Simon Carless has written a really good article on GameSetWatch where he argues that downloadable games on XBLA and PSN are too cheap to sustain themselves as a viable business model.
The problem, as I see it, is that setting a $10 precedent for what are often complex, multi-mode, multi-level games presumes that you can pretty easily get to 100,000 units sold – given that you only get 70% of revenues and that most games probably cost in the low to mid hundreds of thousands of dollars if you’re actually using hired staff that you pay and take a year to a year and half to make it including (lengthy!) approval processes. Given the amount of games flooding onto the service, I’m not sure that’s quite so easy now. And it’s just going to get harder.
Also, keep in mind that in 2006, Garage Games’ Jeff Tunnell revealed that “The publicly available information on this is that the distribution fees for bringing a game to XBLA is 35 to 70 percent, depending upon participation by [Microsoft]” (via Gamespot). In other words, Tunnell implied that the “70% of revenues” is actually a ceiling… and one that you get only when you are doing the most work.
But yes, good analysis, and a must-read for anyone who’s interested in developing for consoles.
Dylan Cuthbert, founder of Japanese-based Q-Games (which developed the PS3 downloadable game Pixel Junk Racers), talks about their latest game, Monster Madness, in this blog entry. The game is an RTS/Tower Defense hybrid made with Japanese gamers in mind.
The entry has some interesting tidbits, and I found this part to be terribly amusing:
The online rankings are going to be pretty competitive for this title and there are separate tables for cooperative and single play. The cooperative mode actually gets people to talk to each other as they play, and seeing as girls love this game (no, honestly, they do!), Monsters could become an important tool in every lad’s arsenal!
It’s true – video games can be a great way to break the ice with the opposite sex, men and women alike. The way I do it is using the NES Power Pad… World Class Track Meet, baby. They never expect me to get down on my knees and start pounding the buttons with my fists. Works every time!
Jon Mak’s award-winning “game album” Everyday Shooter has just been released on Playstation Network today, in full HD, at the low, low price of $9.99 USD. If you have a PS3, buy it immediately, I say! If you don’t, convince a friend to—Go in on it with them if you have to. (That’s what I’m going to do.)
Congrats, Jon! Can’t wait for the PC version.
Derek’s Update: Check out this Playstation “Personality Profile” on Jon where he admits that he recently bought five pounds of hash (browns)! Thanks, Petri!
As reported by Tim, thatgamecompany’s latest project for PS3 was revealed today during Sony’s keynote speech at the Tokyo Game Show. The game is called FlOwer, and, true to form, it looks quite evocative, although little is known about how it actually plays. You can view the trailer, along with the other PS3 trailers, here.
The rumor now is that their third title for Sony will be titled deFlOwered… and by playing the game you will experience the emotion of losing your virginity.
Other indie news sites broke this story first. But none of them broke it with this sexy pic of Jonathan Mak.
N’Gai Croal’s “Level Up” blog is increasingly becoming a place for juicy exclusives. This time N’Gai (awesome name) reveals that Jon’s sensational musical shoot ‘em up, Everyday Shooter, is hitting the PS3 to join Jenova Chen’s fl0w. There’s also an interview with Jon before he headed to E3 (now one day in and counting):
“Nothing I’m doing is specific to the PS3. I try not to buy into using new technologies simply because I feel that old technology is already so rich. It’s sorta like how an acoustic guitar, while being very simple, is still very expressive. That’s how I feel about old technology.”
The best part is that I can totally hear his voice the whole time I’m reading the interview.
No word yet on the fate of the PC version of the game.
thatgamecompany’s flOw is hitting the Playstation Store on February 22nd, according to Kotaku. It looks quite beautiful! Although I’m still skeptical about whether the gameplay is compelling enough to keep me playing for very long.
