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makingmusic476 on 13 September 2009
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TRios_Zen said:
makingmusic476 said:
 

I don't see why Microsoft would continue with the LO or BD IPs.  Since the relase of the first two games, they have managed to get both Tales and Star Ocean exclusively on their platform.  Both did little in the long term, and I don't see wyh they'd keep spending millions on such tiny IPs that pale in comparison to offerings they already have (in terms of sales).

I don't know if you noticed, but Microsoft has not announced a single JRPG exclusive to their platform since landing Star Ocean (and Tales before that).  Star Ocean was the biggest fish they could hope for (seeing as they'd have no hope in getting FF or DQ), and after that there's just not much reason for them to keep trying.  If Star Ocean couldn't change anything, what can?

They will continue to get many multiplat JRPGs in the future (like Resonance of Fate), but the only exclusives they may get are more SO/Tales titles if they choose to pay for them.  With Vesperia going multiplat, I doubt they'll be able to land another Tales title, and SE has vowed to be multiplat from this point out.  Not to mention paying a third party JRPG developer to go exclusive to 360 in Japan is a lot hard now than it was before the ps3/Wii launched.

The days of Microsoft landing big JRPGs exclusively on the 360 are over, imo.  They've said themselves that they're now focusing on Europe (where Sony is breathing down their neck).  They've likely given up on Japan for now, and will take another swing next gen (or with Natal).  No point sinking more resources into a lost cause.  Those millions could actually do something in Europe.

Also, Microsoft have mentioned no involvement with Mistwalker in particular since the release of Lost Odyssey, and last we heard Mistwalker had obtained Wii dev kits.  It's likely Microsoft dropped Mistwalker (like they have so many other first/second party devs) after landing Tales and Star Ocean.  When it comes to Japan, either of those IPs means more than all of Mistwalker's projects combined.

It's fair to point out that there is a lot of conjecture in here, right?  I mean unless you have a source, how exactly many millions has MS spent on these "exclusivities" and what really would be the point, when they eventually go to the PS3 anyway?  You are also right that they have not announced a single JRPG, but it does not necessarily follow that they have nothing to announce (TGS would be the best place to announce them, right?).

I don't think your arguments are poor, or even maybe wrong, but they are at this point, simply conjecture.  I will of course concede this, if MS has given up on Japan, then they very well may have ended their relationship with Mistwalker, and may not be interested in obtaining future exclusivities.  I'm just not sure they are there yet.  I guess we could know in a little over a week.

It's most certainly conjecture.  However, look it at this way - what logical reason would Namco have for making tales of Vesperia a 360 exclusive?  Eternal Sonata I could understand given how close its release was to the launch of the wii/ps3. But Tales?  A game that was coming out after other former exclusives, now multiplats like Devil My Cry 4?  There was no logical reason behind this unless they simply did not want to make as much money as they could, which is highly unlikely.  If it had to do with port costs, why do a late port?  That only hurts them in the end.  There had to be some sort of compensation for this.

Then consider the fact that the ps3 version of Tales was announced the very first day of this financial year.  Was there something holding up an announcement until the end of the previous financial year?

Microsoft's primary focus for a few years now has been third party developers.  They have gutted their first/second parties since the start of this gen, and paying for third party titles instead is the only logical conclusion as to why they would take such actions.

As for this line:

and what really would be the point, when they eventually go to the PS3 anyway?

Timed exclusivity is the best one of the big three can hope for, so it's that or nothing.  You can't buy permanent exclusivity unless you work out a deal in which you own the IP.  Otherwise, the IP is still in the third party's control, and you can bargain for certin limitations on the IP for a set amount of time that it will be benefitial for you.  Just look at Nintendo and Tales of Symphonia or Sony and Grand Theft Auto III for past examples of this.  Or Fallout 3 DLC (unless you honestly believe that Bethesda had hit a stumbling block bringing the DLC to ps3, but had no issues working on the original game).