Why do people always bring up userbase numbers? It is meaningless when speaking of a particular game's fanbase. No PS2 game ever sold 100+ million copies. That is becuase no game appeals to a console's entire userbase, only a select few.

MGS4's fanbase is about 3-4million. 360 has a larger userbase then PS3.4 million easiliy coincides both system userbases, regardless of which is higher. When the game is exclusive, majority who really wanted the game will go to that system. When it is Multiplat, the fanbase divides according to other criteria but they don't magically increase. Only thing that can cause that kind of increase in fanbase is the quality of work and popularity of the genre(COD4).

Because like it or not, whimsy purchases matter, and you'll get more of these with a larger user base. Also, like it or not, there are people who will only buy games for their system of choice. Considering the lateness of the port, BioShock didn't sell so poorly at all on the PS3, did it? Unless, of course, you believe it's been massively overtracked and has really only sold the 20,000-30,000 or so it would have sold on the 360/PC anyway, since multiplatform games never sell more by virtue of their multiplatformness.

Sorry for the double post, but I forgot to mention that MGS4 was heavily bundled, so it's probably not the best example for you to use.

And it was bundled with the last of the BC PS3s, too. In my case, it was the BC feature that sold me on the bundle (I don't like Metal Gear at all yet here I sit with a copy of the game!).

It doesn't work that way unfortunately for your argument. This is the same game cycle for something like Bioshock. All the sales of the PS3 version would have been for 360 latter in the years. Now if Bioshock had stayed exclusive, then Bioshock 2 went MP, you would see the same thing happen again. THe MP game would underperform.

How is any of this disputable when these game's sales actually verify my point. When you have an exclusive game, then turn it's sequel MP, the MP game doesn't out do the exclusive predecessor(as the whole point of going MP implies).

This is proven.

you are just a tangent variable. While I dont deny that there are probably other like you out there, it is optimistic to think that this is a huge number by any standards.

There are plenty of little tangents that have some swaying of the verdict yet not enough to push it to either side. Like the fact that many games this gen are timed exclusives, varry in quality over the platforms, 360 frequently gets DLC exclusive, or the fact that PS3 versions come standard with extra content.

I dont think Square Should Rot I just want them to put out a fucking game on the PS3 exclusive so they show they arent turning their backs on their fans

I don't doubt I'm in the minority as far as getting the MGS4 bundle while not giving a tinker's damn about MGS. However, the bundle was the best deal at the time for those in the market for a PS3, so it's not illogical to believe that a lot of people who don't comprise this "loyal fanbase" wound up getting a copy of this game, thus helping it to post sales comparable to (though still less than, so far) MGS games on PS2.

At any rate, I have to conclude that we'll simply have to agree to disagree if you can really so confidently assert something like, "All the sales of the PS3 version would have been for 360 latter in the years." I don't think I can disabuse you of that notion, and you'll never convince me of it as I find it simply mind-boggling.

I must have missed something, what exactly did you prove?

I see a baseless prediction theorising lesser sales pre-empting poorer quality of work.

I don't see how you can dismiss the vast difference in userbases based on the fact that the fan's are just a 'select few'.  Yes they are a select few but this number is greatly increased with an install base more than twice the size.

You're also suggesting that the fans will just flock to the console with the exclusive, despite which console they upgraded to? I think there's far less numbers of 'fans' that would shell out the cost of a whole new console to play the game versus fans that would casually pick the game up for the system they already own.  I think you're a classic example of this as you're obviously a Square Enix fan but the idea of purchasing a 360 to play their games is absolutely out of the question.

Where was it written in stone that all Square fans bought or are in possession of a PS3?

@Funmanchu

I can prove my point because none of these supposed Multiplatform games improve in sales. They actually perform more poorly for the most part. Check the chartz.

Fact: MP games are being said to improve sales of these games.
Fact: They actually are not improving, instead declining in some cases according to sales data.