Publishers Getting the Crap Kicked Out of Them by Microsoft Claims Sony

From 1up

Sony has responded to a recent report revealing the lengths Microsoft goes to in ensuring its platform gets first dibs or at least has the same amount of content as competing platforms, and it wasn't too kind in doing so.

Last week, European Xbox boss Chris Lewis spoke with Eurogamer about a number of policies Microsoft has regarding third-party content. Microsoft's Content Submission and Release Policy, which Eurogamer got its hands on, requires a number of things, such as a demand that publishers release multiplatform games on Xbox 360 at the same time as on other platforms. The 360 version must also have at least as much content on the disc as on other platforms. And if they don't comply?

"If these conditions are not met, Microsoft reserves the right to not allow the content to be released on Xbox 360," the document notes.

The same goes for Xbox Live Arcade games; demos meanwhile "must ship within the same week of its launch on other video game platforms or via magazines."

Lewis wouldn't address specifics, but did say, "We're a little biased, so obviously we're going to look to protect our own space as best we can and get exclusivity," he said.

"As you can also imagine, our partners have to be mindful of the relationship they have with all platform holders, and they need to be equitable," he explained. "But there are contractual situations where we get agreement with different people to do different things, and through what we have available on Xbox Live, we are able to offer things other people can't offer, that allows that exclusivity and unique elements to it that might not otherwise be available elsewhere."

While it's not unheard of for the tables to be turned -- the finished Xbox 360 version of Grand theft Auto IV is known to have been held up by theunfinished PlayStation 3 version due to contractual obligations -- you don't typically run into issues with games first published on Xbox Live Arcade later coming to the PlayStation Network. On the other hand, PSN games later coming to XBLA isn't exactly something you see every day.

Speaking with Eurogamer, an anonymous publisher's representative said of Microsoft's policies: "Microsoft is suggesting that anything but parity will result in them not carrying a title. They may think this is competitive, but it's not. They are killing any creative exposure of titles to make up for their own platform's shortcomings."

Sony Computer Entertainment America's senior VP of publisher relations, Rob Dyer, has now addressed the report, going so far as to tell IndustryGamers "publishers are getting the living crap kicked out of them by Microsoft."

"I think what Chris and the other representatives at Microsoft are doing is protecting an inferior technology," he said. "I think they want to dumb it down and keep it as pedestrian as possible so that if you want to do anything for Blu-ray or you have extra content above 9 gigs or you want to do anything of that nature, you'd better sure as heck remember that Microsoft can't handle that."

Hit the link for the rest of the article. Trust me, it only gets better.

http://www.1up.com/news/publishers-getting-living-crap-kicked-microsoft-sony

_______________________

So is this just Sony trying to justify why multiplats are, in general, so much worse on the PS3, or is Microsoft just jelly of Sony's tech? What say you, System Warriors?

Well said Sony..maybe will push Ms to bring some new games to market instead of the usual 3 lol

Multiplats been very bad on the 360 lately it seems

Well, Sony is a lot more open to new ideas than Microsoft and arguably more forgiving.

I said this before, on the thread when this was first announced. MS being kids "If we can't have the same thing we want don't any of it!" or "If we give you money can we get an advantage over PS3 but still have it on PS3". Pick one... We all know which one to take. MS being anti-competitive forcing publishers into deals.

Well said Sony..maybe will push Ms to bring some new games to market instead of the usual 3 lol

Multiplats been very bad on the 360 lately it seems

finalstar2007

I said this before, on the thread when this was first announced. MS being kids "If we can't have the same thing we want don't any of it!" or "If we give you money can we get an advantage over PS3 but still have it on PS3". Pick one... We all know which one to take. MS being anti-competitive forcing publishers into deals.

JohnF111

Agreed. They even said that if something is on another platform, then they won't get "second rate exclusives" meaning they won't bother bringing it over to their platform. That's why Sony is slowly taking exclusives from Microsoft, acting high and mighty won't get you anywhere.

I would like to hear what Sony does to protect their third party exclusive studios (aside from buying them all and killing the chance of them releasing to a bigger audience).

To be honest though I don't think this is Sony's justification on why 360 multiplats are considered to be better. I doubt the real world knows or cares about the small difference between multiplats, regardless of whichever system they perform better on.

This just sounds like a personal poke at Microsoft and trying to give them some bad publicity. I wonder how/if Microsoft will respond.

Didn't we already have a thread on this a while back?soulitane

Wow! Those are insanely horrible rules. I wish MS would let developers let their multiplats take advantage of both of the HD consoles hardware capabilities instead of destroying a game's potential of being better on the PS3.

[QUOTE="soulitane"]Didn't we already have a thread on this a while back?DarkLink77

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"][QUOTE="soulitane"]Didn't we already have a thread on this a while back?soulitane

Yeah similar was called "Microsoft's Bad publishing Policy".

"Think about it, you made a nice game and Sony and MS want it, Sony offers a big cheque to have it early but accepting this means MS won't have it at all, that's huge amounts of sales lost, so the best course is to either accept a big cheque from MS to get it early and have it on both services, or simply have it on both with no big cheque... kinda pathetic when you see it like that." - From that thread by me.

welcome to business tactics,if you can't handle the heat just don't bother trying n quit complaining.

I say put some gloves on these guys and get them in a ring, I want more entertainment. :Plbjkurono23

So is this just Sony trying to justify why multiplats are, in general, so much worse on the PS3, or is Microsoft just jelly of Sony's tech? What say you, System Warriors?

DarkLink77

[QUOTE="soulitane"][QUOTE="DarkLink77"] Did we? I didn't see it. It just went up on 1up an hour ago.JohnF111

Yeah similar was called "Microsoft's Bad publishing Policy".

"Think about it, you made a nice game and Sony and MS want it, Sony offers a big cheque to have it early but accepting this means MS won't have it at all, that's huge amounts of sales lost, so the best course is to either accept a big cheque from MS to get it early and have it on both services, or simply have it on both with no big cheque... kinda pathetic when you see it like that." - From that thread by me.

There isn't enough popcorn in the world...

Especially after I make this comparison: it's (somewhat ironically) like the difference between Apple/Mac and MS/Windows/PC. Xbox may be more locked down, but like, say, Apple's handling of the App Store that's not necessarily a bad thing -- at the risk of stepping on a toe or two, you force third parties to meet certain minimum standards like quick updates and standard XBL feature integration. Sony may give devs/pubs more flexibility, but that also means more flexibility to release a sub-par product.

[QUOTE="JohnF111"]

[QUOTE="soulitane"] Must of just been something similar then :PDarkLink77

Yeah similar was called "Microsoft's Bad publishing Policy".

"Think about it, you made a nice game and Sony and MS want it, Sony offers a big cheque to have it early but accepting this means MS won't have it at all, that's huge amounts of sales lost, so the best course is to either accept a big cheque from MS to get it early and have it on both services, or simply have it on both with no big cheque... kinda pathetic when you see it like that." - From that thread by me.

Oh and to answer your question, it's just MS taking the cheapest way out to compensate for their weak storage medium.

There isn't enough popcorn in the world...

Especially after I make this comparison: it's (somewhat ironically) like the difference between Apple and PC. Xbox may be more locked down, but like, say, iOS's handling of the App Store that's not necessarily a bad thing -- at the risk of stepping on a toe or two, you force third parties to meet certain minimum standards like quick updates and standard XBL feature integration. Sony may give devs/pubs more flexibility, but that also means more flexibility to release a sub-par product.

PBSnipes

So is this just Sony trying to justify why multiplats are, in general, so much worse on the PS3, or is Microsoft just jelly of Sony's tech? What say you, System Warriors?

DarkLink77

With regards to having same or more content on-disc than competing platforms:

Having more content doesn't make a game suck any less. :|
*Stares PS2 version of Resident Evil 4*

With regards to simultaneous/earlier-than-PS3 releases or never:

Sounds horrible, but when the PS3 is known to be a pain in the ass to work with, I doubt the PS3 version of a multiplat will be finished earlier than the 360 version. Deciding to release the PS3 version the same day the 360 version is finished is the publisher's call, not Microsoft's.

Everything else: Lemme finish reading the article, damnit! :x

[QUOTE="lbjkurono23"]I say put some gloves on these guys and get them in a ring, I want more entertainment. :PDarkLink77

I clicked. Nothing happened.

[QUOTE="lbjkurono23"]I say put some gloves on these guys and get them in a ring, I want more entertainment. :PDarkLink77

I don't think it's Microsoft being "jealous of Sony's tech", but rather Microsfot doing everything they can to diminish the effects of a competitor's platform possessing so many extra functions and abilities. Shame because I enjoy the Xbox but Microsoft's image as of late has been degrading in my eyes. This is all just the reason I'm a Nintendo fanboy at heart.

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"][QUOTE="lbjkurono23"]I say put some gloves on these guys and get them in a ring, I want more entertainment. :Plbjkurono23

I don't think it's Microsoft being "jealous of Sony's tech", but rather Microsfot doing everything they can to diminish the effects of a competitor's platform possessing so many extra functions and abilities. Shame because I enjoy the Xbox but Microsoft's image as of late has been degrading in my eyes. This is all just the reason I'm a Nintendo fanboy at heart.

Darth-Samus

This type of thing seems anti-competitive. Publishers obviously can't afford to drop the 360 so they have to comply with these restrictions. I'll have to start buying more PS3 games.nutcrackr

[QUOTE="nutcrackr"]This type of thing seems anti-competitive. Publishers obviously can't afford to drop the 360 so they have to comply with these restrictions. I'll have to start buying more PS3 games.DarkLink77

[QUOTE="nutcrackr"]This type of thing seems anti-competitive. Publishers obviously can't afford to drop the 360 so they have to comply with these restrictions. I'll have to start buying more PS3 games.DarkLink77

I'm wondering how strongly these policies are enforced.

Also, was the Dead Space: Extraction on the DS 2 disc or was it a download (the policy as I read it specifies the game has to have as much content on disc, so downloadable content could be exempt from the policy)?

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"][QUOTE="nutcrackr"]This type of thing seems anti-competitive. Publishers obviously can't afford to drop the 360 so they have to comply with these restrictions. I'll have to start buying more PS3 games.soulitane

[QUOTE="nutcrackr"]This type of thing seems anti-competitive. Publishers obviously can't afford to drop the 360 so they have to comply with these restrictions. I'll have to start buying more PS3 games.DarkLink77

If Sony had made the PS3 more developer-friendly, then it would rule the third party front. Like Carmack said, devs prefer the 360 in development because Microsoft gives them better tools, and sometimes even liscenes to their products (Microsoft being a software company has tons of great products that aid developers) that make their jobs easier. On the other hand, Microsoft has lots of rules and limitations while Sony is a lot more open in terms of ideas. 2 years ago, I would have said Microsoft handles publishers better, but right now Sony takes the cake because Microsoft's limitations lost them Steam integration, Heavy Rain, and some free content in games.

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"][QUOTE="nutcrackr"]This type of thing seems anti-competitive. Publishers obviously can't afford to drop the 360 so they have to comply with these restrictions. I'll have to start buying more PS3 games.catfishmoon23

I'm wondering how strongly these policies are enforced.

Also, was the Dead Space: Extraction on the DS 2 disc or was it a download (the policy as I read it specifies the game has to have as much content on disc, so downloadable content could be exempt from the policy)?

If Sony had made the PS3 more developer-friendly, then it would rule the third party front. Like Carmack said, devs prefer the 360 in development because Microsoft gives them better tools, and sometimes even liscenes to their products (Microsoft being a software company has tons of great products that aid developers) that make their jobs easier. On the other hand, Microsoft has lots of rules and limitations while Sony is a lot more open in terms of ideas. 2 years ago, I would have said Microsoft handles publishers better, but right now Sony takes the cake because Microsoft's limitations lost them Steam integration, Heavy Rain, and some free content in games.

XVision84

I don't think it's Microsoft being "jealous of Sony's tech", but rather Microsfot doing everything they can to diminish the effects of a competitor's platform possessing so many extra functions and abilities. Shame because I enjoy the Xbox but Microsoft's image as of late has been degrading in my eyes. This is all just the reason I'm a Nintendo fanboy at heart.

Darth-Samus

How many extra functions and abilities does the PS3 really have? Blu Ray has all-but-no effect on quality in 99% of the games out there (quick, name a PS3 exclusive that isn't GT5 and its comically padded car list that would be categorically worse on the 360 due to DVD constraints), and other than that the PS3's only real functional advantage is letting Valve bring some Steam features on board.

MS's ristrictions might not be the bestest thing in the world for letting devs make the absolute best games possible (if only because they have to do something like ME2 and break their game into two discs), but it's not like removing that barrier would result in this mass outpouring of creativity and innovation and rainbows and unicorns and world peace.

[QUOTE="lbjkurono23"]

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"] They could play this song in the background! It fits almost perfectly! :o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZUnVp-CWbU (Warning: Naughty Language and Such. Click at your own risk!)DarkLink77

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"]

[QUOTE="lbjkurono23"] Fitting, we really need to make this happen. We'd have to be careful about the judges, we don't want the results to be tainted. :P

lbjkurono23

[QUOTE="lbjkurono23"]

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"] Yes indeed! We'll need some impartial posters. But where on System Wars are we going to find that? :P

DarkLink77

[QUOTE="lbjkurono23"]

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"] Yes indeed! We'll need some impartial posters. But where on System Wars are we going to find that? :P

DarkLink77

Of course developers can easily change it at will. Wish they would.

[QUOTE="XVision84"]

If Sony had made the PS3 more developer-friendly, then it would rule the third party front. Like Carmack said, devs prefer the 360 in development because Microsoft gives them better tools, and sometimes even liscenes to their products (Microsoft being a software company has tons of great products that aid developers) that make their jobs easier. On the other hand, Microsoft has lots of rules and limitations while Sony is a lot more open in terms of ideas. 2 years ago, I would have said Microsoft handles publishers better, but right now Sony takes the cake because Microsoft's limitations lost them Steam integration, Heavy Rain, and some free content in games.

DarkLink77

It's disheartening seeing publishers charge more and more for DLC, the amount of publishers giving away free (and worthwhile) DLC is quickly dwindling. Valve seems to be the only one doing this these days, I really miss the days of free DLC (that Unreal Tournament 3 DLC that included an insane amount of content for free was what drove me to get the game in the first place). This is why I support Valve, they don't just release Portal 2 (a 12 hour long game) and leave it at that. They actually give out free content so the game has a long lifespan. That's something they could've done with short games like Heavy Rain, but chose not to.

Sony Computer Entertainment America's senior VP of publisher relations, Rob Dyer, has now addressed the report, going so far as to tell IndustryGamers "publishers are getting the living crap licked out of them by Microsoft."

DarkLink77

I once saw a German movie that did something similar ... shudders

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"]

Sony Computer Entertainment America's senior VP of publisher relations, Rob Dyer, has now addressed the report, going so far as to tell IndustryGamers "publishers are getting the living crap licked out of them by Microsoft."

N3xus9

I once saw a German movie that did something similar ... shudders

I like how people are like yeah you tell em SONY, when Sony would do the same **** Hey Sony arent your consoles made by Foxconn were people have been jumping off of buildings? yup i think so.

I like how people are like yeah you tell em SONY, when Sony would do the same **** Hey Sony arent your consoles made by Foxconn were people have been jumping off of buildings? yup i think so.

AkimboBFGNinja

Oh wow, I never knew that :shock: link for those who haven't read about it already. That's some crazy stuff right there.

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"][QUOTE="XVision84"]

If Sony had made the PS3 more developer-friendly, then it would rule the third party front. Like Carmack said, devs prefer the 360 in development because Microsoft gives them better tools, and sometimes even liscenes to their products (Microsoft being a software company has tons of great products that aid developers) that make their jobs easier. On the other hand, Microsoft has lots of rules and limitations while Sony is a lot more open in terms of ideas. 2 years ago, I would have said Microsoft handles publishers better, but right now Sony takes the cake because Microsoft's limitations lost them Steam integration, Heavy Rain, and some free content in games.

XVision84

It's disheartening seeing publishers charge more and more for DLC, the amount of publishers giving away free (and worthwhile) DLC is quickly dwindling. Valve seems to be the only one doing this these days, I really miss the days of free DLC (that Unreal Tournament 3 DLC that included an insane amount of content for free was what drove me to get the game in the first place). This is why I support Valve, they don't just release Portal 2 (a 12 hour long game) and leave it at that. They actually give out free content so the game has a long lifespan. That's something they could've done with short games like Heavy Rain, but chose not to.

[QUOTE="XVision84"]

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"] I'd agree. Remember how the original Gears had free DLC? Good times.DarkLink77

It's disheartening seeing publishers charge more and more for DLC, the amount of publishers giving away free (and worthwhile) DLC is quickly dwindling. Valve seems to be the only one doing this these days, I really miss the days of free DLC (that Unreal Tournament 3 DLC that included an insane amount of content for free was what drove me to get the game in the first place). This is why I support Valve, they don't just release Portal 2 (a 12 hour long game) and leave it at that. They actually give out free content so the game has a long lifespan. That's something they could've done with short games like Heavy Rain, but chose not to.

I agree, though there are those rare occasions this gen, like The Ballad of Gay Tony and The Lost and The Damned Expansion packs were well worth what I payed for, heck, even Old World Blues was well worth my 10 bucks :shock: :P

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"][QUOTE="XVision84"]

It's disheartening seeing publishers charge more and more for DLC, the amount of publishers giving away free (and worthwhile) DLC is quickly dwindling. Valve seems to be the only one doing this these days, I really miss the days of free DLC (that Unreal Tournament 3 DLC that included an insane amount of content for free was what drove me to get the game in the first place). This is why I support Valve, they don't just release Portal 2 (a 12 hour long game) and leave it at that. They actually give out free content so the game has a long lifespan. That's something they could've done with short games like Heavy Rain, but chose not to.

FoolwithaLancer

I agree, though there are those rare occasions this gen, like The Ballad of Gay Tony and The Lost and The Damned Expansion packs were well worth what I payed for, heck, even Old World Blues was well worth my 10 bucks :shock: :P