It seems like every week a franchise firmly associated with all that is Playstation becomes a multiplatform game for all to play.
The bombshell at E3 of a 360 Final Fantasy and now the beat them up Tekken will also be sporting a little green X. Lets not forget before that GTA4 was making its day and date debut on two systems. What does this all mean for us?
Well I suppose it depends on who you are. For the average gamer all this means nothing except for the fact you can now choose between your white box or your black box to play your games. For the hardcore fanboy it is probably message board gold as they furiously type away the injustice of it all and how Microsoft is paying everyone off to make Sony look bad!
The point is these games haven’t gone away, your PS3 does still play games released on more than one system as far as I know. People will point towards the hardware and say that if a game was only PS3 it would be so much better citing MGS4 as proof. For a start MGS has always been a bit of an anomaly considering Kojima productions mass amount of money to inject into ridiculous ideas (“Sexy Octopus Lady? Sure, lets do it!”). Secondly it is quite clear most developers either don’t have the time, money or expertise of PS3 hardware to make games that are “that much better than Xbox”. Some would even say that they both have strengths and weaknesses and neither is much more powerful than the other.
Let’s look at it from the developer’s point of view. Spend hours of time and money on a game and ship it to the smallest “next-gen” user base…or…ship it for the Xbox and PS3 and make a hell of a lot more money. Business is business I am afraid, but it doesn’t have to be all men in suits trying to eek every last penny from the next Crash Bandicoot game (I don’t remember much bleating about that not being exclusive anymore!). If a developer makes a game multiplatform and therefore can make more money one would hope that money will get pushed into other projects. Making better games for everyone!
Something to bleat about would be exclusives switching sides. I would probably have kittens if LittleBigPlanet 2 was announced as Xbox only! That hasn’t happened yet but we are seeing a digital war for exclusivity. GTA4 will apparently have Xbox only downloadable content and now the new Tomb Raider will have exclusive 360 DLC. Is this a big deal for the gamers? To be honest I’m not sure I haven’t really played a game affected by this other than GTA and that Xbox content isn’t out yet. Could it be amazing? Sure it could…but we are coming up to Christmas and there are so many games coming out I think I don’t think I have time for a DLC pack, no matter how big it is!
This is far from the first time we have seen games move around the platforms and far from the last. Final Fantasy was once a glorious Nintendo only game, but for a long time after it was synonymous with Playstation…so let’s not go pretending FF hasn’t slept around before.
These days it seems there are more and more great games coming out for all systems. I think it’s great that I can talk GTA4 with my friend who only owns a 360. Ok I can’t play with him online but it’s better than us not being able to talk about it at all! Let’s try and look at this glass as half full and not half empty. FF13 is still coming to the PS3 and Resistance 2 is still exclusive (however as you may be able to tell I don’t care about such things as long as I can still play it!)
So stop worrying what game could be next to swing both ways and just enjoy playing them!
October 10th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
I agree with this, mostly. I would add though that the devs not making PS3 exclusives does (in my opinion) limit the scale of the title to 360 proportions where it could, quite obviously be bigger if they weren’t constrained by the DVD storage space. Let’s put that to one side for a moment and consider the effect this will have on the next generation of consoles.
Microsoft make a decent product, not tested properly, prone to overheating, sounds like a hovercraft, limited media format stunts growth. They sell shitloads and make a killing.
Sony make a daring console, pioneering new media technology, not scrimping on components to eek out as much power as was possible at the time of development. They don’t sell nearly as many and nearly all of the games on their console are perfectly happy (or happier) running on the slower, cheaper, fragile, money-making competition.
Do you think when it comes time to design and develop the next generation of consoles Sony will still be willing to put the effort, money and guile into making something that is as cutting edge as the PS3 was on release day or do you think that both companies will take the Microsoft route and go for middle of the road, safe options?
I think it’s an obvious business choice and the only way to prevent slipping into the trap of mediocrity is to support the brave.
I don’t blame devs for getting their product out to as many as possible, I just think it’s a shame the market doesn’t recognise that if they had the balls to back the Sony machine then the next generation would benifit, on both sides.
TheRook21 Says:
October 10th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
The next PS console will/should
be an upgrade to RAM & graphics…
Why would they spend x amount on cell and blu-ray to not use it again…
just up the processing speed of the cell and increase the transfer rate of the BR drive…
put in the latest gfx chipset and bobs your uncle…
the limiting factor with current gen consoles is the graphics chip.
There is only so much you can get a cpu to do for you but when it comes down to attractive looking games thats all sitting on the graphics cards shoulders…
TheRook21
stefhutch20 Says:
October 10th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I agree that more developers should back Sony, but unfortunatley I think we just need to accept that nowadays most developers are more concerned with making money than with making truly great games (apart from obvious exceptions such as MGS4 and others).
glennpfc Says:
October 10th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Do you have anything to back this up :S
Fallout 3, Rockband 2, Bioshock, Far Cry 2, GTA4, Burnout, COD4 etc etc etc seem to say developers do still want to make great games for everyone.. we have always had the “me too” games trying to cash in ever since I was little, but these days more than ever we get fantastic games with multi million pound budgets and great gameplay that are really innovative.
glennpfc Says:
October 10th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I know where you are coming from. I still sometimes wonder if the PS4 will even exist as a box in your house. By then cloud computing may be ready to the point where we don’t have to worry about the box in our living room at all….but for now that is pure fantasy.
I take your point about the DVD to Blu-ray size issue..but greater graphics do not always a greater game make. The vast majority of that extra space is used for music, movies and textures…not that high up on my gameplay list. As we have seen from the Wii you don’t need to be a powerhouse machine to have good games that people want to play.
I know you’re not just talking about graphics but as long as gameplay is still improving I am not sure I am fussed. For all the PS3 is cutting edge even the straight up Sony made games don’t feel miles ahead of 360….so it cant just be developers downsizing the experience for the game to work on both systems. Once every Sony game is clearly night and day from 360 games then I could take your point but for now I don’t think having to make a game for both system is holding the PS3 version back.
October 10th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I agree with this 100%, exclusives to ps3 going to 360 is not the end of the world, like it says in the post, just enjoy playing the games, besides there are better things to worry about, like what the hell my next level on LBP will be.
stefhutch20 Says:
October 10th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
I agree it’s not the end of the world, but being a fan of PlayStation for many years, I can’t help but feel a little betrayed by Sony exclusives from way back like GTA and Tomb Raider, releasing exclusive DLC on the 360. This basically proves the point that most developers are just interested in big cash handouts from Microsoft, rather than just profit from sales (I mean, it’s not exactly like Rockstar need the money, is it?).
colossalblue Says:
October 10th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Tomb Raider was originally a Sega Saturn exclusive, it jumped to the PS1 (and PC) when it launched and then the Saturn died and Tomb Raider lived on in its new (spiritual) home but there have always been PC versions, the exclusivity has always been timed I think.
October 10th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
What? Crash Bandicoot is no longer exclusive… god damn it!
Nope I don’t care… also have you noticed that most of these franchises may be past their best anyway, none of them are breaking any new ground anymore, and if Microsoft want to buy loads of old IP (which we still get anyway, then more fool them)
Sony have got loads of exclusives, the 360 has some as well
I just wonder where it’s going to get Microsoft in the long run, loosing billions on console sales, throwing hundreds of millions of dollars at ‘buying rights to former exclusives or the sole rights to DLC’
I would have thought the CEO’s of Microsoft would be very nervous about a next generation of 360’s
Sony have done their hardwork, developing the Cell (since sold to Toshiba) and BluRay, the PS4 if there ever is one will be a much easier birth for Sony than the PS3 (upping speed and specs is much easier than creating them)
But as PS3 owners multi platform games are being limited in size and scope by DVD storage as Rage proves, that concerns me, but also 360 owners may be concerned they are being limited by the PS3’s slow ability at rendering textures due to the slow drive speed and weird memory 256+256 set up
I’m happy playing games… I like what I’ve played so far, the next couple of months sees some great PS3 exclusives and 2009 see’s even more, If 360 owners want some old IP then great, so what. I’m going to be to busy playing Warhawk, LBP and Fifa to notice (66% of those are exclusive)
The DLC aspect is concerning, because that isn’t going our way particulary as the size of the game may have been limited by the DVD format in the 1st place (GTA, Fallout I’m looking at you)
October 10th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
im gonna have a plop….
October 10th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Long time reader, first time comenter.
I think that saying that multi-platform games are being held back by the 360 is insane. Look at the dozens of games that are released on the PS3, 360 and the Wii. What your saying would imply that the Wii is also holding back the PS3. And to say that every other next gen system is holding back the PS3 is pure fanboyism.
If a developer thought that they could make this AMAZING game that could only be done right on the PS3 then it would be, or the 360 version would be tailored to the specs for that machine just like decelopers do for the Wii.
I personally own all three consoles and can say that i really enjoy all of them for different reasons.
I play my Wii with my kids all the time and we have a blast.
Any multiplatform game that i get to play online I get for my 360, because like it or not, until home is released, LIVE is more functional then PSN.
And then obviously the PS3 has some amazing exclusives and if i’m getting a game that I don’t plan on playing online, or that dosen’t have online support I get it for my PS3.
Bashing developers for wanting to make as much of a profit from a game that they’ve spent months or years creating is just ignorant.
But as the post said, there are no PS3 games, even exclusives, that are leaps and bounds better than 360 games.
I will say that I’m not thrilled about exclusive DLC, but if you know that a game is going to have exclusive DLC before it launches, and the DLC means that much to you then get the game for the console with the exclusive DLC. If you don’t have both systems then get the game and enjoy it for what it is. If you don;t think the game is worth purchasing with out the DLC then don’t purchase it.
And by the way, TSA, I’ve been viewing the site everyday for about 5 months now and I think it’s great. Keep the good work up guys.
And just for reference i’m not from Europe or the US. I’m from a little Island in the Carribbean, The Cayman Islands to be precise.
cc_star Says:
October 10th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
1st off, hey to The Caymen Islands
If your referring to my post, about the 360 holding back the PS3, then DVD space is an obvious factor as most recently mentioned about forthcoming game Rage, but in the same sentence I also comment that the PS3’s lack of ability to render detailed textures due to slow drive access speeds, and memory limitations due to extra optimisation needed to suit the weird 256+256 set-up, holds back 360 development,
So in summary both have their pros and cons
I merely comment that the new battleground of DLC to be disappointing, because the extra islands or whatever form GTA DLC will take could have fitted onto a BluRay if the devs weren’t making a game multi-platform from the start
Anyway, hope the weather is better there than here
Juelz345 Says:
October 10th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I hope I didn’t offend anyone or ruffel any feathers, that wasn’t the intention of the post.
You’re right, having the larger disk format is an advantage for the PS3, but how many games have actually utilized a full Blu-Ray? Correct me if i’m wrong but the only game that I’ve heard do that , or even come close, is LBP, which is an exclusive. That’s more the point I was trying to make. If a developer is making a game that can’t be realized on any platform but the PS3, then the developer will (or should) just make the game a PS3 exclusive.
Rage is the one game I’ve heard a developer say would be down scaled because of the DVD format. And frankly I think they we’re blowing smoke up people’s ass to build hype for there game.
And just to be clear, I am in no way a 360 Fanboy, or a PS3 fanboy for that matter. I’m just a fan of good games.
There is no dispute that the PS3 is a more powerful machine, hands down. But few deveopers are able to really push the system to the point that the games they make cant be multiplatform.
Oh, and the weather is actually pretty good today, thanks.
And i do agree that exclusive DLC is a bummer. But who’s to say that the exclusive DLC for GTA IV couldnt fit on the DVD? I really dont think thats why it was done that way, if that was the reason then it would just have been DLC for both consoles. Microsoft put loads of money i someone pocket to make that happen. Nothing to do with disk format.
cc_star Says:
October 10th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
no feathers ruffled,
welcome
snowballuk Says:
October 10th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
i checked the size of the GTA4 in Linux, its full dvd-9 size,worthwhile DLC would no way fit on there. would on blu-ray.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
For those of you who might be thinking that the PS3’s not leaps above the 360’s graphics, please don’t compare games such as CoD4, compare games such as uncharted, the pinnacle of the PS3 at the moment.
Also, lets face it 360 owners, XBOX messed up, I mean yeah, the format you backed messed up, but why dump HD-DVD because films weren’t going to be released on it, you could of used the drives to transfer to higher capacity storage (compared to DVD) to put your games on, so you don’t have to compress descent games to DVD, or have developers restrict the games.
Juelz345 Says:
October 10th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Just want to point out that in my comment I said that the PS3 games right now aren’t leaps and bounds better than 360 graphically. I didn’t say that the PS3 wasn’t capable of better graphics than the 360. It is a more powerful machine and the space of the blu-ray is a great advantage. So hopefull we will see the full potential of what the PS3 soon (come on Kill Zone 2!).
And Uncharted is certainly one of the best looking games, period. But who’s to say that Naughty Dog couldnt bring Uncharted to the 360? And who says that developers “have to compress decent games to DVD”. You don’t want to use COD4 as an example but it is a beautiful game, done on DVD just fine. DVD’s aren’t small, just smaller.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Well to be honest,
(or maybe thats just some wishful thinking. Then again, the PS2 lost its fans who wanted the first next gen console, so if PS4 comes first . . . I just hope they don’t rush it)
yes it makes sense business wise to make games multiplatform to get more money, and yes people are saying “it’s about having good games, not which console”, but losing exclusivity annoys me because it means less ps3 players.
If you have millions of PS3 players, you’ll have many more exclusives and developers will pour more money into their games because they know they will sell and despite what people say, the PS3 is the more powerful system. Yes only a handful of games have really utilised this, but you would see a lot more doing so if it was a clear winner.
Look at the stand out original Xbox exclusives compared with the stand out PS2 ones.
I guess that point could be taken the other way. Look at the Wii, it’s sold millions, but the great game - crap game ratio is disgusting with so many developers trying to cash in on it’s success.
But as a bit of a fanboy, when it comes down to it, you always want your favourite console to come out on top and so when another (and forgive me for saying it) inferior console comes along and starts to win, it’s annoying to see it happen.
Oh well, when you look at it, last generation, the Xbox was a more powerful console to the PS2, but the PS2 was out first, so it won. This time round, the Playstation 3 is the most powerful console, but the 360 was out first, so it won (Well, Wii is winning, but forgetting the Wii).
But from what I hear, the PS4 is being rushed out with upgraded specs and while I trust sony, I recon that Microsoft wont want to go through 3 red lights again so they’ll be the ones to pour the most money in and might end up producing the superior console next time round. So if all goes according to previous trends, the PS4 should win
I know I’m probably going to get some abuse for this comment (despite being on a PS3 site :P), but what can I say? Im an ignorant fanboy! (But one who is very excited by Gears 2. That does look good!)
October 15th, 2008 at 10:09 am
I am so glad to see this post entered into existance. I have heard far too many people bitch about a game previously known for a specific system making the jump to another. There is no reason to complain about this,like you said,and it sickens me that people are starting to forget the reason they even play games anymore.
Makes me sad that the fans are starting to come down on these game companies for trying to make money,because when the smoke clears that is all they’re doing;and there is nothing wrong with that. Personally,I’m a huge Sony fan,but that doesn’t mean I don’t recognize the 360 for its strengths as well. I think this generation of gamer has lost touch and got caught up in the “Console Wars” a little too deep. Some of these people are taking things way too seriously.
I can’t wait until it all stops,because a game is still gonna be worth your time if it comes out on a system other than what you own or on more than just the system you own.