Free online with PSN means better reach and returns for smaller budget games
Looking to strike a chord with the pool of budding
talent at GDC08, Sony Computer Entertainment America's VP of product
marketing Scott Steinberg believes the PlayStation 3 will be the
platform which best suits the needs of smaller, independant developers
looking to make a name for themselves in the console gaming biz.
Steinberg's comments come as a response to Microsoft's recent buzz over
catering to the needs of startup developers with the XNA development
platform for PC, Xbox 360, and now Zune.
Part of SCEA's
confidence stems from the free access nature for the PlayStation
Network, compared to the Gold level membership required to appreciate
Xbox Live's full online functionality. While it's natural SCEA would
deem free access as an advantage the PSN has over Xbox Live in general,
the company also believes it's a trump card that will give smaller
developers a better chance to become more visible through their games:
"So, the accessibility of somebody's content who decides to make a game that
is maybe smaller, more affordable for consumers to buy – I think we're
a better choice because the PS3 owner has the ability to go online day
one without having to cut a check... I think if a small, start-up
company wanted to have global access to their content, and have global
commercial potential for their content, Sony is by far the best
platform."
Queried over the lack of movie and
television programming rentals on the PSN compared to Xbox Live,
Steinberg promises the remainder of 2008 will see Sony better
leveraging its weight as an entertainment media brand in order to
deliver such services to the PSN.