By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - Microsoft - Will Microsoft lose the hardcore fans next gen?

SecondWar on 27 August 2010
Cueil said:
SecondWar said:
Aiddon said:

MS is going to do just fine with their current direction; plus let's face it, the "hardcore" are only around for so long and have a tendency to shrink over years.

Agreed. As much as I love the Halo series, my bet is after Reach the series will enter terminal decline. I dont think Gears of War has much longer to go either, but that depends on how Epic follow up Gears 3


Not even close the Halo Universe has tons to offer... we can move over and do stuff with the Elites perhaps even go back in their past and learn their history

I didnt mean just in terms of story content, the series is focused on the war between the UNSC and the Covenant, so Im sure if the games can explore the universe outside of the conflict without losing quality. I also meant that after Reach, 343 Industries take over from Bungie as the game's developers and I doubt that they can match what Bungie have achieved.



Around the Network
damndl0ser on 27 August 2010

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.

 



"If you've got them by the balls their hearts and minds will follow."

Quote by- The Imortal John Wayne, the original BADASS!

 

 

 

Barozi on 27 August 2010

you know Bungie could still make exclusive Halo games for MS next generation...



Slimebeast on 27 August 2010

The X360 is the standard console in this generation. The majority of hardcore console gamers play on Xbox.

We will end this generation and start the next when nearly 70 million X360s have been shipped worldwide. Until then we only need to acquire a couple of good game studios to complete the exclusive lineup.

Xbox 3 is going to be huge.



damndl0ser on 27 August 2010
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.



"If you've got them by the balls their hearts and minds will follow."

Quote by- The Imortal John Wayne, the original BADASS!

 

 

 

Around the Network
disolitude on 27 August 2010

Microsoft has the cash to go to Epic, Remedy, Crytek and buy an exclusive if needed.

They learned their lesson with buying Rare. Buying a dev studio is risky due to turnover, failed games, market changes...

Its a much better strategy (for Microsoft) to buy whatever games they think will be successful for their console.



damndl0ser on 27 August 2010
CGI-Quality said:
damndl0ser said:
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.

Sony's in last place for one MAJOR reason: launch price. They wouldn't have lost the Final Fantasies, Tekkens, Devil May Cries etc, etc.....if they launched with a better launch price and such. Obviously exclusives matter, or Microsoft wouldn't have made the comment that they were going to "interrupt" Sony's dominating of the 3rd party market by securing so many "exclusive titles".

Second, I didn't say the Wii has the best line-up for hardcore gamers, I said it wouldn't be where it is without it differentiating itself. The way to do that is with exclusives (coupled with a once "exclusive" control scheme). That's why it is winning this gen.

Lastly, I didn't say you said multiplatform games was a good thing, I pointed out what's wrong with the idea as a whole. You DID say, however, that exclusives don't matter as much as they used to. What's the point of an Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo console then? Many things, especially this gen, point to the contrary. Exclusives will always matter, just as much as they always have.


The time they matter most IMHO is in the beginning of a consoles life.   And I will be willing to bet that Microsoft will have them in Aces when the time comes. 



"If you've got them by the balls their hearts and minds will follow."

Quote by- The Imortal John Wayne, the original BADASS!

 

 

 

MonstaMack on 27 August 2010

Depends what those said hardcore fans were looking for.

If MS abandons the hardcore and goes full Kinnect (which I doubt they will, as Kinnect has yet to be a proven sales beast and many games will still use standard controllers) then they can prepare to lose a lot of their audience.

Genres like Gears, Halo, any shooting game: I don't see MS losing the Gears or Halo audience. They will replace Gears with another TPS if need be, and Halo will still be there because of 343 studios.

XBox Live - I don't see Sony or Nintendo taking down MS's live infrastructure. If you think @Home is better thats cool but the majority doesn't. Online is still best on the 360.

Those that abandoned Sony because MS offers the same multiplatform titles - I don't see that changing. MS has picked up more and more multiplatform titles every few months (my most anticipated being Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 2) and more game companies are finding out going multiplatform is the most beneficial for the bottom line unless your game sells a insane amount (or your second party).

The JRPG audience - This is the only audience I could really see MS losing at the moment. At the start we had a lot of great JRPG exclusives (Lost Odyssey being the biggest one) but eventually everything became timed exclusives and everyone cought on. Looking at sales the audience seemed pretty niche and MS probably figured WRPG was the way to go when it came to sales.

I think if MS continues to keep doing what they are doing - while maintaing using the standard controller and looking for more first party exclusives - then they should continue to build a strong fan base, while really only losing the few that bought a 360 for JRPGS - hopefully Square-Enix and others make more of their RPGS multiplatform.

 



It's just that simple.

BenVTrigger on 27 August 2010
CGI-Quality said:
RAZurrection said:
SpartenOmega117 said:

Bungie is with activision.

Replaced by 343.

SpartenOmega117 said:

Epic is making their final exclusive game for 360 (I could be wrong but think Gears 3 is their last game as an exclusive).

Nothing confirmed yet. Only that this is the last Gears game of "this" trilogy, expect more next gen. I doubt Epic will walk, if they didn't care for Sony following the success of the PS2, they won't care with the failure of the PS3.

SpartenOmega117 said:

 Rare is out making kinect games.

Being a 4 studio team, I doubt that is all.

SpartenOmega117 said:

Will Microsoft have to continue to rely on 3rd party exclusives?

No more so then usual. Perhaps even less.

SpartenOmega117 said:

SO is Microsoft in trouble with the lack of 1st party studios?

People have been asking that question since 2001. Sony's in last place and 360 1st party games outsell PS3 first party games signifcantly. Whatever they're doing, it worked.

 

You should probably also note, that last generation, we had no idea Microsoft was also doing / Gears of War/ Blue Dragon/Lost Odyssey/Crackdown/Mass Effect when the Xbox was awaiting Halo 2. They're probably doing the same now for next gen with Studios you never even knew existed.

The 360 has 1 major selling 1st Party title. I doubt that one title alone would be much against an entire arsenal of 1st party games, which it isn't. Halo is hardly a reason Sony is in last place. Nice effort on the spin though.

OT: They may lose some fans here or there, depending on how far they go with Kinect and what it means for their future. Since Halo and Gears are a HUGE part of the Xbox experience, I doubt they'll be abandoned next gen, and like this gen, Microsoft could find franchises next gen and strike gold again.


1 major selling franchise?

Last time I checked Fable is a major selling franchise in fact its outsold Uncharted 2, God of War 3, Infamous, Killzone 2, Heavy Rain, and others.

I think you ought to be careful calling others out for spin CGI.



BenVTrigger on 27 August 2010
CGI-Quality said:


1 major selling franchise?

Last time I checked Fable is a major selling franchise in fact its outsold Uncharted 2, God of War 3, Infamous, Killzone 2, Heavy Rain, and others.

I think you ought to be careful calling others out for spin CGI.

I think you should pay attention to what I was saying. Halo outsells those franchises on it's own, but it's the only one. Fable II has been on the market longer than Uncharted 2, but the numbers are comparable, as are the numbers from LBP, Resistance and others vs PGR, Left 4 Dead (though not MSs) and Mass Effect (again, not MSs).

I consider major anything that sells over 5 million (which is Gears for Microsoft and [in a sense] Metal Gear Solid for Sony]. However, in owned IPs over 5 million, Micorosft (and essentially Sony as well) only has one: Halo. I also stated that Halo isn't the reason Sony's in last place, and neither is Fable for that matter.

I'd suggest learning the definition of "spin" before using it out of context.

Your being awfully negative here man and I just shot down what you had to say about 1 major selling franchise.  Ok if Fable isn't than what do you consider all those games that I just listed which are considered flagship AAA Sony Franchises?  They are games that many here consider "megaton" and they are, the fact is Fable is a huge franchise no way around it. 

You mention in other threads how Killzone, LBP, and these games are "huge exclusives" but then when I point out that they have been outsold by Fable suddenly the only major Sony exclusive is Metal Gears Solid? Your contradicting yourself.

Also I know you always like to defend exclusive stuff to the death but the fact is your wrong on here, exclusive don't mean remotely anything like they used to.  The two most important things right now are Price and 3rd party support.