There’s a multitude of reasons why we choose one console over another: price, hardware specs, controller preference, online services, even aesthetics. But perhaps the most important is content.
What separates the three consoles this generation can be measured in terms of exclusive content. Leaving aside minor differences in terms of DLC or other bonus in-game extras, the real differentiator is the lineup of exclusive games.
I’ve put together a (fairly) comprehensive list of the exclusives coming between now and the end of the year. I know I’ve missed a few titles, particularly some of the Wii releases not intended for a Kotaku reading audience. There are also plenty more exclusives to be found on PSN, WiiWare and XBLA, but those release dates typically aren’t confirmed until much closer to launch, making it difficult to compile a 2009 list. And you could well point out that a couple of the Xbox 360 exclusives are also coming to PC. But we’re just talking consoles here.
Take a look and let me know which of the three consoles has the best lineup of exclusives. Are you surprised by the result? And is your console choice genuinely influenced by the exclusives?
PlayStation 3
* Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
* Eyepet
* Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time
* Cross Edge
* Katamari Forever
* Singstar Motown
* Buzz! Quiz World
Wii
* Wii Fit Plus
* New Super Mario Bros.
* Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
* Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash Up
* Metroid Prime Trilogy
* Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
* Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles
* Rabbids Go Home
* Need For Speed: Nitro
* Drawn To Life 2
* Marvel Super Hero Squad
* Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage
* World of Zoo
* Muramasa: The Demon Blade
Xbox 360
* Halo 3: ODST
* Forza Motorsport 3
* Left 4 Dead 2
* GTA IV: Episodes From Liberty City
* Blood Bowl
* Section 8
* Guilty Gear 2: Overture
* Magna Carta 2
* Darkest of Days
* Lips Number One Hits
* Divine Divinity 2
[Pic]
Kai Farrar
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 1:17 PMWhy, when the article clearly is about the three CONSOLES do we get posts from PC elitists STILL?
WE. GET. IT. Briam M. Your “rig” PWNS, wow. Now leave the console topics for console owners….
Ben Routledge
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 1:52 PMWhy limit this to consoles, are there any PC exclusives out there?
I too disagree with claiming a console and PC release as exclusive. If you already have a PC which most homes do, there’s no incentive to buy a 360 therefore weakens the exclusivity argument.
Sam Lawrence
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 2:43 PMNot everyone has a PC that can Play Splinter cell or Mass Effect 2
Ben Routledge
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 4:32 PMTrue but I can’t think of a multiplayer game on both console and PC that I would rather play on a Console.
Only reason I’d even go single player on console would be to sit on my couch and be able to trade it in. Or if it was truly exclusive.
LordLeckie
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 2:04 PMAmazingly none of those exlusives speak to me in particular, for me its the cross platforms like BioShock 2, Mass Effect 2 and whatever RTS comes out next.
Hieronimus Kava
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 4:37 PMI only own a Wii and I’m really excited about Metroid Prime Trilogy. I’ve played snippets of the games since I don’t own a gamecube and just played them at my friends’ house, and I’ve played less than half of MP3, so that’s a buy for me. =)
Next year I might pick up a few others, but for this year that’s probably the only game I’ll be getting.
NegativeZero
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 5:01 PMAlready got Cross Edge and Tales of Symphonia, and Muramasa is somewhere in the postal system too. I’d be interested in the GTA4 DLC but I own the game on PS3. :(
So when you boil it down, for me it’s Uncharted 2 and ODST. Probably Rachet & Clank and provided that it’s not terrible like the previous game, Katamari Forever.
A huge chunk of the exclusives I actually care about are on PS2/PSP or don’t have an AU release coming any time soon. Got to import. :(
Craig
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 9:59 PMThere are two significant 360/PC exclusives not listed:
Tropico 3
Risen
I’d rather them on there than Darkest of Days! ;)
truncheon
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 1:23 AMdoes it really matter if a game comes out before the end of the year? looks like you’ve just set up some lists to belittle all the PS3 exclusives out after Xmas, people buy games all year round these days its not about nagging mummy in december, most gamers im sure buy there own games whenever the hell they finally come out or import when they can from over seas, spit it out m8 your an xbox fan an thats ok just dont manipulate release info to make the point (which is so often incorrect anyway)
truncheon
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 1:25 AMBTW L4D2, GTAIV episodes and ODST are expansions IMO
AussieSniper
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 4:17 AMFor me it is:
PS3: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Wii: Jack Schitt
360: Halo 3: ODST
Forza Motorsport 3
Blood Bowl
Darkest of Days
Kyle Sanderson
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 11:03 AMUncharted 2 really should be worth more than one point here. The quality PS3 games make a higher percentage than the otehr consoles in my opinion.
Also most of those 360 games are also on PC, as mentioned above and XBLA shouldn’t count.
Justin
Friday, September 18, 2009 at 7:30 AMWhy is L4D 2 Up there? It’s on the PC as well.
Matt
Friday, November 13, 2009 at 10:49 AM* Halo 3: ODST (Likely to be ported to PC in the next year or two, anyway)
* Forza Motorsport 3
* Left 4 Dead 2 (NOT exclusive)
* GTA IV: Episodes From Liberty City
* Blood Bowl (NOT exclusive)
* Section 8 (NOT exclusive)
* Guilty Gear 2: Overture
* Magna Carta 2
* Darkest of Days (NOT Exclusive)
* Lips Number One Hits
* Divine Divinity 2 (IS NOT going to be Exclusive)
Its hilarious that Xbox fans try to expand their list of “good exclusives” by adding in PC games. Next time, try to list games that are strictly only available on 360.
Matt
Friday, November 13, 2009 at 10:52 AMAnd yes, I can see that you said “And you could well point out that a couple of the Xbox 360 exclusives are also coming to PC. But we’re just talking consoles here.” But honestly, thats no excuse. A lot of gamers today have good enough computers to play most PC games.