Will Microsoft lose the hardcore fans next gen?

[damndl0ser]

CGI-Quality said:

damndl0ser said:

I don't think Microsoft will have much of a problem holding onto its hardcore fanbase.   Microsoft will spend as much money as it takes for 3rd party exclusives (if needed).   The most important time for exclusives is the beginning of a systems  life.  And just like the 360 M$ will have plenty of them lined up for us, I'm sure.   Live will also help keep the hardcore players around, I would hate to lose all of my Live contacts.  And I am certain the majority of hardcore players think a lot like me.

If the PS4 is as hard to learn to program for as the PS3 was, Sony may be the ones in trouble.  How long was it this gen until Sony actually had most of their exclusives coming out?  Around 3 years or so?  And by that point there are so many good multiplat games out it doesn't matter as much.

Don't get me wrong, I would be really happy if Microsoft decided to pick up a few more Studios.  But now days it isn't as important as it once was because nearly everything is multiplat.   It simply costs to much money to develop a game without it being multiplat.

 

But that is precisely the problem. Why should "everything be multiplat" and then we justify multiple consoles on the market? If exclusivity didn't matter, how would the Wii be the phenomenon it is today? How would the 360 have taken off? In a sense, your last paragraph contradicts your first.

As for how hard a system is to program for, well the PS2 was initially just as hard (if not hrader - according to some devs) than the PS3 initially was. I'm sure that won't be much of an issue at all next gen.

Truth is, Micorosft DOES need more studios and exclusives all to themselves. Mass Effect had an identity on the Xbox. There's no way it will retain the same identity now. The market needs exclusives, and not just any. Each company needs their own exclusives, so we don't situations like Mass Effect, Final Fantasy, Tekken, etc, etc.....

Without them, there's no purpose for multiple consoles, and at that point, the industry would be in much more trouble than just rising development costs.

I don't see how anything I posted contradicts itself.  I just stated that exclusives aren't as important as they once were, but as a gamer I would still like Microsoft to grab a few more studios.   If exclusives were as important as they used to be do you really believe Sony would be in 3rd place now?  Most people here at VGCHARTZ  (not me) believe that Sony indeed has the best "hardcore" lineup.  Wouldn't that mean it should have the best sales? Everyone here knows the PS3 is in last place so the exclusives must not matter that much as they once did.   As for the Wii, I don't think anyone here will say they have the best lineup for "hardcore" gamers this gen.  They got lucky with a new way to control games and this is why they are on the top.

Nowhere in my post did I say everything going Multi-platform was a good thing for the gaming industry.  But as far as this Gen is concerned, whats done is done and having a shit tone more exclusives will not matter so much.  But it will matter a little more when the PS4/720/Wii2 come out. 

I have no doubts that if the PS3 were easier to program several companies would have had their games be multiplat.  Left 4 dead as an example.  So I can see this happening again if the PS4 is hard to program for.