Analyst: 360's Focus on Entertainment Means Fewer Exclusives

[The Wooster]

Analyst: 360's Focus on Entertainment Means Fewer Exclusives

One market analyst reckons Microsoft's focus on turning the Xbox 360 into a "media center" explains the console's lack of exclusives.

We've all heard this one; it's an argument that comes up in every single one of those banal "X console is better" discussions that litter the internet. The 360 is lagging behind when it comes to quality exclusives. At least when it comes to disk-based titles.

David Cole, founder and president of marketing research and consulting outfit DFC intelligence [http://www.dfcint.com/index.php], reckons the perceived dearth of exclusives is due to Microsoft's focus on promoting social networking and non-gaming media.

"The Xbox 360 has had strong sales given it launched way back in 2005. Microsoft seems to finally be doing a decent job of making the Xbox 360 a true media center. However, 2012 looks to be a crossroad year for Microsoft," he wrote in a feature on IndustryGamers. [http://www.industrygamers.com/news/xbox-new-years-resolutions/] "Gamers are clamoring for not just more games but word about a new system. Meanwhile, it looks like Xbox 360 game exclusives are becoming fewer as Microsoft focuses on applications other than games."

I'd wager Microsoft's somewhat demanding policies regarding exclusives [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/112562-Microsoft-Doesnt-Want-Sonys-Sloppy-Seconds] don't help either.

Cole also spoke briefly about the Kinect. While the device has sold well, to say the least, [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.269692-Kinect-Becomes-the-Fastest-Selling-Gizmo-Ever] he's unsure whether or not people are actually using it to play games rather than, say, give people tits [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/106672-Kinect-Hack-Slaps-Worlds-Most-Jiggly-Boobs-on-Anyone] or guide the blind. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108593-Kinect-Hack-Becomes-GPS-for-the-Blind]

"The Kinect may have sold well but we wonder if people are really using the device," he writes. "Now that Microsoft has sold a lot of systems they need to ensure that their users actually have fun playing with those systems if they want them to stick with the Xbox brand for the long haul."

Source: IndustryGamers [http://www.industrygamers.com/news/xbox-seeing-fewer-exclusives-because-of-microsofts-entertainment-focus/]


Permalink

 

[Treblaine]

Weeeeeell, this doesn't really concern me.

My favourite PS2 games of 2006 was Tomb Raider Legend and Hitman: Blood Money (100%'ed both of em) though neither were exclusives

And in 2011 I found myself playing most on 360: Red Dead Redemption and Black Ops. Also neither of them exclusives. But I love the Xbox 360 controller and I especially love how it has VGA output I can use it in my computer monitor as a cheap HDTV.

I don't think exclusives matter on the tail end of a generation. They call exclusives "system sellers" I think for a reason, they consider the lions share in third party games bought by preference on their system.

 

[Danceofmasks]

I'm using my kinect as the sensors of a giant death robot.

How are you using yours?

 

[Joccaren]

Inb4 PC has the most exclusives.

Eh, less exclusives is better for us. Everybody gets to play all the games, without having to spend a stupid amount of money to get all the platforms to do so. Its also not necessarily a bad thing for those companies, as they will definitely be losing sales thanks to it being an exclusive to a platform not everyone has.
I'm hoping both Sony and Microsoft get rid of exclusives entirely, though I doubt either of them will, as it would mean better and cheaper gaming for everyone. Kinda sucks they're greedy corporations though...

 

[Scrustle]

I don't really care that much about exclusives as long as there is still a decent number of good games on the system. Although I am kind of worried about what the next Xbox will be. They are focused on Kinect and non-game applications quite a lot now, and it doesn't look like they are going to dial that back with the next console. And also the rumours about how it will be completely focused around Kinect and technically inferior to the next Playstation worry me too, because I can see it happening.

 

[ShaneGunWolf]

I honestly don't care when it comes to exclusive games, but I'm grateful for the ones we have now, like the Halo and Gears of War series'. I just want GOOD games, mostly.

 

[Twilight_guy]

As soon as someone can explain to me why an exclusive game would ever be a good idea, maybe I'll start caring. For now, whatever.

 

[GonzoGamer]

Well... yeah. It's been the case for a long time, innit? They don't really have many exclusives worth noting. The PS3 has always had more, and better, exclusives.

But I still sometimes regret getting the ps3 instead of the 360.
The 360 doesn't really need any exclusives as all the third party titles are built for it. So many of the PS3 ports I've played have just been complete travesties.
And at least MS is doing something interesting with the crappy hardware. Sony has some good hardware but it doesn't do shit with it's firmware. The last big update was just to hype up the Vita.

 

[laggyteabag]

I dont care about the dashboard! All i want are some more decent games to play on instead of YouTube support, or Facebook and Twitter!

 

[GonzoGamer]

Well... yeah. It's been the case for a long time, innit? They don't really have many exclusives worth noting. The PS3 has always had more, and better, exclusives.

But I still sometimes regret getting the ps3 instead of the 360.
The 360 doesn't really need any exclusives as all the third party titles are built for it. So many of the PS3 ports I've played have just been complete travesties.
And at least MS is doing something interesting with the crappy hardware. Sony has some good hardware but it doesn't do shit with it's firmware. The last big update was just to hype up the Vita.

I dig, I dig. I mean, when the game is out on both systems, I would always say go for the 360 version. Especially if it is multiplayer. But I could also fill up a shelf with just PS3 exclusives alone.

Good ps3 exclusives?
There's 3 ps3 exclusives that I really like: LBP2, Valkyria Chronicles, and Warhawk. With the others, a rental satisfied me. Great games sure, but they don't quite make up for everything else. As good as some exclusives are, they don't usually have as much content or are as good as the multiplatform games. I'd give up all the ps3 exclusives to have decent ports of the multiplatform games.

I don't even buy ps3 games anymore, I just rent them now.

Honestly, I wish the 360 didn't have the rrod problem and the online fee; I would've bought one of those instead.

Any relation to Great Teacher Onizuka?

 

[Something Amyss]

Honestly, I dislike most of Microsoft's exclusives anyway. XBox is my brand of choice this gen for the sole reason that it's what my friends play. Well, not the sole reason, as price at the time was a factor.

I think the need for exclusives is pretty outdated at this point, as are the pissing contests over the better version. You play PS3 as your primary? Awesome. You play Wii? Hehehehe...I said "wii."

 

[BrotherRool]

The 360 is lacking in exclusives? Since when? I'm a Sony fanboy and a PS3, non 360 owner but I've never heard about it being weak on exclusives. I know there aren't many exclusives that I'd want to play (Halo, Gears, Forza, Fable etc aren't my thing) but I thought 360 owners tended to be a bit more online shooter focused.

I'm still going to prefer LBP, Uncharted, Motorstorm, inFamous, Heavy Rain, Valkyria Chronicles, Ratchett and Clank, Demons Souls, Metal Gear Solid, SotC, ICO, God of War etc but I thought the general opinion was that Killzone and Resistance weren't up to shooter standards compared to the 360 exclusives

 

[GonzoGamer]

Well... yeah. It's been the case for a long time, innit? They don't really have many exclusives worth noting. The PS3 has always had more, and better, exclusives.

But I still sometimes regret getting the ps3 instead of the 360.
The 360 doesn't really need any exclusives as all the third party titles are built for it. So many of the PS3 ports I've played have just been complete travesties.
And at least MS is doing something interesting with the crappy hardware. Sony has some good hardware but it doesn't do shit with it's firmware. The last big update was just to hype up the Vita.

I dig, I dig. I mean, when the game is out on both systems, I would always say go for the 360 version. Especially if it is multiplayer. But I could also fill up a shelf with just PS3 exclusives alone.

Good ps3 exclusives?
There's 3 ps3 exclusives that I really like: LBP2, Valkyria Chronicles, and Warhawk. With the others, a rental satisfied me. Great games sure, but they don't quite make up for everything else. As good as some exclusives are, they don't usually have as much content or are as good as the multiplatform games. I'd give up all the ps3 exclusives to have decent ports of the multiplatform games.

I don't even buy ps3 games anymore, I just rent them now.

Honestly, I wish the 360 didn't have the rrod problem and the online fee; I would've bought one of those instead.

Any relation to Great Teacher Onizuka?

This might show up twice. The always reliable and well designed Escapist website ate my post.

Well, I like a lot of the PS3 exclusives. Most of them, actually. But you are right. A lot of them lack content, and a lot of them are single player games with low replay value. I hear you on the ports, though. Take Bayonetta, for example. What the hell happened there?

The rrod is a major, major problem. I'm on my 5th 360, but still on my first PS3. The fee doesn't bother me much since it is only 60 bucks a year, but it is still a crude fee since it doesn't really give you much for your buck. PSPlus, on the other hand, constantly gives you free crap for just being a member. I think that is awesome. And you're not practically forced to be a member, unlike Live. I mean, you need to pay to play online. That kind of sucks.

Indeed! That is where the Great Teacher part of my user name comes from. It's my favorite anime of all time.

EDIT: As for 360 exclusives... there really aren't any that stand out for me. I hate Halo, couldn't care less about Gears, Forza is awesome (but why bother when you have Gran Turismo), and... I'm having a hard time thinking of others.

Definitely one of my favorites; can't top Bebop or FLCL, IMHO. It's certainly some of the best written anime.
PS3 (like the ps2) does have the most interesting exclusives (Starhawk is one of the only games I'm looking forward to this year) but once again (as you pointed out) the competition is pretty lame.
I would love to see the 360 offer cable channels (to pick and choose), then I can get behind their idea of the fee and the xbox being the primary entertainment outlet in the house.

 

[josemlopes]

Well... yeah. It's been the case for a long time, innit? They don't really have many exclusives worth noting. The PS3 has always had more, and better, exclusives.

But I still sometimes regret getting the ps3 instead of the 360.
The 360 doesn't really need any exclusives as all the third party titles are built for it. So many of the PS3 ports I've played have just been complete travesties.
And at least MS is doing something interesting with the crappy hardware. Sony has some good hardware but it doesn't do shit with it's firmware. The last big update was just to hype up the Vita.

I dig, I dig. I mean, when the game is out on both systems, I would always say go for the 360 version. Especially if it is multiplayer. But I could also fill up a shelf with just PS3 exclusives alone.

Good ps3 exclusives?
There's 3 ps3 exclusives that I really like: LBP2, Valkyria Chronicles, and Warhawk. With the others, a rental satisfied me. Great games sure, but they don't quite make up for everything else. As good as some exclusives are, they don't usually have as much content or are as good as the multiplatform games. I'd give up all the ps3 exclusives to have decent ports of the multiplatform games.

I don't even buy ps3 games anymore, I just rent them now.

Honestly, I wish the 360 didn't have the rrod problem and the online fee; I would've bought one of those instead.

Any relation to Great Teacher Onizuka?

This might show up twice. The always reliable and well designed Escapist website ate my post.

Well, I like a lot of the PS3 exclusives. Most of them, actually. But you are right. A lot of them lack content, and a lot of them are single player games with low replay value. I hear you on the ports, though. Take Bayonetta, for example. What the hell happened there?

The rrod is a major, major problem. I'm on my 5th 360, but still on my first PS3. The fee doesn't bother me much since it is only 60 bucks a year, but it is still a crude fee since it doesn't really give you much for your buck. PSPlus, on the other hand, constantly gives you free crap for just being a member. I think that is awesome. And you're not practically forced to be a member, unlike Live. I mean, you need to pay to play online. That kind of sucks.

Indeed! That is where the Great Teacher part of my user name comes from. It's my favorite anime of all time.

EDIT: As for 360 exclusives... there really aren't any that stand out for me. I hate Halo, couldn't care less about Gears, Forza is awesome (but why bother when you have Gran Turismo), and... I'm having a hard time thinking of others.

Alan Wake... Just wanted to point that out.

But yeah, the thing is that these exclusives are (or should be) on their last games (yes, Halo will have a new trilogy but it will not be as big as the first trilogy, everyone is already a bit tired).

Alan Wake and Forza are the only ones that show future and I kind of dont care that much as long as good games keep coming, exclusives arent beneficial for the consumer in any way