When exclusive games aren't exclusive anymore

[Anayo]

I've noticed in gaming circles some people don't like it when a great game is released as an exclusive, then gets released on something else and loses that special status.

When the Playstation 2 version of NiGHTS into Dreams came out, there was some controversy here on Racketboy. Some people felt like the "specialness" of the Sega Saturn version was dilluted by the Playstation 2 version.

I've seen some youtube stars who got famous talking about video games make similar insinuations about the Playstation 2 version of Resident Evil 4. Some people were pissed that didn't stay a Gamecube exclusive.

Do you like it when games are available for more platforms for more players, or do you prefer them to stay exclusive?

[ElkinFencer10]

I don't mind it when there's a generation difference, though I'd be lying if I said wouldn't prefer it stay on the same company's hardware if possible (have Resident Evil 4 only on GCB and Wii and the HD remaster only on Wii U and/or Switch, for example). It definitely does piss me off when a game loses its exclusivity in that same generation unless it was stated to be a timed exclusive from the beginning (Rise of the Tomb Raider, for example).

For instance, that's why I've somewhat got my nose out of joint about Lego City Undercover and ZombiU.

[Xeogred]

Elk's got a good point when it comes to generation jumps. I'm all for upgraded versions and ports then.

Otherwise in the midst of a generation, I prefer exclusives. There's a reason I don't have an Xbox One and am not sure I will ever even get on by this point, nothing MS puts out over there is catching my interest thesedays.

I think developers being able to focus entirely on only one platform can cut tons of costs and time, allowing them to completely tax out that single platform. Whether you like the games or not, a lot of the PS3 exclusives still hold up really well to this day in a lot of technical areas, MGS4, or Killzone, Uncharted, etc. A lot of that stuff probably wouldn't have been possible if they were multi platform.

I think it encourages healthy competition, makes their respective platforms unique, etc. I grew up in the middle of the Nintendo and Sega wars and have always preferred that kind of battlefield.

[noiseredux]

exclusives are stupid. I like the concept of more games available to everyone.

[BoneSnapDeez]

exclusives are stupid. I like the concept of more games available to everyone.

This is how I feel these days. I do like retro exclusives, as those "defining games" just have so much character. I like how Adventure is an Atari game, Panzer Dragoon Saga is a Saturn game, Neutopia is PC Engine game, etc.

But those games come from an era where hardware was extremely diverse. Today we have two consoles that are essentially just PCs. The idea of exclusivity seems silly.

To go beyond, I don't think we even necessarily need consoles anymore. Standardized hardware and software is so much more appealing. I think something like the Nuon was on the right track, it just wasn't implemented well.

[Anayo]

exclusives are stupid. I like the concept of more games available to everyone.

This is how I feel these days. I do like retro exclusives, as those "defining games" just have so much character. I like how Adventure is an Atari game, Panzer Dragoon Saga is a Saturn game, Neutopia is PC Engine game, etc.

But those games come from an era where hardware was extremely diverse. Today we have two consoles that are essentially just PCs. The idea of exclusivity seems silly.

To go beyond, I don't think we even necessarily need consoles anymore. Standardized hardware and software is so much more appealing. I think something like the Nuon was on the right track, it just wasn't implemented well.

I kinda agree. During and before the Saturn - Playstation - N64 times game consoles were very diverse. For example you could show me two TV's side by side and I could identify which version of a game was being shown just from how it looked and sounded. It began to homogenize with the Playstation 2 - Gamecube - X-Box era. The only exclusives that don't piss me off today are Nintendo ones, even if they stand out mostly through gimmicks. Might explain why I have a Wii U and no PS4 or XB1.

[Exhuminator]

Exclusives should probably just be a thing of the past, from a gamer's perspective. But let me tell you, I'm salty over all the Vita games that used to be exclusive which were ported later on. If you just want to have the most ubiquitous platform, have yourself a nice gaming PC.

[fastbilly1]

This use to get me riled up, but honestly I dont care anymore. I like games and I like sharing those games with others.

[TSTR]

Yeah, it doesn't really bother me so much anymore. Exclusivity is just a marketing tactic these days. The only time I can see it being an issue is when a game is an exclusive, then gets ported/re-released on a different platform in the same hardware cycle with more/better stuff fixed/added. That seems to just punish consumers for not having multiple systems.

This seems to be more of a console problem, though. As others have mentioned, PC can solve this to a degree.

[marlowe221]

exclusives are stupid. I like the concept of more games available to everyone.

This is how I feel these days. I do like retro exclusives, as those "defining games" just have so much character. I like how Adventure is an Atari game, Panzer Dragoon Saga is a Saturn game, Neutopia is PC Engine game, etc.

But those games come from an era where hardware was extremely diverse. Today we have two consoles that are essentially just PCs. The idea of exclusivity seems silly.

To go beyond, I don't think we even necessarily need consoles anymore. Standardized hardware and software is so much more appealing. I think something like the Nuon was on the right track, it just wasn't implemented well.

Bone has pretty much summed up my opinion on the subject of exclusivity.

I liked in the days when hardware was more diverse (80s/90s/00s).

But now it's just annoying. Everything that isn't portable is X86 these days. Everything portable is (more or less) ARM. Just let me play the game on whatever is convenient for me, and the next guy/gal can play on whatever hardware is convenient for him/her.