Saints Row: The Third exclusive PlayStation 3 content amounts to ... nothing, actually

by Ben Gilbert on Nov 14th 2011 5:00PM

After vaguely announcing "an exclusive mode on the PS3 utilizing [Saints Row: The Thirds's] signature weapon" back at E3, we never actually heard what that game mode would be. As it turns out, Volition and THQ apparenly never settled on one, and the exclusive content deal seemingly didn't pan out.

We discovered as much when retail copies of Saints Row: The Third arrived for review on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 last week. After booting up each and looking around thoroughly, we can assure you that there's no content difference between the two versions. We contacted THQ, who today offered a "No comment" to our inquiry.

It stands to reason that the "exclusive mode" -- which apparently featured the game's "signature weapon" (a dildo bat, naturally) -- could have once been the game's take on wave-based co-op multiplayer: "Whored Mode." That mode is currently a part of the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC versions of the game. The publisher would neither confirm nor deny this suggestion.

Tags: exclusive-content, microsoft, pc, playstation, ps3, saints-row-the-third, thq, volition, volition-inc, xbox

Reader Comments (48)

First EA promises exclusive stuff and takes it away and now THQ. What gives?

@Mika101

Look again. It was Sony that made the promise in both cases, not EA or THQ.

@copa - Doesn't matter. Both EA & THQ should've denied it sometime in the past four/five months prior to their respective launches if it wasn't true.

@Mika101

Last Christmas
I gave you my heart
But the very next day
you gave it away

@Mcmax3000 Are you responsible for addressing every untrue thing said about you?

Reminds me of another recent multiplatform release with a 3 in the title. . . But even they tried to make up for it with a week exclusivity on DLC. They might not have succeeded to make up for it, but they tried.

@lenandude
No they didn't. Do your research, the Early DLC for Battlefield 3 had already been announced by Playstation a month before EA announced that it was supposedly for the absence of Battlefield 1943 on the disk.

@Copybass Ah jeez zombies - It doesn't mean that the decision for the early DLC wasn't because of the lack of 1943, it just means that they were announced out of order.

EA never announced that 1943 wasn't going to be included. They only ever responded to inquiries about it at launch.

That said, I do believe that the decisions were separate and when they got caught not delivering on their promises, they just said "Hey! Look over here at this other thing we're doing for your platform!" but you can't state that as fact.

@lenandude
And when did tweeting become a valid way to communicate removal of features to their customers?

@Copybass Ah jeez zombies
I realize that. But they had obviously figured out that 1943 probably wouldn't be included when they made the agreement for a window of exclusivity. I don't understand the point you're trying to make here. Spell it out more clearly for me. Cause I'm really that stupid. I'm tired of nerdy elitist video game snobs. You think I have time to do a bunch of research for this stuff? No. I get on here to get my video game news and comment when I feel like it. If I make a mistake in my post, tell me I made a mistake. I didn't make any mistake, though. Try not to come off like a dick next time. I wish gamers could just be gamers but instead most are self absorbed assholes obsessed with correcting people even when there's nothing to correct.

I see you're just gonna slap that bad boy right up on the front page there, making Joystiq NSFW for now...

@The Moof why? You act like if someone glances over the pic they will automatically know it's a dildo. The first time I saw the pic when the screenshot was released I didn't know it was a dildo till I actually looked at the thing.

@The Moof Your office doesn't allow masks? Weeeeeird.

OK, this ish needs to get straightened out.

Sony announced that if you buy the PS3 version of Battlefield 3, you get a free copy of Battlefield 1943. They wait until launch day to say they changed their mind.

Sony announced that if you buy the PS3 version of Saint's Row, you get an exclusive mode, then on launch day it's, "Psych! Made you buy!"

This is bordering on consumer fraud.

@copa

Stop saying "Sony says..." It is the developer and the publisher at fault here. Not Sony.

@copa i really thought i was going to get 1943 with my BF3 copy. never picked up 1943, and was upset to find out it wasn't going to come with it. very misleading.

@Jason B

Ummm, sorry to burst your fanboybble, but the original Joystiq post makes it pretty clear that Sony is speaking, not THQ. Unless you have something else to back up this being a THQ announcment:

"Jack Tretton revealed during the Sony E3 2011 press conference that the latest installment in Volition's zany adult series will launch on November 15. Saints Row: The Third will feature an exclusive mode on the PS3 utilizing the game's "signature weapon.""

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/saints-row-the-third-uses-move-on-ps3-launches-november-15/

@Jason B - While I agree that the publisher is at fault for not announcing that it wasn't happening ahead of launch, it's still valid to say "Sony said" because the announcement was in fact made by Sony.

Sony this, THQ that, Volition whatever....

I'm calling it right now. ESRB.

@Mcmax3000

It may have been announced by them, but they wouldn't have announced it if the publisher or developer didn't tell them it was going to happen.

@Courtney

Explain to me how this decision by THQ/Volition makes it Sony's fault?

@Jason B

I'm holding them accountable for what they promised. That's how it's their responsibility. You promise something, it isn't delivered, it's your responsibility. Doesn't matter if another party backed out. You are still responsible for what you said.

I'm not saying that THQ doesn't bear some of the responsibility, it does. But it's silly and fanboyish to try and insist not to say "Sony says" when that is the historically accurate way to describe this.

@Jason B

"Explain to me how this decision by THQ/Volition makes it Sony's fault?"

I don't think this is very complex. Let's say I announce in a public forum, "Jason B has agreed to give every registered Joystiq user a blowjob, on demand!"

Now, it might be in your best interest to explain that this offer is not valid.

But either way, if people get enraged that they don't get their free blowjob, should they direct most of their frustration at you, or me?

@Jason B

It was actually Tretton himself. I kinda see that as being Sony.

@Jason B - I agree, that's why I said "I agree that the publisher is at fault for not announcing that it wasn't happening ahead of launch"...

But that doesn't make it inaccurate to say that "Sony said BF3/SR3 would have exclusives" because Sony did in fact say that. Saying that Sony said it and saying that Sony bares the sole responsibility are two completely different things.

@copa
I'm here for my free blowjob. Sup?

@Dao Jones
I was hoping for Jason's response, but it looks like he's "indisposed" at the moment. I guess that's one way to win an argument...

If you're going to do console exclusives, do some console exclusive GAMES and give each system's catalog some flavor. Exclusives like this are almost universally bullshit.

@darkinchworm - Console exclusive games from third parties are mostly a thing of the past and that's not likely to change outside of one new console launching earlier than the other (See: 360 launching a year before PS3) because it's a stupid business decision to basically cut your potential sales audience in half.

@Mcmax3000
I agree that it's a financially atrocious decision, at least in this economy, but I can't help being influenced by the glorious days of yesteryear when competing consoles were so technologically different that spamming the same games across all systems was not a universally accepted tactic - each system had an incredibly diverse catalog that couldn't be mirrored anywhere else. Sure, there's plenty of crossover between the SNES and Genesis libraries, but compare then with now and you'll notice a stark difference.

Or maybe you'll notice. I should take a peek myself, I could be full of shit :p

If you look hard enough (Read: Beyond the major western publishers - EA, Activision, Ubisoft, THQ), you'll see that there are still a ton of third party exclusives out there.

It still doesn't quite compare to the 16 bit era, where small publishers could survive, but it's not dead. A lot of the exclusives of those era filled a niche, and really, that's what a lot of the exclusives these days are filling too.

@Oddgirl
I'd stop short at saying there are a ton, but yeah, there are still third-party exclusives on both systems. Most of the GOOD exclusives are on XBLA/PSN though, or so it would seem.

Someone finally realised exclusives are pointless and only hurt one side while not doing anything for sales or reputation or even enjoyment for the people who ACCIDENTALLY bought the right console years before?

Is there free roam multiplayer?

@JonBianchi 2-player Free Roam/Co-Op, same as Saints Row 2 .

This is decidedly uncool Sony.

After the Asura's Wrath post, I kind of wish Crapcom made Saints Row to see if a retailer would advertise a "Dildo Bat Pack".

and this is good. Exclusive DLC and/or content is stupid. Why does it matter what platform I play the SAME game on?

=) I'll be getting this for PC, once I have some money.

I'm a PS3 man myself but I'm glad this didn't happen. Console exclusives should be left back in 2007/8.

The clear implication was some sort of Move-enabled dildo gameplay.

no dildo flinging mode exclusively for the Playstation Move? consider that a golden opportunity missed.

THQ repeated stated that Saint's Row 2 was going to have Trophy support on PS3 back in the day, and when it released, many of us were left wondering what happened.

@darkbase

that's just what happens when a tacked on copycat achievement system is late to the party and only added due to how popular it is on another console. just saying.

LOLPS3

I'm getting to old for this shit.

@drunkingamebar Agreed. Being a more mature gamer unfortunately taints the enjoyment factor because you see through the sales ploys and realize that every title often becomes less about fan service and more about monetization.

Heh. I said taint.

@IRONSAM If that taint the truth..

Between this, the Battlefield 3 thing, and that Resident Evil PSP game that simply never happened, it seems like Sony needs to start actually making these exclusivity deals before they start talking about them.

Saints Row: The Third

Saints Row: The Third exclusive PlayStation 3 content amounts to ... nothing, actually

Reader Comments (48)

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:05PM Mika101 said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:09PM copa said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:22PM Mcmax3000 said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:23PM Pure Black World Tendency said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 8:14PM Cleric said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:06PM lenandude said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:16PM Copybass Ah jeez zombies said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:25PM Mcmax3000 said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 7:41PM warlock7 said

Posted: Nov 15th 2011 1:45AM lenandude said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:06PM The Moof said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:27PM SonyPS said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:29PM berzirk said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:09PM copa said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:12PM Jason B said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:21PM e11eventoes said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:26PM Courtney said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:27PM Mcmax3000 said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:32PM Oddgirl said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:35PM Jason B said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:37PM Jason B said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:45PM Courtney said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:51PM copa said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 6:14PM ironneko said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 6:59PM Mcmax3000 said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 7:58PM Dao Jones said

Posted: Nov 15th 2011 10:49AM aristokrat said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:09PM darkinchworm said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:29PM Mcmax3000 said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:39PM darkinchworm said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:48PM Oddgirl said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 8:35PM darkinchworm said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:11PM Dick Socrates said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:14PM JonBianchi said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:52PM Xupmatoih said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:16PM Duke said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:19PM The Joy of Painting w Bob Ross said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:20PM xiLeShadow said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:21PM Hank Hill said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 5:26PM tentaclesex said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 6:11PM Liquidfingers said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 6:17PM darkbase said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 6:26PM Liquidfingers said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 9:53PM AFATALERR0R said

Posted: Nov 14th 2011 10:34PM drunkingamebar said

Posted: Nov 15th 2011 12:14AM IRONSAM said

Posted: Nov 15th 2011 12:26AM drunkingamebar said

Posted: Nov 15th 2011 12:08AM axdemon said

Saints Row: The Third Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

WB conjures up Harry Potter for Kinect this fall

Featured Stories

Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is a stranger in a strange land

Silver Lining: I Am Alive's unfeeling world

Game Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW