Of course exclusives matter. I always find it funny when someone says that they don't honestly.

I've never once gone "That controller is awesome! I need to buy that console!" or "Woah! Look at that UI! Day one!"

We buy consoles for games, if there are games that I want on a console that I can't get anywhere else then I'm going to be more inclined to buy that system.

I totally agree, 3rd parties are today more stronger than ever before, just look list of best selling PS4/XB1 games, you will find only 2-3 games in 30 best selling games.
Only Nintendo still selling its consoles on first place because 1st party games, but thats also huge problem for them, because much bigger part of gaming population wants 3rd party games on first place.

When it comes to Nintendo systems, first party games are what matters the most but for Xbox and PS, most people buy them for third party games like CoD, GTA, FIFA , etc. Personally I got the PS4 mostly for third party japanese games like KH3, Persona 5, FFXV, Dragon Quest XI, Ni no kuni 2, the new Nier , etc.

There was no Xbox version of GTA 3 or Vice City until after San Andreas had released on the PS2. It was originally a PS2 exclusive, then a later PC ver (which everyone expected). The Xbox trilogy was a surprise release later in the 3D franchise's life. Then the big news was that Xbox 360 was going to get GTA 4 at the same time as the PS3.

It's very revisionist not to consider (3D) GTA as traditionally a PS2 exclusive franchise. Believe me, I would have got them on Xbox if an Xbox version was expected. And yes, when the games finally did hit (4 years later) they were far far better on the Xbox. :D totally worth the double dip. GTA 3 hit PS2 in October 2001. I'm not sure waiting til October 2005 counts as calling the Xbox version a multi plat release in the traditional sense.

GTA 3 was released in 2002 on PC and 2003 on Xbox.

GTA Vice City was released in 2003 on both PC and Xbox.

Not nearly the same thing as you said, especially with the PC version.

GTA 3 was released in 2002 on PC and 2003 on Xbox.

GTA Vice City was released in 2003 on both PC and Xbox.

Not nearly the same thing as you said, especially with the PC version.

2004 where I am for Xbox.

The PC ports were still later, but PC has never really been counted when discussing console exclusives.

Otherwise pretty much anything not Nintendo or Sony first party isn't exclusive.

But you carry on with your revisionist history that GTA was a glorious multi format franchise and did not boost ps2 hardware sales.

Just remember that games like halo and gears of war were not exclusive in that sense.

It sold consoles, but it wasn't first party and never was considered to be so, Rockstar is more popular than Sony's first party developers.

Exclusives mean nothing when someone else pays more. MGS and Final Fantasy used to be PS exclusives.

Back in the day you came for the first-party games, but stayed for the third-party games. These days i'd be hard pressed to find a first-party game I care about.