Hey guys,

I do not know if this is possible, but what dou you think would happen if MS decides to invest 200 million (or whatever it takes) USD in exclusive content? You know they can do it.

But let's say MS decides to go shopping and offering Bethesda something like 20 million USD for the exclusive release on the Xbox360 for their next game. Bethesda is known for great RPGs (Oblivion and Fallout3 this gen). It is a safe bet to say their next title will be big as well.

So the same procedure with games like

• Assassins Creed 2
• Dead Rising 2
• Bioshock 2

Well and they give some money to Square Enix or Rockstar to create some new games.

I AM NOT SAYING THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN! Bioshock already confirmed as a multiplat game etc.

The PS3 is not in the best situation right now, we all know that. This move would really hurt Sony. Would Sony have a chance to counter this?

The reason why companies do anything, from announcing products to doing marketing campaigns, is because it will bring greater profit.

Would the 200m USD investment increase Microsoft's profit? Decreasing Sony's profit is not the same as that. Microsoft won't do anything merely because their fanbase wants it, and they won't do anything that will bring antitrust investigations upon them (making secret exclusivity deals third parties with is the fastest way to do that).

They should offer Irem $20 million to port Hammerin' Hero to XBLA, since I don't have a PSP yet.

 No but it could weaken Sony for the next generation. Plus Xbox brand will be bigger next generation as well. The ROI won't be in the money, but other aspects like the two I mentioned should be considered as well.

M$ has lost 100 billion in the last 2 years and DLC like teh lost and the damned or the pitt have has had no real effect on sales. So far this year PS3's lineup is making a mockery of 360's and I think that has a lot to do with all these investments into DLC instead of new IPs.

I think MS best move would to invest money on new and exiting first party titles and get off Sony's nuts.

Better yet, the could make Bethesda a 1st party and add to their riches.

 WOOT! I blame economy

The real question is have they made a big purchase we don't know about yet?

E3 cometh, now 48 days away.

The PS3 versions of Bioshock 2 and Assasins Creed 2 will generate 2 million in sales. If the Developer/Publisher split is $40 that's 80 million dollars MS would have to invest in those 2 games. I think the reason you are seeing MS buy the exclusive marketing deals for demos, game announcements, and dlc is that it is too expensive to buy exclusive games. Also, 20 million for the next Bethesda game seems way too low.

After generations where companies as Sega/Nintendo and Sony were on top you saw generations where people just don't care about brand name you still say 'having a strond brand one generation will help the next generation' =p?