Why do they call it 'third party?'

[Moormur]

Think about it for a second...

If something, such as a game or an accessory, is made by the company that made the console, it is called a "First Party" item. Wouldn't it follow that something made for a console by someone else would be a "Second Party" item? Why did we skip to the "Third Party" right away and does the 'second party' have a bouncer, because I want in?

 

[oliveira8]

Second party doesnt sound that good.

 

[Schema]

"In the video game industry, a second-party developer is a developer who, while being a separate entity from any console manufacturer, is tied to a specific one usually through contract or partial ownership and makes games specifically for that console manufacturer.

The defining characteristic is that a second-party developer is a company completely separate from the manufacturer, while first-party developers are considered to be a "division" of the console maker itself.

A second-party developer should not be confused with an internal first-party studio. For example, Intelligent Systems, developers of the original Metroid games (as well as the Fire Emblem and Advance Wars games,) is an internal Nintendo studio and therefore not second-party. Camelot Software Planning, developer of the Golden Sun, Mario Golf and Mario Tennis games, is an example of a second-party developer."

Thanks Google.

 

[Cortheya]

Second party I think is the consumer, first the original, and third the extraneous ones for the particular console (just my guess)

 

[Nimbus]

It works like pronouns, or "1st person/3rd person perspective".

It works like this;
1st party - I/We made the game.
3rd party - He/She/They made the game.

The 2nd party would be - You/You(Pl) made the game. Dosn't work does it?

 

[Twilight_guy]

First person = I, us
Second person = you, your
Third person = he, she, they

First person fits games made by the company that makes the console because the console maker says "I made this game for it as well". Third person fits for other companies because the console maker says "He made this game for the system as well". There is a barrier of formality between the two companies. They do not refer directly to each other with "you" but instead with a more informal referral to the other company rather then a direct address. Second person has always been an informal address, which doesn't suit game companies since generally they are very formal and separate.

That, and it's just tradition to say third-party and not second-party.

Edit:

"In the video game industry, a second-party developer is a developer who, while being a separate entity from any console manufacturer, is tied to a specific one usually through contract or partial ownership and makes games specifically for that console manufacturer.

The defining characteristic is that a second-party developer is a company completely separate from the manufacturer, while first-party developers are considered to be a "division" of the console maker itself.

This sounds better, I'm going with this.

 

[Daye.04]

Second party doesnt sound that good.

Seconded!

But I agree with Nimbus. That's most likely ther reason

 

[Schema]

 

[RetiarySword]

i think it means they have no ties or involvance (is that a word?) with the company. First party would be them, second party would be like a sister company, and third party would be some random group.

 

[Escapefromwhatever]

Here, I'll give you examples:

1st Party: Nintendo
2cd Party: HAL (which makes games exclusively for Nintendo)
3rd Party: Capcom (which develops games on its own)

 

[Moormur]

Got it

Wow, you guys are quick. I posted and went to take a shower. When I got back, I was enlightened!

Escapist Community FTW