Great article Gavin, when I was poorer I used to be so infuriated by platform exclusives, especially when all my favourite Dreamcast franchises (not to mention Rare, but that's a different issue) went to Xbox. As I now am able to afford two consoles (guess which one I can't) I find them less annoying and more enjoyable to switch between consoles.

I'm now going to bring up MGS4 (frankly, I'm surprised you didn't). For such a big franchise, this game is clearly suffering from a smaller audience (just looks at the rate sales are dropping), but Kojima really wanted to create a piece of art, he wants people to remember the game in it's true form. I'd love for MGS4 to come out on 360, I prefer the controller and I have the console, but if I had a PS3, and it was available for both I don't know what I'd do. Should 5 go for the truer form of the game or the game on a console I'm more familiar with.

I think the memorability of a game is limited by being multi-platform, it means it won't have the impact when we look back in 5 or 10 years and think it was just another multiplatform release. However, it is also true that a game will be forgotten if it comes out on a single console and not enough people play it for it to become popular. It is then more likely to gain a 'cult' following.

In contradiction to my last statement look at the example of Beyond Good and Evil, that was a critically acclaimed multiplatform release, but sales were limited because people saw it and it hadn't been pushed by one of the big 3 as the 'next big thing'. Backing from a manufacturer is incredibly important to sales, but maybe not how we remember a game.

The other problem is the strength of the first party (and second party) games. Nintendo has an incredibly strong first party offering, Microsoft has the buying power for lots of second party exclusives and Sony tended to rely on third party for the big exclusives, at least in the last generation. Software wise, Microsofts software strategy of second party games seems to be paying off for now as both the Wii and PS3 search for more third party exclusives. Although, the first party strategy does seem to be strongest for pushing hardware sales.

I think in an ideal world we'd all have all 3 consoles and developers would develop for the console their game most suits, that way we could expects games standards to increase in general. Where it's suitable I think it's great to have multiplatform games so that the consumer can pick their console. As it stands I expect to see more sharing between 360 and PS3 (which can only help the cheaper console) and some more exclusives on Wii. After all, porting up graphics is no easy job. If all games were multiplatform it might be great for consumers, but the little fanboy in me, and indeed inside most of us, would be crying.

These kinds of releases are becoming the norm, but nothing I don't expect from the games industry, which is very good at adjusting to any changing climate.

Indeed, it makes a lot more sense to push certain games out on 360 before PS3, and is not a matter of favouritism as some fanboys might think, but simply basic economics. Which system gets the game later, can only stand to benefit from the development of the former and the extras of the latter.

Its for this reason that I thought PS3 would not do so well, because Sony were relying on the old model of exclusives such as MGS4 and FFXIII in order to sell PS3, when I had seen this change in the market, but Sony failed to see or acknowledge it, IMO. Placing such old exclusives next to the fresh new content of 360, was always going to be hard sell.

With MGS4 now on sale, it will obviously do well for Konami and PS3, but Konami as a developer have very little on the table to entice beyond that (and Pro Evo). While Konami have remained tight lipped, when asked about a possible 360 cut of MGS4, all signs point to this as a high probability, after all, MGS is a hugely popular series and MGS2 did grace the original Xbox. MGS3 could have just as easily followed on 360, but didn't (I still don't know why this was so). There's no reason why Konami couldn't release a MGS Collection like the PS2 version, onto 360, and then sell the new MGS4 on top of that, on double sided dvd or something. There's also been whispers of MGS1 gracing Xbox Live Arcade, which, considering the size of MGS1, is a high possibility.

Like you said before, the tech is similar on PS2/Xbox and PS3/360, so they'd stand to lose less by doing so. Having all four games on one system will surely entice many to buy.

Releasing games, multiformat, at the same time can also work well. What's clear is that this way, the timed exclusive gives more flexibility, while juggling various IP in the pipe. They'll be here until some other better way is found. All in all, us gamers stand to benefit either way (especially those with all formats.

Good article, Spong.

You are both wrong.

Firstly Sony seems to be relying on their First party (and they ahve the largest First Party) to create their games. They are by no means relying on 3rd party for exclusives. If anythign it's 3rd party that is the least likely to Sony. David Armstrong, I do not know what rock you ahve been hiding under for the past decade, but it's time to come out and sample real life.

And Joji, I think you are wrong too, becuase it seems to be Sony who aren't dragging out Franchises (unless Third Party such as MGS4 and FFXIII so they ahve no input), and infact replacing the last generations cults with new ones. Notice how they didn't even try to get GTA4, and lucky too, becuase it wasn't a sytem seller.

MGS4 on the other hand has helped sell tons of PS3's, and there is VERY little chnace of it comign to the 360 becuase it's such a console-centric game. So many things relate to it being on a PS3, and there is tons of in-game advertisements, that have a direct effect on the gameplay (Apple and Sony) that Microsoft would dringe at seeing on their platform, it's just not going to happen.

Sorry, but I don't agree. While Sony do have a number of IP's owned, many of these are not strictly first party and others are not exactly big hitters. It's also decreasing, after all they just lost the F1 licence. Think back to the traditional Playstation franchises. Crash Bandicoot, GTA, Spyro and MGS to name a few. All of these a third party and many have become multiplatform (interestingly part of Crash and Spyro's demise along with the fall of the platformer). I'll admit there are also many titles like Grand Turismo, Genji, God of War, Buzz!, Wipeout, etc. but, while many of these are good, popular, games, none of theme are the huge, console selling releases that we see from Nintendo's first party franchises. Nintendo is very much the first party platform holder, as it milks its IPs for all they're worth. The PSP and PS3 have both seemed heavily first party at points as they have struggled to gain quality third party exclusives, not because there are more great first party games. Note that, naturally, my list doesn't contain every PS game ever, but I think it's a good general sample of the games.

As long as my rock has a TV, a GameCube and a broadband connection I'll be OK.

You are joking right!? Lost the F1 license, try chose not to renew it, they weren't in a bidding war and since the new Ferrari game is looking sharp it will likely be the replacement for F1. Spyro and Crash really, what are you twelve, those games are old and lost all of their luster after Naughty Dog and Insomniac stopped working on them and for good reason because we got Jak and Ratchet instead which are far better franchises, and now Uncharted and Resistance have been added which sweetens the pot. Genji is garbage, and Buzz is still pretty new. Singstar and Gran Turismo have sold plenty of systems and software though mostly in Europe. Your list is retarded and a poor choice of the available games especially new. Sony's first and second party games are aces, while Nintendo relies on the same tired franchises, don't get me wrong I love Mario and Zelda but how many damn ways and situations can you possibly play Mario in before getting tired of it? MGS4 will not appear on the 360, not only is it not possible, it just wouldn't fit, and Konami has never been 'tight lipped' they flat out said no, a long time ago, and since its selling loads of software and consoles I don't think they need convincing to keep it on the PS3. And they obviously aren't relying on FFXIII to sell consoles since it isn't even out or on the horizon and it's still outselling the 360 in every single territory. Have fun with your Gamecube though, DDR Mario is fun.