LordBaztion
Member
While I agree at the larger scale for the common consumer, I will buy a PS4 for Bloodborne and Naughty Dog, the same I bought a WiiU for.
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"Exclusives don't sell consoles"
- Thread starter Opiate
- Start date
I don't think anyone really knows what sells consoles. Everyone has a crack at guessing, but nobody really knows.
The Wii U is a great example to show that exclusives don't mean a thing. The sales potential of the entire library pales into insignficance when put next to GTA or FIFA.Of course they do, why else would anyone (including me!) buy a Wii U
Please -- people wanted specific games on Wii. Wii Fit is another example, if you want to magically discount Wii Sports even though it obviously and clearly was pushing systems.
Ok, here's a little mental experiment. You ask yourself this - if the Playstation and the Wii U only had multiplat games and no exclusives and The Xbox had, ofcourse, multiplat games with 3 exclusive in-house games every year, which do you think you would logically want more?
Yes, 3rd party games certainly help a lot to get your brand going but if not for those special gems that can't be experienced else where, not many people would look your way to play those multiplat games.
Yes, exclusive matter immensely. Anyone saying multiplat games mean more either hasn't been gaming long enough or is just being illogical. Again, ask yourself the question above, as a manufacturer and as a consumer, as see.
Yes you do need a healthy dose of both but if you do not have a healthy helping of exclusives, you are pretty much dead on arrival. With healthy exclusives and not that many multiplat games you still survive, and depending on your business model, even thrive. Nintendo has shown this to be true.
Yes, 3rd party games certainly help a lot to get your brand going but if not for those special gems that can't be experienced else where, not many people would look your way to play those multiplat games.
Yes, exclusive matter immensely. Anyone saying multiplat games mean more either hasn't been gaming long enough or is just being illogical. Again, ask yourself the question above, as a manufacturer and as a consumer, as see.
Yes you do need a healthy dose of both but if you do not have a healthy helping of exclusives, you are pretty much dead on arrival. With healthy exclusives and not that many multiplat games you still survive, and depending on your business model, even thrive. Nintendo has shown this to be true.
Even if you aren't some others maybe will and like Opiate said, some games are just not made for moving consoles.
I don't have any doubts, that the next Uncharted or Halo will move a huge number of consoles. That's a no-brainer for me.
History will repeat itself, but nobody knows when.
I'm not sure what you're getting at. if the question is "what makes this console sell" the answer is "the hype around it's exclusives". pointing out that there exist exclusives that didn't help a console sell doesn't really change how important (necessary?) it is to have a hyped exclusive.
If you mean to say that the hype around the exclusive is key, well then, i completely agree.
edit:
i guess we are thinking about how an xbox one eclusive could get the proper hype? sure its conceivable, but they kinda broke their echo chamber.
A good ecosystem helps to sell software.
Good software that is in demand by consumers help drive the ecosystem penetration.
A niche game is a niche game no matter what.
A niche game may be more profitable per unit by the virtue of lower budget or higher revenue generated by the niche it serves.
Good software that is in demand by consumers help drive the ecosystem penetration.
A niche game is a niche game no matter what.
A niche game may be more profitable per unit by the virtue of lower budget or higher revenue generated by the niche it serves.
Do you agree that some people buy a PS4 for Call of Duty or Madden? Because if you do, then you do agree with me.
My point is: sometimes, people buy a system for exclusive games (you're an example of this). Sometimes, people buy a system for multiplatform games (people are who primarily want CoD or Madden or Fifa or GTA or whatever are an example of this).
In short: people buy a system for games they happen to personally want. Whether those games are exclusive or not is mostly incidental.
Well, by putting that extra cash towards upgrading your PC you're going to get those extra pixels on 3rd party games... so it's a win win! Plus it will probably be much, much more powerful than the weak little PS4 so you come out waay in front
I think the price and gimmick of the Wii was more of a factor( although you could say that the gimmick encompasses the software so I guess you could be right)
I bought a PS4 specifically because I want to play Bloodborne and Uncharted 4. Obviously pretty much everyone buys Nintendo consoles for Nintendo games. I'm sure there are some people who will get an XB1 for Halo 5. If I didn't care about exclusives I would just play on PC.
Of course I only care about those games because I played their predecessors. It would be a lot harder to argue that exclusives can make someone switch platforms.
Of course I only care about those games because I played their predecessors. It would be a lot harder to argue that exclusives can make someone switch platforms.
Agreed.
What compelling exclusives are available on either the PS4 or XBO?
Master Chief Collection had that potential, but ultimately fell short due to the continually poor word of mouth. Other than that, I struggle to name games that I would be interested in on either console. 2015 is looking solid for both the PS4 and XBO, but that is 2 years after release.
Birgitte2004
Member
I generally hear exclusives don't sell consoles as a response to people who say things like "the PS4 has no good exclusives, why do people want one?".
They don't mean it's not possible for an exclusive to sell systems, rather that systems can sell without exclusives.
The WiiU is an interesting case study in this actually. Some people dismiss PS4 and Xbox One games that are not exclusive in spite of the fact that a lot of them don't appear on the WiiU.
I completely agree. And we could say the same of multiplatform games: bad ones don't sell systems, but good ones do.
Leafhopper
Banned
You are right but, in my case I guess it's "Buy it for X but, keep it because of W Y and Z" kinda deal. Smash 4 was a prime factor of course but, I wanted Mario Kart and the games coming out in the future as well. Also I really like the console too.
I wasn't really arguing, I was just saying that people end up buying consoles because of 1 game sure but, they have to be looking ahead as well, at least I think most people would.
That's bizarre as hell.
If you choose to ignore how the market has changed since the days of GTA3 on PS2, then possibly there'd be something to this.
For example... I remember when Halo 2 absolutely set Xbox OG sales on fire(I believe it actually beat PS2 in the US at the time H2 came out), then the same happened with Halo 3 on 360... but I'd bet a testicle Halo 5 won't have anywhere close to the same effect on Xbox One, like, not even slightly. Things have changed too much this past decade or so.
No one big name exclusive is going to be enough anymore.
For example... I remember when Halo 2 absolutely set Xbox OG sales on fire(I believe it actually beat PS2 in the US at the time H2 came out), then the same happened with Halo 3 on 360... but I'd bet a testicle Halo 5 won't have anywhere close to the same effect on Xbox One, like, not even slightly. Things have changed too much this past decade or so.
No one big name exclusive is going to be enough anymore.
Ding ding ding. "Exclusives don't sell consoles" mean that console exclusives are much less common now. Third Party AAA Exclusives are almost nonexistent. Last big one was Titanfall, and it was pc and cross gen. We aren't going to see many new GTA or even Minecraft, that aren't eventually on at least 2 consoles.
Also first party exclusives aren't the system sellers they used to be, just look at the wiiu. It has MK, SB, DK, and more, and it is basically bombing. if exclusives sold consoles it would be doing much better than it currently is.
C00kie M0nster
Member
If you are a PC owner then this argument completely goes out the window though.
I have all three current consoles and the only games I get on them are exclusives and the occasional EA game (not a big fan of Origin).
Every other multiplatform game I get on the PC. Some say that's wasted money but I've gotten quite a bit out of my consoles so far. The Wii U is obviously the best in the exclusive game department. PS4 and XBO have serviceable exclusives so far (Infamous, Sunset Overdrive, etc.).
It works for me and I love it.
I have all three current consoles and the only games I get on them are exclusives and the occasional EA game (not a big fan of Origin).
Every other multiplatform game I get on the PC. Some say that's wasted money but I've gotten quite a bit out of my consoles so far. The Wii U is obviously the best in the exclusive game department. PS4 and XBO have serviceable exclusives so far (Infamous, Sunset Overdrive, etc.).
It works for me and I love it.
1st Course
Member
Exclusives are important, just not as important as fanboys make them to be.
Ray Wonder
Founder of the Wounded Tagless Children
I don't think it's that difficult to believe that without the exclusives, the Wii U would be even worse off. The people that buy it, buy it for the games they can't get anywhere else.. Without those, who buys it then?
The purpose of a console is the exclusive games first. Multiplatform games are second because they are everywhere. I didn't buy a multiplaform game on consoles a long time now. I bought a Nintendo consoles for their exclusives. I would buy a PS4 for exclusives as well. As for the multiplatform games, I would go on my PC.
Cthulhu_Steev
Member
Are you sure that wasn't your boss whispering in your ear? Plus, you're going to buy a PC for some 'extra pixels' instead?
gigantor21
Member
MK8 ended up having the biggest impact as an exclusive on any of the three platforms, IMO. It boosted sales dramatically, and elevated them for several months afterwards IIRC. Meanwhile Destiny likely had a bigger impact on PS4 sales than any of it's first party titles, as did the AC bundles and crazy sales for the Xone.
So, let's go over the problems with this line of thinking.
First, saying "exclusives sell consoles" does not mean "only exclusives sell consoles." I'm suggesting that both exclusives and also multiplatform games can sell systems. People tend to have one track minds, and seem only capable of thinking of one or the other; either exclusives sell systems, or multiplatform games sell systems.
The answer is both. If you make a good multiplatform game, it will sell systems (whatever systems it happens to be on). If you make a good exclusive game, it sells systems (whatever singular system it happens to be on). So it's entirely possible that the value of Wii U's exclusives is being outweighed by the sheer mass of PS/Xbox multiplatform games.
Second, you start with the premise that clearly Wii U exclusives are awesome, so if the Wii U isn't selling well, that must mean exclusives don't matter. Here's an alternative hypothesis: Wii U's exclusives just aren't that compelling for most people. If the Wii U did have compelling exclusives -- if, for instance, Nintendoland had become the new Wii Sports -- then the Wii U would be selling.
exclusives sell me on consoles because they usually take advantage of the hardware the most, and i see its potential. Gears of War is a really good example. The marketing was there to back it up, from tv commercials to game informer.
I dont even like racing games but DriveClub sold me on its graphics. I love DC now, but graphics initially sold me on it.
I dont even like racing games but DriveClub sold me on its graphics. I love DC now, but graphics initially sold me on it.
Speedwagon
Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel. Yabuki turned off voice chat in Mario Kart races. True artists of their time.
Will Hatsune Miku ever come to Xbox One? That'll decide if I'll get a PS4
Bitch Pudding
Member
Well, at least not all of them do. But still some of them do: MK8, Smash, Halo MCC, TLOU-R, they all had some (more or less) impact on sales. That said, some impact is curtained by seasonal effects or promotions (e.g. XBOX One temporary price cut).
And aggregated to a certain exclusive library they surely attract buyers.
small44
Member
But it mean without first party you will sell poorly,For Sony and Microsoft the only really big system seller are Gran Turismo and Halo
NumberThree
Member
The fact that there are exclusives of course by itself doesn't mean a thing. But do you really think the next FIFA being exclusive wouldn't have an effect on console sales?
justsomeguy
Member
Ooh look Microsoft employee must have an agenda! Such an original post. *sigh*
I play RPGs on my PC so want a kick-arse box for The Witcher 3, I play 'couch games' on my console. Hopefully you can understand that but if you want me to draw you a diagram, let me know.
Jep. I agree with this completely. They are limited to one platform due to being exclusive obviously, so they can never sell more units like a multiplatform game like GTA V, for example.
I personally will buy a console more based upon the expectation of a high number of quality exclusives, but am I the trend? Who knows. I bought a PS4 over an Xbone despite having a 360 last gen because Sony has a lot more First-Party output, and the only Microsoft exclusive franchise that I enjoyed (Halo) isn't as important to me anymore.
It's also why I bought a Wii U, which is probably why pretty much anybody bought a Wii U, for the exclusive Nintendo goodness.
Iwata wasn't totally wrong when he said "one game could make a platform a runaway success" (paraphrasing), it's just finding that one game to really excite people enough to buy a console for it, and thus far, none of the 3 console makers have found a "next big thing" for this generation besides sequels to the same franchises.
Clearly they are trying though. Splatoon is being pushed as a big fucking deal, but I don't think the mainstream hype is there. Bloodborne could do it for Sony maybe, but might be too niche to take off and sell consoles, and Microsoft...Nothing on the horizon looks to be a big system seller. Halo isn't what it used to be, and I don't see Quantum Break reaching a massive audience.
It's also why I bought a Wii U, which is probably why pretty much anybody bought a Wii U, for the exclusive Nintendo goodness.
Iwata wasn't totally wrong when he said "one game could make a platform a runaway success" (paraphrasing), it's just finding that one game to really excite people enough to buy a console for it, and thus far, none of the 3 console makers have found a "next big thing" for this generation besides sequels to the same franchises.
Clearly they are trying though. Splatoon is being pushed as a big fucking deal, but I don't think the mainstream hype is there. Bloodborne could do it for Sony maybe, but might be too niche to take off and sell consoles, and Microsoft...Nothing on the horizon looks to be a big system seller. Halo isn't what it used to be, and I don't see Quantum Break reaching a massive audience.
Leafhopper
Banned
For a first console of a generation sure.
Should be about the opposite for your second console though (or if you primary game on pc).
won't pick up a xb1/ps4 unless there are at least half a dozen games that I MUST play.
might take 4 years
Same, I have a PC and a WiiU and I don't see me getting a PS4 or XB1 in the near future. Might take a few years if I do.
they buy it for nintendo games, not for specific exclusives, just like people that xbox buy it for halo. those people are in the minority now. before they were the target market for consoles. now the guy that buys cod, madden, and ac are the majority. those people buy the console that has those and that their friends have. thats the whole point of exclusives don't sell consoles argument. the market has changed, the majority buy consoles for multiplats.
Palette Swap
Member
Yeah, I think it's a misunderstood causality relationship:
I absolutely believe you don't need exclusives to sell consoles, i.e. there isn't a single path to success.
On the other hand, exclusives can also help sell consoles. I'd even say the right game can sell a console, regardless of its exclusivity.
I absolutely believe you don't need exclusives to sell consoles, i.e. there isn't a single path to success.
On the other hand, exclusives can also help sell consoles. I'd even say the right game can sell a console, regardless of its exclusivity.
Right, this is what I think people are seeing.
It's not that exclusives couldn't sell consoles. They could. If a GTAIII type game -- a game which comes out of basically nowhere and blows people away -- were to be released as an exclusive for PS4, that would significantly alter the state of the industry. It's just that the ones we have now aren't it.
And as you note, there simply are far fewer console exclusives these days, so the odds of a GTAIII coming out of nowhere again are just much lower. Not because GTAIII (or Wii Fit or Nintendogs) could not happen again, just that you have much lower odds when there are so few exclusives to begin with.
Angry Fork
Member
I'd consider getting a Nintendo console if a Mario 64 direct sequel (with similar/expanded open world gameplay) or SM64 remake was made. No linear galaxy shit. Nothing could get me to buy an xbone though.
I want a PS4 but there hasn't been enough exclusives yet for me to justify it right now.
I want a PS4 but there hasn't been enough exclusives yet for me to justify it right now.
perfectsil
Member
If exclusives sell consoles, shouldn't they be the best selling games? But they are not, the best selling games on each console are the call of dutys, maddens, fifas, GTAs
Cthulhu_Steev
Member
Okay. I'll take the diagram, please.