People seem to forget why we use sales on SW.

[QUOTE="PS3Gamer_1"][QUOTE="speedsix"]

Do you really think sales don't benefit gamers?? I honestlystruggle to understand how people can't make the connection between financial success and the games they're playing.

You wouldn't be playing half the games you do if the sales were poor. What do you think paid for all those exclusives MS snagged?

Hexagon_777

I would agree that sales plays a part in software development, but with this gen it hasn't been the case.  If it were then developers would totally abandon developing for both the 360 and ps3 and just concetrate on the Wii, since it is a beast in sales, and cheaper to develop and publish for one console.  They would make a killing in sales and such.

Also, the reason MS snagged all those exclusives was because it wanted to make sure the 360 had a chance at succeeding this gen, not its sales.  It jumpstarted this gen, so of course many 3P developers jumped ship and joined MS, this is sound business strategy.  Also MS was paying for 3P exclusives before they were sellign consoles to insure its success this time around.  Remember all consoles sell at a loss over several years before they recoup money and begion to make a profit .  The original Xbox was a superior machine, but it's new entrant status, coupled by the fact that most 3rd parties remained exlusive to ps2 killed the xbox in the sales department.  MS never made a profit on the original XBOX but yet continued to enter this gen, and software developers conitnued to support MS.  It also helped that  the ps2 was a beast that gen, and developers were able to make a profit with only develpoing for one platform. 

This gen has 2 entrants in the next gen console wars, I don't include Wii because it really isn't next gen, and it really isn't in a heated war as are ps3 and ms.  Production and development costs for games are much more expensive, and in order to recoup money most 3rd parties will go across all platforms.   MS had a year headstart, so many 3rd party exclusive to ps2 jumped immediately to 360 this gen, since it was first system out.  Start making money in the new gen is sound business strategy. 

The fact that ms has not been able to totally blow away not only the ps3 (only 7 million ahead in sales) and the Wii with a year headstart speaks volumes of this gen.  3rd party developers take note and know that they will not limit their games to one console unless well compensated.  Unless MS performs like the ps2, or even the ps3 or wii performs like the ps2, the future gen consoles will all have multiplats, and will depend heavier on their 1p and 2p to distinguish themselves (remember Halo kept MS afloat). 

I don't see any of the big 3 disappearing any time soon. I really don't see MS or Sony going the route of the dreamcast.  Nintendo, hmmm, they have been around for a while and will be for a long time.  Hell even Apple wants to get in on the action.  Highly doubtful, but you never know.  

Why did you have to ruin this otherwise great post? :|

How did I ruin...What?