Reasons for why Microsoft has timed exclusives (NO TROlLS OR HATERS HERE)

[ameratsu]

Hisiru said:

My arguments:

nd-color: #ff0000;">1) Microsoft is trying to build recognition and userbase. Sony and Nintendo are 2 strong and experienced companies, Microsoft really needs to build an userbase. 

2) Some people will buy a x360 because it has timed exclusives. There are some people who won't wait 9 months to play a game. (you like it or not, 5~10 months is too much for some people), so it's just business. 

3) Timed exclusives like Episodes from Liberty City will make people look at Microsoft thinking "woow, GTA was a playstation franchise and now Microsoft has the game first, they really have more significance in this market now, they are growing.". Who is really trying to look at this situation using the logical side will realize that Microsoft is doing a good job and has more significance in this industry than ever before (that's why I think that timed exclusives are important). 

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4) In the end of the day, this is just business. Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony are no different, they aren't here to make you feel happy, they are here to make money. Don't be fooled, Sony and Nintendo aren't your best friends, they want money. 

5) You don't like timed exclusives, right? I could say that I hate when Sony buys a company (or finances the development of a game just for the exclusivity) because this company could make multiplatform games, so everyone would be able to enjoy the games. I could say that I hate when Nintendo focuses too much on the casual market (actually, I don't care, I like Wii Sports, but I am just giving you an example).  

Am I wrong? Do you have a different opinion? Discuss! (but please, no trolls or haters here)

1) There is nothing wrong with building recognition and a userbase. Putting a "Only on Xbox" logo on the box of a game that is exclusive for a brief period of time is misleading and dishonest. Their aim in buying up exclusives for a certain period is a sort of temporary differentiation. Nintendo and Sony spend money funding their own IPs and first party studios to produce games that will never leave their platforms. Microsoft does this as well, but in buying temporary exclusivity their aim is not to create compelling exclusive content, but the illusion that they are the only place to play that content.

2) Saying it's "just business" is such a copout. Microsoft doesn't do this to benefit their existing customers, but rather to deprive others of it or create artificial differentiation between them and the competition. Someone who already owns an x360 gains no benefit from a game not appearing on ps3, pc or wii. Like I said above, instead of funding or otherwise ensuring games that will never leave the platform, they want those without a system to think timed exclusive games are actual exclusive games. Microsoft is deliberately decieving those looking to buy a console and who want to HONESTLY compare what is available / what will be available for the console. It's absolutely an anti-consumer tactic.

3) I won't argue that Microsoft has more significance in the industry than before, but how you tie this point to timed exclusives is haphazard at best. Please clarify.

4) Of course businesses are here to make money. While their motive is profit, I would say Sony is doing a better job of securing actual exclusive content and listening to their customers. Microsoft entered this generation a year early in an attempt to beat competitors to the punch, cutting corners in hardware design in the process. That was a "business" decision but it doesn't mean that those who experience RROD or who are wary of unreliable hardware have to put up with it because Microsoft is out to make money. Same goes for Sony cutting ps2 playback in the ps3.

5) When Sony (or whoever) buys a company, they are actually funding and taking a risk in creating new games and content. While Microsoft did (I think) fund the GTA DLC, the focus with buying companies or funding new games is to produce original content that differentiates one system from another. Microsoft tries to sidestep this with timed exclusives. Of course to the casual observer this sort of thing is fair game, and it works. Someone who wants to buy a system compares what is available for each system, and buys the console with the most features/games/whatever they're looking for. Since at any given time Microsoft has a number of games that appear to be exclusive, there is a benefit they get from it. Doesn't mean I have to like it or defend their actions.

edit: I think I fixed the formatting now.