This is not the first time microsoft has published third party similar to Sony's games

[MikeRox]

AG80 said:

Puppyroach said:

S.T.A.G.E. said:

Puppyroach said:
So what is it that you have a problem with? Is it that MS buys timed exclusives (which Sony has done many times) or that they release a game to counter a successful franchise? (which Sony has done numerous times as well)

Name two games that were timed exclusive that Sony has published to keep away from sony. I can add mass effect to he ms list. That's three now.

The original tomb raider was kept away from the competition by a deal. Sony also made a deal to keep content within destiny locked out from people on Xbox, meaning we bought a game that were even couldn't use fully because a deal between Sony and Activision. The original killzone was made as a direct competitor to Halo. They all do it but I guess that doesn't fit your argument :).

None of that fits in with what you said initially. As you said Tomb Raider wasn't a timed exclusive and neither was it an answer to another successful franchise. 

Tomb Raider exclusivity was purchased from Eidos to stop Tomb Raider 64 happening. However the original Tomb Raider was multiplatform launching day and date on Saturn and PC too (N64 wasn't actually out). Sony's deal started after the first Tomb Raider.

Psygnosis is a perfect example of a 3rd party developer they bought to lock down franchises from. WipeOut anyone?

 

 

Sony's exclusivity deals were more easy to pull off though. The Saturn was already on it's way out. The N64 media was not suitable for a lot of the games.

Sony got the likes of Ridge Racer through offering unparamount distribution support that neither SEGA nor Nintendo had previously offered 3rd parties. That was why Namco were so successful on the PlayStation. Ridge Racer would have had to compete with SEGA's arcade IPs on Saturn. Tekken would have gone head to head against Virtua Fighter on Saturn etc. PlayStation offered them a landscape where they could shine as top dogs.

Sony also lured Square away from the Saturn for Final Fantasy through offering to publish and distribute their software in Europe. This is why Final Fantasy 7 was the first mainline release to get a European release. Originally Final Fantasy 7 was in development for the Sega Saturn (Again, Nintendos choice of medium meant the N64 wasn't suitable).

But yeah, the original PS1 was built on 3rd party titles and exclusivity deals.