Rumor: Microsoft exclusivity deals funding PS3 development in Japan
by Ben Gilbert 
{ Sep 16th 2009 at 6:00PM } 
"It was easier developing for the Xbox 360 ... if you sign an exclusive contract with Microsoft (you won't release it on other hardware for a year or similar), they will give you a lot of cash for development," read a Japanese developer's post (the original post has since been removed), translated by Sankaku Complex (site NSFW). "As a result, first you develop for the Xbox, reducing development costs. But the Xbox version won't sell [in Japan]. So they port it to the PS3 ... it's cheaper as you already have the game done."
Though they didn't work on it, the developer claims to have seen this policy in practice with Tales of Vesperia. As Kotaku points out, it's quite possible that the dev did see such a practice on Vampire Rain, a game the mystery developer says they worked on.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
WINterfang @ Sep 16th 2009 6:04PM
Vampire Rain didn't sell period.
goboColossus (LIVE, PSN - gobopop) @ Sep 16th 2009 6:05PM
And Sony inadvertently paid for the Xenon processor with the development of Cell. It's good to see them helping each other out again, it's always more fun for everyone when they get along (2x Price Cuts ftw).
WINterfang @ Sep 16th 2009 6:09PM
Sony laptops has Microsoft Windows =D.
Kumbaya!! my love Kumbaya!!
mynk @ Sep 16th 2009 7:16PM
yeah i've always wondered how awkward it is for execs to meet up
VAIO and windows seem to share a pretty good relationship,
as the laptops are frequently featured in Microsoft commercials.
but they're very heavy competitors in both PMP and gaming market.
does any sony ericson phone have windows mobile?
Mazrael @ Sep 16th 2009 8:00PM
And Microsoft/Xbox execs have been seen using Apple computers..
jahd5000 @ Sep 16th 2009 8:46PM
Yes, Mic, The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 and the upcoming X2, both being the top of line on SE phones
Marztype @ Sep 17th 2009 1:06AM
But, the next Xperias are to be Androids, which rocks.
MagusDF @ Sep 17th 2009 9:31AM
why do people always assume its awkward?
theyre both very large companies int not like sony the games devision or the ps3 teams or execs are at the meetings.
hell most large companies hardly know whats happening from one unit to the other
let alone different product divisions
PR0F3TA (PSN - PROPHETA) @ Sep 16th 2009 6:06PM
This is gonna be intense...
*grabs popcorn*
Gun Barrier @ Sep 16th 2009 6:09PM
Some things are going to change around here...
WINterfang @ Sep 16th 2009 6:10PM
Jerk >=(
Zakeru @ Sep 16th 2009 6:13PM
These japs are very sneaky indeed, also, they have strange tastes for games, the top gamming list on Japan always seem to amuse me.
Lucky @ Sep 16th 2009 6:35PM
How about those American charts then? Madden? *snickers*
Zakeru @ Sep 16th 2009 6:54PM
Yeah, those too, americans have some bad taste in sports games but damm, look at the japanese, all they want is kiddy games, not that they all suck but there some really strange stuff out there.
S. Tiger @ Sep 16th 2009 6:13PM
I lol'd pretty hard.
Because I really want Tales of Vesperia to get rereleased for PS3 here.
Maverick Saturn (Igor) @ Sep 16th 2009 6:13PM
Sneeky sneeky :O
Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Sep 16th 2009 6:14PM
incoming...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QyYaPWasos
Ashitaka @ Sep 16th 2009 6:27PM
WOW, I had never seen such an accurate description of the workz of the interwebz... Thanks for sharing :P
Arno @ Sep 16th 2009 6:16PM
"(site NSFW)"
I said sweet and spent 10 minutes browsing it.
Alex @ Sep 16th 2009 6:20PM
At least I didn't see any tentacle sex.
NukeAssault @ Sep 16th 2009 6:34PM
@Alex
You weren't looking hard enough. Its there. =P
Haon @ Sep 16th 2009 6:57PM
Oh wow is it ever.
mynk @ Sep 16th 2009 7:57PM
am i the only one who's next two hours seems to have disappeared after reading the comment and realizing that there actually WAS an NSFW link.
j.howlett @ Sep 16th 2009 8:56PM
yeah i wasn't expecting it to be that bad
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Sep 16th 2009 6:18PM
I wouldn't call it "beta testing" as much as it is "leeching".
The idea of having trophies was totally original, amirite?
goboColossus (LIVE, PSN - gobopop) @ Sep 16th 2009 6:18PM
2007 was one of the best gaming years of my life thanks in no small part to playing the fudge out of Lost Planet online every night with friends after work. I got a years worth of enjoyment out of what I consider the greatest online console multiplayer of all time (I know, you disagree, and I accept your difference of opinion), and met half of my online friends list in the process. PS3 only players got a broken port 18 months later. We must be terrible testers.
DreamingDarklyRobin @ Sep 16th 2009 6:19PM
Only ToV and LP are actually good out of the games mentioned, maybe they should have spent the money making a better game instead of adding a couple weapons and japanese voice tracks.
Plus that sorta of screwing over all the people who want to play the game first, Although I doubt Scamco cares anyway.
Phillyfanboy @ Sep 16th 2009 6:19PM
old news
Ashitaka @ Sep 16th 2009 6:28PM
More like sillyfantard.
Halo Pony @ Sep 16th 2009 6:21PM
Thanks for Beta Testing, 360 only gamers!
:)
R (Planeteers | Power of Penile Pulse) @ Sep 16th 2009 7:25PM
Enjoy waiting for a game that I beat like 1/2 a year ago.
Special Agent Steve @ Sep 16th 2009 11:10PM
More like a year ago.
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Sep 16th 2009 6:21PM
@goboColossus
Saying that the PS3 had a broken multiplayer is one of the easiest ways to win an argument because no one is going to disagree with you. But I do agree with you that Lost Planet on the 360 was a great time.
Saying that the Xbox360 is nothing more than a "beta" for the PS3 is the easiest way to come off as a jackass. Trust me, I know.
skimming @ Sep 16th 2009 6:25PM
Still, money well spent by MS. Gotta pay something to get something...
One can look at it as MS paying for dev training on the Xbox platform. Next round, those dev houses don't have to learn a whole new set of API when programming an Xbox game.
Little Big Dude @ Sep 16th 2009 8:48PM
Neither a new PS3 game
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Sep 16th 2009 6:25PM
Well it only takes common sense to realize this...thing is...unless the game has THAT much more added to it on the PS3 version it most likely still wont sell for shit, even in Japan...
Nobledevil @ Sep 16th 2009 6:46PM
Same thing I was thinking. Though at the same time, Japanese product loyalty is such that people won't buy a 360 for one or two games a year, but if they wait it'll be on a system they already own or want.
Heck, the copies of a game they sell in the US is probably just a compliment to their Japanese sales, which may add up to a good profit/sales number overall (even though it will take over a year to get everything counted up).
Geist @ Sep 17th 2009 9:36AM
It will sell for those that own a PS3, but not a 360. Sounds like a good amount of sales to me. Not a lot of people own both of the systems.
eNrique @ Sep 16th 2009 6:28PM
SHOCKING!
nriveraexpress @ Sep 16th 2009 6:33PM
everybody wins!...right?
McWilly (Revealing bullshit since 1988) @ Sep 16th 2009 6:33PM
Out of date left overs. MMMm my fave. : /
Josh @ Sep 16th 2009 6:38PM
Hm, anyone could just say this, since it's a pretty easy explanation for this trend. I'm not going to take some 'anonymous' person's word for it.
That said, it does seem plausible, though I don't think it's a bad thing. Microsoft gets exclusivity for a while, and developers get more funding, while players can either buy a 360 to get the new games as soon as possible, or just wait for the eventual PS3 ports.
It's a pretty good situation.
bumblo @ Sep 16th 2009 6:39PM
"It was easier developing for the Xbox 360 ... if you sign an exclusive contract with Microsoft (you won't release it on other hardware for a year or similar), they will give you a lot of cash for development,"
Well at least them Japanese developers are honest, unlike some others that pull the "lol not possible on any other platform" card.
Nobledevil @ Sep 16th 2009 6:50PM
I usually take the "not possible on any other platform" stand as literal promo talk. Like, if you port a copy of the game code to a couple DVDs and stick it in a 360/Wii/PC it won't work.
So technically that line is right, and "technically right" is the best kind of right.
Hopefully idtech5 takes off since you CAN use the same exact code for multiple consoles (meaning more profit and less time "learning")
Extinction @ Sep 16th 2009 7:14PM
Are you accusing some of the best developers in the field as lying? Or are you even more retarded, and think you're smarter than they are?
NeoMahi @ Sep 16th 2009 7:08PM
Well. Suspicions confirmed. What do you think about that Sony? Microsoft has been buyin em off all along. Game developers have been lyin and saying it was just that they get extra promotion for the products. But, I've never seen the games made by that developer ever promoted anymore other than, "Only on Xbox 360." That's it. If I were Sony, I'd be pretty angry.
Makoto99 @ Sep 16th 2009 8:43PM
Because Sony -- the last, shining bastion of all business morality -- has never made shrewd deals to further their bottom line.
Rein [Prime Minister of the city-state of New Bjork] @ Sep 16th 2009 7:10PM
HOLY SHIT! Yuri as Ashe and Estelle as Tear!? It's like a Tales fanfic come true!
*flops around on the ground like a fish out of water*
Extinction @ Sep 16th 2009 7:13PM
"Saying that the PS3 had a broken multiplayer is one of the easiest ways to win an argument because no one is going to disagree with you."
I disagree with you. I have both 360 and PS3, and I get every multiplatform game for PS3 simply because on PS3 when I pay for a game, I don't have to pay extra to get the full game.
chrisredfield31 @ Sep 16th 2009 7:16PM
I posted this myself on another board and read the comments on kotaku and results have been different on all 3. But this article tries to paint the developers as shady when that is not true. Developers truly did think that the massive US install base would make them good money on the 360 and the initial development costs partially funded by MS would assist them getting the game out.
Little did they know, this was a bad deal. MS would get better press as they get more exclusives but the fanbase was split between two consoles. They had to suffer low sales for an entire year before they could recoup the sales on the port/rerelease when they COULD have done it multiplayer in the first place. So look at some of these games now. Eternal Sonata, Lost Planet, Tales of Vesperia, Star Ocean The Last Hope, it's all coming to PS3 because sales were abysmal on the 360 due to game not appealing to the US fanbase and/or low quality. They try to fall back on the PS3 but instead Sony stops them and says, hey if you want to release a year old game on our system, we want more stuff in it or we won't approve you. It's great on Sony's part because these games should have been there in the first place but isnt because they took a wad of cash on the platter.