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[Earendil]

It would make this man look stupid if it didn't.

 

[SaintMadeOfPlaster]

It's published by Nintendo, so yes.

Rayman is not published by Nintendo (except in Japan). The situations aren't comparable.

 

[Hero of Legend]

But Samurai Warriors 3 did go multiplatform, it saw an enhanced version on the PS3. However, there is a good chance that Nintendo's localisation and publishing of the game outside of Japan, meant that the PS3 port never saw a Western release.

Hence my point.

 

[Chairhome]

Exclusivity guarantee speculation is the new port begging.

 

[Aquamarine]

LEGO City Undercover Nintendo 03/18/13 US E10+
LEGO City Undercover Nintendo 03/28/13 EU 7+
LEGO City Undercover Nintendo March 2013 AU G
LEGO City Undercover Nintendo TBA JP A

Hmm...

Published worldwide by Nintendo, I'd say it's going to stay exclusive.

But what do I know. Those weasels may get a port in yet.

 

[Joe Molotov]

Nintendo pays for the entire project and they're the only publisher.

So, it will remain a Wii U/3DS exclusive.

Assuming Nintendo stays Wii U/3DS exclusive...

 

[javac]

Iwata's going to be pissed if it's not! Mad Iwata =Bad Iwata.

 

[deviljho]

Published worldwide by Nintendo, I'd say it's going to stay exclusive.

But what do I know. Those weasels may get a port in yet.

Look! Chase McCain is holding a Vita!

 

[Visualante2]

It's also published by Nintendo, so unless Warner Brothers wants to pony up the cash for other platforms, it'll likely stay exclusive to Nintendo platforms.

It's not so much a case of "ponying up" cash. It has to do with contractual obligations. If this game sells even half what previous Lego Games have done- it's a no brainer that anyone would want to publish it on other platforms. To what extent has Nintendo locked down the rights to the Lego City franchise, or even this single game.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

The first question that springs to mind is, why would WBIE not publish the title themselves?

They would. I forget what game it was with, but some manual had a page about the upcoming LEGO City Stories game for unspecified machines. Apparently Nintendo wanted it for themselves and swooped in, and it next appeared as a 3DS/Wii U announcement.

EDIT: Here's an image I got from Google:

 

[farnham]

to be honest if I was WB or TT i would not be afraid of Nintendo. Nintendo has lost so many third party support that they can just ignore whatever demand they make in case WB or TT releases the game on other platforms and threaten them to cut any support whatsoever.

if wb cuts support nintendo has practically no more third party support with EA, Activision and UBi jumping ship

 

[Earendil]

to be honest if I was WB or TT i would not be afraid of Nintendo. Nintendo has lost so many third party support that they can just ignore whatever demand they make in case WB or TT releases the game on other platforms and threaten them to cut any support whatsoever.

if wb cuts support nintendo has practically no more third party support with EA, Activision and UBi jumping ship

Too bad there's the pesky things called contracts. If Nintendo has the publishing rights to the game, it likely prevents WB from releasing it on other platforms.

 

[farnham]

Too bad there's the pesky things called contracts. If Nintendo has the publishing rights to the game, it likely prevents WB from releasing it on other platforms.

the best contract in the world doesnt help you if you would be better off not enforcing the contract rather than enforcing it.

if WB comes to nintendo and says : @either you allow us to publish the game on ps3 or we dont support you anymore.@ i think Nintendo would be hardpressed to say no and loose any subsequent WB support. Nintendo simply has no more publisher that is willing to put games on WiiU or even exclusives. For WB not releasing on nintendo platforms is a minimal risk as nintendo platforms dont create much revenue for them.

 

[capslock]

I hear Mario might go multi-platform.

 

[Visualante2]

They would. I forget what game it was with, but some manual had a page about the upcoming LEGO City Stories game for unspecified machines. Apparently Nintendo wanted it for themselves and swooped in, and it next appeared as a 3DS/Wii U announcement.

EDIT: Here's an image I got from Google:

That's interesting, do you know if it was featured in all manuals, or just for Nintendo SKUs? That might give us an indication as to when Nintendo got involved. Still I'm guessing they were working on it before Nintendo were involved as there is no logo attached.

 

[Hero of Legend]

That's interesting, do you know if it was featured in all manuals, or just for Nintendo SKUs? That might give us an indication as to when Nintendo got involved. Still I'm guessing they were working on it before Nintendo were involved as there is no logo attached.

That was from a Lego set IIRC.

 

[Earendil]

the best contract in the world doesnt help you if you would be better off not enforcing the contract rather than enforcing it.

if WB comes to nintendo and says : @either you allow us to publish the game on ps3 or we dont support you anymore.@ i think Nintendo would be hardpressed to say no and loose any subsequent WB support. Nintendo simply has no more publisher that is willing to put games on WiiU or even exclusives. For WB not releasing on nintendo platforms is a minimal risk as nintendo platforms dont create much revenue for them.

I suppose, I just don't see it happening. Lego games have historically sold best on Nintendo platforms, and if Nintendo advertises the game right, I think it will sell rather well.

 

[Bending_Unit_22]

Too bad there's the pesky things called contracts. If Nintendo has the publishing rights to the game, it likely prevents WB from releasing it on other platforms.

Basically what I'm thinking, it depends on the contract Nintendo has with WB. We don't know what's in the contract of course, but it does seem Nintendo is a bit more involved in this game than just handling distribution in a region or 2 so I would find it very unlikely.

to be honest if I was WB or TT i would not be afraid of Nintendo. Nintendo has lost so many third party support that they can just ignore whatever demand they make in case WB or TT releases the game on other platforms and threaten them to cut any support whatsoever.

if wb cuts support nintendo has practically no more third party support with EA, Activision and UBi jumping ship

I don't know what the current figures are, but as of a 3 years ago the Lego games on the Wii outsold the 360 and PS3 versions combined. I imagine that has changed, the PS2 versions were the 2nd best selling at the time, but if there is a series a 3rd party would want to be exclusive on Nintendo hardware it would be a Lego game.

As for Nintendo, the recent spate of games going multiplat would also mean they should want to keep WB happy for Lego. Especially in light of how the past games sold. I'm not disagreeing with the scenario you present, but it still seems unlikely to me.

the best contract in the world doesnt help you if you would be better off not enforcing the contract rather than enforcing it.

if WB comes to nintendo and says : @either you allow us to publish the game on ps3 or we dont support you anymore.@ i think Nintendo would be hardpressed to say no and loose any subsequent WB support. Nintendo simply has no more publisher that is willing to put games on WiiU or even exclusives. For WB not releasing on nintendo platforms is a minimal risk as nintendo platforms dont create much revenue for them.

Previous sales of Lego games disagree. True those were on mature consoles whereas this is mature consoles vs new console but the Wii U will be mature in a few years when those subsequent Lego games are released. Depending on what the contract says and how much Nintendo is actually helping, it yet again seems like a very short sighted move on WB's part to me.

Then again the Lego games weren't the only franchises selling far better on the Wii than the PS360 3 years ago and 3rd parties still dicked with the Wii versions so it wouldn't be unprecedented.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

An unrelated thing I've noticed is that this game is launching at $50 instead of $60.

For WB not releasing on nintendo platforms is a minimal risk as nintendo platforms dont create much revenue for them.

Haven't they racked up quite a few million-selling LEGO games across Nintendo machines in the last decade?

 

[Shiggy]

They would. I forget what game it was with, but some manual had a page about the upcoming LEGO City Stories game for unspecified machines. Apparently Nintendo wanted it for themselves and swooped in, and it next appeared as a 3DS/Wii U announcement.

EDIT: Here's an image I got from Google:

That's from a Lego set when it was still planned for DS, PS3 and Xbox 360.

 

[big_erk]

It has a different title, LEGO® City Undercover: The Chase Begins

Can you er, cite that?

http://legocityu.nintendo.com/

 

[Hero of Legend]

I think we can thank out fucking lucky stars that it's exclusive, look at how polished it looks, the series has historically been loaded with tearing, frame issues, etc, and these were in as far back as E3.

Now it's really coming together, for all we know WB would've rushed it for the holidays, tarnishing a potentially amazing game.

Nintendo taking it in and making it exclusive is the greatest thing the game could've asked for.

And hopefully the sales reflect this, I'm dying for this!

 

[farnham]

Basically what I'm thinking, it depends on the contract Nintendo has with WB. We don't know what's in the contract of course, but it does seem Nintendo is a bit more involved in this game than just handling distribution in a region or 2 so I would find it very unlikely.



I don't know what the current figures are, but as of a 3 years ago the Lego games on the Wii outsold the 360 and PS3 versions combined. I imagine that has changed, the PS2 versions were the 2nd best selling at the time, but if there is a series a 3rd party would want to be exclusive on Nintendo hardware it would be a Lego game.

As for Nintendo, the recent spate of games going multiplat would also mean they should want to keep WB happy for Lego. Especially in light of how the past games sold. I'm not disagreeing with the scenario you present, but it still seems unlikely to me.

An unrelated thing I've noticed is that this game is launching at $50 instead of $60.

Haven't they racked up quite a few million-selling LEGO games across Nintendo machines in the last decade?

that might be very true but dont forget that we are in a situation where the wiiu may become irrelevant very very fast if they cannot bring momentum to the platform with wii fit u and wii party u (and a lesser extent game and Wario, Pikmin 3 and this game)

 

[Clay Davis]

I don't believe it really matters. timed exclusive is just as good as a full exclusive, so long as you don't pull a capcom and announce you'll be releasing the game on other platforms before the game is even out on the 'exclusive' platform.

this could be a boon for nintendo, if marketed properly, they could see their sales increase by at least 50% on launch weekend / week.

 

[Hero of Legend]

Then again the Lego games weren't the only franchises selling far better on the Wii than the PS360 3 years ago and 3rd parties still dicked with the Wii versions so it wouldn't be unprecedented.

True, and I wonder what other franchise could have, and likely, made a bigger impact on Wii than on PS3 and 360.

 

[lefantome]

I hope not, I want to play it and I don't want to buy a Wii U.


This is why traveller's tales could release the game on other platforms too:

-Lego games have been an huge success everywhere and they can't ignore 150 millions consoles.
-It's Lego + GTA and it seems awesome, it will be a success even between those who usually don't buy their games.
-It's probably the most expensive Lego game yet.
-The Wii U had a slow start and we/they don't know if it's going to take off somewhere in the future.
-They are experienced with old gen hardware and porting the game should be fast and cheap.

the fact that is published by Nintendo doesn't mean anything these days.I think it will be a timed exclusive.

 

[big_erk]

True, and I wonder what other franchise could have, and likely, made a bigger impact on Wii than on PS3 and 360.

I see what you did there.

 

[Bending_Unit_22]

that might be very true but dont forget that we are in a situation where the wiiu may become irrelevant very very fast if they cannot bring momentum to the platform with wii fit u and wii party u (and a lesser extent game and Wario, Pikmin 3 and this game)

Eh, even a GCN style collapse for the Wii U would be enough, depending on unknown but seemingly significant support from Nintendo, to do well for a Lego game. Rather than WB burning a bridge before even crossing it, I would think it more likely that they press Nintendo for more support and then reuse all the assets for Lego City 2 for PS360 and Wii U next year.

 

[Visualante2]

Difficult to say it's the most expensive Lego Game to date, because involved parties aren't paying a chunk to Marvel, DC, Lucas or the Potter empire on top of the Lego Company and the platform holder. Might actually be one of the most profitable Lego Games.

 

[Fox Mulder]

The game just actually being released will be a small victory for the console. There's still a month for it to be delayed like everything else had been.

I don't mind losing third party exclusives, the more people that get to play a game the better. It's also Lego, I could see it getting ported at some point.

 

[farnham]

I hope not, I wan't to play it and I don't want to buy a Wii U.


This is why traveller's tales could release the game on other platforms too:



the fact that is published by Nintendo doesn't mean anything these days.I think it will be a timed exclusive.

yup i agree. i think the third parties have decided that they will not consider nintendo as a serious business partner anymore.

Eh, even a GCN style collapse for the Wii U would be enough, depending on unknown but seemingly significant support from Nintendo, to do well for a Lego game. Rather than WB burning a bridge before even crossing it, I would think it more likely that they press Nintendo for more support and then reuse all the assets for Lego City 2 for PS360 and Wii U next year.

to do well. but not as well as they did on the wii.

ubi sold many millions of just dance games on wii and did not do so hot on other platforms. still they are decided to do a move that would have pissed off yamauchi in the old days enough to just ban them outright from the platform. yet nintendo does not react. they cant. their market position is just too weak.

 

[Effect]

to be honest if I was WB or TT i would not be afraid of Nintendo. Nintendo has lost so many third party support that they can just ignore whatever demand they make in case WB or TT releases the game on other platforms and threaten them to cut any support whatsoever.

if wb cuts support nintendo has practically no more third party support with EA, Activision and UBi jumping ship

I would think that would be the last thing 3rd parties would want. That pretty much forces Nintendo's hand completely and if we think panic mode Nintendo is the best Nintendo what would desperate and perhaps vengeful Nintendo be like? Is forcing Nintendo into what would essentially be war mode something other companies would want? There would be nothing left to loss at that point as far as it came to the larger companies.

I would assume at that point we'd get the additional development teams with more original IPs. Nintendo's back would be up against the wall and the last thing you want to do is corner the beast.

Edit:

I really would like to know how strong of a hold Nintendo really has on this game. I do want this to stay Nintendo exclusive. The library needs to be built up more.

 

[OldJadedGamer]

Every game is exclusive until it is announced for other platforms.

 

[Fox Mulder]

Too bad there's the pesky things called contracts. If Nintendo has the publishing rights to the game, it likely prevents WB from releasing it on other platforms.

Microsoft published Ninja Gaiden 2 on the 360 and it got released on the ps3 as an updated game with a different title.

 

[Chû Totoro]

Every game is exclusive until it is announced for other platforms.

Pretty simple like always but "thisisNeoGAF.gif"

 

[chris3116]

With all the Nintendo references, heavy use of the gamepad and the marketing around the game on the past Nintendo directs, Lego City Undercover will still be a Nintendo exclusive.

 

[farnham]

I would think that would be the last thing 3rd parties would want. That pretty much forces Nintendo's hand completely and if we think panic mode Nintendo is the best Nintendo what would desperate and perhaps vengeful Nintendo be like? Is forcing Nintendo into what would essentially be war mode something other companies would want? There would be nothing left to loss at that point as far as it came to the larger companies.

I would assume at that point we'd get the additional development teams with more original IPs. Nintendo's back would be up against the wall and the last thing you want to do is corner the beast.

Edit:

I really would like to know how strong of a hold Nintendo really has on this game. I do want this to stay Nintendo exclusive. The library needs to be built up more.

I would think so but I think people are not considering nintendo as to be able to do such aggresive moves. if they were able or inclined to do so they should have bought a lot more publishers and studios in the last 5 years

With all the Nintendo references, heavy use of the gamepad and the marketing around the game on the past Nintendo directs, Lego City Undercover will still be a Nintendo exclusive.

yeah

 

[OldJadedGamer]

Microsoft published Ninja Gaiden 2 on the 360 and it got released on the ps3 as an updated game with a different title.

"Not the same game, not the same content"

 

[sd28821]

I can see it happening but I don't care if it does as long as its not delayed in order to do so.

 

[Mxrz]

I don't believe any third party game will remain completely exclusive. Timed, maybe, for a moneytruck. But there just doesn't appear to be much benefit to limiting your IP longterm.

 

[Haunted]

At this point, all bets are off.

They seem to at least have a couple months exclusivity.

 

[GeoramA]

No. It's a fucking Lego game.

 

[Hero of Legend]

Microsoft published Ninja Gaiden 2 on the 360 and it got released on the ps3 as an updated game with a different title.

Did MS publish it worldwide? Also, their logo isn't even on the front cover, must've been the loosest use of the term "publish" I've seen.

 

[jercruz]

nope, based on trend and dick move by ubisoft (making it multi aint bad. its the delay thats bad). wouldnt suprise me if MH3g goes multiplat as well. and bayonetta 2. 3rd party has ninty by the balls lately.

 

[Sammy Samusu]

Nope, Nintendo is only publishing this one (as far as I know).

But I think Wii U will have the definitive version of Rayman and LEGO.

 

[TwEE-N-Toast]

to be honest if I was WB or TT i would not be afraid of Nintendo. Nintendo has lost so many third party support that they can just ignore whatever demand they make in case WB or TT releases the game on other platforms and threaten them to cut any support whatsoever.

if wb cuts support nintendo has practically no more third party support with EA, Activision and UBi jumping ship

the best contract in the world doesnt help you if you would be better off not enforcing the contract rather than enforcing it.

if WB comes to nintendo and says : @either you allow us to publish the game on ps3 or we dont support you anymore.@ i think Nintendo would be hardpressed to say no and loose any subsequent WB support. Nintendo simply has no more publisher that is willing to put games on WiiU or even exclusives. For WB not releasing on nintendo platforms is a minimal risk as nintendo platforms dont create much revenue for them.

I think you're onto something here. Why don't third parties just take Nintendo's ips too and do what they will with them. And if nintendo protests, well then shove em real hard like and ask em "whatchu gonna do bout it"?

 

[Gummb]

It's published by Nintendo, so yes. >_>

 

[Penguin]

the best contract in the world doesnt help you if you would be better off not enforcing the contract rather than enforcing it.

if WB comes to nintendo and says : @either you allow us to publish the game on ps3 or we dont support you anymore.@ i think Nintendo would be hardpressed to say no and loose any subsequent WB support. Nintendo simply has no more publisher that is willing to put games on WiiU or even exclusives. For WB not releasing on nintendo platforms is a minimal risk as nintendo platforms dont create much revenue for them.

I don't know.. think it's a lose-lose
Because if Warner.. shies away from Nintendo, also miss the huge kids market that it gets them

Stuff like Scribblenauts and the LEGO games.

And speaking of Warner, Scribblenauts Unlimited is exclusive... so not out of the realm of possibility.

 

[IsntChrisL]

Perhaps if it really bombed at retail, WB would push to get it ported to other consoles. The heavy reliance on the Gamepad, Nintendo references, and Nintendo funding/publishing could make it more of a hassle than its worth though.

That said, I think this game looks great and I think it will be one of the first third party games on the Wii U to do strong numbers.

 

[DeuceGamer]

the best contract in the world doesnt help you if you would be better off not enforcing the contract rather than enforcing it.

if WB comes to nintendo and says : @either you allow us to publish the game on ps3 or we dont support you anymore.@ i think Nintendo would be hardpressed to say no and loose any subsequent WB support. Nintendo simply has no more publisher that is willing to put games on WiiU or even exclusives. For WB not releasing on nintendo platforms is a minimal risk as nintendo platforms dont create much revenue for them.

LOL at Nintendo giving in to 3rd Party demands or being friendly with 3rd Parties

Edit: Seriously though, Nintendo seems far too stubborn with 3rd Parties that I'd expect they'd let them walk (whether that's right or wrong).