Capcom VP of marketing talks PS3, exclusivity

by Andrew Yoon { Dec 11th 2007 at 3:45PM }

Capcom received a lot of flak from the Sony fan community when it opted to cancel the PS3 version of Monster Hunter 3 and move it to Wii. It was seen as a continuation of anti-Sony efforts, which started with the publisher's devotion to the Xbox 360 with titles like Dead Rising and Lost Planet. Sony fans were further angered to see former PS3 exclusives, like Devil May Cry 4, become multiplatform titles. Some argued that Capcom's strong PS2 fanbase were being abandoned and ignored.

Of course, Capcom has no reason to pledge "allegiance" to Sony, as some overzealous fans may proclaim. With PS3 sales finally turning around, the publisher is ready to integrate PS3 strongly into its plans. Capcom VP or marketing, Nique Fajors, spoke to Next-Gen: "If the PS3 happened to have LittleBigPlanet, Gran Turismo 5 and Killzone 2 available within the launch window, we'd be having a very different conversation, because Sony would've had some traction a lot sooner. Our view is that Sony is building very strong momentum globally-last month, PS3 actually outsold the Wii in Japan. We're seeing good traction across the board. As Sony delivers their must-have first-party titles, we'll deliver what we consider must-have titles over the course of the next 12 months. We think it's going to be a very vibrant platform."

"As a company are very much committed to the PS3 as a global platform that we know can be successful in Japan, Europe and the United States," Fajors added. So long as PS3 continues to receive quality games from Capcom, PS3 fans have very little to worry about. However, will the PS3 ever receive an exclusive from the Japanese publishing giant? "Fundamentally, do I think [platform exclusivity] is dead? No, I don't believe it's dead. It goes back to economics, consumer interest and unique playability."

[Image credit: Ripten]

Tags: capcom, exclusivity

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

John @ Dec 11th 2007 3:58PM

Fair weather developer.

capcom can blow it out their aces @ Dec 11th 2007 7:07PM

and because of this i refuse to buy another capcom title.

early with the ps3 they kept screwing us, and now that it is turning around they want to come out and say they support the ps3 blah blah. i think they do owe ps fanboys, they made hella millions off of us from the previous playstations.

Byron517 @ Dec 11th 2007 4:16PM

Basically it comes down to the all mighty *dollar* and looking out for the best "interest" of the company.... children you'll learn this in econ so as a personal lesson to you all...

C.R.E.A.M *Cash Rules Everything Around Me*

its a household motto! I knew once the PS3 started to pick up steam that Capcom would come right back and say "hello" this is expected.. Loyalty is a thing of the past when it comes to "business"

ted @ Dec 11th 2007 7:35PM

A good game early in the launch of a new system can pay off big for a developer willing to extend themselves. Of course PS3 is going to do great eventually, so publish a great game, move a bunch of systems and have that much more time to sell the game, plus you also start work on your development engines for the system, which puts you ahead of the curve later on.
Gotta tell you, you come off pretty arrogant suggesting that we are children waiting to be schooled by your wonderful marketing insight. As for CREAM, I feel sorry for anyone living by such shallow, materialistic "motto".

mint400 @ Dec 12th 2007 12:56PM

You're naive, man. Companies don't have conscience, no 'loyalty' to customers. They've never had.
Of course developing on a platform with an unique hardware architecture and a small installed base won't do it ROI-wise...
So why wouldn't they plan to sell their games on a) pc service parts duct-taped together or b) 2 GCs duct-tape together with an high IB? Companies are there for making money. Capitalism is shallow and materialistic, yes. But there weren't too many good games in the soviet union back then (tetris doesn't count).

Trym @ Dec 11th 2007 4:18PM

I want DMC to be an exclusive...

Demis @ Dec 11th 2007 4:25PM

Agreed, JunkBox users don't deserve DMC.. Just throw them another Alien with a Gun and some Freak in green Suit and they'll be happy for Years..

Jason @ Dec 11th 2007 4:44PM

HAHAHA! Love it!! It's so true for a large part of the xbox fanbase.

Trym @ Dec 11th 2007 4:42PM

Agree, when it comes to gaming, Sony do have some heavy experience. And Capcom have had, as far as I know, good experiences with Sony before. The major userbase of the DMC franchise is with Playstation users.

john @ Dec 11th 2007 4:54PM

Just die already Capcom. We know well how much you "Love" your PS3 fans; memories of Munster hunter are still very fresh.
I was an idiot for buying your products in the first place. If you don't want me, I can easily show you the middle finger as well and move on to other companies. Don't get ahead of yourself; YOU exist because WE the fans and WE the console owners PAY for your games. You talk to people arrogantly from your high horse and nothing but a catastrophic failure (which will be very sweat for my taste) would show you your mistakes. YOU TAKE THE RESPECT THAT YOU GIVE; I have seen none so far. We do owe you something, but you owe us more; a lot more than you can comprehend with your dysfunctional brain.
I very well wish for your bankruptcy.

kentuckyfried @ Dec 11th 2007 5:07PM

To me, Capcom's become a company of cash whores, putting out for the highest bidder (M$ and their deep pockets).

When did their self-respect run out?

boxmyth @ Dec 11th 2007 5:08PM

Just release MegaMan Legends 3 for PS3 and Sony will rise to the top and dominate all!

EfrenPacquiao @ Dec 11th 2007 9:53PM

That would be awesome!!!

kentuckyfried @ Dec 11th 2007 5:09PM

I mean, how can you have such good working relationship with Sony, with plenty of success, and then turn around and stab them in the back in this latest next-gen battle?

kentuckyfried @ Dec 11th 2007 5:15PM

This's why I have alot of respect for Hideo Kojima. MGS4 would make boatloads more money if it was multi-platform. But he's repeatedly stuck to his guns and had alot of influence in maintaining it as a ps3 exlcusive (despite the fact that it won't likely crack a million units on the first day of release).

Popfrogs @ Dec 12th 2007 5:14PM

Hideo has also said during development that what they're doing isn't possible on the X360. Take that as you will.

Jon @ Dec 11th 2007 5:18PM

*Keeps fingers crossed for Monster Hunter 4 and next-gen Rathalos roaring onscreen*

Bradsta @ Dec 11th 2007 5:23PM

the only capcom stuff i like is resident evil. i dont like devil may cry.

sicklesdawg @ Dec 11th 2007 5:25PM

Basically he's saying PS3 will get exclusive if we out sell the competitions....But when PS4 launches its all up for grabs as they only care about $$$

psfan @ Dec 11th 2007 5:46PM

its nice to see we do have a voice. if enough of us dont like something and its being brought to their attention. calling a spade a spade: we control how well or how poor a company does financially. capcom alog with others have become whores. the highest bidder gets the goods. i.e. grand theft auto IV. metal gear will be a ps3 exclusive until about 6-8 months later when they port it to the 360. loyalty is dead. i would say that dmc 4 is going to fail but seeing how alot of former playstation 2 owners have opted to jump ship their is no telling what's gonna happen. If i see kratos on a 360 i will seriously hang up my control. seems like god of war is all we have left. lara croft. crash bandicoot. resident evil. silent hill. metal gear. dmc. grand theft auto. now i hear paraper the raper is jumping to wii. all got their start on ps. now their cheap hookers working for crack

jtedesco33 @ Dec 11th 2007 5:49PM

@ 14
That's exactly what I got out of the article, but honestly can any of you blame a company for going where the money is. If it costs 20 million to make a game why would you release it on a console where you will only sell a fraction of what you would on the other console. I love my PS3 but I'm also a sales rep for brewing companies and I can understand selling your product to the market that will make you the most money.
And no releasing something in multiple markets is not always good.

never$$hort @ Dec 11th 2007 6:17PM

Well, well, well... look who has come crawling back. Definately all about the $$$. I predict more companies to follow suit now that the ant-Sony attitude is slowly starting to fade. I really hate 2-faced pussies who are for the most part sheep that follow what the "in-crowd" says (all the negative anti-Sony media BS of this past year) and now that the PS3 has started to pick up steam, they all like, 'Hey we always liked the PS3!!"

Jon @ Dec 11th 2007 6:21PM

@16

I agree. The people faulting Capcom for trying to stay in business are pretty naive when it comes to all the money it takes to be in and stay competitive in this generation of gaming. There really is no point in making a game for $20 mil with an install base of only 10 mil (I'm guessing so please, don't flame my inaccuracy... geez).

I was disappointed that DMC4 and Monster Hunter 3 both moved on to different platforms (I love my PS2 and I'm saving up for a PS3), but I'm intelligent enough to know why Capcom did what they did -- some people need to grow some more brain cells and accept that Capcom is a business and there's no such thing as "playing favorites" when they're trying to stay in the game (pun intended).

Exclusives will still be around but with development costs skyrocketing, they'll be few and far between. Get over yourselves.

ted @ Dec 11th 2007 7:26PM

Capcom is not in trouble financially. A good game can make and bad game break a system. PS3 is bound to make it eventually. Capcom should have showed good faith by helping move more systems knowing that in the end this type of investment would pay off. They should also know the market well enought to realise this is where Japanese game fans live=on the PS3. I think they shot themselves in the foot with arrogant marketing and we fanboys dont forgive easy.

Jose @ Dec 11th 2007 7:58PM

Finally :) we needed more exclusives :)
--

http://www.your-free-playstation-3.blogspot.com

John @ Dec 11th 2007 9:25PM

It's hilarious to see Capcom switch around like this. Someone high up decided the PS3 might not make it. Hopefully now they'll design for ps3 first and xbox360 2nd, so that we don't get sloppy 2nd's. Still, for next-gen games which have budgets of 10-50 million (Metal Gear will have to sell 100,000 the first day), high-cost exclusives may be a thing of the past. If it costs 60mil to develop for both consoles and 40 mil to develop for one, they are going to generally try to develop for both-- but they also must realize if they screw up (EA), their street cred will go way down-- will still PLAY their games-- RENTED.

Joe @ Dec 11th 2007 9:26PM

This is the reason I really love Capcom NOT. I just like how they make it sound as if they like the PS3. But they come out and say they give exclusive games yet here we are and no exclusive game. I read that article and it says one for the DS,WII and 360. But no game for Sony's systems. So it looks as if Capcom hates the PSP too and not just the PS3. I really hope this bits them in the butt and when Capcom finally sees the PS3 doing well that it is to late for them to make any money on this system because every one has moved on.

Plus exclusive games help sell systems and back when the good old Dreamcast was out Capcom made lots of good games for the DC like PowerStone 1 & 2. Yet back then every big company was jumping ship yet Capcom stayed with the DC because they wanted to help them out. But the first year was bad also for the PS3 and this time Capcom is no where in sight. But I forgot they are giving the PS3 Lost Planet but no ones cares. I would have liked to have seen the team make a new game for the PS3 over a year old port. But this is what Capcom thinks any one that has a PS3 wants. I guess they know better then me. So there loss not mine.

maxpower @ Dec 11th 2007 9:48PM

GROW THE $&#$ UP! My god how old are you people? CAPCOM was making games long before their was a Sony console for you to make love to. Metal Gear started on the NES. By your reasoning Capcom would have never cheated on Nintendo by making MGS for the PSOne.

Capcom was smart and developed on a system where they could grow their business and begin development on a next gen system. If you were making $20/hour would you than quit that job and work for $4/hour? NOOOOO. You would take the $18/job until you could get to the $25/hour job.

If you don't understand you are too dumb to even be playing video games. Business has nothing to do with loyalty when your co-worker no longer performs there job. Sony failed and you want Capcom to fail with them? Sony should have never released a $600 console. That was the problem. Now that the PS3 is somewhat Affordable games will come.

Stop being fanboys and purchase another system. You complain when another system has a game you want. Solve the problem and you will never have to worry about what company releases on what system. Get a job.

NoK610 @ Dec 12th 2007 1:43AM

That was probably the most down to earth answer I've seen on this thread.

Realistically, it is about business and if a console is not doing so well, they wouldn't invest so extensively. I'm sure it would have helped the PS3, but don't blame Capcom for being cautious, after all, Sony seems to be more focused on pushing Bluray but not games. Why were they on Disney's / Fox's ass when Paramount / Dreamworks went HD-DVD exclusive? As soon as Sony refocus' their efforts to what the PS3 was meant for, I'm sure Capcom, as well as other developers will be more than happy to develop more games for the PS3. Capcom's listening to it's fanbase, but I don't think Sony is.

Time @ Dec 11th 2007 11:30PM

I don't understand it...I mean its ok when others screw us over because its "business"......but when Nintendo release basically a gamecube with a redesigned powerglove just to maximize profits....its the greastest thing since sex

Overgauss @ Dec 12th 2007 12:32AM

I would temporarily work for $4 dollars an hour instead of $20 if it gave me the necessary skillset to earn $60-100 an hour.

Vincent @ Dec 12th 2007 1:44AM

The thing is: Somebody has to open-up and risk on the exclusive, how else do they expect the console sales to pick up? The 360 not only has 1 year advantage over the PS3, but also enough companies were willing to risk their high profile titles on the Microsoft console... and it went well.

Neither Capcom, Square-Enix nor any other company can bitch about the lack of good PS3-exclusive titles and low sales when they themselves are responsible for it.

lawrence @ Dec 12th 2007 4:56AM

capcon

lawrence @ Dec 12th 2007 4:57AM

capocm needs sony when tehy aree trying to be alot like ea

JBaby007 @ Dec 12th 2007 9:29AM

You can say it's all business and what not so companies can't innovate for a new console because of the almighty dollar. But loyalty aside business is also about taking risks. That C.R.E.A.M. philosophy obviously didn't reach Insomniac, Ninja Theory or Naughty Dog because they didn't seem to have a problem putting out great games for the relatively new/young console. Capcom really disappoints me now coming around and deciding to take the PS3 seriously after essentially kicking it to the curb. EA also makes the boycott list because they screwed us more than anyone.

Honestly I haven't bought a capcom game since megaman and Street Fighter (no I won't be picking up the new streetfighter) so my argument is on principle alone. I don't care for monster house, DMC, or resident evil but I do care that these games, especially as exclusives, would have helped Sony out a lot so this crap they're pulling doesn't fly.

TheSh0wstopper @ Dec 12th 2007 9:36AM

Capcom was smart not to make exclusives for the PS3. And this article says nothing about them "crawling back". It comes down to business. And once again like I always say PS3 owners dont buy games.
Capcom makes great games. Games that deserve to sell a lot. Look at Okami, amazing game but sold like crap on the PS2 with an install base of 10 billion (hyperbole). Meanwhile look at their releases on the 360: Dead Rising, and Lost planet. Both were released within the first year of the console (Lost Planet maybe 1 or 2 months passed the 1 year mark, dont feel like looking it up) and both sold over 1 million. Those are both new IP's that did not recieve much hype before release. Now look at 2 of Sony's new IP's in its first year: Heavely Sword and Uncharted. Both are great games and combined sales of both dont even break 1 million.
Why should Devs break their backs to make exclusives for the PS3 when people dont buy them. Example: Yesterday Unreal Tournament 3 came out for PS3. How many of you went and bought it? Had it been out for 360 my whole friends list would be playing it right now. Now a few months from now when the game comes out for 360 and the sales in the first week more than double the total sales for the PS3 version what do you think Epic will do from now on? Spend so much time and effort making a time released game for the PS3 or focus on a 360 version that will fatten their bank accounts.
The install base of the PS3 is over 6 million right now. There si no excuse for there to still only be 2 games that sold 1 million, especially since one of them comes packed with the system. The HARDCORE gamers that buy a lot of games own 360's (or both), while Playstation has always captured the hearts of the casual and softcore that only buy 2-3 games a year. If yall want the situation to change then your gonna have to start buying games.
When the sales figures come in for Devil May Cry then everyone will see why it was a smart idea for them to make it multi-plat. Then maybe all the fanboys will shut up.

-TheSh0wstopper

wingZero @ Dec 12th 2007 5:09PM

Hmmm yeah uncharted has only been out a couple of weeks #35..give it chance :)

Vincent @ Dec 13th 2007 6:49AM

That, and Heavenly Sword and Uncharted are both really short games. Why would people spend USD$60,00 on a 6~10 hours experience they can have in a single weekend? I for one have no interest on purchasing either.

Josh @ Dec 17th 2007 2:11AM

I'll never buy a Capcom game again. These lazy a$$holes want all the other developers to do the work to make the system popular before they take the risk themselves. What a bunch of no good leeches.

Will to reap the rewards from Sony but not put in the effort to get them there.