SCEA Pushes For More Exclusive Quality On PSN
Joe DangerWhen it comes to exclusives, Sony excels. And they're well aware of that fact so they'll continue to support exclusive content.
Today, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) has announced a three-year, $20 million investment plan specifically for the development of exclusive PlayStation Network titles. This also includes financial support for the Pub Fund, a unique program for independent developers announced back at the Game Developers Conference in 2009.
We've already seen some of the highest-rated and most popular downloadable games in existence on the PSN; the likes of Joe Danger, Critter Crunch, Flower and the PixelJunk series have really made the digital world worth experiencing. The Pub Fund shows Sony's dedication to keeping independent quality alive and kicking; SCEA "helps with game design and marketing plans but allows the developer to own the game's intellectual property, publish the title and set the price."
Future games slated to release under this model include Eufloria, Okabu, Papo & Yo, and the recently revealed PAYDAY: The Heist. Said Brandon Stander, SCEA director of PlayStation Marketing:
"PlayStation Network is poised to deliver an enviable line-up of exclusive and imaginative games this year, with highly anticipated first-party titles like thatgamecompany's Journey and PixelJunk Sidescroller. We're doubling down on PlayStation Network software, and under this additional investment over the next three years, we anticipate a steady flow of high-quality titles that can't be found anywhere else."
Tags: sony, psn, playstation network, exclusive games
7/13/2011 10:12:08 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (34 posts)
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 10:41:52 AM
Um...as far as I can tell, the ONLY "new material" can be found on the PSN. In fact, most of the best are all original and unique.
3 up, 3 down
Excelsior1
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 10:55:17 AM
2 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 10:56:07 AM
As for turn-based RPG-like combat on the PSN, you can check out Faery: Legends of Avalon.
3 up, 0 down
Fane1024
Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 6:36:10 AM
Last edited by Fane1024 on 7/14/2011 6:37:56 AM
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Temjin001
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 11:17:14 AM
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anyway. I can't believe how crazy entertaining, unique, and smartly made it is.
Other good fun download titles I own are SuperStardust HD, Joe Danger, Zen's Pinball games, Soldner X-2. All well worth it. I do really want that new Contra game.. don't know if I care a lot for the perverted(sarcasm) anime style, but it is on sale.. but I think it may be had for an even better deal in a few months.
The next download title I want is Journey. "dont stop believing!"
3 up, 0 down
Highlander
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 12:04:21 PM
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jimmyhandsome
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 11:26:51 AM
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Fabi
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 11:45:01 AM
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maxpontiac
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 11:57:55 AM
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Highlander
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 12:02:55 PM
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<<quote>>
SCEA "helps with game design and marketing plans but allows the developer to own the game's intellectual property, publish the title and set the price."
<<end quote>>
See, Sony is not only providing assistance, and a media for publishing the game, they leave the game IP in the hands of the developer, as well as allowing the developer to be the publisher and decide pricing. In other words Sony is completely hands off with regard to the developer's ownership and rights, and are there merely to assist and facilitate. MS on the other hand wants a piece of the pie, and doesn't allow indie devs the complete ownership and freedom to price and publish their work - essentially MS tries to 'option' the IP of independent developers. That's quite a contrast.
5 up, 4 down
jimmyhandsome
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 12:20:12 PM
http://indiegames-uprising.com/News.aspx
6 up, 2 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 12:43:42 PM
It's merely drawing a contrast.
4 up, 3 down
jimmyhandsome
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 1:00:48 PM
3 up, 0 down
jimmyhandsome
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 1:13:56 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 1:35:05 PM
2 up, 3 down
Beamboom
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 1:48:09 PM
Not that I know, I'm just asking. Cause what Highly emphasis on here is how Sony offer a framework, a channel to publish their games *without* taking ownership of their creative work.
If I understand correctly, by this strategy Sony supplies the flowerbed for the developers to plant their independent seeds. Microsoft let you plant your seeds too, but then take the flowers and sell them.
(ok that was not the most manly metaphor I've come up with, I'll admit that.)
Last edited by Beamboom on 7/13/2011 1:49:34 PM
3 up, 1 down
jimmyhandsome
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 2:10:40 PM
What Sony is doing is very similar, but also different. They are using money to pay for marketing and to help with some of the gamemaking, while letting the developer to do as they see fit with the project. These titles also, apparently will be exclusive.
I love my PSN, XBLA, and XBL Indie games, so I see this as more progess within the industry.
3 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 2:13:39 PM
Nevertheless, I *like* the attitude they express, regardless of if they are alone with this strategy or not. :)
(And yeah - I'm a Sony fan and M$ disliker. ;) )
Last edited by Beamboom on 7/13/2011 2:14:46 PM
3 up, 1 down
Highlander
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 2:46:55 PM
It's a contrast. Microsoft is well known to want far more control over the content on XBL than Sony exercises on PSN. That includes the publishing, pricing and often times the ownership because MS does like to option part ownership of IPs if the developer will go along with it. Sorry, but that's all true.
As supporting evidence I offer this quote from Sean Murray one of the minds behind Joe danger.
"PSN route has always been the best fit for us. We left our previous jobs at bigger developers so we could have the freedom to make the games we wanted. Sony understand that freedom and are happy to give it. For instance, we’re the publisher on Joe Danger, probably the world’s smallest, so we do everything from marketing and testing to getting the game localised. PSN is the only platform that would allow us to do that."
Perhaps a better question for you Jimmy is why you feel you must answer every perceived criticism of Microsoft. You should know by now that I don't generally make baseless statements - even about Microsoft.
Last edited by Highlander on 7/13/2011 2:54:14 PM
4 up, 2 down
Highlander
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 2:59:16 PM
"My experience is that Microsoft doesn't allow itself a lot of margin for negotiation and that's usually fine for offline games. But when you start to consider things like servers, billing, patching or even customer supports, it becomes a lot more complicated. It is my experience that Sony will be a lot more open for a publishers to manage all those aspects.
It can also as simple as the fact that Microsoft isn't ready for free to play as a business model - and they would want to control the item shops which any existing online publisher would refuse."
And further Thomas Farrer (producer of DUST 514) said Sony is "a lot more open" when allowing you to do certain things and in truth, the team just didn't think a Live version would be possible. "I think some of the challenges we'd meet would be tricky," Farrer said, adding later that it's nice to work on only one platform because "you don't have to make any awkward compromises, technically."
'nuff said.
4 up, 3 down
jimmyhandsome
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 3:13:45 PM
I know you don't make baseless claims, know what you're talking about nearly all the time, and all around am passionate about games. However, I really feel that you're wrong with some of these claims. I agree that over all MS doesn't allow nearly the same amount of freedom that Sony does with distributing games. And they definately don't promote innovation with full-budget titles.
I've been on XBL since the orginal XBox back in 2003. I've watched the XBLA mature into what it is today. I've also watched the birth of the indie games section of the marketplace. I've downloaded close to 100 XBLA and XBL Indie games over the years. What you are referring to, and maybe mixing up with these indie games, are the problems developers face releasing XBLA games with Microsoft. MS prefers only exclusive titles to be released on their platform (if MS were to publish it), and nearly all the games released are screened first and need to be approved. Microsoft obviously will receive a ton of royalties before the developer receives any money, but they do have the benefit of MS marketing their product during their seasonal sales. Sony is providing over $20 million for these new PSN games, but similarily, they will be exclusive titles with the benefit of Sony's marketing.
This is piggy-backing what I said in yesterday's thread, but MS does a great job at supporting the Indie developers (which is very different from their XBLA games, and most PSN titles). Here, they do NOT publish the games, do not set the prices, and have no input in what gets put into the game. The developers have a quick and easy way to release their game to a whole new market of people that they wouldn't on the PC. I do think that they deserve some credit for supporting that innovation. There have been a few success stories from it, and hopefully more to come with that summer contest I was talking about.
Last edited by jimmyhandsome on 7/13/2011 3:16:11 PM
3 up, 0 down
Ignitus
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 3:57:03 PM
Tough we love to read your techie posts, right now your information is incorrect.
You are referring to MS policies to get a game published by them in the XBLA section of their marketplace, which in esence is very close to what SONY is doing with this announcement, but Jimmy is referring to the indie development program which the games are not published or owned in anyway by MS.
Regular Joes, can download the XNA game develoments tools for free and start coding in ther regular PC's and publish directly in the Indie section of the Xbox game marketplace, thoug the game must not be over $5.00.
Unlike MS's Arcade section or SONY's PSN games, there is no need to buy an official game development kit from them. Just use the free tools, code and your imagination is the limit.
SONY has yet to announce and implement something similar and that's what Jimmy is referring to.
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Highlander
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 4:22:57 PM
Thank you both for your clarification. I do apologize, I wasn't referring to XNA I was referring to indie developers of full games, rather than the smaller games on XNA. Please read my comments as addressing the non XNA element of XBL. I was talking in terms of indie developers who make 'full' games rather than smaller games that might even be termed disposable. I don't mean that they are trash, merely that they have a short life and there is no substantial investment so they are easily consumed before moving on.
I wasn't aware that the XNA games were as flexible or available as you're both suggesting. I agree with you both that it would be nice to have such a facility on the PS3/PSN also. I think that is sort of the concept behind the PS Minis that Sony has. But the Mini's aren't nearly as 'basement development' friendly as you are saying XNA is. The minis are however very quick to market, inexpensive and have the look and feel of the kind of games that I see in Android market place or used to see often as free or shareware for PC.
Actually, if PlayStation Suite takes flight on the PS3 as well as the Vita and Xperia Play, it has the potential to be what you're talking about because as far as I know (and information is sketchy) PS Suite is intended for smaller, quickly developed games that can be developed by anyone and run within the PSS environment. Such games should work anywhere that supports that PSS environment, and I thought that I had read that such games would not be sold through Sony, but directly via a market place.
Obviously a lot has yet to happen with PSS, but it might emulate some of what you appear to be talking about with XNA. So in that regard, Sony seems to be taking a page from the Microsoft book.
3 up, 1 down
jimmyhandsome
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 4:56:39 PM
3 up, 0 down
Highlander
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 4:59:03 PM
2 up, 1 down
Ignitus
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 5:09:55 PM
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Ignitus
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 5:19:43 PM
http://create.msdn.com/en-US/home/about/how_it_works_review
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SayWord
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 8:27:32 PM
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Lawless SXE
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 1:22:53 PM
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Also, I really like that they're backing up what they said a few days ago with this initiative. I'm still waiting for that PSN BD compilation though...
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WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 1:37:57 PM
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1 up, 1 down
___________
Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 3:50:19 AM
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please, can one of them be a 2D platformer?
so many to choose from on XBLA with splosion man, ms splosion man, super meat boy, limbo, shadow complex, illomilo.
last 2D platformer i can think of that released on the PSN was earthworm jim, and that was not exclusive, actually a timed exclusive for XBLA.
fantastic game though, so sad to see interplay in financial trouble!
maybe EA should pick them up, they would go along perfectly with there newly acquired pop cap games.
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Excelsior1
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Wednesday, July 13, 2011 @ 10:33:00 AM