Finally got around to finishing Alan Wake and...

[quote user="Vaynel"]

Mass Effect 1 wasn't a Games for Windows title. It came to the PC when EA bought Bioware and the publishing deal Microsoft had with Bioware didn't cover the PC.

Microsoft could have kept the first game exclusive but chose to give up the console publishing rights.[/quote]

I thought it was released under the Games or Windows brand. My mistake. It was always going to get a Windows release, though, Vayn, (MS or EA) I mean, EA had acquired BioWare before Mass Effect was even released for the 360, and it was released for PC six
months later... that means the port was already being developed during the acquisition.

But you're right... it wasn't a Games for Windows title. Still... my point still kinda survives... anything published by Microsoft isn't going to appear on a rival platform (especially a Sony platform), so whatever the title might be, it is immediately rendered
"exclusive"... not out of worthiness... just out of... uh... first partiness. {XD

Edit: Typo =)

 

Microsoft could have kept the game exclusive to the 360 is the point but chose not to do so. Also a point worth raising is that Bioware didn't do the PC version of the first game, it was Demiurge (the same folk who made Pinnacle Station).

Interestingly enough Microsoft did publish Alan Wake on the PC in Australia.

 

[quote user="Vaynel"]

Microsoft could have kept the game exclusive to the 360 is the point but chose not to do so. [/quote]

Right, but why would they? In terms of a PC launch of Mass Effect... they wanted a Windows version of the game to be released. It was already in development when Mass Effect's (360) development was reaching its final stages and before EA stepped in and bought
the whole joint. It was being released for Windows PC regardless of who published it, EA or Microsoft... or... whomever it may have eventually been.

I should point out that I don't consider PC to be a rival platform to the Xbox from Microsoft's perspective. If a game is released for Windows, it's good for Microsoft Windows. If it fails to hit a rival platform (then: PS3, Wii) it's good for Xbox and Windows...
er... Microsoft. lol

[quote user="Vaynel"]Also a point worth raising is that Bioware didn't do the PC version of the first game, it was Demiurge (the same folk who made Pinnacle Station).[/quote]

It's kinda not relevant to the exclusivity thing though. Heh. They were already in-house with BioWare, developing/porting the PC version of Mass Effect, which wouldn't bother Microsoft a jot. Windows, Xbox... s'all good for Microsoft. =) But exclusivity
doesn't equate to worthiness... is my only... repeating, boring point here. Microsoft publishes games to make money from them and sell Microsoft hardware and operating systems. Not to sell Sony hardware and Nintendo bundles.

I'm a tool. Also the F key just popped off my laptop and it has suspect cat claw or teeth marks on it. Also I'm gonna strive to keep all future posts to one paragraph, because I'm long-winded. Heh haa. {XD

 

Why would they? It would be perfect marketing. Imagine the press releases at the release of Mass Effect 3.

"The Xbox 360. The only place to play the complete Mass Effect Trilogy."

Now where would you be buying the third and final game if that had been the case?

 

Yeah but in terms of the PC getting the franchise, it was already in development, and nobody knew it was going to explode and become one of the biggest franchises in video games. Let alone a trilogy. But, consoles, when Microsoft learned Mass Effect 2 wasn't
going to be exclusive to 360. They used that line: "Xbox 360 remains the best place to experience the Mass Effect franchise." [Because we have the first game over here, so nyaaaa and boo to you Sony sir! *rasp*]

But if you mean finally allowing it to be released on PS3, there's something in that. I think MS may have made some agreement with EA, because all the DLC for the ME franchise was pretty much timed-exclusives for 360 alone. Maybe they got that in exchange
for finally letting EA give Sony a taste of the full trilogy in 2012. Or maybe their initial publishing deal ran out?

So much for my one paragraph thing. *strains* I can dooo this!

 

Just ordered Alan Wake from Amazon for under a tenner... brand new!

About 2 months ago I bought a really cool swivel stand thing to house my Blu Ray's, DVD's and PS3 games. Now I have the 360 and picking up bargains left right and centre, I need to think of doing a spot of DIY shelving