If Xbox didn't have Halo, I would easily have bought a PS3 instead at this point (since Rare games no longer seems very interesting. Hopefully this will change.)

Assuming that the third party offerings are largely the same, the price and exclusives are the only significant things that decides my console purchases. The Xbox 360 costs some more in the end due to Xbox Live, but thanks to Halo it is all worth it.


Exclusives do matter. A lot.

Exclusive experiences matter. Games are just one way to experience a console and how you play those games is also important as well.

Yes, they help to define a platform, especially when it's new

I can just answer for myself: For Nintendo - YES!!!
Xbox/Playstation: Yes, since they receive the same multiplats the exclusive games are what tip the scale for me.

Exclusives matter. The main reason I bought an Xbox was for Halo, and that none of the PS3 exclusives interested me that much.

Nope. Only to the bubble audience on the internet. They meant as little as they ever had this gen and will be a non factor next gen. Sure you will get a very small majority switch brands or buy both who normally wouldn't, but at the end of the day both companies have their audience. It is all about what systems your friends have, achievement/trophies, and what they offer as far as an overall entertainment experience.

The reason why no one understands this is because the people on this forum and every other forum are part of this shrinking community that is being left behind. They are still hanging on to this 1995 mentality of which ever company has the most games wins.

Nintendo is different than Sony and Microsoft. They don't get much 3rd party support, so they need their legendary first party titles. Sony and Microsoft are trying to take over your living room and be your media hub to the world and to your friends and family.

They matter more early in the generation than at the end but they should still make an effort to release exclusive late in the cycle (cough, cough Microsoft).

yep, if not I would have bought the cheaper console available.

yes

7 of them are comming out sometime after Q2 and Gears drops next month.

4 Retail and 4 Arcade

Gears of War Judgment

State of Decay

Dark

Ascend New Gods

Lococycle

Matter

Deadfall Adventures

Ryse