The guidelines Microsoft has for publishers have been uncovered. Games must also have ”feature and content parity” on-disc with other versions too on sale.
”We’re a little biased, so obviously we’re going to look to protect our own space as best we can and get exclusivity,” said Xbox Europe’s Chris Lewis, defending the policy.
”Whilst I can’t be specific about the terms and conditions, you can be very confident we seek to maximise our own advantage to ensure the playing field is even, and certainly plays to our advantage wherever possible.”
”As you can also imagine, our partners have to be mindful of the relationship they have with all platform holders, and they need to be equitable,” he explained.
”But there are contractual situations where we get agreement with different people to do different things, and through what we have available on Xbox Live, we are able to offer things other people can’t offer, that allows that exclusivity and unique elements to it that might not otherwise be available elsewhere.”
Below is an excerpt from Microsoft’s Content Submission and Release Policy, which reveals how it deals with third-party publishers and their titles.
”Titles for Xbox 360 must ship at least simultaneously with other video game platform, and must have at least feature and content parity on-disc with the other video game platform versions in all regions where the title is available,” it states. ”If these conditions are not met, Microsoft reserves the right to not allow the content to be released on Xbox 360.”
These apply also to Xbox Live Arcade releases, while other online content ”must simultaneously release on Xbox Live Marketplace in all regions where the game is available”, and game demos ”must ship within the same week” as other sources.
Lewis doubts Xbox Live will host any digital title published on PlayStation Network first in the future. ”I’d be surprised if we saw that as something we’d encourage,” he said.
”But, honestly, and this is going to sound a bit contrived, we just want what our consumers want from us. We want to be where they want us to be. We want the quality bar of what they experience from us to continue to go up. I think it has to happen.”
”Everybody’s got to do that. If we want to continue to command healthy average selling prices, which we all do, that which we offer our consumers has got to keep getting better.”
”Despite the fact it can be irksome to have such strong competition all the time, it actually does keep us on our toes. It’s great for everyone, and it makes for a very healthy race to higher and higher levels of quality of game experiences,” added Lewis.
Not everyone naturally shares Microsoft’s view about these third-party guidelines. An anonymous publisher rep disagreed: ”Microsoft is suggesting that anything but parity will result in them not carrying a title. They may think this is competitive, but it’s not. They are killing any creative exposure of titles to make up for their own platform’s shortcomings.”
Microsoft has a right to protect the Xbox platform don’t they, or is this too far?
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