The next big thing on PS3 could be yours.

[cliffbo]

April 20, 2006 @ 8:49AM - posted by Ben Kuchera

Sony looking for games for their PS3 download service. You got anything brewing?
Ever dreamed of working with Sony on a game? Now's the time to put your time and money where your mouth is. Sony is looking for people interested in an "alternative publishing opportunity" to release their games for download over the gaming network they're building for the PS3. This makes sense, Sony knows how successful XBox Arcade has become, and they want a piece of the action.

The details are pretty sparse, you can basically just sign up and hope for the best. I'm interested in knowing what Sony is expecting to pay for these games. Will they buy them outright or cut the developers into a slice of each sale? They're being pretty cagey about details:

The EDI will review potential partnership opportunities on a case-by-case basis with our studios in North America, Europe, Japan and Asia, and will be designed to promote innovation in downloadable content and to be benefit both the developer and SCE.

Please note that submission of your contact information to SCE does not make you a licensed developer.

Corporate speak aside, this means that Sony recognizes that the next big thing can come from anywhere, and they want to be sure they get a chunk of it. This is good news for everyone cranking out a game in their basement, can you imagine if something gets a little buzz and suddenly Sony and MS are fighting for a game you created? Add Steam into the mix and suddenly you have a few choices of where your homemade game can shine and make you some money.

I've never been happier with the industry as I am with this trend of giving independent developers ways to shine and make money off their work. This is too cool.


http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2006/4/20/3674

[LiquidEagle]

That's really cool. Amidst all this talk of small developers not being able to develop on next-gen hardware & stuff, it's good to hear that homebrew is finding a big place and getting its chance.

[Domination]

All I can do is shake my head to some of the genius ideas these guys come up with. That is totally awesome, and you don't even need much money, if at all, to do it. Things like this is what's going to revolutionize gaming as we know it.

[casualkiss]

They should have done the same thing with the PSP.

There will always be room for $50 exceptional triple AAA games, but by allowing users to flood a specifically designated marketplace of home made games, you allow millions of people to get in on the action without the curse of crappy titles being mixed in with the good stuff (killed Atari)

But in order for Sony to continue to be able to sell a $800 machine for $300 and still make money Sony must:

1. Limit processing power to these home brew titles to make official software (that pays royal tees) more attractive

2. [OR] Demand that all (popular) home brew games be commercial with a big cut going to Sony

[Arnaud_M]

They will probably demand that distribution be handled through their download service, in which case they will automatically derive $$ from each sale.

Arnaud

[OmniCloud]

Good news...I heard some of the homebrew apps on PSP were really good..

[cliffbo]

the possibilities are immense here. if Sony can put together a site where surfers can judge and rate games put forward by the users themselves, and then put the top ten up for download after a month, then what you got there is a bottomless pit of creativity. and once its established, perhaps the best of the best actually gets put on an official Sony site. thousands and thousands of games. all our own work.

[Saibo]

They should have done the same thing with the PSP.

There will always be room for $50 exceptional triple AAA games, but by allowing users to flood a specifically designated marketplace of home made games, you allow millions of people to get in on the action without the curse of crappy titles being mixed in with the good stuff (killed Atari)

But in order for Sony to continue to be able to sell a $800 machine for $300 and still make money Sony must:

1. Limit processing power to these home brew titles to make official software (that pays royal tees) more attractive

2. [OR] Demand that all (popular) home brew games be commercial with a big cut going to Sony


1. Why? they are already limiting developers with 1 SPE reserve for the OS, and there are different access "levels" , some lock even from the commercail developers. So theres not need to limit any indy developers further. Basically everyone will be in the same boat as far as development goes on the PS3(be it homebrew or huge studios, Ken is a smart man!). There was a old article about the PS3 access "levels" in EEtime.

Do you honest think a indy game is going to outshine a commercailly developed game? Highly unlike, and people who buy indy games are still going to be small compare to the commercail ones.

2. I dont know about that, IMO the indy developers should have the right to sale it at any price they see fit, and they can work out a deal with Sony as to how much cut Sony gets(popular or not). As long as the 2 party agree upfront, everythine should be fine.

EDI is very cool, IMO alot of innovate titles well come from this EDI idea, because indy developers arent affraid of trying new ideas. However were going to need some PS3 hardware in order to developed game: PS3 Linux Kit, or something along those lines. I think thats the next step in their plans.

[casualkiss]

1. Why? they are already limiting developers with 1 SPE reserve for the OS, and there are different access "levels" , some lock even from the commercail developers. So theres not need to limit any indy developers further. Basically everyone will be in the same boat as far as development goes on the PS3(be it homebrew or huge studios, Ken is a smart man!). There was a old article about the PS3 access "levels" in EEtime.

Do you honest think a indy game is going to outshine a commercailly developed game? Highly unlike, and people who buy indy games are still going to be small compare to the commercail ones.

2. I dont know about that, IMO the indy developers should have the right to sale it at any price they see fit, and they can work out a deal with Sony as to how much cut Sony gets(popular or not). As long as the 2 party agree upfront, everythine should be fine.


From Sony's perspective, the PS3 is a HUGE loss leader with money made back through software royaltees. Sony's primary concern is to make sure indie games (specially if they are free) do not in any way interfeer with future software sales... and if they do, Sony must make sure they make just as much money off the indie titles as they would have from lost sales.

[venomv]

Sony will probably take a bigger chunk then they would normally, but I see no reason to take away processing power, not like very many indie games will get anywhere near the PS3's potential anyway.

[Saibo]

From Sony's perspective, the PS3 is a HUGE loss leader with money made back through software royaltees. Sony's primary concern is to make sure indie games (specially if they are free) do not in any way interfeer with future software sales... and if they do, Sony must make sure they make just as much money off the indie titles as they would have from lost sales.

It seem you think that indy games are going to take away from commercail software sales, thats not likely the case(even if it is free, or cheaper). People well still buy AAA titles made by professional developers. Im still going to buy GT, DMC, MGS, etc. Limiting the indy developer doesnt do anyone any good.

Indy games dont take away from commercail software sales, they only add to it. Thats my point.

As far as price is concern it depends on the complexity of the indy game, but thats something Sony and the indy developers can work out with a contract. Option B as you point out makes more sense. If some indy games are really great(AAA) than of course Sony is going to take a good chunk from it, especailly if the indy developers want to sale it for 59 USD.