"Mark Kent" <mark.kent@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:flk2s3-04d.ln1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> espoused:
E3: Kawanishi Talks Homebrew Linux PS3 Development
,----[ Quote ]
| In an intriguing turn of events, Sony executive Izumi Kawanishi has
| illuminated some of his company's PlayStation 3 Linux plans, indicating
| that it will be possible for individual 'homebrew' coders to create
| playable content for PS3, something actively blocked for Sony's PSP
| handheld.
`----
Quite - exactly the opposite of the direction being taken by Microsoft
in locking down vista. The idea that you can make cash from development
toolchains does seem to be a little short-sighted, doesn't it?
The main reason console developers usually "hide" their SDKs were that
these tools could be used to facilitate piracy. If you're a professional
game studio, you usually had to pay in the tens of thousands of dollars to
gain access to an SDK, had to sign several contracts and NDAs, and your SDK
was watermarked, so that if you used it to leak games onto the Internet,
they could identify exactly which kit it was that was used to do so.
The Wii development kit will be available for $2000. This is the *real*
development kit (whereas Sony will be offering a "stripped down" SDK for
free, and a "professional" SDK for the amount known as "if you have to ask,
you can't afford it"), and is astonishingly cheap. Some people are
enthusiastic about the 2K price tag, as it means enthusiasts will finally be
able to develop professionally polished games. Others fear that this will
lead to a flood of mediocre games for the Wii, which may tarnish its image.
Microsoft has, for quite a while now, offered something called "Live
Marketplace" where users could submit content modifications for games, and
sell them for real money. While they could not contribute code itself, they
could, for example, contribute new skins or items or levels in existing
games.
It's currently unclear whether Sony or Nintendo will provide some sort
of support for allowing creators to sell their games via their online
services, or if they are "on their own" with respect to distributing and
marketing their games. The PS2 had a Linux kit, on which some people did
some game development, but there was no way real to share your creations
with other PS2-Linux users.
- Oliver
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