The biggest trick manufacturers ever pulled

Imagine a world where Spider-Man movies could only be watched in select Sony theatres, where Games of Thrones would only air through HBO television sets, or where bored housewives could only read Fifty Shades of Grey on Vintage Books trademarked paper™. Restricting creative content (the software) based on its carrier (the hardware) is the most ludicrous idea in any industry… that is, with the exception of video games.

It’s a good idea from a business point of view. What better way to incite customers than saying “Hey, you want this awesome game? Come and play it on my console and no one else’s.” It’s the kind of low-input, high-output scheme that gives shareholders wet dreams. And shareholders, corporate bigwigs and CEOs should be the only people to be aroused by something like this.

Right now, for the privilege of being able to pay for most of the best games this console cycle, I need to fork out at least $2,000 on separate devices. How is that good for me, the consumer? What other emotion should I feel in this situation other than impotent rage? Well, according to the internet I should be fucking ecstatic that even though I don’t get to play Quantum Break, at least those “Xboners” won’t get to play Uncharted 4. Try as I might, that does not give me much joy. I would very gladly share Uncharted or the Last of Us with Xbox owners if they give me Halo.

Exclusive games are still the most important factor when choosing a console for the majority of people. I get that. You don’t want to miss out on the great content. But the thing us, unless you have enough disposable cash to buy a used car (or a PS4 in Brazil) you are going to miss out, no matter what you choose.

From a gamer’s point of view there is no reason whatsoever to be excited about console exclusivity. The fanboyism it has created translates to “The multinational mega-corporation I’m giving all my money to is better than your multinational mega-corporation!” and sound exactly as ridiculous. I don’t know if its brilliant PR, or that humans inherently want to belong to one group and hate another, but I don’t believe that console exclusivity should be anything to be happy about as a gamer.

I see console exclusivity as the laziest way possible to keep people interested in your product. After all, why bother putting effort and money into improving a console if you can just pay developers to make games accessible only to your hardware. Hell, if you open them up the Xbox One and Playstation 4 are essentially the same. People don’t buy consoles anymore because of their comfortableness, ease of use, durability, customer service, etc. They just buy based on which of the companies managed to lock down more content exclusively to their platform.

By using their money, influence and corporate bullshit, manufacturers are rigging the system, creating an arbitrary monopoly on games for their systems only. It’s such a blatant abuse of the free market principle, Adam Smith came back from the dead to hang himself. And we cheer them on, because damn those Xboners, they’ll never get our The Last of Us!

I guess what I’m trying to say: buy your exclusives used, kids… don’t encourage this unhealthy practice.

Look its obvious Exclusivity is Toxic to the industry but manufactures are suppose to pull these cheap tricks to further their agenda... Its just good business. with that said, The more complicated issue is how are we going to fix it ? I say were turn towards the source of the problem.... The Fanboys, if you can get fanboys to stop being fanboys, then they can buy their games much more consiously, it won't get rid of exclusivity but it will get rid of buying exclusive games just for exclusivity's sake, Manufactures will simply counter this problem by increasing the quality of their exclusives slightly higher than their multiplatform competitors.

So the real question is.... Whats the next step ? I have no idea.... But so long as the theres Companies that make both hardware and software... This will be an issue.... I'm surprized this hasn't happened on PCs yet.... Imagine if Intel and AMD started making software, it won't be long before we start to see Exclusive Operating Systems on PC. Pretty much like Apple has done for their system.

I think I have a Solution ! ! !

Everything should come to the PC ! Now now here me out, If Sony and Nintendo can create their own Client or even OS for the PC then that would bring us one step closer,

the PC is the key ! :)

+1

@Lulu_Lulu: Oh, the solution is simple! Petition Congress to bring a bill that outlaws exclusive content on video game consoles, because they are a monopoly. If nothing else we'll get a good laugh at Congressmen trying to pronounce "Wii U".

Historically when big business put up bullshit obstacles between consumers and content, you could rely on the consumers to become creative and eliminate the annoying middleman. In the dark ages of the 1970s and 1980s music producers' favorite way of making money was putting one good track on a cassette / CD and then filling the rest with lazy fillers. The consumer had no choice, but to pay for the entire CD just to be able to listen to that one track he liked. Consumers responded to this practice by a hearty "**** you" and opted for digital piracy. The market responded to this new trend and birthed iTunes, one of the most successful businesses right now.

Same goes for the movie / TV industry. Consumers wanted more control in acquiring content and now Netflix is putting Blockbuster out of business.

So, who knows? Maybe this trend will be killed by one of those Xbox One / PS4 emulators on PC people talked about back in 2013 (which is essentially your idea of all of gamingkind gathering under the banner of the "glorious PC master race"). Or maybe the technology behind Cloud Gaming will evolve to the point of the consumer benefiting from it, rather than Sony. Maybe one day we'll have gamer pirate ships travel the seven seas with massive PS4 and Xbox One server farms streaming console content to people and we can play anytime, anywhere we want with our Onlive boxes. (sorry, I've been playing AC4 too much)

If change is to come, it will have to come from the consumers' side. Manufacturers would be stupid to do anything to upset the status quo, as it showers them in money and they have to barely do anything for it.

On the other hand, maybe change will never come, because people are happy with the current situation. Certainly, if you look around the internet, or even these forums, you'll see people praising Sony for being able to secure such awesome exclusives for their system, while blaming Microsoft for not doing the same. Maybe the majority of gamers prefer the sense of superiority they feel when they plug in the Last of Us, secure in the knowledge that its only them who can play it.

I for one want to live in a world where every game is available on every platform and consoles are judged not by the color of their software, but the content of their hardware (and also world peace and pills that replace exercise).

@Fenmapus

I think If we can get Consoles to become open platforms then that will fix Everything.... I have no faith the gaming community has the stones to fix anything them selves.