Xbox360 Exclusives
Xbox 360, as a platform, has had a high performing stable of exclusive titles to call its own since its launch back Nov 2005. Exclusives are tough for developers and publishers alike. Developers lose a percentage of the population if they are specific to any one platform, and usually the publisher is taking a risk, sometimes not, when throwing marketing cash and buzz behind the title. (Exclusives can sometimes help define a platform)
Although we had a rough start(sorry Kameo), Microsoft generally has a good idea of what their core audience is all about. Gears of War is a great example, delivering a bloody chainsaw and an unmatched graphics engine just in time for Holiday 06. Thats not always the case with an exclusive title, but for the most part I feel like somebody at Microsoft has a good head on their shoulders when even considering a game company/AAA title to bring into the fold.
That being said, I feel confident when I buy a game that says “Only on Xbox 360″ at the top. My only comparison is the Gold Nintendo seal of quality, an ancient rune found only on the most magic of long-forgotten relics. They aren’t all golden pillars of gaming, but I’d like to think %80 of them will stand the test of time and be looked upon in my elder years as “classics”. Certainly, Shadowrun (silent weeping) and Viva Pinata (sorry again Rare) can be looked at as somewhat failures, but titles like Mass Effect and Bioshock tip the scales into the positive more then enough.
August 19th puts Silicon Knights on the scoreboard with their Xbox360 exclusive “Too Human”, a sci-fi action/RPG trilogy based on Norse Mythology.
If Valhalla had a computer room, they’d be playing Diablo 2. The comparisons are unavoidable, with random loot drops, skill trees, online coop, all you need is Shield Bash and Double Swing/Leap Attack and its Diablo 2.5 - but is that a bad thing?
Halo3, Ninja Gaiden, Forza, they all have their own followings(religion) within the 360 crowd. Question is, are we looking at another system seller, or another ShadowRun? If history is any teacher, color me excited.
Posted by Erick - July 3rd, 2008 -
July 4th, 2008 at 9:07 am
I for one agree, too human is shaping up and looking rather promising, only time will tell but I’m right there with you one that one!
The only point I’d have to disagree with is that Viva Pinata was alot more sucessful that people realise, ok I admit it didn’t really float my boat but its become very much a cult following, I’ve spoken to alot of people who didn’t pick it up on release and it seems to have had a slow flourish, like the flowers you can grow in some of the higher levels.
Although the life of exclusive titles is currently quite goodm I can’t see this going for many more years as its just not cost effective, publishers loose out on too much of the revenue. I guess only time will tell…