Sony's Tretton: 'Disappointed' In Multiplatform FFXIII Through MS' 'Currying Favor'

[h0l211]

Some plaintive noises arriving from a new Jack Tretton roundtable:

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=19448

Sony's Tretton: 'Disappointed' In Multiplatform FFXIII Through MS' 'Currying Favor' Speaking at a roundtable Q&A attended by Gamasutra, Sony's Jack Tretton has been discussing Final Fantasy XIII's move from a PlayStation 3 exclusive to a multiplatform title, suggesting Microsoft has spent most of their money "trying to curry favor with third parties". When asked whether he was disappointed about the surprise announcement that the game would also debut on Xbox 360 in the West, Tretton noted: "I guess disappointed is clearly an appropriate term." Tretton then launched into invective discussing Sony's decision to concentrate heavily on internal development, noting that it constituted "over half of our employee base all over the world", and adding that "...we've built up our base and that's where we've chosen to spend our dollars." However, he warned: "I think Microsoft has spent the majority of their money on trying to curry favor with third parties" - implying that Final Fantasy XIII moving to multiplatform was more of a Microsoft-subsidized decision than one guided purely by sales reasons. Tretton concluded: "I think software companies look and say 'there's no check big enough for us to do exclusive development' ...I think it's going to be harder and harder to have third-party exclusives as we move forward." Gamasutra will have more from Tretton's roundtable Q&A in the near future, including lots more detail on the state of Sony.

[Y2Kev]

Tretton concluded: "I think software companies look and say 'there's no check big enough for us to do exclusive development' ...I think it's going to be harder and harder to have third-party exclusives as we move forward."

Only worthwhile thing he said I think.

[crowphoenix]

I would think it would be a good idea to curry favor from third parties.

Only worthwhile thing he said I think.

It also looks like we're moving towards a one-experience future. We'll have multiple consoles, but they'll all act basically the same.

[Hellraizer]

"I think Microsoft has spent the majority of their money on trying to curry favor with third parties"

So far with success.

[puebla]

wow, was Sony really caught offguard by this announcement? seems like it.

[h3ro]

Only worthwhile thing he said I think.

ONE CONSOLE FUTURE

Believe...

[pestul]

I still don't think MS put much into this. I believe it was mostly a SE executive decision.

[Mrbob]

Sony doesn't have the money to do so like MS does.

Well, I guess they do, but it isn't money well spent. Unless you are in the position like MS is where you have a ton of money and no marketshare. You spend the money in an attempt to get more, but they are getting their ass beat by the wii anyway.

I would rather have Sony spend their money on first party games. FF13 is still coming to PS3.

BTW, this empowers my one console future desire more and more.

[JodyAnthony]

i'd rather have final fantasy 13 with curry flavor.

[3rdman]

However, he warned: "I think Microsoft has spent the majority of their money on trying to curry favor with third parties" - implying that Final Fantasy XIII moving to multiplatform was more of a Microsoft-subsidized decision than one guided purely by sales reasons.

Was Sega ever like this when Sony buried them? I don't remember...

[jjasper]

Only worthwhile thing he said I think.

He is right too and Sony is smart to try and build up their first party library. The problem is lack of variety and still not having a system seller out yet in the first party line up.

[Vinci]

Speaking at a roundtable Q&A attended by Gamasutra, Sony's Jack Tretton has been discussing Final Fantasy XIII's move from a PlayStation 3 exclusive to a multiplatform title, suggesting Microsoft has spent most of their money "trying to curry favor with third parties".

Pot. Kettle. Black.

[Steiner_Zi]

ONE CONSOLE FUTURE Believe...

So what happens if that console is the Wii?

[Mononofu]

ONE CONSOLE FUTURE Believe...

The only future worth fighting for.

[[Nintex]]

I think it was Yoichi Wada's decision, the way he acted at the conference, smiling at Mattrick..

[Quazar]

In other words, boo hoo

[Rapping Granny]

MS buying their way to the top as usual.

[TTP]

So far with success.

If by success you mean significant boost in hardware sales due to these exclusives I think I disagree.

[Dark Octave]

You can have a great fight for a while, but in the end, you really can't expect to go against a company as big as MS and win.

[AndyD]

I would think it would be a good idea to curry favor from third parties. It also looks like we're moving towards a one-experience future. We'll have multiple consoles, but they'll all act basically the same.

I think looking forward the only exclusives will be internal ones (which is the way Sony is focusing on). If I were them I would rather spend money on an internal product (more control), than write a check to a third party for theirs.

[Vinci]

MS buying their way to the top as usual.

...

They're on top of something?

[Hellraizer]

MS buying their way to the top as usual.

[a Master Ninja]

[B_Rik_Schitthaus]

BUTTHURT

[vilmer_]

MS buying their way to the top as usual.

Microsoft and Walmart should just unite and buy the planet!

[B_Rik_Schitthaus]

... They're on top of something?

No they are actually a very small company

[WickedAngel]

MS buying their way to the top as usual.

Aside from that being pure speculation, there's also the nagging little fact that Sony has done the exact same thing in the past.

[Chiggs]

So what happens if that console is the Wii?

Thank God for the PC.

[Hellraizer]

Microsoft and Walmart should just unite and buy the planet!

One everything future

[nib95]

ONE CONSOLE FUTURE Believe...

I'll quit gaming the day that happens. No competition = consumer getting anal raped.

[Grimm Fandango]

I think it was Yoichi Wada's decision, the way he acted at the conference, smiling at Mattrick..

I'd smile too if I got bajillions of dollars from this deal...

[Verboten]

We'll have multiple consoles, but they'll all act basically the same.

They may act the same, but only one of them was capable of thought.

[Dark Octave]

Microsoft and Walmart should just unite and buy the planet!

You forgot EA.

[le.phat]

when all is said and done i'm really happy sony has chosen to invest its dollars in internal development studios. This way they're breeding platform exclusive specialists, able to tap into ps3's rescources, and build an developerfriendly independent enviroment where technology, creativity and talent can be reallocated, applied and bred into new franchises. I think we can already see the payoff with the second flood of sony titles on display at E3, and things are only getting better.

[Rottweiler]

Was Sega ever like this when Sony buried them? I don't remember...

Not at all. Matter of fact Sega was really humble about it.

Sony bought their way to the top the past two generations.

Fixed

[TheRagnCajun]

I find it hard to believe that sony didn't see this coming.

..Anyways, good on them for investing in their 1st party games.

[Vinci]

No they are actually a very small company

Um ... I think you missed the point. Granny said Microsoft was buying its way to the top, but it's not on the top of anything in this industry.


Well, except online play. And Netflix.

[Sadist]

Tretton concluded: "I think software companies look and say 'there's no check big enough for us to do exclusive development' ...I think it's going to be harder and harder to have third-party exclusives as we move forward."

That's the price of HD technology. You did it yourself.

[Quixzlizx]

You can have a great fight for a while, but in the end, you really can't expect to go against a company as big as MS and win.

Yeah, Nintendo is just about finished.

[itxaka]

wow, was Sony really caught offguard by this announcement? seems like it.

It sure does.

Now Sony, see what happens? You gotta lick third party asses to get good things sometimes. As the curent market it, did you really expected SE to go exclusive for a title that is costing them a lot of money? Selling software is what drives them, or some millions under the table and the market has shown that the 360 sells software really well, so this was a logical business decision.

Tretton concluded: "I think software companies look and say 'there's no check big enough for us to do exclusive development' ...I think it's going to be harder and harder to have third-party exclusives as we move forward."

Gears?

[MirageDwarf]

I'm all for spending money on internal development. Because of high cost, no third parties will stay forever exclusive. You spend millions on timed exclusivity and still don't even own single art screen.


Timed exclusivity is worth its price only if it is more than a year long like Bioshock.

[Napoleonthechimp]

http://www.castle-vidcons.com/comics/2008/07/cv0045.jpg

[Developer in Training]

Kaz is definitely going to bitchslap Wada.

Wada needs a bitchslapping. Someone needs to do it.

[stuminus3]

Disappointing? No. When you have two "high end" consoles out on the market that are practically the exact same thing, it's not "disappointing", it's "to be expected".

At this point it's disappointing when a third party game hits the HD systems and it's not multiplatform. Actually not disappointing. It's nonsensical.

EDIT: Actually having two identical HD systems is what's nonsensical. Sony and Microsoft should have sex or something.

[RSTEIN]

I wonder if this move was truly surprising to Sony. I thought SE would have given them a courtesy call.

[mightynine]

MS buying their way to the top as usual.

Of what? This is their latest attempt to try and move some consoles in Japan.

Sorry, it's certainly not a game changer, for the same reason MGS4 wasn't - the people who will buy this game already have whatever console they will buy it on.

[Fistwell]

ONE CONSOLE FUTURE

I dont remember anymore why i'm against this, but i am so against this.

[gofreak]

Gears?

Microsoft publishes Gears..?

Not to say there are no third party exclusives..they're just increasingly rare, obviously.

[gregor7777]

I'll quit gaming the day that happens. No competition = consumer getting anal raped.

We did OK in the NES days. There was no real competition.

And the nice thing was I didn't miss out on any games. I got my Metal gear, my Final Fantasy, my Metroid and Mario Brothers all on the same system.

[sooperkool]

Bullies usually cry when they finally get punched in the nose.