• I'm sure the console makers care about exclusives. They need them to differentiate themselves from the competition after all.
• Then there are the stupid fanboys/fangirls that like to take part in list wars and list exclusives so they can tell others their favourite console is better than their's.
• Then there are the people who choose what console they want by looking at the exclusive list (as long as that console gets 3rd party support as well that is).

I believe people still care, just as long as those exclusive titles are quality titles.

As for MGS4 going to 360, I still wonder about that one since it has not only Sony advertising within it but also Apple.

MGS has always had that sort of stuff.  In the PS1 version of MGS1, there was mention of other PS1 games that may have been played by the user (Psycho mantis asks, "You like Castlevania, don't you?" in the PS1 version.  There was also a hidden PS1 in one of the rooms.  Then, they made Twin Snakes for the Gamecube.  There's a hidden Gamecube as well as a Super Mario toy hidden in the game--in the room where you fight the Cyborg Ninja, I believe.  And Mantis says, "You've been playing Super Mario Sunshine, haven't you?"  There were even pics of Nintendo executives on the wall in Mantis' room.

It's more fan service than anything.

I personally follow games, not consoles.  I originally bought my 360 in order to play the first Mass Effect.  I originally bought my PS3 to play Metal Gear Solid 4.  I got my family a Wii so that they could play Wii Sports.

With that said, exclusives are important because they help distinguish each console from their competition.  In turn, competition fuels companies to create quality, exclusive titles.

As a gamer, I think you're missing out if you're loyal to only one console.  For example, a 360-only RPG gamer missed out on great games like Demon's Souls and Valkyria Chronicles.  A PS3-only Shooter fan is missing out on great games like Gears of War and Halo.  An HD-only gamer is missing out on all of the timeless franchises that are developed by Nintendo.  I'm currently missing out on The Witcher 2 because I don't have a good enough PC to run the game (thankfully its coming out on 360 later).

As long as there are different consoles in competition, there will be exclusives.  As a gamer, I don't hope that a particular console has better exclusives; I simply get a console if there is an exclusive worth playing.

Now don't get me wrong. I believe if a game is in devlopment as an exclusive it should come out as an exclusive, if further down the line the company decides to port it then that is on them but a fanbase shouldn't have to wait even longer for a game to come out or a game shouldnt be hampered mid way through development because a multiplat decision came midway through the development.

3rd party games shouldnt be exclusive anyway, Why limit their potential audience, its not a good decision,unless a company wants to money hat. Its on 1st partys to make an identity for their systems. Ninty has always know this, Sony just learned and hopefully MS will follow suit

Same reason we have multiple tv brands?

Why not have a cheap Sanyo console that can play a game at 720p 30fps, and an expensive LG console playing the same game at 1080p 60fps. The same as on pc, but stricter defined specs and without the hassle of a pc in the living room.

I can't really see that happening myself either, nor prefer it actually. I'm sure developers would like it. But such a system will probably turn out like most pc games, badly optimized. Buy the latest graphics card / console if you want smooth performance.

Yeah I guess I agree with you, exclusives matter. But not just for identity, only way the developers will squeeze the last ounce of power out of each of the consoles, without worrying whether a piece of code will be portable to another console.

honestly, this is the main reason for exclusivity. so we can mock others and say "haha we can play this game

Personally, yes.

Various 1st party Nintendo titles made me buy a Wii.

Shadow of the Colossus made me buy a ps2.
etc.

If I really want to play a game, then maybe I'll buy the console it's for.

Exclusives aren't really useful from a buyer's perspective (I can't play fucking The Last Guardian because it's an exclusive, for an example) but from the manufacture's point of view, they're great. Want some Haloz in your world? Get a 360.

Yes I still do care about exclusives......without them, we have 3 consoles with the same games.