Playstation Mobile

[Arwin]

I thought, since the old thread was never going to be renamed, this deserves a new thread. It's actually out this week, namely tomorrow! (in the announced countries)

Read some more stuff from developers about the games being launched tomorrow here:
http://www.psnstores.com/category/psm/

And here:
http://uk.playstation.com/psn/news/...716/Great-games-coming-to-PlayStation-Mobile/

I think I read there will be some 40 games up there to start with ... pretty excited, even though it's not yet available in my region (which sucks, but well, hopefully it won't take too long)

 

[almighty]

I don't get it, was is it?

 

[minimoke]

Can't wait to see what some of the bigger dev teams have created. I had a quick play with the SDK and it looked to have great potential, easy to setup and test on multiple devices.

 

[Arwin]

I don't get it, was is it?

It's basically a cross platform App Store similar to iOS. Developers can download a C# / Mono / OpenGL ES 2.0 based SDK for free, and then publish games ($99 a year) on the Playstation Mobile platform, which is available on Playstation Vita and a number of Android based phones and tablets (bunch of Sony ones, obviously, a few HTC ones, and more coming)

I've actually tried it during the beta phase, and made a little UI wizard, and it is one of the easiest mobile platforms to develop for I've ever come across.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Live in 6 nations? So basically a Vita indie platform at the moment, with few devices capable of running it. Unless Sony get behind this big time, it'll fizzle out. I could be spurred into giving it a look, but I need to get from "ASUS announce support" to "your tablet actually runs PSM" and I need to see a lot of movement with PSM adoption by mobile devices and users. Alternatively add PS3 support and I'm there.

Currently though, if I was to have a look at a new environment, I think I'd aim for Windows 8, just because it'll be a combination of large market and empty market. Being first there with a great photo app or somesuch should be rewarding. Once it's filled up, Win 8 will be no better than any other platform, so it'd probably be back to Droid or iOS. PSM isn't offering the install base yet to be worth investigating IMO, and there's way too little noise from Sony to suggest that'll change.

 

[Brad Grenz]

What Sony really needs is for some high profile, iOS-only devs to chose PSM as their only method of publishing on Android. That would raise the profile of the service and create pressure for hardware vendors to get certified. Bit of a pie in the sky request, but maybe all the developers who've shunned Android because it's too hard to support such a fragmented hardware base will put their money where their mouth is.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Yes, PSM needs a 'killer app' to get people to adopt it. At the moment, even if PSM worked on every Android device, who would even know about it and use it? Whereas if Angry Birds was PSM exclusive, it'd get a lot more use. But no-one's going to release exclusively on PSM to target the Android crowd as the potential market is utterly minuscule. PSM's only value at the moment is Vita, with 2 million customers who'd buy something new just out of curiosity. After 6 months, it's quite possible the platform will be dead if Sony can't generate momentum. That's where PS3 support for PSM would catapult it to viability.

 

[Arwin]

We'll see what happens. Ironically, I think Windows 8 will help Playstation Mobile, because Playstation Mobile is closer to that in development style than anything else right now, I think (XNA in particular is a lot like it). Also, it's just so accessible - free SDK, emulator runs immediately, you can start running in 5 minutes, and for now it seems that testing on Vita is still free, just publishing costs money.

From all the platforms I've tried, I like it the most by some distance. They do certainly have a few opportunities to make this popular:

- release Playstation software on it (like PS one titles)
- make it easier to target all devices (not having to worry too much about resolutions, etc.)
- have an audience more ready to buy apps (if it stays add free and you can get everything just buying stuff, I personally definitely prefer that)

Also, I think that proven titles will probably get a native release on Vita in some cases (I just saw an announcement for Burn-the-Rope as a native title I think). Will be interesting

That said, also plenty of opportunities to have it fail of course.

Right now though, it means that you can develop games (and apps) for the Vita, and use most of its controls (no GPS or back touch yet, currently), and that alone is a big plus for me. All Vita's have a default set of buttons, analog sticks and controls, which will make it one of the better platforms for quite a few types of games.

 

[Prophecy2k]

Sony just needs to get Samsung and all it's existing, new and upcoming high-end android phones certified. If they did that then there'd be no contest in that PSM would be the defacto mobile dev platform for Android.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Sony just needs to get Samsung and all it's existing, new and upcoming high-end android phones certified. If they did that then there'd be no contest in that PSM would be the defacto mobile dev platform for Android.

Based on what? Who's going to choose PSM to target Android when using the Android SDK or some other development environment like MONO gets you all 1+ million units a day and all 500 million devices, versus the few tens of millions of high-end Sammys? I certainly wouldn't.

 

[Arwin]

Based on what? Who's going to choose PSM to target Android when using the Android SDK or some other development environment like MONO gets you all 1+ million units a day and all 500 million devices, versus the few tens of millions of high-end Sammys? I certainly wouldn't.

Actually, to quote Neogaf:

As far as ports go, though, if it can encourage ports from iOS that aren't on the Android Marketplace (ala Super Crate Box) that would help it a lot I think. Vlambeer were and are shy about Android support, yet here they are with a PSM launch game...so if Sony can get other devs to think likewise, it would be helpful to them.

Some developers don't like Android because of, among others, piracy (which these are examples of). One thing that Sony has going for it for now is that Playstation Mobile market may be relatively safe (comparable to or better than iOS)

 

[Shifty Geezer]

But there are still virtually no Android device that run PSM! Vlambeer's port is for Vita - if not for Vita, they wouldn't bother, no? the most secure platform in the world is one with no devices, but that's not really a reason to target it.

 

[Arwin]

But there are still virtually no Android device that run PSM! Vlambeer's port is for Vita - if not for Vita, they wouldn't bother, no? the most secure platform in the world is one with no devices, but that's not really a reason to target it.

Well, I mention them as possible foundations for killer apps. If this means it will get exclusives that are, say, hits on iOS and only come to PSM but not Google or Amazon stores for Android, that will mean more possibilities 'killer apps' will hit it. If PSM gets games that Android doesn't get, because publishing on PSM means you can target Vita, that is another thing that will drive games to the platform that may otherwise never reach Android, and that increases the likelihood more Android devices will include PSM, etc.

 

[JasonLD]

I just want Sony to release Vita phone.

 

[Arwin]

I just want Sony to release Vita phone.

Who knows. Right now though, since the last update, Skype now fully works for me, including Skype credit, so I can actually call with it. It already also receives sms-s. So in a sense, you can get quite far with it already. Now all it needs is an email app. (though in theory, I think gmail works with the browser already)

It can even stay resident in the background while playing. Only bummer for me personally is that textchat isn't in there yet, which is something I use more than actual calling itself.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

It really needs SMS over 3G (SIM) to be a viable communications platform. Otherwise it's no substitute for a Vita phone.

 

[almighty]

This App + Rasperry PI + PS3 pad = competent machine capable of playing older games at 1080p

Might actually try that actually... Had Resident Evil 2 running very well on my old Xperia play...

 

[Arwin]

It really needs SMS over 3G (SIM) to be a viable communications platform. Otherwise it's no substitute for a Vita phone.

The 3G card in my Vita actually does have a phone number, and it does receive SMS over 3G ... They arrive under operator messages, but they do arrive. No direct way to answer though, would have to either call back or use some website to send an sms back.

Gmail doesn't work though from the looks of things. Perhaps some other email site, or I can write a Playstation Mobile app.

Actually, since it does have a phone number and receives messages, it should be able to run WhatsApp and stuff like that.

 

[JasonLD]

Sony got burned lot of times doing proprietary, but I think Sony actually needs to release their own closed mobile platform.

 

[Gitaroo]

unless it has true psn integration, like trophies and friend list, its going to be pointless and be forgotten quickly. its a great idea where they are heading, especially when ppl consider the apps quality and fragmentation on android, bring out a better thought out unify systems might be a great idea for android. The real question is why develope for PSM when android market is big enough on its own. If this thing takes off, more partners will want to adopt it, like Samsung for example. Also good source of income domestically consider the success of Gree and mobage in Japan, maybe they can use some of that funds to finally pay for some decent ads campaign and money hat some big franchise for Vita lol.

added: remember reading that they do have plan for trophies coming eventually. They also announce sharp and Fujitsu partnership in Japan, where they sold the most smart phones in Japan. So it looks like they are taking it more seriously. Just hope that things happen sooner rather than later when the platform is dead.