BioShock 2 listed as “TBA” platforms - May still be 360/PC Timed Exclusive?

[Reasonable]

starcraft said:

Reasonable said:
Well, it's clear from other titles that a late release due to timed exclusive costs you sales and negative brand loyalty - particularly when you launch full price on one console with the title already a budget title on another.

They did first tease number 2 on the PS3 version and would appear in a position to develop for both platforms now.

They are slow to confirm platforms.


I surmise they intend a simultaneous release but MS are trying to woo them to go timed exclusive again, hence the current delay on confirming platforms.

Personally I think they'd be mad to go timed again. A quick review of the sales (in ratio) to install base for most decent multiplatform games shows they stand to lose many, many sales on PS3 going that route.

I know MS can give them enough money to counter that, but the loss of brand loyalty to PS3 owners is now not worth that approach IMHO. Globally there are now too many PS3s and multiplatform games sell too well on PS3 now.

I don't think that really holds up in this situation. The "brand loyalty" for Bioshock went out the window the first time, at which point the tiemd exclusive nature of the game didn't matter because there were next too no PS3 owners. We truly have no idea what sort of demand there is for a PS3 version of Bioshock 2. Unless you are implying that any significant number of consumers would avoid OTHER Take Two franchises because of a timed exclusive Bioshock 2, which I feel is ridiculous.

If people want to play a great game, very few will avoid playing it because the company once made another game timed exclusive.

 

 

I believe many PS3 owners wanted Bioshock but rejected it on price and due to the fact it arrived timed.  If Bioshock 2 is released same time on PS3 then I believe it will sell much better (although less than 360).  If its timed again then I reckon they can kiss the franchise goodbye on PS3.

The negative loyalty is that many owners clearly felt annoyed it was timed, and that it released full price.  I doubt this would overly translate to other games as you say but it does apply specifically to Bioshock - i.e many PS3 owners clearly viewed the title's handling in a negative light.

As I say I believe if they go timed again then they can forget getting decent sales on PS3 with the title as the negative loyalty will be added to and confirmed from the first release.

Again, I see no reason for them to delay on platforms unless:

1) they are still considering a bid from MS to go timed

2) they are considering cost of developing both at same time vs 360/PC first followed by PS3

3) a combination of the above.

 

Right now they are sitting with the game working on both platforms.  They could clearly build from there for the next game and have it release at same time.  If you compare the sales of timed release games to simultaneous its pretty clear you are kissing a large number of sales goodbye.  Hell, average multiplatform games sell better on PS3 than great games released at a much later date after being timed exclusive for 360.

Look at the difference in Fallout 3 sales on PS3 vs Oblivion sales on PS3 when that title arrived much later.