It's not Xbox-exclusive. It's just PS3-excluded.

So where is the release date for PC then?

Unfortunate, but hardware limitations are what they are. PS3's electronics were considered (almost) top of the line 7 years ago, and it uses segregated RAM instead of shared. Bethesda has a little trick where they make the graphics and draw distance worse on 360 every time they release DLC so it can fit in the shared RAM pool. Same trick doesn't work on PS3. There's really only so much devs can do, and at some point we need to say "tough luck" and start leaving old hardware in the cold so we can hit new gameplay / content / openness milestones.

Do you really think they'll exclude a major DLC package from PC users? PC users won't get it right away, but they'll get it.

I'm certainly no expert on the matter, but it was my understanding that you can bypass a lot of those limitations on PS3 if you know how to properly code for the cell processors. I remember reading somewhere about Naughty Dog doing all sorts of weird programming tricks to get the Unchartered games running so well.

I'm talking about the 30 day exclusive...Not they'll never get it. That's just stupid.

Then why was Hearthfire exclusive? All you M$/Bethe$da apologists continually fail to explain that.

Dragonborn will probably be a 360 exclusive. Whatever contract they have doesn't really matter. It's clear to anyone who looks at Bethesda objectively that they value money over community goodwill.

Hell, I only know of one.

No i can't explain about the hearthfire exclusive. I'm just stating my opinion. I don't think microsoft would accept hearthfire as exclusive. Plus there is only a date for xbox regarding dragonborn...I see no date for either PC or PS3 which to me indicates another exclusive. And as i have said before dawnguard and dragonborn are exclusive.To me hearthfire isn't.

And for the record...i'd prefer we all get DLC at the same time. I was stating what think will happen.

Maybe only the "do not mention it" thing applies to all DLCs, but not the time exclusivity.
I sure hope so, but to be honest... that's one of the few hopes I have for getting DB this year.

True. Human weakness is what it is, and marketing is essentially the dark art of exploiting that weakness. I suppose my argument would allude to conscientious developers and their loyalty to the community and not to the dollar. There are developers that take the view that DLC should be released at one time for all platforms; Bethesda don't appear to be one of them. I would also not wish to paint the entire Beth team with that brush as I'm certain that many of their employees would wish a non-exclusive approach but the decision simply isn't theirs to make.

I don't leave the PS3 quarantine thread much, but had to reply to this post. I've wondered out-loud a few times what MS thought about paying Bethesda what amounted to free money, as since their real rival Sony's console has yet to get DLC. Maybe this seemingly renewed exclusivity deal is a move to placate MS and not piss them off too?

Any dealings are probably Bethesda-level, given that Zenimax has a subsidiary making TESO as a PC exclusive and badmouthing the 360's hardware capabilities, which is hilarious because the very last thing PC gamers want is another self-professed WoW clone. So console owners are jealous about TESO and some are even buying PCs for it even though the PC market at large has very low hopes for the game after finding out it used Hero Engine and had "similar to WoW gameplay." Somehow they've actually managed to rustle the feathers of two sectors of TES fans at once. Still, I think it shows that Zenimax has no MS agreement. If they did they would have their subsidiary cut down the MMO's scope, gameplay, and visual quality until an Xbox 360 could run it, and the devs certainly wouldn't be insinuating that their game was too high quality for a console release (more or less what they said regarding PC exclusivity).

I'm not exactly very skilled at marketing, but surely it would be a slightly odd decision of Bethesda not to release DB during the Christmas holiday period for other platforms? I know they're not obligated to provide details, but it wouldn't hurt if we had something to go on Bethesda.

Huh?


Ahh, balance restored.

This is essentially the crux of the problem. The console is out of date and in dire need of a new release. The problem being that the poor manufacturing process of the XBox 360 has led to so many recalls that over a billion dollars has had to be recouped. And it is being recouped by extending the life of the 360 well beyond where it should be. It's a lose lose situation for the consumer (both PC and console) who are, in effect, being held back. The increasingly diplomatic language being used by developers regarding the 360 hints at what games companies actually think of the situation, but it's a great shame that Microsoft wield so much power that they are capable of stalling an entire industry. Still, the new consoles should be here next year so the situation will be back full circle and the new cycle can begin.

Hopefully if Valve are able to completely support Steam on Linux that might change.

Not sure why MS would need to be placated. Their rival still has no DLC. It seems like they got better than what they paid for.

Yeah, as consumers we need greater competition in the market place. Without that pressure to compete complacency and laziness sets in and the consumer pays the price. But let's not be under any delusions here: it boils down to money. Even traditionally PC developers sided with Microsoft and developed games that were just using old tech -- how many DX 11 games are there? It's been a sad period for gamers on that front and, frankly, an indictment of the industry's true colours. Great games have been made in this period but not as many as there could have been.