SMOK3Y
Generous Member
This is why it's cross gen
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Rise of the Tomb Raider Crystal Dynamics FAQ - Confirms timed exclusive for XB1/360
- Thread starter GavinUK86
- Start date
Nightengale
Member
Well, the difference with Titanfall was that back when MS 'rescued' the game from being cancelled, they penned a 13-months locked deal before either console were even announced. And before anyone knew that last-gen sales would plummet like a rock. (360 version of Titanfall ended up being just a blip despite the 80 million install base )
Whereas this deal was clearly penned in the weeks leading up to Gamescom, where it's clear to all parties that MS was behind. If SE gave away 12 months exclusivity away, then Square Enix is literally dumbness personified because that far away, they're practically killing the sales of other platforms.
I don't care why it's exclusive that is up to the companies making the deal. With that said there are too many exclusives to count, timed or not over every generation in gaimg.
It shouldn't matter that this was moneyhatting, it was a deal that was agreed upon for what numbers worked for both companies. Exclusives are common place in gaming and have been, again still hoping gamers will get used to it.
Yeah their FAQ is a bunch of hokum. It contradicts itself.
However, I'm not entirely certain that the deal has no benefit for CD and Microsoft. I personally am not too invested in the franchise but I'm sure some people are. So some of the points I had stated may apply, if not all.
May be SE was unwilling to continue the series after the "disappointing" sales unless a console manufacturer was willing to put some cash in and show faith. Knowing SE, they would still want to eventually go multi platform so that they have a plan B in case it "disappoints" again. Lowers their risk. Who knows!
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
I can understand the desire to make it cross gen, but I'm a little disappointed. Was hoping for a "from the ground up" new gen title.
PsihoPerihelion
Member
Killing_Joke
Member
Still think it's a waste of money. Will be fun to see TR/UC duke it out at least.
UC wins.
WrenchNinja
Member
Holy crap this is cross gen? That is some sad shit.
Have to wait until around E3 2015 to see the purpose of this deal.
It's either they already had a solid holiday 2015 lineup planned and decided to get this deal to push people over the edge or if they needed something to fill the lineup. It's the former, I can see how this deal helps MS especially when the value of this timed exclusive will go up during the holidays. If it's the latter*, why would they pick this game (Or better yet, why not use the money if it cost millions to hire studios to make new IPs for them? More Ori, Sunset Overdrive, Scalebound deals or Rime, WiLD and The Tomorrow Children kind of deals).
*Assuming the current Tomb Raider fan base overlaps with Uncharted by a good amount, what's the chances of someone buying a Xbox One primary for a timed exclusive Tomb Raider over Uncharted 4?
It's either they already had a solid holiday 2015 lineup planned and decided to get this deal to push people over the edge or if they needed something to fill the lineup. It's the former, I can see how this deal helps MS especially when the value of this timed exclusive will go up during the holidays. If it's the latter*, why would they pick this game (Or better yet, why not use the money if it cost millions to hire studios to make new IPs for them? More Ori, Sunset Overdrive, Scalebound deals or Rime, WiLD and The Tomorrow Children kind of deals).
*Assuming the current Tomb Raider fan base overlaps with Uncharted by a good amount, what's the chances of someone buying a Xbox One primary for a timed exclusive Tomb Raider over Uncharted 4?
statham
Member
I imagine alot of the holdouts from the PS4/PC camp that refuse to get a XB1 will grab a 360 version and double dip when available. And I can't imagine them losing many sales as the rest of the PS4 fanbase will grab when available. I think it was a smart move by Square. And Microsoft will also have a stronger fall 2015 lineup to go against UC4. Its a win-win by both companies. IMO.
edit: of course like Ryse and DR, maybe they are only talking about PC, I know 'Insiders' say otherwise, but they also been wrong alot. I mean Shu doesn't even know.
edit: of course like Ryse and DR, maybe they are only talking about PC, I know 'Insiders' say otherwise, but they also been wrong alot. I mean Shu doesn't even know.
Well looking at last gen, it seems like they do have a pretty exclusive (timed) relationship with the 360. Tomb Raider Legend launched there (didn't come to the PS3 until the Trilogy for PS3), the Anniversary episodes launching there first and then later on disc years before it came to PS3, Beneath the Ashes and Lara's Shadow DLC for Underworld (never came to any other platform) and then Guardian of Light (1month and some on XBL first).
Moneyhatted or not, they did have an exclusive relationship for awhile...
Chobel
Member
You would be surprised, delayed ports usually have bad sales.
Commanche Raisin Toast
Member
How?? Seriously, HOW? Explain it to me plainly.
How is getting MS money different than getting normal money? Does it smell better? Does it get you high, thus allowing those creative juices to flow? All parties involved seem completely incapable of not bullshitting us, even when they're trying to cut the crap.
You're a gamer who was never garunteed this product to be on your platform of choice at any moment. If you want it in a timely fashion get an X1. This topic is making me kinda glad that it wasn't this easy to discuss gaming back in the day when 3rd party exclusives were even more common.
Handy Fake
Member
Step back from the Console V Console perception and tell us how, in any way, shape or form, this is good for gamers on any platform.
Sure... ¬_¬
Coulomb_Barrier
Member
I hate this BS PR talk.
Firmus_Anguis
Banned
Man, all in all, I just feel bad for fans of TR. That sure must've been some lucrative deal...
This is how I picture Square and CD in my head:
Good news is though, everyone will get a chance to pla-
Oh, you poor thing..
This is how I picture Square and CD in my head:
Good news is though, everyone will get a chance to pla-
Oh, you poor thing..
Nightengale
Member
The business side of the deal ( for this game, at least ) is most likely not problematic at all. MS definitely ponied up a lot of cash, and both sides crunched numbers to achieve what they think will allow them to come out of it richer than before.
Now, whether or not that is true, remains to be seen, because we've seen major fuck-ups when it comes to business decisions before (uDraw,lol), but at least at the offset, it doesn't seem to be that risky unless TR continues to maintain the negative backlash it's getting even till launch.
The bigger, longer term question is whether or not it'll have an impact on the franchise itself. Story-driven, single player game sequels missing out on platforms, even for a limited amount of time, imo, does damage the franchise's sales potential somewhat because the audience that has skipped the game over in due of the timing probably exist.
Granted, it's always been murky waters because numbers available to us most conveniently, the US figures, have always had Xbox at the dominant spot, so even for games that have a very high skew to Xbox vs Playstation ( Splinter Cell, Mass Effect, etc ) it's hard to tell if there was actual damage to the franchise potential.
It'll be interesting to take note of sales of games like say PvZ : GW on PS4 in NPD threads, because that will be a reflection of whether or not timed exclusivity has prevented the PS4 SKU from selling as well.
Now, whether or not that is true, remains to be seen, because we've seen major fuck-ups when it comes to business decisions before (uDraw,lol), but at least at the offset, it doesn't seem to be that risky unless TR continues to maintain the negative backlash it's getting even till launch.
The bigger, longer term question is whether or not it'll have an impact on the franchise itself. Story-driven, single player game sequels missing out on platforms, even for a limited amount of time, imo, does damage the franchise's sales potential somewhat because the audience that has skipped the game over in due of the timing probably exist.
Granted, it's always been murky waters because numbers available to us most conveniently, the US figures, have always had Xbox at the dominant spot, so even for games that have a very high skew to Xbox vs Playstation ( Splinter Cell, Mass Effect, etc ) it's hard to tell if there was actual damage to the franchise potential.
It'll be interesting to take note of sales of games like say PvZ : GW on PS4 in NPD threads, because that will be a reflection of whether or not timed exclusivity has prevented the PS4 SKU from selling as well.
Nightengale
Member
Shu didn't even know that No Man's Sky was coming to PS4 first before E3, so his opinion is invalid.
Why does this have to be good for all gamers? It's at least good for the X1 gamers as they still get the title in a timely fashion, or potential X1 gamers who now may have one additional reason to look at making the plunge.
tokyostomp
Banned
I'm not going to buy this on any platform because of this asshattery.
I believe it sets a dangerous precedent that give the green light for companies to money hat AAA games and lock them away from competitors.
Last gen it was a few indies who benefitted from the cash injection but if this trend continues it will be nothing but bad news for gamers.
I believe it sets a dangerous precedent that give the green light for companies to money hat AAA games and lock them away from competitors.
Last gen it was a few indies who benefitted from the cash injection but if this trend continues it will be nothing but bad news for gamers.
You know what is even more insane...if this timed exclusivity lasts a year then this game could appear on PS3 at the end of 2016.
EmptySpace
Banned
such bollocks. everything else was "first on xbox" then suddenly it is "coming exclusively to xbox on holiday 2015".
Relaxed Muscle
Member
The whole deal dosn't look being an smart one.
They probably did more damage to the IP that the money they are getting can compensate. Is very telling that the only one who accepted this deal was SE.
shacklesmcgee
Member
Was there a rumor that the game was behind schedule?
DOWN
Banned
Even now, most last gen gamers aren't buying much anymore. Everything current gen sells much higher when it comes out cross gen. Presumably, consumers don't see much attention being given to last gen and are just getting ready for an eventual current gen system to get everything on.
DOWN
Banned
Guessing after E3 since they didn't say it there, but good chance they knew they were working on the deal because they strategically did not say what platforms it would be on during E3 and they showed it on stage at the Microsoft show.
RyanPierre
Member
How many X1 gamers out there think it's a good thing that Xbox is spending money on delaying games for other platforms rather than using that money to create actual content they could enjoy?
Can we stopped pretending that the wording was a lie? When have companies ever explained exclusivity on stage during announcement? I mean yea Sony did at gamescom, but most likely that's only because of the immediate backlash they had heard about this alreadu. Not saying that's bad of them, it's good business. But before then they always announced the same way. That's how it's been in every conference I can remember over the last 15 years.
LLikewise no company ever openly discloses the terms of their third and second party exclusives. No one has ever said "yea it's on our platform, but feel f re we to wait a year and get it elsewhere. That's business suicide for exclusives. Always been that way.
Back on topic, it's good of CD to be this open. Because they don't have to.both CD and MS have been more than open as far third party exclusives go. Now I just need to decide wether to get on Xone or wait for PC release. That I'm still up in the air on
LLikewise no company ever openly discloses the terms of their third and second party exclusives. No one has ever said "yea it's on our platform, but feel f re we to wait a year and get it elsewhere. That's business suicide for exclusives. Always been that way.
Back on topic, it's good of CD to be this open. Because they don't have to.both CD and MS have been more than open as far third party exclusives go. Now I just need to decide wether to get on Xone or wait for PC release. That I'm still up in the air on
TheOctodad
Member
Cool, give me some time to play and beat Uncharted 4. Then I can play TR.
I don't even know where to start with this.
I don't even know where to start with this.
No I mean that they will get it sooner than other gamers on other platforms. Playing first is a big thing in the industry, look how much people clamor for alphas and betas.
I've been gaming sinse the 8bit days. Money hatting isn't new and it won't stop. You'll quit gaming before it ever stops.
Handy Fake
Member
RyanPierre
Member
But how is that good for X1 gamers - other than Schadenfreude I guess?