Why do you think Bioware has been so loyal to Microsoft?

I mean when you really think about it, Bioware games have always appeared on Microsoft platforms. Sure there have been exceptions - Sonic Chronicles, Dragon Age on PS3, and MDK2, But if you look at their track record they are really loyal to MS. Not only that, when asked about the possibility of ME2 on the PS3 the developers flat out said that it's not going to happen. Now that they are owned by EA they could have definitely put the game out on PS3 with a lack of save game transfer (would have hurt the game IMO) but at least a lot more people would have gotten to play what I think is one of the best games ever. And now with them busy developing Mass Effect 3, I doubt a PS3 version will see the light of day. 
 
What do you think? Do you think the team doesn't want to develop for the PS3 due to lack of experience with the console, or maybe MS is paying them off? Or maybe they just don't want to?

Probably they just have experience working on PC and 360 so that's what they focused on. Plus all of those games you mentioned were different teams within Bioware than the one working on Mass Effect, in fact Bioware didn't even do the Ps3 and 360 versions of Dragon Age, it was another developer that ported it.

Well, first off they did nothing but PC games for a while, with Shattered Steel (Okay, yeah, that was on MAC too, but you get the point) and the Bauldur's Gate games.) because it was, well, what they knew. With the current stuff, it's all about manpower and experience, and, well, market. As for why Mass Effect 2 specifically never came to PS3, I think it's because so much of that game was how it used your Mass Effect 1 save. It would be like releasing a crippled version for no really good reason, in the designers eyes.

Well Microsoft had publishing rights for the first Mass Effect and there may be some lingering contractual obligations, not so much them paying Bioware off.  Also I'm sure that the Xbox's architecture being quite similar to a PC probably has something to do with it.

Money.

Because MS pays well.

ME was probably made exclusive to 360 with a massive check.  Bioware obviously don't have many problems with the ps3 as the ps3 version of DA was better looking than the 360 one.  I really hope we start seeing fewer true exclusives as it just means that people miss out on great games if they can't afford all the consoles.
  It would be nice if they could release a collection of the first two (like GoW) before releasing ME3 multiplat but I imagine the 360 exclusivity deal is for the trilogy and permanent rather than timed.  What will be interesting is if any further games Bioware make in the ME universe are 360 exclusive.

Gobs of cash being thrown at them from Microsoft. Nuff said

I'm sure money has a lot to do with it. They're also both companies in North America so that could be a part of the equation.

Mass Effect was originally going to be published by Microsoft in a deal similar to their setup with Epic for Gears and Insomniac and Sucker Punch for Sony. Bioware was bought by EA months before ME1 was released however any legal agreements would remain binding as per the original deal unless they work something else out which they probably had such as the EA published PC port of ME1 months after the the MS published 360 game. 

Well DAO for the PS3 turned out superior to the 360 version from what I remember so they can develop for the console. I think they just chose to keep ME on Microsoft's platforms because of the financial situation and they probably don't want a disappointing port.

i think it is because microsoft pays them to make it exclusive. i think bioware enjoys getting that kind of money.

MS made it rain on Bioware that is why. It has nothing to do with loyalty it is all about the dough $$$. If Sony is willing to pay Bioware they would get the same treatment too.

" Money. "

"Money. "

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I don't think we're seeing a trend in loyalty here, rather a tendency to fall on the easier side of things. The PS3's Blu-Ray architecture is still tricky for many developers, so why not release their game on a platform who's inner workings they really understand? Now, I'm not saying that BioWare titles will never be prominent on the PS3, I think it'll just take a while and a few more devs sinking their teeth into the meaty sunuvabitch before BioWare is ready to jump in. 
 
As for ME2 not being released on PS3, you're right, it would have hurt the game. In fact, I have little doubt that you wouldn't have been able to swing a dead cat around the forums without hitting someone who's outraged by the lack of carry-over saves in their PS3 ME2. Mass Effect 3 will likely suffer the same fate.

" @ShadowSkill11: If you read my post, I said Microsoft platforms. Developing for the PC is also a Microsoft platform. There is: 
 
Shattered Steel 
Baldur's Gate and it's expansions 
Baldur's Gate 2 and it's expansions 
Neverwinter Nights and it's expansions 
KOTOR 
Jade Empire 
ME1  
ME2 
TOR 
 
All these games are for Microsoft Platforms (PC or Xbox).
 
@s7evn: As it's been said like 3 times in here, the fact that DA:O was superior on the PS3 wasn't up to them - they did not port it. Another company did. I'm actually guessing now that the choice to bring DA:O to PS3 was probably EA's idea. I mean look at their track record. It's the first game released with a Bioware name on it for a Sony platform in almost a decade, and it's also their first new IP after being obtained by EA. Definitely not a coincidence. So Bioware doesn't have any experience with the PS3... as of yet. "

A few factors no doubt.  
 
- Carry over saves from ME
- They've been working with MS for years, are comfortable with them and are probably getting paid handsomely 
- PS3 hardware remains harder for devs to release games on