Multi-platform Game Quality

Today, gamers have a wide choice of gaming platform to choose from; either you prefer to play at home or on the go, there is something for everyone. As for the game developers, to assure that their games are able to reach every single gamers from any platforms (or to own a fair share from the juicy-market); here goes the trend of Multi-platform games.

According to the analysis, every single multi-platform game released in North America this generation has sold in higher numbers on Microsoft's Xbox 360 console. Although Sony's PS3 has an impressive line-up of first party exclusives announced during E3 2009 or titles which already in shelves, such as the recent INFAMOUS, it only hit a low 175,900 copies sold. Clearly, first-party exclusive games are not enough to carry Sony's hardware, and lower multi-platform sales mean that third-party developers are likely to prioritize development on the more lucrative Xbox 360.


Bioshock for PS3

Weak sales are matched in many cases by weak technical performance, Sony's console is facing technical performance problem (besides high price tag and their marketing strategy) ever since it launched: frame rate, anti-aliasing, texture quality, screen tear, resolution numbers and etc., all these factors have been haunting most multi-platform titles on PS3 until today. Gamesites do comparison to every multi-platform titles with the result of PS3 version always inferior to Xbox360.

Since both consoles share the common nature of hardcore gaming in this generation, when any title hitting multi-platform, comparison in any aspects will conclude which version to GET (if you have both consoles). Unless you only have one, then you won't have any problem choosing and you don't give a shit of how's the quality looks like. IF you do MIND, then you will be very pissed that you own an inferior version.

Final Fantasy 13 and Metal Gear Solid Rising announced heading to Xbox360 and really a shocking surprise, the franchise which used to be exclusive on Sony's console. I'm sure there will be a lot of "What If" when they hit the shelves.


Lost Planet for PS3

Last week by Activision chief Robert Kotick, who threatened to drop development plans for the Playstation 3 if Sony didn't improve developer relations in 2010:

"I'm getting concerned about Sony; the PlayStation 3 is losing a bit of momentum and they don't make it easy for me to support the platform," he told the Times of London. "It's expensive to develop for the console, and the Wii and the Xbox are just selling better. Games generate a better return on invested capital on the Xbox than on the PlayStation."

The reason that Microsoft's console is doing so well in multi-platform titles and with superior quality, besides "friendly" technical environment for developers (like window environment, I believe), where developers are able to adapt and allocate more effort to other challenging areas. They are having a very impressive marketing strategies and the MOST attractive part - EXCLUSIVE DLC add on. With these advantages, Xbox360 simply gain the high ground as the preferred platform for third-party software sales.

Sony really needs wise solutions to turn the tide, exclusive titles is NOT everything! Multi-platform titles do the most fight in the US market and even other regions:

1) IF it is true that the console is so HARD to develop, Sony should provide assistance closely with the developers to ease up the technical difficulties; to assure the end result is up to the level.

2) Seek for more exclusive DLC and early release dates for multi-platform titles.

3) Improve the marketing and advertising channels to promote third party titles.

Personally I do wish that PS3 able to have some improvement and regain some ground, do not end up the 10 years console life span becomes a 10 years suffering.

Source: Xboxist.com, Thatvideogameblog.com(photo) & Myself