The Gamer's Perspective Podcast: Do you want Exclusives?!

[@severinevans346]

Hey Doc, your Coder/Programmer friend here. Porting games is very simple. I can break it down to 6 simple steps for you and explain them a bit and what is going on during that process. Understand the target platform's hardware and software landscape. Meaning OS like Windows/Linux etc... APIs or application programming interface which is just a toolset or a ruleset that allows developers to use multiple software applications and allow them to communicate with each other. As far as hardware goes that is as we all know the power of your system to be ported to or whatever examples being PS5 and Xbox Series X Nintendo Switch Steam Deck. Choose the right tools. In other words, the engine you are going to use. The features you will implement such as ray tracing and things like that. Plan for UI and control adjustments. In other words, the menus and user interface and settings things like that. Adapt and optimize the code. Basically, it's taking already existing code from a game and just translating it into another platform's protocols. Windows/Linux or whatever custom OS they are using. Test and ensure quality assurance. It's just playtesting and bugfixes that are done when before the game gets released and all games do this anyway. Some do it with open betas and things like that. Provide post-launch support. Patches and balancing things like that. Fixing anything the test and QA may have missed again all games do this already so it's nothing major and easy enough to do. There you go how to port games in six simple steps.

[@jiggerypokery2962]

Gamers choose a console based on exclusives. It's a scientific fact. Even though it's 5%-10% of the majority of gamer's play time which would you rather have $1000 or $1100? This allows games to be system sellers. This is where studios can take more risk to make a better game than they would have being multiplat. This is why exclusives are the majority of GotY nominations this past 5 years (16/30) while comprising a miniscule percentage of the games that come out every year. Can Insomniac make a multiplat at launch that's great? Yes, but they aren't getting $325 million so features, optimization, quest, etc will be missing so we would get a worse game to lower risk.

[@DOC_DARK1985]

Bro I here you.... But I need a developer to tell me

[@jiggerypokery2962]

@@DOC_DARK1985 I didn't say exclusives are more optimized which is the question you need a developer for. I did a different point that a developer wouldn't know any more than we'd know.

[@cashfortune2286]

I think not having exclusives could potentially kill the brand

[@Ea_Zy10181]

How?

[@Ex-Zone1]

@@Ea_Zy10181 all it takes is one other company that can run all the same games as you but then they release a high quality exclusive that your platform cant play...it's simple really...you'll be cooked at that point. Why would anyone get yours when the other guy has all yours plus 1 or 2 more that you can't get in your ecosystem. Which is better? Again pretty simple to understand.

[@Ea_Zy10181]

@@Ex-Zone1I understand why you'd say that because generally speaking you're correct but maybe not so much in today's context. there's multiple reasons why someone would partake in a piece of hardware, yes exclusive purchasables help, but you have to consider the value proposition ad well, " is this item meeting my needs according to how much I paid" . I don't think someone who owns a ps5, for example, but only plays online multiplayers like 2k, cod, fifa etc. has the exclusives in mind in this case but is still partaking in the ecosystem regardless. It's about accessibility. "how can we make sure our software, through the hardware, is in the customers hands? " exclusivity cannot be your only answer otherwise you're betting on eggs that might not even hatch healthy, especially if we consider on a weekly basis which games are constantly dominating the charts (online multiplayers, free or not🤷‍♂️) in today's gaming market, exclusivity is only feasible when you have a strong enough following to secure a decent revenue to combat the over the top investment into these games (which isn't the case anymore, and is very prevalent in both ms and sony's actions of going multplat with their games, but since you say it potentially kills business does that mean that both xbox and ps are cooked?? Hell no, this a transitioning period where traditional means, with the exception of Nintendo to a certain extent, do not hold🙅‍♂️ )

[@cashfortune2286]

@ with in time it won’t be cost effective to continue console manufacturing

[@DOC_DARK1985]

Maybe

[@justprincetv9299]

Exclusives matter it gives the brand value and the hardware value and if u collect hardware it gives the consumer value no one wants to buy the same machine if it plays the same content as others

[@Ea_Zy10181]

I mean you could still play the games regardless 🤷‍♂️ does really matter if other people can do it as well? Especially in today's context where Sony as well seems to think otherwise

[@DOC_DARK1985]

Interesting take

[@justprincetv9299]

@Ea_Zy10181 without exclusives there is no multiple platforms to begin with u just have monopoly and one company charging whatever cause there is no other platform to challenge it

[@Ea_Zy10181]

@@justprincetv9299 let's look at this year alone for example, most games across the board are either slated/announced as timed exclusives (Spiderman 2 or stellar blade) or are day one releases along with pc i.e helldivers and indy Jones but basically all of the above aren't exclusive, I want to know who holds some sort of autonomy over the market in this case if we as the consumers are getting pitches from all directions, as in all parties all still actively engaging in the market but not through exclusivity, but accessibility instead?? Nintendo? ok but why go with the decision in the first place of exporting their property? What would be the point if the consumer flow was strictly directed at nin due to them having house kept exclusives?? (answer is there's money to be made above anything else, as long as the opportunity is there to be made to cover their over the top investment in their games🤷‍♂️)

[@justprincetv9299]

@Ea_Zy10181 there is no platforms if there is no exclusives PC is not a console when we talk about sony ans Xbox and Nintendo they are in the console business last I checked they wouldn't be here if it wasn't for exclusives as long as there are competition exclusives are here to stay I don't want a monopoly on one platform.neither do u ..Netflix HBO max McDonald's burger King everything that exist in customer service from food to entertainment is exclusive dc and marvel are exclusive that's how America is born from a business standpoint ..no exclusives sony or Xbox or nintendo would've never exist without it ..exclusives will always be part of the business it makes no sense complaining about it ..McDonald's ain't giving burger King the big Mac

[@jayhartRIC]

Speaking specifically about Astrobot it makes heavy use of specific dualsense features that xbox doesn’t have. They could make a separate version that does away with those features but it would be a lesser version of the game. However, reversing the scenario, multiplat games more often than not will not leverage the specific features of each platform. They will just make a general experience for everyone.

[@aquapendulum]

I definitely don't want this industry to engage in such an anti-competitive practice as platform exclusivity. Holding content hostage is how the platform producers avoid competing on the quality of the platforms themselves.

[@Medsas]

you picked a bad example with astro bot doc 😅 it requires the dualsense so it wouldnt be the same game on Xbox… any other example would be fine as a non exclusive tho

[@DOC_DARK1985]

Astro Bot requires a dual sense or simply utilizes the dual sense? What part of the game seriously requires a dual sense? Really asking. Is it the blowing of the controller?

[@jdez095]

More importantly, I want Physical copies of my games. Especially my single player games. Im going to always prioritize that over everything else.

[@DOC_DARK1985]

So the pro or t the S ain't for you?

[@VadesSon]

Honestly, the ones who aren’t crying about exclusives don’t matter are not Sony and Nintendo fans. It’s all the Xbox and PC crowd. Once Phil said they don’t matter, everyone took that and ran with it.

[@jiggerypokery2962]

This whole anti-exclusivity argument is just people hating on Sony. If it was truely about exclusives then Nintendo would be the bigger enemy.

[@ragingmonk6080]

@@jiggerypokery2962 "Nintendo would be the bigger enemy." If you want to play those games for some crazy reason the PC uses emulators. I don't hate Sony because I am on PC and do not like or own any of their games. The games are on Steam and still do not want them. They can make them free to play and I will not download them. Not because they are Sony. Simply don't want the games.

[@lovmn38]

All companies care about making more money

[@DOC_DARK1985]

True

[@Kingjames313]

No, I don’t want exclusives. The competition I want is the better controller and UI/UX, but whichever platform I choose, I should be able to play. A console game should be played on any console with similar specs.

[@Ex-Zone1]

@@Kingjames313 No

[@DOC_DARK1985]

Facts

[@CORNERSTONECITY777]

It's not exclusives that influence which platform I buy but where I have my game library. I have such a big backlog that exclusives are just another game on the backlog I hardly have time to play. I probably have analysis paralysis and game burn out when it comes to gaming now, so much to do, no time to do it and not knowing where to start and when I am playing I am not relaxing and enjoying the game.

[@DOC_DARK1985]

You should do the backlog challenge

[@ronaldbriston6707]

To me it’s just fan service and brand loyalty. Me I like having both systems I like having the best of both worlds I don’t like being stuck in one ecosystem I like change every now and then playing fable on the box and being on Xbox for a while the when ghost come out and change up but I do have 2 questions why is Xbox changing they used to be about exclusivity now they not. Second why are all these publishers talking about they are failing and need to be bought if they are on all platforms just for Xbox and or PlayStation to buy them and put them everywhere again anyway. So in conclusion I think exclusivity matters in many ways but only good games matter as a result because no matter where the game goes if it’s bad it won’t sale regardless

[@DOC_DARK1985]

Fair take

[@lovmn38]

I was right exclusives are going away slowly

[@DOC_DARK1985]

Facts

[@jayallen9198]

Of course. Exclusives are the reason I’ve ever bought any platform

[@DOC_DARK1985]

How does it benefit you

[@jayallen9198]

@ If the brand that I’ve invested tens of thousands of dollars into over 20+ years goes away, it will affect me greatly. If there’s no Xbox exclusives, there’s no reason to own an Xbox. If less than 20 million people buy the next Xbox, they won’t be able to get third party publishers to bring their games over and it will kill their console business and kill the brand.

[@ehenningsen]

No, i dont think its healthy for the industry. Though, a short, timed exclusive isnt terrible if it is meant to optimize for different hardware.

[@ngtheatheist4361]

Doc do you want starfield to be playable on the Switch How about all gams that release from now all must release day and date on the switch It is one thing to not care about exclusives and another to be against something that provides additional funding for Devs to complete their projects just play the games that are available on the devices you love to play on there are too many games available on the platform you prefer

[@Ea_Zy10181]

It really doesn't matter tho (at least in my opinion) 🤷‍♂️ hell, if starfield managed to run well enough on the switch that's one more game in the library for them. That'd be good for the switch players (more games for the players = 👍) and xbox because of the potential increase in sales (potential not guaranteed)

[@DOC_DARK1985]

Games not going to switch to because the hardware is not strong enough makes sense. But I doubt anyone would argue the difference between the PS5 and the Xbox Series X. But to answer your question if they figured out how to get Starfield running on the switch I wouldn't be against it

[@knightyme21]

Are you making the argument for PC or for Xbox? Most would argue that they'd rather make multiplatform meaning PS5 and PC, not Xbox in particular. Some devs have publicly said this. Exclusives matter in all concepts of life.

[@DOC_DARK1985]

PC day and date for sure

[@knightyme21]

@DOC_DARK1985 Doubt it, PC gamers are too finicky. Outside of Elden Ring, Hogwarts, and Baldurs Gate.......where are all these PC games sales? Final Fantasy 16, anyone???

[@severinevans346]

@@knightyme21 Didn't sell too hot on PlayStation either that's why SquareEnix isn't doing exclusivity with PlayStation anymore. So that excuse doesn't really hold any water.

[@knightyme21]

@severinevans346 if you're calling 4 million not too well, you've lost me.

[@severinevans346]

@@knightyme21 It's not about what I think. You aren't getting SquareEnix exclusives on PlayStation alone anymore and that wasn't my decision. So, they obviously didn't see it as a massive success, and it has nothing to do with me at all or what I believe. Their actions proved that or else it would be fine.

[@lovmn38]

It’s the same as streaming movies sometimes it’s on one service but it could be on two service or it will come later

[@blessedred]

No. I don't want games to be exclusives. When I play a good PC exclusive, I don't rub it into people's faces (they exist). The more people that are able to enjoy a game, the better. Not sure why someone would feel any other way. Exclusives don't sell platforms to the extent people think outside of Nintendo as that's basically all they have to offer. Nintendo can't rely on COD games dropping every year or the new Assassin's Creed.

[@okimreloaded9260]

Where did you get that Wallpaper?

[@lovmn38]

I been using the PlayStation controllers since PSone but now for the first time when I play the Xbox series controller it feels better than PlayStation 5 controller

[@SNKev411]

Yeah exclusives are essential and it matters

[@severinevans346]

Not really the PC is the biggest platform for gaming in the world and it doesn't really have exclusives or none you would really care about anyway. The numbers don't prove what you are saying here.

[@brownbat7057]

As someone that not only makes games, But also has a business/finance university education There is no benefit to being only on one system! as a business owner you need to have your product in as many libraries as possible to maximize your growth and profits. So more preferably, PC firstly, Then all consoles second. PC (with how big the modding community is) increase the longevity of a series/game! and because PC has better game preservation!

[@Ex-Zone1]

Wrong

[@PhokingiLL-m7y]

FACTS.

[@Looptroop98]

So you have a business in what to think exclusivity isn’t beneficial to you as the producer

[@geraldjones7718]

Do every car has the same features? Y is it a problem that consoles have different features(games)

[@brownbat7057]

​@@Looptroop98 Music production especially! That's one of the biggest examples. I need more people to listen to my content to grow! Focusing more on KZbin and digital sales on as many platforms as possible, But also supporting accessibility for people who don't speak certain languages! Anything that can boost sales..

[@lovmn38]

Making games on different consoles an pc is difficult and different

[@DOC_DARK1985]

Sorry bro I need a developer to tell me this

[@lovmn38]

@ some developers say that on the Xbox series S and I have a series S

[@severinevans346]

It's different that's true but it's not difficult the API programs might not be the same but as long as you know the differences of how they work it's nothing to do that.

[@lovmn38]

It’s good for the companies to buy their console but not for the customers who had to buy the products on different platforms it’s expensive that’s why PC Is better than consoles I don’t have a gaming pc or laptop just consoles

[@DOC_DARK1985]

I feel you

[@lovmn38]

I heard they want hell divers 2 on Xbox but I don’t know but it’s will be nice cross over

[@dreadedmontana9851]

Just ask yourself do you want Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft to become the next Sega?

[@joelschwartz4679]

have you considered making your own discord server yet since you are now on pc also you can use it on consoles and mobile now as well

[@DreamyAbaddon]

I have been trying to get DOC on Discord...😅

[@FiniteRich]

doc doesn't know what discord is and don't ask him to spell it 😂

[@Cakebattered]

Exclusives provide the users the benefit of content that may or may not ever be created if not for the purpose of luring people to a specific platform. Would Stranger Things have ever exist if Netflix didn't fund the project for its streaming service? Based on the stories from the Show runners, the answer is No. Who would have funded games like Days Gone or The Last of Us if it were not for Sony funding those games to be exclusive to their consoles? EA or Ubisoft, definitely wouldn't have. Sony makes more money from selling 3rd party games on PlayStation than from selling 1st party titles, so why risk money developing games on their own, other that to lure consumers to its PlayStation platform? You have to remember the biggest players in any industry aren't the content providers but the platform holders.

[@arielis78]

There's one thing this day n age that makes console exclusivity irrelevant: x86 Architecture. Nuff said.

[@LatashaMoore-y7r]

Happy Tuesday!

[@jayhartRIC]

If it isn’t difficult to port to other platforms what is the reason for the games being delayed on xbox or skipping Xbox entirely? Also your example of phone apps is evidence of the issues of multi-platform development. Many apps are only on Android or IOS. Is it because they just want to limit there reach? No, it’s because there is increased effort to put software on multiple platforms.

[@devilshooter126m8]

I want the Consoles to do what they advertise, Im sure you can agree with Xbox's power Me Sony having Exclusives

[@severinevans346]

Sony doesn't have exclusive only timed exclusives and that window is shrinking too. Time to jump into the PC platform and not look back my friend. You may have to wait for a few games but you will get the best version of it and it will be cheaper with free online multiplayer too.

[@lovmn38]

I b een a lot of rumors about some PlayStation games put on Xbox and Xbox still going to push some games on PlayStation

[@ralphy204st]

I think games from Xbox studios like Halo, Gears and Forza should stay on Xbox and PC and the rest should stay 3rd party. Those 3 Games are xbox's identity just like Mario and Zelda is for Nintendo

[@DOC_DARK1985]

Bro....imagine Metroid 4 on unreal engine 5 at 4k 60!!! Omg

[@ralphy204st]

​@@DOC_DARK1985 facts Nintendo better bring it with the switch 2

[@lovmn38]

And I know console fans are going to be upset about exclusive games coming to different platforms I’m not

[@lovmn38]

But I will be mad when exclusive will die because I have three different types of consoles it just a waste of money to have three different consoles to play the same games

[@PhokingiLL-m7y]

Let consoles fight these idiotic exclusive wars. Just port everything to PC. 😂

[@DOC_DARK1985]

Facts lmao

[@beyond-the-soul8651]

No, I do not want exclusives. I am officially giving my PS5 to my sister for Christmas and I am never buying another one and I will not be buying the PS6 either. There’s only one game. I am looking forward to, and that is GTA 6. I will just wait for GTA 6 to come to PC because that will of course be the best version you can get

[@amalaugustine2183]

Man u got patience 😂

[@EL_-APACHE-_8407]

I want exclusives, i have a pro and will be getting a ps6 when it comes out.

[@amalaugustine2183]

@@EL_-APACHE-_8407 u hv anything other console?

[@devilshooter126m8]

you must not have not much invested in the PS5

[@devilshooter126m8]

@@EL_-APACHE-_8407 Not exclusives on PC

[@nsxskyline20]

Xbox fans have been conditioned to hate Exclusives to help Cope with life as a 3rd party fan 😂😂😂😂😂

[@lovmn38]

No I hate exclusives

[@DOC_DARK1985]

Facts

[@malcowicz]

I mean there's no problem for timing exclusives to get the better version of the game with good optimization and etc. And then they would do port of this brilliant version to another platforms one by one. BUT they have exclusives to just say "Hey man! Only us have this game. Buy our hardware". So stupid and pointless..

[@DOC_DARK1985]

Exactly

[@PerfectFitGE8]

Exclusives will always be a part of gaming period. Also, using Astrobot fully utilizes the dualsense kills you own argument.

[@DOC_DARK1985]

Ratchet and Clank also utilizes the dual sense......yet I played it on PC with an Xbox controller and it was great. Do you think Sony can't make the game run on a Xbox controller

[@PerfectFitGE8]

@DOC_DARK1985 Astrobot uses every feature of the dualsense so no. Xbox doesn't have a speaker or mic built into the controller.

[@devilshooter126m8]

disagree Sony are working to not have them. Nintendo will likely be the only one

[@LatashaMoore-y7r]

I do not care about exclusives

[@loitersquadX]

I want exclusives but its fine

[@dreadedmontana9851]

Exclusives and gaming go hand in hand. Go tell Nintendo exclusives don’t matter. If Mario kart 8 was on all consoles how many of us would have a switch? Only bots and pc idiots push this narrative

[@DOC_DARK1985]

U really don't understand that you proved my point. I would definitely play Mario Kart 8 on PC or Xbox at 4k 60! You kidding me?! The game being exclusive only helps Nintendo! NOT the gamer!!!

[@dreadedmontana9851]

@ Ok I see what you saying yea that’s a great point. Ohhhh the gamers perspective I just got it lol. That being said these companies need money to keep going everyone don’t have Microsoft money backing them so if Sony and Nintendo went that route they would be dead and how we would benefit from that as a gamer ?

[@severinevans346]

@@dreadedmontana9851 Yeah and those tight and restrictive conditions of people like Nintendo are what spawned Sega and PlayStation along with Xbox. Had they just allowed everyone to make games for their system without all the charges and licensing fees they wouldn't have lost almost all the third party support they enjoyed in the 80s.

[@DreamyAbaddon]

Exclusives suck.

[@geraldjones7718]

Tell me the reason y Georgia's aquarium is special? Because u can only see things there that u can't see in other aquariums isn't that the same thing as putting ur game only on ur box

[@kaepowboom9116]

That series s does not help at all should have never been made

[@DOC_DARK1985]

Maybe but do far so good