Here's is another thread that i had originally made for the GS forums to show that it doesn't matter that the ps3 keeps losing the exclusivity of big name titles like Devil May Cry 4.
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Note: A 2nd party game is one that is developed by an independent company, but published by either Sony, Nintendo, or MS, and exclusive for their respective platform.

Another note: This post only covers 2nd party games. If you are wondering about 1st party games, remember this, Sony employs more developers than Microsoft and Nintendo comined.
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Maybe Sony's new method of getting exclusives for the ps3 is by offering to publish the games of small, yet promising, developers. Most newer dev companies have a hard time getting published, because they cannot afford to do so themselves (like Capcom and EA can), and other potential publishers are turned off from the prospect of publishing games for an unproven developer. Because of this, it would be real easy for Sony to find smaller companies in desperate need of a publisher. They could then offer to publish the game so long as it is exclusive to the ps3, making it a 2nd party game. The devs would be all about it, because they need a publisher, and being published by Sony means that they're game will definately get some publicity (remember how hyped Killzone was).

So far it does seem like Sony is going after the smaller companies (and as a result ignoring the bigger companies and losing exclusives like DMC). Look at all the smaller devs Sony is publishing games for so far: Ninja Theory (Heavenly Sword), Media Molecule (Little Big Planet), etc. Hell, you can even go back to the end of last gen, with Sony publishing Killzone for Geurilla (before they bought the studio).

Publishing games for fledgling dev companies would also help establish a bit of loyalty between the dev companies and Sony. Since Sony helped them get on their feet, they would be more apt to develop exclusives for the PlayStation brand in the future.

Also, though to a much lesser extent, these developers would be more likely to continue develpment on the ps3 because the majority of their experience would be with the ps3's unique architecture. They'd be more likely to stick with what they know.

Of course, it would take far less money to get a smaller company to make an exclusive game than swaying one of the big guns like Capcom to stay exclusive. MS has a hard enough time making a company go multiplat. For Sony to make a company as large as Capcom go exclusive, that would be a pain, and cost an assload of money.

This idea about Sony's new strategy for exclusives first came to me while reading up on Wardevil: Enigma (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=825710). This game was originally going to both the ps3 and 360, but now its a ps3 exclusive.

I was thinking, is this game now 2nd party? I was wondering why they suddenly went exclusive and decided to build an engine designed specifically for the ps3, but if Sony is now publishing the game, it makes perfect sense as to why they would now do that. According to the official Wardevil (http://www.wardevil.com/) site, "Currently, Digi-Guys is still bound by NDA's (Non Disclosure Agreements) and is unable to disclose any more information concerning our Publisher and/or Publishing plans for Wardevil. Formal announcements will be made in early 2007." Maybe Sony is now the publisher?

Also, the NDA thing fits right in line with what is happening with all the Sony 1st party exclusives (like KZ2). Sony seems real intent on keeping all info on its exclusives quiet until they are far into development.

I believe that this is exactly what the plan is for the future of game development. Kutargi has made it clear that they are not going to focus on keeping third-party titles exclusive. It would be a waste of capital. Therefore, we can assume that they're devoting the bulk of their assets to the primary and secondary channels.

As you explain, the future will be identifying small developers with talent and providing them the means to make some great games, thus building a mutually beneficial and, hopefully, loyal long-term relationship.

Great post.

i think so..... im getting very very excited for mass effect on the 360 which falls into this category.

the one thing i really dont like is most people dont count these types of games in the "exclusives" list for the various consoles. And im talking about last weeks 1up yours show (the first party discussion) for those that heard it.

1st and 2nd party exclusives is what Sony is focused on. They currently have more developers working on their titles (2,200 people spread amongst 14 different studios) than Microsoft and Nintendo combined, putting them third overall behind EA and Ubisoft.

Excellent post,

As far as game quality goes, Sony money would make a much bigger difference financing smaller companies and investing in the games rather than bribing bigger companies to keep the games exclusive.

I don't care if Xbox360 owners can play games I can, I'm 31 years old, I don't spend my time bragging about how my console is better than the next one. If I had more time to devote to gaming I would have a 360. What worries me, is I don't think a non-exclusive game can push the hardware limits as far as an exclusive can. That's what it's about for me, not just graphics but playing a game and having that feeling that this is amazing.

Yeah. Multiplatform games will never make the PS3 shine like it could. I am primarily interested in PS3 exclusives because they will be built from the ground up for the PS3. I did not buy a PS3 to play a ****** port that amounted to taking an engine and code written for more traditional architectures and then "made to run" on the PS3's unique architecture.

So I look forward to the groundbreaking exclusives on the PS3 like Little Big Home, MGS4, and Drake's Fortune to name a few.

Fear is a perfect exapmle of a crappy port. This game was built for the PC in 2005! So now we have the PS3 running a two year old game that was buit for single core PC's. What a joke.