Reuters: Metal Gear Solid 4 the last great exclusive
- November 29, 2007 00:00 AM PST
The world's second largest news bureau examines the dying breed of third-party console exclusives, as publishers focus on multi-platform releases in an effort to offset rising production costs.
"We're telling our fans that if you want to play Metal Gear Solid 4, you have to buy a PS3," said Konami's Ryan Payton in speaking with Reuters.
And so it is.
The release of Metal Gear Solid 4 on a single console (the PS3) may be the last for big-budget games, though. As the industry becomes more competitive, and development costs increase, it makes more sense to offer a game to the largest possible audience which may or may not own different consoles.
"We understand publishers are needing to recoup their investment," said Peter Dille, VP of marketing for Sony. "From our perspective, as long as the games aren't going exclusive to other platforms, PS3 gamers are not actually losing anything."
We're telling our fans that if you want to play Metal Gear Solid 4, you have to buy a PS3." -- Konami
Assuming Nintendo and Microsoft feel the same about their customers, non-exclusive third-party games could benefit everyone while the big three could continue to release first-party exclusives in an effort to differentiate.
So will Metal Gear as an exclusive benefit the PS3's adoption rate and Konami's bottom line?
"No," said G4 critic Adam Sessler. "Metal Gear Solid 4' isn't the killer app. People who already own a PS3 will likely get it. But it doesn't have that kind of broad-based appeal."
I tend to side with Sessler on this one; I loved the first Solid, but I'm unconvinced the fourth version will do enough to really rally gamers who are on fence about buying a PS3. That could all change, however, once the game is finally released this spring. And if any game can do it, it's Metal Gear.
