Hudson: PS3 Development Too Pricey

See Full Image

"You need to spend money to make money." That's an old adage that is ringing true for some developers who invest in making PlayStation 3 software, but for smaller developers, they simply don't have the money to spend.

Hudson, makers of the long-running and esteemed Bomberman franchise, have told Yahoo Japan that they won't be making games for Sony's next-gen machine because the development costs are just too high. President Michihiro Ishizuka ruled out any possibility of creating games for the PS3, and those who know Hudson's history probably won't be surprised, and some would suggest they stick with handheld games at this point. However, the developer/publisher has produced titles for the Xbox 360 (Bomberman Act: Zero and Fuzion Frenzy 2), and they also continue to work with the Wii and DS. These games don't have a GTAIV or MGS4 budget, of course, and Hudson isn't exactly EA. But that doesn't mean they can't make quality games; it simply means the PS3 isn't the right platform for them.

And besides, there is such a thing as the PlayStation Store and Network. Nothing is saying they couldn't whip out a classic 2D Bomberman and toss it up for a few bucks as a downloadable title, right? In fact, we think that's a great idea, and Ishizuka did say the PSN is "attractive in the business sense." So there you have it- developing for the PS3 can be very risky and very pricey, and it's just not worth it for some of the smaller developers, but there are always other options.

7/5/2008 Ben Dutka

Email this to a friend!
Put this on your webpage or blog: