Timed exclusives are utterly pointless from the gamers point of view.

However, it must generate more sales for the console manufacturer, or it would have been put to sleep a long time ago.

I fully expect MS to draw the 'Timed Exclusive' card again throughout next gen. Especially with the industry buzz concerning MS and EA. Who are reportedly snuggled up in bed, making digital babies together. But you won't hear the end user complaining.

For the record, I'm anti-exclusivity.

NeverEnding19894053d ago ShowReplies(9)
Jek_Porkins4053d ago

People complain because Microsoft goes out and does this a lot, but I don't ever see a complain when Sony does the same thing, but a lot of the time Sony doesn't get timed content, it's content that never comes to another console, which is worse in my opinion.

Timed content clearly works though, look at COD, I cant count all the times people were choosing which console to buy it for and then bought the 360 version because it has the maps first, hell when the games advertised on TV it just says Xbox "Jump In" and it never mentions another console.

I don't think it's a waste of resources because if you are an Xbox Live Gold member your paying for that content, paying for the exclusive beta's, demo's and content, as well as the features and things like that. It's a crafty business move, but it has really paid off when done right ie. Skyrim, COD and GTA.

punisher994053d ago

"People complain because Microsoft goes out and does this a lot, but I don't ever see a complain when Sony does the same thing,"

Because its not about Sony and MS. Its about these developers/publishers selling themselves out. Game developers these days dont care about gamers. They care about who is going to give them that extra cash first out of Sony and MS. Why dont these developers support their fans equally across all platforms?? Why must they show favoritism?? Because for them, its all about the almighty dollar.

Jek_Porkins4053d ago

Because they are a business and like every other business it's about making money.

In a day and age where third party games are the most important commodity, companies are eager to offer an edge and that age is usually accepted.

dcbronco4053d ago

Punisher if I'm a developer and someone offers me an opportunity to avoid some of the risk involved with gaming I would be thankful. Developers having to be looking at companies go out of business around them and feel as if they are in a shootout. If someone offers a shield you are a fool to turn it down.

punisher994053d ago

"Because they are a business and like every other business it's about making money."

Okay yeah. You are not wrong about that. But, they would make that money if they would just sell that DLC evenly at the same time across all platforms. Instead of settling for that quick buck from MS or Sony, they would make more money over the long haul.

Jek_Porkins4053d ago

No they wouldn't, because if you were going to buy DLC, you're going to buy it no matter who has it first. Plus the developer gets the money for the timed exclusive content.

I understand why people get angry over it, but as someone who owns every console and buys a game for a certain console based on DLC and timed content, you have to understand that it's a business and it does improve sales from time to time.

Exclusives are losing importance, there will be less and less third party exclusives next generation, so the edge will be who can get the better experience with these huge AAA third party games.

RonRico4053d ago

@Jek
No, that's not true that someone would buy the DLC no matter the release date. A game looses it charm a little after a while and that DLC might not be so appealing of it comes out a few months later than another console. I was looking forward to the Skyrim DLC on PS3 and see what happened.

dirthurts4053d ago

I don't mind timed content. I'm a pretty patient guy.
What drives me nuts is characters and content that you can't have because it's only available on other platforms.
That's just kicking around the customers.

Y_51504053d ago

There are exceptions. Like it makes sense that Kratos was exclusive to PlayStation platforms.

dirthurts4053d ago

Makes sense? Yes, but it still sucks.

ShaunCameron4053d ago

That's because the IP is owned by the hardware-manufacturer.

@ dirthurts

It is what it is. You want God Of War? Either get a Sony console or do without. Sony doesn't owe owners of rival consoles anything.

Typical-Guy4053d ago

This gen was all about Timed exclusivity and HD remakes and collections.... I hope next gen brings new games, new innovations, new IPs. Not a freaking exclusive level or a map.

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80°

Microsoft Opening Xbox Mobile Game Store in July

The Xbox brand is expanding, as an Xbox mobile game store is opening this coming July where Microsoft will brings its "first-party portfolio."

Jin_Sakai1d 10h ago (Edited 1d 10h ago )

“Bond adds that they will start on the web”

This will go nowhere.

Nice knowing you Xbox. This is what happens when the house never gets cleaned.

MrDead1d 9h ago

The only this MS is expanding is the amount of feculence it sprays on everyone who just want to enjoy gaming and make games.

The best thing MS can do for the gaming industry is leave and never return.

XiNatsuDragnel1d 8h ago

Good luck with this even it might not succeed.

Show all comments (7)
210°

Microsoft once tried to nab LittleBigPlanet from Sony after a few drinks

It turns out that many moons ago, Microsoft once had its eye on the Sony published LittleBigPlanet series.

Read Full Story >>
eurogamer.net
XiNatsuDragnel2d ago

Microsoft had a good idea but fumbled it again.

Cacabunga21h ago(Edited 21h ago)

Project Spark idea was decent but they quickly gave up ..
LBP was wonderful

ApocalypseShadow1d 16h ago

Microsoft in a nutshell. Always tried to poach Sony employees, games, 3rd party games and devices like the depth camera that was turned into Kinect but was running on PS2 before Xbox 360. Wouldn't be surprised they wanted LBP. Just like they worked behind the scenes pushing the MLB to bring Sony's baseball game to Xbox instead of making their own.
https://www.playstationlife...

They didn't spend years trying to develop their own baseball game. They wanted Sony's game.

They're scum.

Zachmo18220h ago

Microsoft didn't force MLB on Xbox. MLB gave Sony 2 options either go multiplat or risk losing the license.

Rynxie10h ago

And why do you think MLB said that? I believe Ms approached MLB.

ApocalypseShadow9h ago(Edited 9h ago)

Totally ridiculous comment.

The only exclusivity Sony had was to their own creation of The Show. Microsoft could have paid the MLB for the license just like Sony did and made their own baseball game.

Microsoft instead, groomed MLB for years in trying to poach Sony's game and bring it to Xbox. They're worth 3 TRILLION dollars. You think that's not enough money to make their own baseball game? Don't be delusional.

Microsoft spun it like they always do and told the media that they had to trust Sony with their hardware. After they put Sony in that position of not having a choice. Either go multiplatform or stop making one of their successful games. That's a no win scenario.

And what did Microsoft do? They didn't try to sell the game to the Xbox community. They put it on game pass to hurt Sony. Pushing the idea of why buy games that are $70 when you can play them in their cheap service for $10. It was a dirty tactic.

You fell for the Kool aid drink Microsoft served you instead of spitting it out. Hope it tasted good because you were fooled by Phil and the gang.

5h ago
Hereandthere1h ago

Xbox executive Sara Bond has told Axios that Microsoft spent a number of years trying to get MLB The Show onto Xbox consoles. And when it finally succeeded in breaking off PlayStation’s long-held exclusivity, the company had to “trust” Sony with pre-release Xbox Series X/S consoles.

Bond revealed that MLB The Show “always came up” in conversations between Microsoft and the Major League Baseball organization. “We always said, ‘We love this game. It would be a huge opportunity to bring it to Xbox.'” she recalled. However, when Microsoft’s efforts materialized, it put the company in an awkward situation where it had to send in pre-release consoles to a rival company.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1h ago
Notellin7h ago

"Microsoft instead, groomed MLB for years in trying to poach Sony's game and bring it to Xbox."

Take a nap, conspiracies are rotting your brain.

5h ago
Hereandthere1h ago

Xbox executive Sara Bond has told Axios that Microsoft spent a number of years trying to get MLB The Show onto Xbox consoles. And when it finally succeeded in breaking off PlayStation’s long-held exclusivity, the company had to “trust” Sony with pre-release Xbox Series X/S consoles.

Hereandthere1h ago

They were too cheap/inept/lazy to develop their own mlb game, so they port begged for years and bribed the mlb to make the show multiplatform. Like i said many times, xbox brought nothing to the table their 24 years, ZERO.

OtterX23h ago

"However, Healey said Media Molecule wouldn't have felt right doing that, adding it would have been "morally corrupt"."

Major kudos to Media Molecule for being an upright studio with principles.

RNTody23h ago(Edited 23h ago)

Great, more stories like this please. Show the last of the zombies holding the line what we've been saying for years: Microsoft is anti competition, anti industry and has no interest in making games at all.

But hey, at least there's an Xbox Games Showcase to look forward to, right?

Inverno22h ago

Well considering SONY just killed the series, LBP would've been dead by now either way. Though MM probably wouldn't exist by now either, so I'm glad they stayed with SONY, hopefully they don't get shut down any time soon or ever honestly.

Inverno20h ago

They shut down the servers, that's millions of user created levels gone. That and dead are pretty much the same, it's also been years since 3 and they cancelled HUB soooo.

5h ago
fsfsxii6h ago

They shutdown the servers because no one was playing, no one in the community cared about the user created levels so why keep them up? Wtf you guys would never succeed in running a business.

Inverno5h ago

Yea dood no one was playing so they shut off the servers. Cause people with enough common sense can't just Google why they were actually shut of, right?

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60°

Game Studio Closures, Entertainment News, Disney, And More Skewedcast

The full Skewedcast crew back for this episode and Gareth, Justin, Michael, and JoeyZ at Skewed and Reviewed break down the latest entertainment news qith a focus at 40:00 on the Microsoft Studio Closures and how it impacts the game community and what can be done to help offset this negative trend.