If exclusivity is the big problem, how hard is it for Sony to simply

[SOcean2forever]

buy Final Fantasy XIII and Metal Gear Solid 4 to keep them for the PS3?
I mean we've got a 20 million dollar budget for Killzone 2 and high production values for Heavenly Sword (a beautiful game nonetheless, but one without a solid install base to begin with).

Will Sony be insta-broke if they do this?

 

[Cheezdoodles]

Of course Sony wouldn't be "insta-broke" as you call it, if they would simply bribe the two devs to stay exclusive, that wouldn't cost more than 20-30million.

However, the question is if its worth it?

How many additional hardware sales would PS3 get from a MGS4 exclusive vs it being a multiplatform title? (The PS3 version has had by far the most dev time, so it would probably end up being the "superior" version as fanboys call it anyway)

How many games would the additional hardware buyers buy?

And finally, the most important question for Sony, wouldn't it be better if we pour 15 million into two talented devs studios that they own, to produce two new IP's? Then you own all potential sequels as well, and since your both developing and publishing it, you get all the income.

Or could you invest that money elsewhere(totally non gaming related) for even more profit?

 

[Kryton]

Of course Sony wouldn't be "insta-broke" as you call it, if they would simply bribe the two devs to stay exclusive, that wouldn't cost more than 20-30million.

However, the question is if its worth it?

How many additional hardware sales would PS3 get from a MGS4 exclusive vs it being a multiplatform title? (The PS3 version has had by far the most dev time, so it would probably end up being the "superior" version as fanboys call it anyway)

How many games would the additional hardware buyers buy?

And finally, the most important question for Sony, wouldn't it be better if we pour 15 million into two talented devs studios that they own, to produce two new IP's? Then you own all potential sequels as well, and since your both developing and publishing it, you get all the income.

Or could you invest that money elsewhere(totally non gaming related) for even more profit?

They could buy MS, Knomai and EA shares Protect themselves from the downside and the upside.

 

[SOcean2forever]

Of course Sony wouldn't be "insta-broke" as you call it, if they would simply bribe the two devs to stay exclusive, that wouldn't cost more than 20-30million.

However, the question is if its worth it?

How many additional hardware sales would PS3 get from a MGS4 exclusive vs it being a multiplatform title? (The PS3 version has had by far the most dev time, so it would probably end up being the "superior" version as fanboys call it anyway)

How many games would the additional hardware buyers buy?

And finally, the most important question for Sony, wouldn't it be better if we pour 15 million into two talented devs studios that they own, to produce two new IP's? Then you own all potential sequels as well, and since your both developing and publishing it, you get all the income.

Or could you invest that money elsewhere(totally non gaming related) for even more profit?

It's a psychological weapon worthy of risking. As a Devil May Cry fan the thought of DMC4 going multi-platform made me second thought spending an extra 200 dollars for the PS3. I am an Ace Combat fan too.

If 360 gets MGS4 and FXIII, that makes the Microsoft's little beast a complete system. At that point PS3 is best described as blu-ray player with a few soon-to-come gems, but the kind of games with zero install base.

Why do people keep buying Madden over and over again every single year and why does it sell millions of copies?

Unlike the Xbox, which survived its infancy because of Halo, the Playstation brand was not built upon one AAA title. The PS2 destroyed its competition with multiple AAA titles, whose fans are awaiting for in the PS3. People will painstakingly pay 200 extra bucks for games they want to play and can only find in the PS3.

I am not saying Resident Evil 4 was a system mover during its time, but you couldn't deny it Resident Evil 4 was a stellar title and guess what, you could only find it if you bought a gamecube.

 

[infinity4]

i think SCEI has some shares in SE, that should keep them fine wouldn't it???

 

[nico1982]

i think SCEI has some shares in SE, that should keep them fine wouldn't it???

IIRC they had about 20% of Square at some point, long before the merger with Enix. Last time I read something about it (right here, on NeoGAF or somewhere else), they have an 8% share in SE, but as a non-voting stakeholder.

 

[BoardBonobo]

IMHO it's not a big problem for Sony, it just tends to mean you get multi-platform mediocre games instead of one game that really shines. It's more of a problem for the gamer.

Titles that are exclusive for a limited period and then, if there is the demmand, are ported across to other platforms are a much better choice. The original is given the attention it deserves and the ports tend to be even more polished.

Halo and Lost Planet are two that spring to mind, both seem to have benefited from cross platform ports.