Making games for PSN
- Thread starter DJ12
- Start date
archangelmorph
Veteran
Well it wouldn't be all bad..
At the worst case you'd have a nice little (albeit expensive) PS3 with most (if not all) of the functionality of a retail unit..
I recently read the presentation & it looks like deploying PhyreEngine code to the debug kit requires SNSystem tools anyway.. Which begs the question even further "why not just release the engine into the public domain"..?
archangelmorph
Veteran
Debug units can play retail games just fine.. We had Rachet & Clank running on one of ours the day after it came out..
Gradthrawn
Veteran
This is the only info I could find:
Does it look like a retail PS3 or like a rackmount server like the full SDKs? Just curious.
archangelmorph
Veteran
It's just a test unit.. Looks like a retail unit but with less obvious differences..
Here's a 24 hour creation from That Game Company, creators of flOw.
[gt]31665[/gt]
Looks like a full screen 2D multiplayer shooter with Worms like destructible environment. Could be fun in 16 player, different to other multiplayers in that you can see everyone at once.
[gt]31665[/gt]
Looks like a full screen 2D multiplayer shooter with Worms like destructible environment. Could be fun in 16 player, different to other multiplayers in that you can see everyone at once.
I doubt any multiplatform engine provides hands-off crossplatform support.
So, for PSN you need some kind of PS3 anyway.
And personally I'd prefer the guarantee of fixed hardware and CELL which is the interesting part of PS3 development anyway.
Well, I could prototype on PC, and do some preliminary Cell testing on Linux PS3 or on the Cell Simulator on PC.
Incidentally, I have tried to send an email to devnet relations replacing scea in the address mentioned above with scee, and asking a list of questions of stuff that has come up in this thread. It hasn't bounced yet, but even if it ends up somewhere, it will be interesting to see if we also get an answer.
Maybe someone can send a similar mail to scea and try to get some answers, or maybe someone here who has closer ties to Sony has some of the answers or knows where to get them:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sony Computer Entertainment Europe,
I have tried to guess the European address of developer relations (SCE), because I could only find the U.S. address for developer relations. Especially news on the cost of a debug unit and the advanced status of the PhyreEngine has piqued our collective interest in developing smaller projects for the console space significantly.
On behalf of several different interested developers on the www.beyond3d.com forum including myself, I would be interested to know what it currently takes to develop a game for the Playstation Network. Specificially, we would like to know information on the following subjects:
The Debug Unit
1. Is the $1200 debug unit and the free PhyreEngine enough to start game development?
2. Where can you acquire this unit?
3. What limitations are set for acquiring this unit? I.e. is it only available to companies, or more specifically software development companies? Only available in certain regions? Or can a private individual purchase a unit as well?
4. Can this same unit be purchased for game reviewing and previewing purchases?
The PhyreEngine
5. How can a developer gain access to the PhyreEngine? Can any individual get it to develop prototype applications? Or does the PhyreEngine come free with the debug unit only (including any requirements and limitations that are set to acquiring a debug unit)
Publising
6. Once you have developed a game, what publishing options are there? For instance, are you required to go through a publisher that is affiliated with Sony? Can you as an individual, or as a small independent company, publish a game on PSN? How does quality assurance work in these cases?
7. What does it cost to post a free PSN demo versus a full game? Is the fee fixed, or is it related to the amount of PSN games sold, or a combination?
PSP
8. Are any of these informations also relevant to publishing games on the PSP?
It would be really helpful to know these answers or to know when answers will be made available, or whether we have overlooked a website that already contains all this information.
Kind regards,
Arwin van Arum
Incidentally, I have tried to send an email to devnet relations replacing scea in the address mentioned above with scee, and asking a list of questions of stuff that has come up in this thread. It hasn't bounced yet, but even if it ends up somewhere, it will be interesting to see if we also get an answer.
Maybe someone can send a similar mail to scea and try to get some answers, or maybe someone here who has closer ties to Sony has some of the answers or knows where to get them:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sony Computer Entertainment Europe,
I have tried to guess the European address of developer relations (SCE), because I could only find the U.S. address for developer relations. Especially news on the cost of a debug unit and the advanced status of the PhyreEngine has piqued our collective interest in developing smaller projects for the console space significantly.
On behalf of several different interested developers on the www.beyond3d.com forum including myself, I would be interested to know what it currently takes to develop a game for the Playstation Network. Specificially, we would like to know information on the following subjects:
The Debug Unit
1. Is the $1200 debug unit and the free PhyreEngine enough to start game development?
2. Where can you acquire this unit?
3. What limitations are set for acquiring this unit? I.e. is it only available to companies, or more specifically software development companies? Only available in certain regions? Or can a private individual purchase a unit as well?
4. Can this same unit be purchased for game reviewing and previewing purchases?
The PhyreEngine
5. How can a developer gain access to the PhyreEngine? Can any individual get it to develop prototype applications? Or does the PhyreEngine come free with the debug unit only (including any requirements and limitations that are set to acquiring a debug unit)
Publising
6. Once you have developed a game, what publishing options are there? For instance, are you required to go through a publisher that is affiliated with Sony? Can you as an individual, or as a small independent company, publish a game on PSN? How does quality assurance work in these cases?
7. What does it cost to post a free PSN demo versus a full game? Is the fee fixed, or is it related to the amount of PSN games sold, or a combination?
PSP
8. Are any of these informations also relevant to publishing games on the PSP?
It would be really helpful to know these answers or to know when answers will be made available, or whether we have overlooked a website that already contains all this information.
Kind regards,
Arwin van Arum
(edit: could not find an edit button so had to post a new entry)
This is closest to the issue I can get. Ogre3d forums suggest you still need to get PS3 certified developer, then may purchase $1200 debugkit and PhyreEngine. Next issue is what kind of requirements do Sony put.
http://www.snsys.com/ps3/prodg.asp
http://www.ogre3d.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=271987&sid=ce193664e1d3d7c4af509e6f4e2718c6
This is closest to the issue I can get. Ogre3d forums suggest you still need to get PS3 certified developer, then may purchase $1200 debugkit and PhyreEngine. Next issue is what kind of requirements do Sony put.
http://www.snsys.com/ps3/prodg.asp
http://www.ogre3d.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=271987&sid=ce193664e1d3d7c4af509e6f4e2718c6
I've also sended an email to Sony some weeks ago, and they answered me with a link to a form that must be filled up.
It seems to be intedended only for Companies. I think it wll be hard (if not impossible) for a private developer to have access to the kit. It's not just a matter of money.
www.newdev.scee.net
This is for Europe, but I think that the US should have somethink like this.
It seems to be intedended only for Companies. I think it wll be hard (if not impossible) for a private developer to have access to the kit. It's not just a matter of money.
www.newdev.scee.net
This is for Europe, but I think that the US should have somethink like this.
Jonathon Mak created Riff Every Shooter, so it must be possible. His website http://www.queasygames.com/ has an email address. Maybe drop him a line an enquire how he managed it? I wouldn't be surprised if startups were welcome as long as you could prove you had a product to sell - that is a demo/PC title of suitable calibre.
Didn't Sony contact his agent after playing PC (flash?) version of Everyday Shooter?
Maybe he developed it in some Sony studio?
Everybody knows that Sony doesn't want to have eveybody developing for their systems. It's been like this since the PS1. It's no surprise that one has to be a certified developer to have access to a Kit.
Sure, but that doesn't mean they're very exclusive either to the point of refusing to even think about indie devs. As long as you are a professional outfit, even if just a one-man band, you should be able to fill in that form and get Sony's attention as any other developer. The form is just there to stop wannabes inundating Sony with garbage, I think, rather than limiting development to established mainstream studios. If you're serious, create a prototype, get yourself a 'company website' and apply. If Sony aren't that open than their policy is contrary to their PR comments about being open to anyone to approach them.
That's excactly what I'm thinking about doing as soon as I have a good idea for a game (ho boy, this is the hard part).
I'm just saying that it will be quite hard to get the licence and get Sony attention. The game MUST be good.
