Where Microsoft should go for exclusives

Find out the AAA companies that Microsoft will be turning to in the coming months to make exclusives for the Xbox 360. The 360 is in a drought, exclusive wise, but don't expect it to stay that way for too long.

[KingKionic]

its too soon to start questioning.

[Ricegum]

In comparison to what Sony has to offer in the coming years, that small list of potential games for Microsoft is nothing to brag about. Sony have a lot of exclusive big games coming out this year as well as next year...so Microsoft really need something to counter but I can see this drought continuing, unless they're hiding something...

[GiantEnemyCrab]

@1.1: The 360 has always come thru with great games. Year after year there are more titles than I can purchase why would this year be any different?

MS is kicking a mutthole in Sony and I don't expect them to let up on that barrage anytime soon. I know Sony wishes they would.

[GWAVE]

I'll believe it when I see it.

Right now, the 360 has very few 3rd-party exclusives on the horizon and even fewer 1st-party exclusives. The PS3 has the momentum, that there's little that Microsoft has to counter it.

[ToastyMcNibbles]

guess we'll have to wait till E3 right? i mean first it was 360 fans making fun of ps3 fans about "waiting" but look whos waiting now right? im sure microsoft will come up with something good...honestly i expect to only hear 1 or 2 great games being announced by microsoft...3 tops but lets be realistic here...is it enough against games like uncharted 2, MAG, ratchet and clank acit, heavy rain and god of war 3...who knows but personally i feel it wont be enough regardless if some of the titles i mentioned slip into 2010..sony is pretty much covered

[Defectiv3_Detectiv3]

At this point last year we already knew about Fable + Gears. So far...nothing.

It does seem like MS is courting a lot of PC dev. to bring their software to the 360, and frankly, I find this disappointing. If your like me, you would rather play games on the PC. You don't own a console to play hand me down PC games.

This was one of my main critisicms of owning an XBOX, and it seems that it has come to pass.

One thing is for sure, MS better start getting to work if they hope to catch up to Sony and their list of future exclusives:

God of War 3
Mag
Uncharted 2
FF Versus
DC Universe
Gran Turismo 5
Demon Souls
White Knight Chronicles
Ratchet + Clank 2
Syphon Filter
Quantum Theory(Gears killer?)
inFAMOUS
Heavy Rain
Starhawk
FAT PRINCESS(I know, its a psn title, but still looks badass)
David Jaffe Project(Twisted Metal?)
Hideo Kojima Project(Metal Gear Liquid?)
Team Ico Project(Ico 3!?!?!?)

This is all before E3 has even hit! You know there are gonna be a few games announced there as well! I would like to point out though that like 3/4 of the games announced at E3 never make it out the same year, so if MS is truly waiting for E3 to announce a bunch of games, I wouldn't count on those games coming out anytime soon.

[Immortal Kaim]

Do you guys ever get tired of whining all the time? I have an idea, if you don't own the system and have no intention of playing the games, who the F**K cares what the 'OPPOSITION' has.

[Megaton]

I think the only good 360 game of last year that we didn't know about at this same point in time was Left4Dead, but that was on PC too. Ninja Gaiden II, Fable 2, and Gears 2 had all been announced. All they did at E308 was show off casual things, demo multiplats, and announce that FFXIII was gonna be on the 360 in 2 regions.

The crickets are chirping, and the tumbleweeds are rolling.

Like David Jaffe said in his most recent blog regarding his own current project, PR people normally start generating public exposure for a game 6 - 18 months before release.

[Black Maverick]

I personally think they should look on the inside. Not criticizing MS, but how about have Bungie make a game that's not Halo. Have Rare finally give us Killer Instinct 3. The smartest thing Sony did this generation was have a few of their internal studios begin PS3 development with entirely new IPs. Insomniac, Naughty Dog, and Sucker Punch have all delivered with Resistance, Uncharted, and the upcoming game Infamous respectively. Microsoft's strategy seemed to be a "cheaper alternative to Playstation." So they vigorously went after from exclusives looking to turn them multiplatform or timed exclusives, while also gathering quite a few JRPGs which were also a staple of Sony platforms in the past. Plus keeping the price always below the PS3. It was a brilliant plan but Japan didn't bite and besides the U.K., Europe didn't either. Now Microsoft has a chance to start fresh at E3'09. No one really knows what to expect from them so they can either completely surprise everyone with new, original, fun games or will they go the conventional route? Spout off numbers about attach rates and DLC, talk about being the best while completely ignoring the Wii thumping everyone, and treat multiplatform games as if they're exclusive and bragging about Halo 3 sales while annoucing more Halo games.

[JokesOnYou]

All I keep hearing is how sony "WILL"(future tense) have more exclusives than micro, but until we can play "announcements" its all speculation.

Theres a big difference between ps3 actually having more exclusives on store shelves vs ps3 having more announced games with no sure release dates than 360. Sony afterall is far better known for announcing things early and multiple delays, see KZ2, LBP, and almost every first party exclusive. lol I'm sorry but its the same thing I heard last yr and 360 went on a steam roll through the holidays.

360 owners aren't anymore waiting for games than ps3 owners, last time I checked just counting 2009 exclusives, 360 so far released either the same amount or more of exclusives than ps3, although imo HW's was the only really good one so far, but still theres SO4 (isn't my cup of tea) and NB (decent). PS3 has what KZ2 (which I own) and MLB(dont like baseball) so far this year, with infamous coming in late May now? I'm quite sure there will be more the rest of the year but I'm sure the 360 will have some too.

This is the same old "Folklore" story we keep hearing ps3 "WILL" have more games, just like we heard before launch and the whole first yr ps3 was available, "wait", "wait", now that was TRULY WAITING, as it stands now ps3 has *finally got some games but so what 360 has ALWAYS had some great games every year and I have no doubt it will get a few this year.

I haven't seen 1 ps3 exclusive list with all these confirmed solid timeframes/date for 2009, you watch at the end of the year they both will be pretty close in terms of exclusives released and then the same folk tales will begin again, same pattern wash rinse repeat.

JOY

[mastiffchild]

JOY-yes Sony have been guilty of promising too early but that has been changing and they insisted that the recent exclusives list would be tied down to this fiscal year and we have no reason to doubt that this time.

Also it's fact that many of their internal/2nd party devs are coming to the end of their three year cycle which means the games will be coming thick and fast for PS3 now-with many we've heard nothing of at all being closer to release than we might think-not all those "secret" games journos have been NDA'd over can be vapourware either.

The 360 also has it's share of no show games right now. Alan Wake is the longest running with a timetable equal to or beyond that of KZ2. Too Huma folowed a similar path-Huxley has flitted in and out of Radar range as well(now looking a pale imitation od what we were told to expect as well).

ODST is coming but as Halo3 has stalled my interest in the great series(just too much of the same when other games on both platforms now offer deeper FPS experiences even if the MP(and Forge) remain fun) and I doubt that we'll see any great reboot just yet which would disappoin me and, sadly prolly make it the first FPS Halo not to be a purchase for me. I can't see 10 million sales every game if they still change virtually nothing-not in this industry even with the huge following the series has. I mean i'm one of them and I'm skeptical this time round-if ODST is more of the same I'd rather have more maps/modes than a full price disc release tbh.

Anyway, my point is that no, this time the Sony process isn't repeating itself as those studios do exist, have been working and are due to drop whatever you might think-and as a bright guy I'm sure you know this and were exaggerating in any case but other people might take you literally.

I just want games from MS at E3 beyond casual/avatar nonsense and press baiting/fanboy exciting PS2 exclusives going multi/to 360 and, deep down, i think most 360 owners share my desire for new IP. Fine if it's from third parties or from MW/Rare but pure 360 games are what I want to get the best from the console and give people more reason than the Geas/Halo axis to keep buying MS consoles. Whether Valve will stay where they are or go into the PS3 market as well is puzzling but a HL3 will prolly come out for the next Xbox, imo-if it's exclusive at all.

Then again I'm still hoping to see Wardevil gameplay this year for PS3 at E3 so why listen to my rubbish? And a proper new LoZ!

[JokesOnYou]

Of course Iam anticipating some great games from micro whether their sequels to great IP's or brand new ones ANYTHING LESS WILL BE A DISSAPOINTMENT TO ALL 360 OWNERS, however frankly there was nothing in your post that suggests micro won't deliver for the 360. I don't know it just seems some so easily give sony the benefit of the doubt based simply on their WORD, on what they "WILL" have and assume anything coming to 360 will be less notable.

I guess for me enjoying my 360 games for the last 3 yrs I don't buy the hype. Obviously its more important on an individual level of what games you like, as oppose to just strictly how many games either platform releases, I had my ps3 for quite sometime now but I like shooters, racers, action/platformers and Wrpg's, loved HW's for its simplicity but I retired from RTS when I all but quit PC gaming and for me the 360 owns my gaming time for the most part, I don't see anything I'm going to pick up for ps3 until GoW3, thats not saying anythings bad about the other ps3 games that I guess are *suppose to come this year.

I only mention this because from my perspective its just fundamental difference in what you like, inFamous and Prototype are a good example of what I mean, those are two games in the same genre I like, they are similiar but Prototype imo looks like the game *I will enjoy more, still I never degraded inFamous, just said from what I seen Prototype looks more like my cup of tea, but you'll find on this site its almost as if those loyal to sony instantly hate Prototype, talking about how bad it looks, how its just the Hulk, how they know it will flop, I mean come on they know that game looks fcking sweet and it has interesting gameplay and how do they know the story will suck already? It sounds like more envy than truth but just because some stupid site writes a silly headline doesn't mean the game sucks, but it doesn't take a mind reader to figure out why they show so much hatred for the game, lmfao I mean this is n4g, right? Its because its NOT exclusive, don't get me wrong supporting an exclusive is great but attacking a 3rd party game simply because you see it as competition is BS. Its no big deal we all buy what we like, but some people need to relax with all the hating just because you don't agree that a certain game is better. Both consoles have plenty of variety imo but personally I'm just getting GoW3 whenever it comes. Either way I don't think its wise to gloss over the fact that 360 has delivered plenty of great games every year (for me) and assume NOW the ps3 WILL start pumping out great exclusives these next few years...call me crazy for only believing it AFTER they've actually done it a year or two....and AFTER micro has NOT delivered us some great games like every year.

JOY

[Ghoul]

"Though expect Valve’s next game, whatever it is, to be exclusive on the 360 when it comes to home consoles. "

pure bs. Yes CEO Gabe Newell did say how he dislikes the ps3, but thats not the nail in the coffin for the ps3, valve is a great developer with an amazing great catalogue and skill for marketing and sales.

I swear that valve is considering ps3 development since it was announced but chose to stick with they're current team focused on pc and 360 (like a pc) development. But that doesn't rule out that valve hasn't gathered a ps3 dev team to work on future projects for ps3.

Hl2 is a pc only engine and therefore runs perfectly on the 360, the port on ps3 turned out bad, and wasnt even made by valve since they are totally stuffed with theyre work on expanding the hl2 engine, working on the hl3 engine, steam and episode 3.

ok get the facts straigt now please this is the important part:

Valve is working on the hl3 engine, and it would really astound me if they aren't including the ps3 into the engine dev process, the ps3 is gaining a huge share (and it looks like they will make it even bigger)
so it would be pure madness for a developer that is very profitable and market profen to not release future games also on the ps3.

And most of you allways forget no matter how much gabe hates the ps3 hes not the only one who decides whats going to happen at valve. Valve is a very independent studio thats true, but i cant accept given the current facts that valve would rule out the ps3.

The only thing to make me believe otherwise would be an official exclusive deal from ms throwing money around (as usual).

if you disagree please state why.

EDIT::

oh and btw i play all my valve games only on pc so i give a ... about it if its 360 only on consoles. But the story is badly written without any research.

[Ricegum]

I agreed, because I agree with what you say :)

[MattG]

Portal Still Alive and Left 4 Dead. If those are exclsuive to the 360 then dont think future games will not be as well

[Persistantthug]

I agree with you overall, in that it wouldn't make good business sense for Valve to continue to ignore PS3 considering that it, like XBOX 360, is a major player in gaming. I can't imagine a company that doesn't want to make money.

However, I do disagree that HL2, rather, THE ORANGE BOX was done poorly. It wasn't done bad or poorly. As I've read, it wasn't ported as well as XBOX 360's version, but that doesn't mean a bad job was made out of it...In fact, THE ORANGE BOX is considered to also be AAA on PS3. Not perfect, but VERY good....hell, I'm still playing TEAM FORTRESS. :)

[GiantEnemyCrab]

"agree with you overall, in that it wouldn't make good business sense for Valve to continue to ignore PS3 considering that it, like XBOX 360, is a major player in gaming. I can't imagine a company that doesn't want to make money. "

Why is this logic only applied to dev's who support the 360?? Why are Insomniac so stupid to make games exclusivly for the PS3?? Don't they like money?? How can you ignore a larger install base on the 360?

I never once hear that argument but constantly hear crying about Valve, Epic, BioWare, etc.

[Defectiv3_Detectiv3]

Portal = lengthy demo, you want to play a good puzzle game based off the source engine then play the conc maps from TFC, portal pretty much steals that whole premise, but w/o the skill

Left4Dead - Second rate outdated shooter, graphics are an eyesore, playing this game warped me back to 2001

Team Fortress - Team Fortress Classic is still the best class based shooter out there for the money. They really butchered this game with the new version. There was something about this game that was so balanced, now it blows.

The servers are laggy, you barely get any weapons/nades w/ your classes, and the map design is awful - no draw distance, too many bottlenecks!

Half Life: Is it really necessary to draw this series out so long? Its been nearly a decade and we are just figuring out whats going on! They have delayed for so long that the source engine is really starting to show its age. Oh well, heres looking to another 10 yrs before HL3.

[swiftshot93]

Insomniac is a second party developer. They have a contract with sony to work exclusively on PS3. The difference between First and Second Party, is that second party have much more freedom in the development process of the game.

I do understand what you are trying to get at however, a better example would be Quantic Dream (Heavy Rain). They currently are under no contract with sony (although sony owns the IP), just a third-party developer like Epic and MS. Heavy Rain was supposed to be multiplatform, but they determined that it was best as an exclusive, and they chose what they thought was most powerful.

Edit: @ GEC. I see your argument however its flawed just because EA has publishing rights to the Half-Life IP. It would be different if this wasnt the case, but I see what your saying. It just doesnt work with this particular series. If Valve had a PS3 development team (rumour is they are gathering one), L4D would be on PS3, because EA has publishing rights.

[maniacmayhem]

You're fighting a losing battle against the $ony paid fanboys on this site my friend.

Might I suggest you just laugh at their insane comments and enjoy the system of your personal choice.

[xaviertooth]

@unreal01:

because you agree with him, i also agree with you! so i agree with him as well!

[Ricegum]

Haha, nice one! And I agree with you for agreeing with the both of us :)

[kaveti6616]

First of all, the engine that powers Half Life 2 is not called the "HL2" engine; it's called the Source engine, and I am astounded (using your words) that you wouldn't know that it's called the Source Engine, since it's one of the more popular engines in the industry. Secondly, it is a fact that the PS3 port of the Orange Box was less than stellar because the Source Engine is not well formatted for the PS3's architecture. What you're saying now about Valve developing a new engine for the next HL iteration is pure speculation. They have been using Source for nearly a decade now, and although official reviewers claim that its showing its age as an engine, Valve's dedication to using it has paid off, and I don't see them making a new engine until they finish the HL trilogy. It's still one of the best engines out there.

As to Gabe Newell, he and his 3 chins had some very nasty things to say about the Playstation 3. I believe he said, and this according to wiki, that developing processes for the console in general was "a waste of everybody's time" and "a disaster on many levels ... I'd say, even at this late date, they should just cancel it and do a do over. Just say, 'This was a horrible disaster and we're sorry and we're going to stop selling this and stop trying to convince people to develop for it'." You said that Newell doesn't have the last word; that may be true in a sense, but considering he is the managing director at Valve, he holds a lot of weight there (fat jokes FTW!!!). No doubt a group of rebels could break away from Valve and take their secrets to Sony, but I don't see that happening. And I highly doubt that Valve is going to waste their time acclimating any engine they have now or will have in the future to the PS3. It comes down to cost. What Valve has to figure out is if the money they earn from porting games/creating games for Sony (in addition to MS consoles) will overcome the loss of all the posh they earn from MS for being loyal to MS

[Ghoul]

my facts still stand, just because i didnt said source, and believe me i know that engine i allready developed on it (no mod but a full game).

and valve working on the hl3 engine (unknown engine name) is not pure speculation but a fact from valve. You really must know little about development of videogames if you honestly think they (one of the biggest engine master together with epic and id) aren't working on the next engine allready at full power.

i can assure you that they are working on the engine since 2007 easily.

"What Valve has to figure out is if the money they earn from porting games/creating games for Sony (in addition to MS consoles) will overcome the loss of all the posh they earn from MS for being loyal to MS
"

that my friend is nonsense, as i said earlier there is no bond to ms, the only reason the latter games came to the xbox first is because source is a pc only engine and porting them to the console was easy.

Its more then obvious valve didnt port theyre games because they simply lack the teampower, they are working on the next engine, hl3 and episode 3 at full force while expanding source.
It would have costs them more money to pay off a intern team for the port and pulling them off of theyre current projects, then giving the port to someone else.

Valve is in no way dedicated to any plattform but the ones theyre current engine runs on, and its a fact that they are working on the next engine to power hl3.

[Elven6]

"Xbox 360 owners are getting nervous, and for right reason. It’s the middle of 2009 and the 360 hasn’t had a major exclusive in nearly 6 months."

Ahh no, maybe the 5 Xbox 360 fanboys on N4G are worried but in general why be worried? Microsoft definitely has a few exclusives coming out this year with third parties having a ton of must own titles for both the Xbox 360 and PS3. And 6 months, really? Halo Wars, Race Pro (From what I hear is popular in Europe), Ninja Blade (There definitely is a market for this game), Star Ocean 4 (The game that caused the 360 to outsell the Wii and PS3 in Japan is no small potato), etc.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Forgot about Stoked, the Lost and Damned DLC and both Operation Anchorage and The Pitt for Fallout3.

"Major" ? Well thats relative but when it comes to #'s the 360 has had more exclusives this year than both Sony or Nintendo. They just weren't overhyped to the hilt.

[ToastyMcNibbles]

i dont know personally i dont qualify dlc as "exclusive games"

[saggyscrote]

Desperate times when your including DLC as exclusive games. LOL

[JokesOnYou]

Well of course sony loyalists don't think exclusive DLC is important because sony doesn't have any.

What they don't realize is although DLC doesn't carry the impact of a full blown exclusive anything thats exclusive is a added bonus for the platform, which could be a small influence on some neutral gamers purchase descision.

JOY

[Argento-Nox]

@Elven6

SO4 helped 360 for 2 weeks and it doesn't look like NA sales were that spectacular too. None of the games you mentioned, even Halo wars, are real game changers or hardware shifters.

@Jokesonyou

DLC hasn't helped 360 outsell the PS3 by a huge margin for multiplatform games like Fallout 3, GTA4 etc. In fact attach rates are generally in favor of the PS3 for most multi-platform titles, Look at recent titles like RE5 and SF4.

GTA4 DLC is definitely worthwhile content for fans of the series and can be considered a new game in a way, but the money spent on it could be better spent on actually making a new IP, which probably would have kept a studio like Assemble making games.

Quite frankly, we all know MS is buying DLC b/c it's one of the few avenues they have left for exclusives. Look at recent 3rd party titles that have jumped ship to multi-platform; Bioshock, Dead rising 2, NG2, TOV etc. Then look at new 3rd party exclusives for the PS3; Katamari, Ace Combat 7, Shin Megami Tensei, Quantum theory etc.

Exclusive DLC is fine and all for those that want it, but let's be honest, most of us would rather have new IP's or sequels to titles we want.

[Elven6]

Argento-Nox: Like I said, the fact that a American console outsold two Japanese consoles for two weeks in Japan of all places is really a first.

Halo Wars sold over a million copies, March NPD should clarify if any consoles were sold.

[truehunter]

We are rating DLC Now ??? Woow why didnt they rate those other DLC that was giving ???

Naruto Storm DLC, Disgaea, Valkyria Chronicles ?? do i need to say more....

[Argento-Nox]

@Elven6

Two weeks sales was negated in how many days by the Wii and PS3? By the end of this year, PS3 will be at 4 million while 360 will be barely over a million, while both will still trail the Wii. It's pointless talking about 360 in Japan, same goes for PS3 and Wii, seeing as PSP and DSi hand consoles their asses every week.

If your really going to go the sales route, why not look at how many times the Wii has outsold the 360 in NA?

Halo Wars did over a million as did a title like LBP and countless other Sony 1st and 2nd party titles, but sales talk always comes back to Halo and GeOW even though plenty of 360 titles like Banjo, Viva Pinata, Too Human etc. didn't fair better.

[deshon09]

360 fanboyz

[KingKionic]

well i cant wait till someone spins this article. *sits down*

[Snatcher]

Microsoft doesn't really care about Xbox 360 owners at all, they care enough to be ahead of the competition. To be honest, it really isn't working for them anymore.

Look at gears 2 with all the rampant cheating that was going on with lag switchers, took them over 3 months to get off their asses and fix that crap.

I'm glad that I own a PS3.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Yes and Sony have a deep care for you. Don't forget to invite Sony to your next B-day party I'm sure they will show up.

GMAFB Sony fanboy.

[Snatcher]

PS3 has a great lineup.

[kingme71]

They came to my birthday party. Kaz was a little scared of the clown, but he got right up on the pony.

[xaviertooth]

LMAO!!!

and i heard that on the next morning, he lost another pillow!

[mastiffchild]

@GEC-I know you to be a reasonable chap who just happens to show, which is fine by me, his preference towards his 360. You didn't deserve that treatment.

However, your "Sony doesn't care about you" spiel-while correct in terms of individual fans doesn't conmpletely hold true as far as the industry in general goes mid to long term. Which, in turn, does serve gamers more.

It may just be because MS are in a hurry to make up for lost time in the console market but buying DLC from big thiord parties while shutting studios they could have innovated for the future with is where(along with funding it with fault ridden hardware)people get the feeling, right or wrong, that MS don't have the interests of gamers or the games industry at heart. If they follow their policy from the PC world they want almost a monopoly which, as we all know is n't ever a good thing for a creative industry like this.

As I sayit's all fair as it's business and yes Sony have payed for things before but their first party studio system does look a more sustainable and healthy way for gaming to progress. True, it's only born of self preservation but it still seems from the outside fairer when MS are laying people of while still splashing the cash on short term deals which, in some cases(e.g deal with SE-whoebver made the running)are def not mostly about giving gamers on their console the games they want but more about indirectly slowing sales of the competition and scoring points in the press.

I think I may be in a similar boat to yourself but prefer my PS3(reliability and controller pref mainly)while still having all consoles to play the games I'd otherwise miss out on while you seem to be the other way round.

While I might not feel MS always make decisions that benefit the industry or even 360 owners I'm not so naive to feel Sony care much more, if at all-but do honestly think MS could do with more exclusive first party sruff to keep the faithful sweet rather than making sabre rattling announcements about games going multi as: a, it gets people being fanboyish everywhere and b,it would serve them much better to have more than Gears and Halo as sure fire selling machines for their system and they'll only secure that by investing longer term.

I just hope they're doing more of this behind the scenes as I hinestly think the competition between the PS3 and 360 can push game experiences even further this gen if they have been.

Sorry for the ramble but unlike a few other people on here with a preference I truly find some gems and sense in your posts mate. But DLC doesn't count as a fully fledged exclusive on 360 when not all owners can even take part.

[mastiffchild]

I said this a couple of times on here recently. thing is MS want Rare to waste time on damn casual stuff like Viva and Mii rip offs. MW and Valve are promising but Valve games are best on PC and Halo needs to have a reboot.

AW doesn't get any nearer either. I do hope these studios come up with the goods as another E3 wasted on FF13 style point scoring(less will sell on 360 and the same if they repeat the trick with KH3)and no footage of H-chronicles, Huxley now gimped and things won't look so good.

I know MS will come with something but I just worry it'll just be more Halo or something casual rather than KI3 or PDZ2 or a true HL exclisive to 360.

[KingKionic]

there no way of trying figure out whats coming out.

[xaviertooth]

southpeak interactive!

[KingKionic]

...ok that was funny.

[- Ghost of Sparta -]

Rofl.

[rbanke]

I think the best approach for any of the consoles is to have a good spread of first party exclusives. Count on those and those only to promote your platform specifically. There is no greater showcase for what your system can do than the first party titles. Other devs will see what can be done with your system and be drawn to that ability if you are lucky, and if not you still have great games exclusive to your system.

[Persistantthug]

But the problem with what you speak is, is that were talking about XBOX 360 which is "C" (programing)based. Couple that with the system being out for nearly 4 years......for the most part developers already know what 360 can and can't do.

[Elven6]

I think you mean C# based, regardless C++, C, C#, etc will work on the Xbox 360, possibly more depending on the engine I assume? I don't think programming language has that big a impact on a consoles capacity as you are claiming.

[Spike47]

imo, I don't think it will cast a shadow over the PS3's incredible 09 lineup. However, it will be "something" which is better than nothing.

[kewlkat007]

some of you will never purchases an xbox 360, so I doubt it matters to some.

Though I agree MS could use some more studios. Whatever they come up with is up to the imagination.....

MS is only on it's second gen console while others have had 7+ year start in the industry to get to where they are now..

[Spike47]

I hate to bring it up, but Sony's first console was sucessful, and their second currently holds a record. However, I think MS is doing fine at the moment and they will have something. Why does it concern me? It doesn't, its just a matter of curiosity.

[kewlkat007]

Of course Sony's first console was successful it came out at the right time and got 3rd-party support on boards then as they dominated(Poor Nintendo), there really was no one else, so it's easy to see how fast Sony grew.

How do you suppose MS can do the same with 3 selling successful Consoles in the market? When was the last time we seen this?

I'm not hater, I know where Sony and Nintendo have been at one point and MS is straggling behind in terms of Years and success, given the fact, they came to the game sorta late.

[NegativeCreep427]

The desperation in all those xbot idiot's words is getting so damn thick, you could taste it in the air (it kind of tastes like cheeseburgers and loneliness).

Edit for Ghost of Sparta:

Yeah, and they are bragging about Ninja Blade like its the best thing since Ninja Gaiden. That game can barely even maintain a 7.0 average on Metacritic. Pretty pathetic and stupid isn't it?

[- Ghost of Sparta -]

You want desperate? Earlier today I saw them hyping the sequel for Ninety Nine Nights, one of the worst games of this generation. THAT'S desperate but can you blame them? They have no games.

[OGharryjoysticks]

Duke Nukem Forever and Doom and all those other PC games that have gone console. Expect most or all of them to be lured to exclusive status by MS, at least from the start while they say it's only on Xbox.

[Zeus Lee]

The problem is,Duke Nukem and Doom haven't been relevant on a grand scale since before the Xbox existed.

I do agree with the Valve mumblings,Microsoft might make Half Life 3 an Xbox 720 exclusive.

[kewlkat007]

not sure what that may be but you can quote me on that..

[OGharryjoysticks]

The media tells you what is relevant. Once MS secures timed exclusivity on these games every media outlet will heap praise on each game like they are the second coming and then regardless of how they have been thought of in the past years, the public will buy into it.

[KingKionic]

whats wrong with 99 nights?

[xdye017]

He didn't play it so he can't tell.

[NegativeCreep427]

"In no f*cking way does KZ2 multiplayer rape CoD4, HL2 and halo 3. Keep your dreams to your mind."

Now how the F*ck can you make a comment like that and keep a straight face? Oh maybe because you've never played Killzone 2 and are just talking right out of your a$$.

Ghost of Sparta can get just as much of the benefit of the doubt playing 99 nights as you going around talking bad about Killzone 2 like if you've ever played.

Think about that you little fanboy.

[Neo604]

it's soulja boy and too human 2.

[KingKionic]

lol ... but seriously i agree he cant say that, but in your opinion does it rape all those games?

[Spike47]

company to enter the console market as an excuse for the lack of games "shown" this year.

I am sure they have something big up their sleeves, the question is "what".

[f789790]

Microsoft may have something good they are keeping secret. They kept the fact FF13 would be on the 360 quiet with not even a rumor getting out. That said, if they don't they are so screwed. Faulty console + No 2009 A games = Migration to PS3.

[Figboy]

Playstation 3 owners know about

GoW3
inFamous
White Knight Chronicles (hopefully coming to the US and EU soon)
Demon Souls
Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
MAG
Heavy Rain
DC Universe Online
Gran Turismo 3

most of which coming in the next 6-18 months.

then we know that Team Ico is working on something to be revealed soon, as are their other first and second party studios.

recently, Sony trademarked Starhawk and Dominion, clearly two new games. they could even be revealed at E3 this year, or at least, TGS.

Microsoft hasn't trademarked ANYTHING lately, have they? if they are serious about "unseating Sony and the Playstation," they need to meet Sony's gargantuan first and second party offerings head on.

at this point, we'd be hearing rumors about what Microsoft is planning at E3 and beyond, and to make their consumers wait an additional 3 months for ANNOUNCEMENTS of games coming in the next 6 months or more, while gamers on the "other" console have plenty to play now and in the coming weeks (ie, inFamous releasing in May, and the various cool PSN titles coming out on a weekly basis), is pretty lame.

as a 360 owner as well as a PS3 owner, i want to be excited for what MS has in store for the machine this year. Halo is not my thing, so Halo Wars and Halo 3: ODST don't do it for me.

Ninja Blade looks ok, but i'll have to rent it first to see if it's worth my time.

Alan Wake really has me interested, but is that even coming out this year?

Splinter Cell was never my thing, even back when the franchise was EXCELLENT.

Rare has been too much of a disappointment since this generation began for me to be really hopeful for whatever games they are planning.

i don't care about spectacle or "Megaton" announcements, i just want to see some good games to play for my 360.

so far, the PS3 is dominating my gaming time these days (i finally snagged my copy of Valkyria Chronicles for $30, so i've been playing that, i'm thinking of importing Demon Souls, i'm still playing Killzone 2, Resistance 2, and trying to complete everything in Folklore), while the 360 just sits there.

i finished Fable 2, and as much as i like Mass Effect, i'm simply not in the mood to put up with the texture loading, framerate issues, and loading times right now.

while 3rd party exclusives are nice and all, they can ALWAYS go to the other console if that IP isn't owned by Microsoft or Sony.

that goes for MGS4, FFXIII, Eternal Sonata, Tales of Vesperia, Ninja Gaiden 2, etc, etc.

nothing third party is safe.

for me, the question then shifts to, "which console is offering more exclusives?"

i mean, why buy the other guy when this product here is offering you everything they are, and then some?

the PS3 is getting every 3rd party multi-plat the 360 is, but the difference is that Sony has 20 first party, and 10 second party studios all working on Playstation 3 exclusives.

Microsoft has been the best competition Sony has had in the gaming market, and they've pushed Sony to improve significantly over the past 3 years. i'd hate to see them drop the ball now, and Sony get back to being c0cky, arrogant jackasses like they were in the PS2 era. leave that sh*t to Nintendo, they seem to be quite content with flipping off the hardcore gamer and counting their money and having Eskimo kisses with the casual non-gamers these days, then gloating about it.

[papero2]

As a "ps3 only" gamer i too want MS to keep the pressure on Sony.
My ps3 was awful back in 2007,(no trophy, no in game Xbar, sucky online, sucky store, no rumble, no prepaid cards...ETCx1000).
Thanks to the 360, Sony got its act together.

MS will eventually work on free online, the D-pad, the stupid accessory prices and their hardware problems thanks to the ps3.

[ironmonkey]

ms will need something big thats for sure and two new games or whatever isnt gonna help it and keeping a so called secret until e3 is suppose to make people say whoa? lol surprises can also be a disastrous

[Finalflash22]

Love this site, its write-ups are always so well thought out and professional, like I'm reading the notes of a scientist with a phD.

[Pug]

That was heavy reading...

[HideoKojima]

If they come to me and pay me two hundred million dollars, I might consider porting my iPhone's Metal Gear Solid Touch to the 360. That's for the first two acts only, the rest will come as downloadable content on Xbox Live for $99.95 each.

Please keep in mind that my team has to work around the clock to dumb this game down so that it can be played on Ex-Box.