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[Triggerhappytel]

They fucked up. Titanfall will still be immensely successful, but nothing like sabotaging a new IP's full potential before it even gets out the gate.

I agree with this. If they truly want it to reach COD-like sales, they need to be on PC, Playstation and Xbox at launch. As it stands, EA have certainly ruined its short to mid-term chances by getting in bed with MS. EA did the same thing with the original Rock Band here in Europe, making it a timed 360 exclusive for I think six months, and consequently despite some incredible reviews it never made a dent in Guitar Hero's dominance.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

There is a reason EA put PS4 and Xbone software sales together in their financial report.

Reason being?

 

[Spottiettiedop]

Looks like Titanfall will be a gamble that pays off for MS big time.

 

[antitrop]

It's not EA's IP is it? Isn't this an EA partners game?

It's disappointing how many are misinformed about the relationship between EA, MS, Respawn, and the Titanfall IP.

 

[DenogginizerOS]

Peter Moore going to EA was the best coup Microsoft could have had. It is so clear that Peter Moore's previous relationship with Microsoft has led to an extremely easy going relationship between the two that has given them extreme preferential treatment.

I find it amusing because EA already cannot stop getting broiled in scandal after scandal, and if PS4 continues its trajectory, it's only eventually going to be bad business. But as long as Microsoft is willing to pay, I'd probably do the same. Mitigates some risk, and this industry is risky as fuck these days

The irony of EA hiring Peter Moore is that back when he was running and then left Sega, people at EA were crowing about how they had a part in taking him down. Bygones.

 

[Liamario]

If he's feeling comfortable with the deal, then I'd imagine MS aren't feeling so comfortable.

On the flip side of that, he's unlikely to say anything else. I do hope the game does well though; then we can get an even better sequel.

 

[speculawyer]

C'mon EA. Just don't comment on things instead of lying about them. Lies make you look bad.

 

[BlackBuzzard]

Reason being?

Ps4 software sales being far higher.

 

[darkside31337]

Reason being?

They don't want shareholders asking more questions about why their brand new IP for this gen is being tied up only on a platform they're selling less games on, both for this generation and for the PS3 as well.

 

[nictron]

C'mon EA. Just don't comment on things instead of lying about them. Lies make you look bad.

As if some of their recent releases weren't doing a good enough job at that.

 

[Loakum]

Titanfall 2 X1 exclusive then

It's gonna become a regular exclusive Microsoft ip. Watch.

 

[Mrbob]

C'mon EA. Just don't comment on things instead of lying about them. Lies make you look bad.

I'm very much enjoying the schadenfreude from EA next gen. I hope they keep digging deeper.

 

[RedAssedApe]

will be interesting to see pc v. xbone sales

 

[BadWolf]

I'm sure they are feeling very uncomfortable right now but there's no going back.

Their loss, it seems.

 

[Sword Of Doom]

Totally possible. I'm unconvinced Sony actually cares at all about TF. Sony is definitely not done giving Handouts though. Not if they want to remain competitive at least. The Handouts will never end for either company.

I agree with you regarding handouts. Adam Boyse talked about how third party exclusivity doesn't benefit anybody but they need to stay competitive. I agree with his philosophy though. As long as a game is on the platform I choose to play games on what do I care if people on other platforms can play it or not. Of course first party is different.

 

[MercuryLS]

Personally, I think MS will try to buy the IP, not the studio. Vince is already rich as fuck,

What is the point of just buying the IP if you don't have the talent? Halo is a shell of its former self, I question if BT can do Gears justice, having the Titanfall IP without the Respawn team makes no sense. The team is what makes it great.

 

[Jules Coast]

Really? People expected that? Based on what? That doesn't seem to be a very astute prediction.

I actually agree with the person you quoted.

A year ago, before anyone knew about allll the always-online craziness, I feel most people believed M$ would continue their momentum from the 360. PS3 had caught up in unit sales in the later years of the cycle but the 360 was ahead through pretty much all of it. Most of you probably remember the PS3 had been plagued with bad PR since its unveiling ($599 US dollars, giant enemy crab, boomerang controller, drought of games [this wasn't an issue by the end of its life, obviously], inferior performance with multiplatform games).

It's funny how drastically sentiment has changed. But if on January 29, 2013 you would have asked me who's console would generate more hype/"win" E3 I would have guessed Microsoft.

 

[silver.tongue]

Really? People expected that? Based on what? That doesn't seem to be a very astute prediction.

Most people thought MS would launch earlier and have the cheaper console.

Also, Xbox is kidna recognized as the dudebro console... Shooters galore and all.

I think EA should have gone multiplat, but if they were gonna go exclusive, the new xbox, at time of conception, was the easier choice.

 

[alr1ght]

What is the point of just buying the IP if you don't have the talent? Halo is a shell of its former self, I question if BT can do Gears justice, having the Titanfall IP without the Respawn team makes no sense. The team is what makes it great.

They just bought Gears.

 

[alr1ght]

will be interesting to see pc v. xbone sales

Won't even be close. They will hamstring it so it's only on their download service instead of taking less of a cut and selling way more copies on Steam.

 

[Jimmy Rustle]

I doubt MS would let EA and Respawn use their Azure servers if Titanfall were to release on the PS4.

I bet saving money on managing EA servers was also a reason why the deal happened. Assuming MS provides dedicated servers for free as they've stated.

So yes, if Titanfall 2 releases on PS4, it's gonna be Battlefield 4 all over again.

Don't hound me guys, just a thought.

 

[BruceLeeRoy]

Hindsight is 20/20. Seems like a very wise decision a couple years ago. I would have done the same.

 

[MercuryLS]

Based on the advertising in print and on TV, EA is very much doing everything they can to make their games on Xbox One seem superior. From trade-up deals, to TitanFall, to FIFA Legends, and Madden/NFL deals, the Xbox One sure is a fixture in EA's marketing. But alas, Peter Moore says sales of PS4 games do not lie and prove their co-marketing agreement hasn't hurt their image with PS4 owners. I disagree, but that's just my opinion.

The only company I dislike more than EA is MS. So it makes sense that these two companies spoon each other in bed.

I'm hoping Respawn go with another publisher for Titanfall 2, fuck EA.

 

[lowhighkang_LHK]

Couldn't they release Titanfall : Director's Cut Elite Edition for PS4 a few months later?

 

[lightning2k3]

Here's how I think things went down. 2 years ago, in late 2011, Microsoft approached EA about buying Respawn Studio's new game as a timed exclusive for their X1. EA did some projections and believed that X1 would sell better than the PS4, and probably got a bag of cash from MS for the projected lost sales on the PS4(which weren't that high because ps4 was expected to not do as well as X1). They might or might not have included some escape clause for ending the timed exclusivity earlier based on actual install bases.

Fast forward to this year, MS botches their release and alienates lots of fans, Sony does everything right, and projections drastically change, with PS4 showing to be leading in install base. Now, either the escape clause kicks in and shortens the time exclusivity or MS is really worried about their install base, so EA and MS negotiate another deal in which MS hands another bag of cash over to EA and EA gives MS permanent exclusivity for the game. The EA ceo is still sitting pretty comfortably because he got 2 bags of cash from MS, and the real losers are MS who has to pay that second bag of cash, and respawn who now has a gimped IP since they cant sell to the larger install base.

 

[Dante316]

I think titanfall is releasing too early ro be a system seller. March just seems like a average month for marketing. By fall, it would be in more countries and they could've sold it as the best thing ever.

 

[KJRS_1993]

I doubt MS would let EA and Respawn use their Azure servers if Titanfall were to release on the PS4.

I bet saving money on managing EA servers was also a reason why the deal happened. Assuming MS provides dedicated servers for free as they've stated.

So yes, if Titanfall 2 releases on PS4, it's gonna be Battlefield 4 all over again.

Don't hound me guys, just a thought.

I'm not 100% sure it works like that. In smartphones, doesn't Samsung provide parts for Apples IPhone? I think to Microsoft, Sony's money would be just as good as anyone elses for renting out servers.

 

[IAmRandom31]

What is the point of just buying the IP if you don't have the talent? Halo is a shell of its former self, I question if BT can do Gears justice, having the Titanfall IP without the Respawn team makes no sense. The team is what makes it great.

Microsoft seems to not care about the team of a title at this point. Evidenced by buying up Gears of War and Halo. Both not being made by anyone who worked on it originally. All about name recognition.

Hell look at Call of Duty. Most of the original folk who made the title up to Call of Duty : MW is gone, but it still sales nearly as much as Grand Theft Auto 5 despite being a lackluster title this time around. So name recognition is important.

As for Titanfall's sales. I see the vast majority of the sales coming from the PC / 360 side of things. Even if a third of everyone who owns the system buys the product, that is barely over a million sales on the X1 side of things.

 

[David___]

Couldn't they release Titanfall : Director's Cut Elite Edition for PS4 a few months later?

Should be called Titanfall:1080p Edition to make sure MS knows its a different game.

 

[antitrop]

Couldn't they release Titanfall : Director's Cut Elite Edition for PS4 a few months later?

I doubt it. I'm sure MS patched up that loophole in the exclusivity contract.

 

[jgf]

I can understand that you want to focus with a small team, but then why is there even a 360 version? The X1 is far more different from the 360 in terms of power and architecture then it is from the PS4. Designing a game to run for current and next gen seems tricker than just sticking to next gen. I know they handed the 360 port over to another studio, but they could do this with a PS4 version too. On the other hand they probably would't have the ms money to pay for the external port. So through that deal they can focus on a single platform and still get the impact of X1 and 360 combined - a huge chunk of the CoD fanbase.

 

[Nabs]

will be interesting to see pc v. xbone sales

It won't be that interesting without Steam.

 

[purpletentacle]

Personally I think its silly that EA spent so much money setting up this new studio, funding this new I.P. then limit the exposure to three platforms. You'd think with a franchise like this you'd want it on as many platforms as possible, but then again, this is EA. They love money and nothing else.

 

[lowhighkang_LHK]

I think titanfall is releasing too early ro be a system seller. March just seems like a average month for marketing. By fall, it would be in more countries and they could've sold it as the best thing ever.

When it comes to next-gen consoles in their early life spans, any months is as good as another. People are starving for games, they'll buy anything somewhat hyped.

 

[ypo]

In their defense, no one could've predicted what a clusterfuck 2013 was going to be for the xbone. I mean, no one has fucked up the buildup to a new machine that badly since Sega with the Saturn and it can be argued that the lead up to the xbone launch was worse due to how much they stood to lose from all of the mistakes they made.

Was just poking fun at their "still very comfortable about about our predication" BS.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

Microsoft seems to not care about the team of a title at this point. Evidenced by buying up Gears of War and Halo. Both not being made by anyone who worked on it originally. All about name recognition.

Hell look at Call of Duty. Most of the original folk who made the title up to Call of Duty : MW is gone, but it still sales nearly as much as Grand Theft Auto 5 despite being a lackluster title this time around. So name recognition is important.

As for Titanfall's sales. I see the vast majority of the sales coming from the PC / 360 side of things. Even if a third of everyone who owns the system buys the product, that is barely over a million sales on the X1 side of things.

Doesn't 343 have ex bungie staff? Also, Rod Fergusson was brought in for Gears.

 

[lowhighkang_LHK]

I doubt it. I'm sure MS patched up that loophole in the exclusivity contract.

Right, but unless EA is fucking stupid bat shit insane, they'd make sure they wouldn't hamstring themselves. At what point can one define a game that's different from the previous release. Is it simply due to the title? Then couldn't they just rename Titanfall to "Fall of Titans" on PS4, add some maps, change a few cosmetic things around and then bam, there you. Essentially same game on PS4.

Who is to say when one version is different enough from the other? If EA was smart, they would make sure it wouldn't be anything too significant.

 

[imtehman]

i still am not buying into the idea that Titanfall will do as well as some people expect simply because there is no singleplayer. I think that's a deal breaker for many people

 

[Interfectum]

Couldn't they release Titanfall : Director's Cut Elite Edition for PS4 a few months later?

Nope. If you don't own an Xbox or gaming PC then plan on not playing a Titanfall game for a long time.

 

[PeskyToaster]

I actually agree with the person you quoted.

A year ago, before anyone knew about allll the always-online craziness, I feel most people believed M$ would continue their momentum from the 360. PS3 had caught up in unit sales in the later years of the cycle but the 360 was ahead through pretty much all of it. Most of you probably remember the PS3 had been plagued with bad PR since its unveiling ($599 US dollars, giant enemy crab, boomerang controller, drought of games [this wasn't an issue by the end of its life, obviously], inferior performance with multiplatform games).

It's funny how drastically sentiment has changed. But if on January 29, 2013 you would have asked me who's console would generate more hype/"win" E3 I would have guessed Microsoft.

I for one, was all set to go Microsoft until the constant missteps, reversals, future "ass storms" soured the whole thing. Any talks about MS Titanfall exclusivity going forward will always have the PS4 sales looming over them. I can guarantee MS will have to shell out a heck of a lot more money and/or benefits this time around than they did for TItanfall 1. Same thing for any other new exclusivity agreements in regards to now vs. last gen. I think we can assume that most of these deals for early DLC and things like that were inked around the same time. Now that the data has come in it will be a whole different, more expensive animal to negotiate.

 

[ShogunDarius]

Most people thought MS would launch earlier and have the cheaper console.

Also, Xbox is kidna recognized as the dudebro console... Shooters galore and all.

I think EA should have gone multiplat, but if they were gonna go exclusive, the new xbox, at time of conception, was the easier choice.

Well there's Halo, Gears, Sunset Overdrive, Titanfall, and first DLC on COD and Battlefield. It's less than 3 months and i'm already getting sick of MS and it shooty bang bang push. Did I miss any shooters out btw?

 

[deadlast]

Respawn could just release Mechdrop on PS4 and call it a day. Then they would have all those sales and that big bag of MS money.

 

[antitrop]

i still am not buying into the idea that Titanfall will do as well as some people expect simply because there is no singleplayer. I think that's a deal breaker for many people

I bet Titanfall's budget is a fraction of what Call of Duty's is/was. They probably don't have to sell more than a few million for it to be a success. Respawn is less than 100 people, and not having a SP campaign definitely cuts back on expenses.

Of course, the marketing budget is probably going to be fucking astronomical, but that's on EA/MS's side.

 

[Skeff]

Well there's Halo, Gears, Sunset Overdrive, Titanfall, and first DLC on COD and Battlefield. It's less than 3 months and i'm already getting sick of MS and it shooty bang bang push. Did I miss any shooters out btw?

PvZ garden warfare, dem shootbangs bro.

 

[Woo-Fu]

If EA realy wants a big pice of the COD pie then they would definitely not keep this game exclusive to Xbox. Otherwise the game will fail to garner an industry wide player base and only attract those on Xbox.

EA prefers to eat their CoD pie with a Bigger Fork. Meanwhile Microsoft is spoon-feeding them in exchange for Titanfall.

 

[imtehman]

I bet Titanfall's budget is a fraction of what Call of Duty's is/was. They probably don't have to sell more than a few million for it to be a success. Respawn is less than 100 people, and not having a SP campaign definitely cuts back on expenses.

Of course, the marketing budget is probably going to be fucking astronomical.

oh i dont disagree that the game is going to turn a profit, but i dont see it being the gears of war of last gen like some people thyink

 

[Sword Of Doom]

What is the point of just buying the IP if you don't have the talent? Halo is a shell of its former self, I question if BT can do Gears justice, having the Titanfall IP without the Respawn team makes no sense. The team is what makes it great.

Respawn will not sell the IP anytime soon. It's their game and they seem excited about it's future. Maybe in a few years they might sell the IP after they're done with it the same way Epic sold GOW

 

[lightning2k3]

I bet Titanfall's budget is a fraction of what Call of Duty's is/was. They probably don't have to sell more than a few million for it to be a success. Respawn is less than 100 people, and not having a SP campaign definitely cuts back on expenses.

Of course, the marketing budget is probably going to be fucking astronomical.

Yeah but MS probably picked up the tab on the advertising. They need TitanFall to push the console in the spring without the holiday rush + early adopters already having them.

 

[Metfanant]

Not shocking...up until the February PS4 reveal...and the subsequent bumblings from Redmond...and then the price reveals....it was pretty widely believed that the Xbone would be the more powerful console...and that it would either be cheaper or equal in price...

Sony threw everyone a curveball...

 

[lowhighkang_LHK]

Nope. If you don't own an Xbox or gaming PC then plan on not playing a Titanfall game for a long time.

Don't worry I won't. And I think EA/Respawn are going to figure out that concept the hard way. I also think March is when things become congested again, with Dark Souls 2, Drive Club, MLB the show, Infamous Second Son and Titanfall.

If Titanfall was a launch period game it would have really helped the Xbox one.

EDIT: I guess I could always just play it on my 360 or my PC, which is slightly more powerful than my 360, I wouldn't call it a gaming PC though.