| FaRmLaNd said: Why buy a developer when you can either money-hat an exclusive or get mutli-platform support anyway? No its much better if they go down the Nintendo route. |
What's the Nintendo route again?
If anything, Microsoft is going the Nintendo route of de-centralizing their parties, and focusing more on 2nd party development.
I once asked myself the question "how many titles is Nintendo really making?" The answer is: Not as many as you think.
What games did Nintendo not make?
1. Smash Brothers Brawl
2. Pokemon Diamond/Pearl
3. Pokemon Platinum
4. Pokemon Mysterious Dungeon
5. Mario Party DS
6. Mario Party 8
7. Flash Focus DS
8. Advanced Wars: Days of Ruin
9. Super Mario Sluggers
And so on.
The point being is that Nintendo, while they have excellent first party developers, also has a massive amount of funding going to 2nd party efforts. Thats where Nintendo excells at - Putting the Nintendo stamp and wallet on other developer's work, which makes Nintendo tons of money.
Because of that, it may be an easier and smarter route for Microsoft to work on building up IP credibility, and acquiring the rights to specific franchises. One of the most effective developers for Microsoft, this generation (in terms of getting new users to the system) has been Mistwalker, which has absolutely no affiliation with Microsoft as a 1st party studio.
And I think all of that is the key. Rather than buy up a studio for a billion dollars, why not buy 50 games for $20m each? I mean....Wouldn't you take 50 IPs over 4 Rare games?
Back from the dead, I'm afraid.
