Is a game profitable when its multiplatform?

[makingmusic476]

Lost tears of Kain said:

makingmusic476 said:

W29 said:
So then why don't developers make games multiplatform. It would make the games more profitable and they would get more money back in return from all three consoles.

Because developing a game for multiple platforms means taht developers have to take into account the weaknesses of each platform, rather than catering to the strengths of just one platform. Many developers, like Hideo Kojima, want to make the best game that they can, so they focus all their resources on piece of hardware.

Exclusive games are generally better than multiplat games for this very reason. Look at the best games from last gen: God of War, Metal Gear Solid, Halo, Wind Waker, Shadow of the Colossus, Ninja Gaiden, etc. All were exclusive. Sure, you had the occasional multiplat hit, but most of the truly exceptional games were exclusive. The same goes for this gen. Halo 3, Gears of War, Heavenly Sword, Uncharted, MGS4, etc. Allthe truly great games are exclusive.

Quite often, developers are willing to sacrifice added profits to make a better quality game. That is what a true artist does. Things aren't always about money. Artistic expression is far more important to some people.

Honestly, if everybody only cared about money, then bands like Wintersun and other unkown metal bands would be making music like Linkin Park because it sells better. However, they choose not to. Instead they choose to make the music THEY like, rather than the music the masses like. They choose to express themselves in the way that they see fit, rather than in a way dictated by the cashflow of the casual market.

 

True makingmusic, but dont you think this is more because they spend more money and time on these games? People like EA do care if their games are great, but they just want money. MS Sony and Nintendo all want to create AAA games because so they can say "hey we have this game that is rated fantastic and everyone loves, now buy our system"

It's EA. Obviously they're just in it for the money. However, guys like Hideo Kojima and Itagaki are in this business to make games, great ones at that, games that truly express their inner visions as people, and they'd prefer to keep said games exclusive so that they can be the best that they can be. Big hits like NG and MGS are sure to sell a hell of a lot, making back the amount of money spent on development despite being only on a single platform. Gears of War made Epic loads of cash despite being released exclusively to a platform with only a 9 mil. install base at the time.