http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/machinarium-dev-moves-on-to-sony-after-microsoft-passes-on-publi/

A report late last week on XBLAFans.com claimed that Czech game studio Amanita Design had been "refused" a publishing deal to bring the critically-acclaimed Machinarium to Xbox Live Arcade, because the game was not an Xbox exclusive. While the quotes in the article were incendiary, theyechoed information Joystiq received from developer Golgoth Studio earlier this year, when it too was denied a publishing deal from Microsoft for Toki HD. (Microsoft decided Toki HD didn't fit with its current portfolio.)

The key is that neither game has been refused space on the platform -- Microsoft has simply decided not to publish the games itself. Microsoft requires all XBLA titles be attached with a publishing partner, meaning neither Amanita Design and Golgoth Studio can self-publish the games on the XBLA platform. Sony and Nintendo do not have the same policy for the PlayStation Network and WiiWare, respectively.

Joystiq contacted Amanita Design founder Jakub Dvorský for to clarify the situation. "They told us, 'It's not Microsoft-exclusive, we don't want it.' They didn't cite the Mac and Linux versions [as reasons for the refusal] but it's quite clear that's the reason," Dvorský told Joystiq via email. As it did withToki HD, Microsoft recommended Amanita Design pursue other publishers, an idea the team doesn't appear intent on exploring. "It means if we want to release the game on XBLA we must throw, probably, most of the profit out of the window -- to the publisher. Just because we created Mac and Linux versions."

Microsoft's official stance -- and policy, according to Dvorský -- is the company does not publish games that are not exclusive to its platforms. During the year-long process of waiting for a response from Microsoft, Amanita Design never expressed interest in submitting Machinarium to Sony's PlayStation Network. Now that Microsoft has decided against publishing the game, Amanita is exploring Sony's platform. "We submitted the game to Sony after Microsoft refused it," Dvorský said.

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I hope it will see life on PSN, more power to the small downloadable games!

I'm confused, which of the big Three publishes games that aren't exclusive? Is this a big deal?

It came out on Mac and PC I beleive

Sony published the Playstation versions of Ghostbusters in PAL, and apparently, Microsoft are the only one of the three where they have a policy like this for their downloadable games.

Why can't they appeal to a third party publisher? Why does it have to be a big one like Microsoft or Sony?

They want to piggy back off the reputation of a big name without a price?

i have it on pc its awesome , ps3 definitely should grab it up oh and when PS move comes out sony better grab world of goo cause its amazing

Hope to see it on PSN... if it really was denied because of the whole exclusive thing then that's just sad

They 've stated that it's for monetary purposes. If they had to give away basically all the possible profit, then why bother? Having a deal with sony or ms probably gives you more exposure and being an 'exclusive to the platform' undoubtedly brings in a better deal. Bringing in another publisher cuts into the money even more as Sony or MS still has to get some cash for hosting the game for example. Going straight to either one cuts out a partner that will ask for money.

microsoft has published other games that were on the computer (braid, which even went to other consoles later) so i have trouble believing this is the entire story.

Far as I can tell it seems that they want to self publish the game, but Microsoft requires that there be a third party publisher, therefore they asked Microsoft to publish it so that they wouldn't get screwed over by some other publisher, Microsoft said no.  Now they are trying to put it on PSN which they can do without a publisher.  I don't think Sony would publish the game either, but luckily the game can still release without publishing partner.

All seems to stem from this policy:

"Microsoft requires all XBLA titles be attached with a publishing partner, meaning neither Amanita Design and Golgoth Studio can self-publish the games on the XBLA platform. Sony and Nintendo do not have the same policy for the PlayStation Network and WiiWare, respectively."