GDC 07: Why no GTA exclusivity?
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Mar 9th 2007 at 10:50AM }
This is an undeniable truth of the gaming industry: it's all about the games. Sony's multimedia approach to PS3 is certainly novel, but many have felt that Sony has neglected its gamers by abandoning high-profile potentially exclusive games, such as Grand Theft Auto IV and Assassin's Creed.Phil Harrison put it quite succinctly: "There wouldn't have been an economic sense in keeping GTA as an exclusive." When exclusive deals are made, someone has to pay for the potential difference in install base and sales. Considering how the PS3 install base won't be as large as the Xbox 360's for a while, the economic ramifications of such a deal would've cost Sony quite a pretty penny--and considering how they're losing money on every PS3 sold, it didn't seem too worthwhile.
Sony seems to be taking an approach that's been long-familiar to Nintendo fans. Harrison notes that Sony will have a "greater investment in first party [games] than third." Sony maintains the largest collection of development teams, and certainly it has some truly significant franchises: Ratchet & Clank, God of War, just to name a few.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dolla Dolla @ Mar 9th 2007 11:38AM
A DVD drive in the PS3 would've been f*cking sweet. They could've priced it either the same or less than the 360, and released at the same time. It would've been a three-peat without so much as a blink.
Shame :(
Joe @ Mar 9th 2007 11:44AM
Hello Rob as much as you think BR is not needed it is.
Just look at Blue Dragon if the game was on BR you would only need one disc and even Mass Effect almost ran out of room on the normal Discs. So I think in time many 360 games will be on more then one disc. So Sony made a smart move.
As for Sony not having more games as of right now but if you look to 08 there is a good chance Sony will bring out there big games.
Sony has more first Party games then MS does yet they are not out yet. So give Sony time there is a good chance we could see some really nice games on the PS3.
Plus Sony also said they want to make a lot of game for the PS store and if there is a lot of good ones to come out that is good news.
I own a 360 also and there are not that many games I want to go out and buy for that system too. So like I said give Sony time.
GRT @ Mar 9th 2007 11:57AM
"Microsoft knows something Sony Doesn't. IT IS ALL ABOUT THE GAMES! Sony has put too much focus on the multimedia part of the PS3 and not the games."
Um, XBox Live has the whole movie-renting and tv-show buying thing that is apparently doing really well for them. And they're coming out with an IPTV solution in the fall. Pretty strange choices for a company that "knows" that its all about the games.
I mean really, at least have some facts to back up your arguments. Microsoft wants to 'own' your living room just as much as Sony does.
In my opinion, PS3 fanboys should stop worrying about the 360 and start worrying about the Wii. If it keeps selling like it is, then the Wii will become the 'target platform' for developers, and both the 360 and the PS3 will get ports.
Imagine what a port from the Wii will look like on our high def 360s and PS3s.... *shudder*
Dragon J @ Mar 9th 2007 3:53PM
Good point GRT, but still not cause for concern. How can anyone doubt the future success of the PS3? I mean it's a Playstation for crying out loud. They've been known to bring out the hits...late maybe, but they'll come. What console has ever really been established by great release titles since the SNES? (Mario World, F-Zero, hell even then Street Fighter 2 was the killer app) The XBOX had Halo, the PS1 had Madden (At least its the first game I saw) The PS2 had Madden and Crazy Taxi. I just think everyone is over reacting. As far as exclusives, I could care less who gets what to be honest, as long as it's across the board. Not that it would ever happen (but then again whoda though Sega would be making games for Nintendo) but a PS3 version of Halo 3. Everyone wins except for flaming fanboys...
L @ Mar 9th 2007 12:42PM
JOE
"Sony has more first Party games then MS does yet they are not out yet"
I think you mite need to look at the facts before you say things like that M$ have a sh!t load of 1st party games over 360 and pc ........
aragorn @ Mar 9th 2007 1:31PM
One party says "they wouldn't return our friggan calls"
the other says "exclussivity wasn't financially smart"
YOU CAN'T FIRE ME! I QUIT!!!!
jose @ Mar 9th 2007 2:15PM
Jeff, I believe Andrew was just pointing out the first party titles, as FF and MGS are third party.
alienclay @ Mar 9th 2007 3:28PM
perhaps instead, say gran turismo and resistance FOM.
but as far as exclusives go, 360 may have more in quantity due to head start, but the franchises people recocgnise and want to get 1st and 3rd party, are on playstation.
in fact, instead of mass effect and halo3, what does 360 have comming up that gets people in general salivating? combine this with the fact that playstaton 3 is selling better than 360 after this much time on market, and with competition from other sides, i for one am not concerned about 360 comming in above ps3.
and while i'm curious about the wii, i'm not concerned about it. a study just came out saying that after all this time ony 15% of PSP owners have a DS. clearly grasping at two different markets i see both these consoles doing well. (IF good in depth and INNOVATIVE games people in tis target demographic can get excited about can come out for the wii that is. )
Dolla Dolla @ Mar 9th 2007 4:08PM
You know what would be sweet?
If a developer made a game for both 360 and PS3, and hand a central hub network that allowed the two to go head-to-head. That would throw some water on the fanboy fights. But, I doubt anything like that is even possible, or a thought in the mind of devs.
Jason @ Mar 13th 2007 7:41PM
@3...
two discs?...who cares?....remember FF7(arguably one of the best in the franchise)?...how many did it have?...3?..4?...and how many people complained?
oh, and there was even a post on joystiq about multiple discs...and the bulk of responses were that people didn't care as long as the title was good enough....
granted, a tragic game like postal on multiple discs would be retarded, but a compelling game that people love....multiple discs?...no big deal...i can handle changing discs...
so tell me again, why blu-ray is essential, when taking 10 seconds to replace a disc isn't going to impact me as much as Sony thinks it will?
@4...
yes...MS knows it's about the games....while they have the functionality to allow users to use their product in other fashions, they don't allow it to overshadow the original intent of the console...to play video games...
hell, sony even admitted with the PS2 that they wanted their console to not be a video gaming console, but instead, they wanted it to be a multimedia center....so, how is that mentality focusing on the games?...oh that's right, it's not...
@9...
reading is fundamental
http://www.gamingtarget.com/article.php?artid=6657
alan wake
bioshock
blue dragon
C&C3
fable 2
halo 3(but i'll give you credit, you mentioned this one)
halo wars
huxley
mass effect(this one too)
PGR4
shadowrun
too human
but yeah, you're right....
the 360 doesn't have anything worthwhile other than halo3 and mass effect coming up in the next year....
my bad...what was i thinking?