What is the point of a console exclusive?

[mrhappyface]

I always wondered what the point of a console exclusive. PS3s and 360s can easily handle SSB and the Wii can potentially port over some big titles (Modern Warfare for example.) MGS4 and Uncharted 2 can potentially be ported to 360s (just on 5 discs), and i see no reason why Gears and Halo can't work on PS3. Why do the game developers do this? Aren't they shutting themselves out of more financial opportunites if they stick to one console instead of 2 or 3? There's 25 million PS3s and 30 million 360s. MGS4 and Halo 3 released on both could potentially double the sales. Why can't game developers release universally?

 

[Mookie_Magnus]

Greed and Fanboys... That's really the only reasons I can think of.

 

[rmcsqrd]

I think it's because the developers expect people to buy that system, solely to play that game. Quite frankly though, I dont think that any game is worth the $200+ you'd have to shell out.

 

[ChromeAlchemist]

What's the point in buying one console instead of another?

This is the reason exclusives exist. If every game was on every console, the cheapest or second cheapest console would be stacked in sales while the other two die out. That's piss poor business.

Devs could release titles on all platforms, but could make more money keeping it exclusive. The big three have deep pockets.

 

[thiosk]

Without console exclusives you lose the reason to have three consoles.

 

[Reaper195]

When Dead Rising came out, there wasn't a PS3. And sure, it probably could have worked on PC, but the developers found it a lot easier to make it for the 360 instead of then having to make a PC port which would be bogged down by glitches, hacks and shite.

 

[Xanadu84]

Because exclusives are the biggest part of what makes a console "Win", and if a developer wants to make a game and needs some cash, and a console developer has some cash and wants some ammunition in the console war, well...something can be arranged.

These days, most exclusives eventually get ported over eventually anyways, unless its a real keystone franchise.

 

[deleted20220820]

DELETED

 

[mrhappyface]

I bought a PS3 for the Blu Ray player and the games. I got a 360 for the multiplayer and the games. I just play my friend's wii. I try to get consoles for their particular hardware advantages, not just for their games.

 

[OmegaXIII]

Exclusives shift consoles, which are the main moneymakers for the companies. Think how many people went out an bought a 360 because Halo 3 was only on that, how many bought a PS3 because MGS4 was only on that.

 

[orangeapples]

because this is the real world.

it's the same reason why we have Dominoes Pizza and Pizza Hut, or Del Taco and Taco Bell.

they are rival companies and they will do whatever they can to 1-up the competition.

 

[mrhappyface]

Exclusives shift consoles, which are the main moneymakers for the companies. Think how many people went out an bought a 360 because Halo 3 was only on that, how many bought a PS3 because MGS4 was only on that.

I have to give that to you. Extreme marketing does wonders.

 

[Mr.logic]

I think its cause the company pays the developers to keep it exclusive so the console sells better. Im not sure to be honest

exactly what he said there are console exclusives because sony want all the uncharted money so they bought naughty dog microsoft wanted the halo money so they bought bungie its not the developer its the publisher.

 

[BreakAtmo]

MGS4 and Uncharted 2 can potentially be ported to 360s (just on 5 discs)

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/uncharted-2-impossible-on-xbox-360

Apparently not. I've also heard before that MGS4 on 360 is also impossible, and even if it isn't, having it on 5 discs would suck.

 

[mrhappyface]

MGS4 and Uncharted 2 can potentially be ported to 360s (just on 5 discs)

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/uncharted-2-impossible-on-xbox-360

Apparently not. I've also heard before that MGS4 on 360 is also impossible, and even if it isn't, having it on 5 discs would suck.

No it won't! I had to handle like 10 old floppies when i was still playing games on my Dad's Commodore 64.

 

[Sh0ckFyre]

Without console exclusives you lose the reason to have three consoles.

 

[Gildan Bladeborn]

The real reason is to provide selling points for the hardware by keeping certain high profile titles as exclusives.

The cynic in me thinks they do it just to stoke the perpetual flame war by giving the sub-literate troglodytes that comprise each console manufacturer's most dedicated fanbase additional ammunition.

You probably picked up on some hostility there. That was actually me being nice to console fanboys. I really don't like exclusives as a concept.

 

[Space Spoons]

To move consoles. At least, that's what I always thought the reason was. I know that if Final Fantasy XIII were still a PS3 exclusive, I'd be preordering the inevitable PS3 Bundle Pack as soon as it became available, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.