Wii dev kits in short supply, indies left waiting
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Feb 20th 2007 at 2:27PM }
Over on Water Cooler Games, indie developer Ian Bogost addresses the frustration that he and his peers continue to face as Nintendo has again postponed the Wii Independent Developer Program. "In other words, Nintendo doesn't have enough [development] kits to cover the demand for all those crappy licensed games, let alone more original work," writes a dejected Bogost.Nintendo had previously planned to begin reviewing independent developer applications last month, but the latest update from NOA suggests the initiative is "on hold." Nintendo's nonchalant approach to indie support has led to doubts. "Is Nintendo's story about mass-appeal just marketing rhetoric?" wonders Bogost. How can Wii appeal to the so-called "non-gamer" if there are no consoles in stock, and no dev kits for adventurous designers to create original games with?
"At the rate we're going, independent games of any kind won't be a reality until 2008 at least, and we still don't know how likely Nintendo is to license unusual games for the system," concludes Bogost.
[Thanks, Jonah]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kizzle @ Feb 20th 2007 2:33PM
It's sickening that Nintendo hasn't learned from their mistakes. They've launched a (thus far) successful console, but they're dropping the ball on following up with the one thing they've always been shallow in, 3rd party support.
The Wii most certainly does not have to be a "fad," but Nintendo seems to be doing its damndest to make sure that it is.
Slaziman @ Feb 20th 2007 2:35PM
This is both good and bad news. Good because we know dev kits are in high demand = games are being made. Bad because they are out of supply and this could worsen 3rd party relationshios
Jonah Falcon @ Feb 20th 2007 2:38PM
This basically affects the Virtual Console. Don't expect any original VC content til 2008. It's cheaper to spew out Streets of Rage, anyway.
Grog @ Feb 20th 2007 2:44PM
This has been a popular quote recently, and I think I'll bring it up again:
"Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded."
(Yogi Berra)
Once again we're in the situation of Nintendo being too popular for its own good. This might keep them from getting indie developers on-board as soon as was planned, but I hardly think it's a big problem in the long run that Nintendo is being overwhelmed with requests for dev kits. I mean, is some indie developer going to say, "Nope, I refuse to start developing for their system because it is simply too popular for my app and they made me wait two months to start development."
Darkness @ Feb 20th 2007 2:45PM
I think this is good and bad also. Good in the fact that kits are in high demand. Bad in the fact that Indie developers are suffering. However, I doubt this is a bad thing overall. Eventually, the Indie guys will get the kits, but right now Nintendo is having problems even supplying the demand, so I don't think we can blame them for that. Jumping on their case because there aren't enough kits to go around is a little unfair.
Not to mention the fact that the writer of that article is doggin' ports. There are people who like those kinds of games and even find them fun. No reason to be bitter about it.
SNES Link @ Feb 20th 2007 2:47PM
Nintendo, had better not be messing with us. We all want to see some cool new indie games available on this system. We will all buy cool new indie games on this system. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT DROP THE BALL ON THIS. You are set up with a great start and penetration. A simple controller with a new control interface. Nintendo, please work hard at getting the Indie Developers on your side. They will help.
JJC @ Feb 20th 2007 2:51PM
doesnt matter to me, besides first party games and a rare (and i mean RARE) gem nintendo is almost guaranteed to have complete garbage on their systems. case and point: go to the shelf of wii games and count how many nickelodeon/disney games are on the shelf. then count the ubisoft ports (completely shameless ports btw, they outnumber EA ports i believe, excluding sports games). its sad that a developer cant get a dev kit, im sure the world will miss playing a cartoon platformer that sucks ass.
Unit @ Feb 20th 2007 2:54PM
"DAMNED IF YOU DO, DAMEND IF YOU DON'T!" that's all i gots to say about that.
steve17 @ Feb 20th 2007 2:55PM
indeed. i would really like to see some new things we havnt seen before, given the new options of motion sensing. i really hope they get it straitened out so we can have more than just sequals of last years games and get some originality goin.
john @ Feb 20th 2007 2:58PM
Dang. It would have been nice if Nintendo was better prepared for the massive demand for the Wii. I can't really blame them, though. I was excited for the Wii, and picked one up on launch day. I thought it would be more popular than the gamecube, but I didn't envision the feeding frenzy that has ensued. Almost nobody did. Just look at how many companies have been scrambling the past few months to put more resources into Wii development.
So it sucks, but Nintendo really has to cater to the Johnny-come-lately big name developers before they they can deal with the independents.
I know I sound a little apologistic (yes, that's a new word) by giving them the benefit of the doubt here, but if they can't make these system shortages a thing of the past by March, then I will personally fly home to Seattle to administer some neck punches at NoA HQ.
Jake @ Feb 20th 2007 2:58PM
Well, the Wii is selling well and it is cheap to make a game for it. Perhaps there is money to be made. Call me when it has some good games. Not Elebits good, I mean really good games. I have Zelda on GC, so don't use that.
JJC @ Feb 20th 2007 3:03PM
it would be cool if a game found a unique way to use the wiimote and actually incorporate a solid story with the game. kinda like trauma center with a non completely retarded story. seriously 'guilt'??? (anyone that has played the game knows what i am talking about). the game definently had the best and most original use of the wiimote but the game itself was so god damn stupid that i stopped playing it. i think there is potential using the wiimote but i dont know how many developers are going to find it and use it. im guessing only nintendo will do it.
john @ Feb 20th 2007 3:11PM
"Call me when it has some good games. Not Elebits good, I mean really good games. I have Zelda on GC, so don't use that."
Will, do. Just post your phone number so I know how to reach you.
Jake @ Feb 20th 2007 3:24PM
@13
I'll get right on that. I don't like to have my number all over blogs, though. So if you could just give me your number, I can call you and give you my number. Once you have my number, you can just let me know when it is safe to buy a Wii.
chris @ Feb 20th 2007 3:25PM
okay, but what competition is there?
XNA is something users pay for yearly if i'm correct, and then regular consumers don't have access to these games since they can't compile them without the proper tools
UserDoesNotExist @ Feb 20th 2007 3:30PM
Guess I'll be the flamebait.
Where does Bogost get off talking like that? He's no Miyamoto or anything. Nintendo wasn't going to give him a free developer kit due to short supply, so he bitches and moans and attacks his fellow game producers? How juvenile.
Why do people have this notion that "original work" = good? Every time some article about "original work" comes up, people are tripping over themselves to talk about how "independents" are going to save our industry. From what? Show me even the most desolate video game year in the last decade, and I could point out 3 kickass video games, all of which were made by *drumroll please* major producers. Even after 20 years, there are many of us who are still looking forward to the next Mario game. That's not a sign of a doomed industry; that's the sign of great direction behind a franchise. It's been my experience that independent games just aren't that good. Sorry to murder your sacred cow, but even a mediocre rushed published game is better than 99% of the independent garbage out there. Yes, yes, there is the occasional good original game the shakes up the industry. I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for one.
I probably wouldn't have been this blunt if it weren't for the sheer arrogance and rudeness of this Bogost character.
sheppy @ Feb 20th 2007 3:34PM
Hmm, in one corner, you have Microsoft. Claiming they are not only supporting the independant developer but encouraging homebrew as well with XNA. But indies have many flaming hoops of hell to jump through (see Xbox Live Arcade certification process) and the XNA band limits your audience solely to people who are working their ass off on their own games. So as a small studio, you have two choices. Pay a ridiculously large amount for a 360 dev kit or pay membership into a club that isn't buying anyway. AKA, a huge clusterfuck.
In another corner, you have Sony's program for indies. Where, if the concept is approved, Sony will front the cash to develop the game and they'll publish it, however, at various stages of the development, you have to report progress and they reserve the right to pull the plug, demand their money back, and retain the rights to the game. Several studios are in under this program but nothing has seen the light of day yet. Aka, a clusterfuck.
Then there is Nintendo. Having personally been denied a DS dev kit for my own company (although, to be fair, we are only 6 people strong and still working on our first title as a part time basis), hearing their wants to support the indie developers made me happy. And yet I've been hearing nothing but complaints like this on the indie circuit. When companies wanting to truly innovate on a console are being put on hold in favor of Wiimakes, that is a definate bad sign. There is only so much work you can do on a game before the engine has to start being tested and that requires a devkit.
NintendoFanbot @ Feb 20th 2007 3:49PM
I read this on Kotaku and what I gathered from it, it seems that devkits are in short supply due to high demand rather than Nintendo (in Kotaku's headline) intentionally "kneecapping indie development".
Mis-information and exaggerations FTL.
I'm all for indie development. Hopefully Wii will get more than the ONE 'indie' game I own for the GC: Alien Hominid. Right now though I'm still rather indifferent about what makes 'indie development' so special. Large companies like Capcom had 'niche' titles like VJ, Killer 7 on GC as well. The titles are well worth supporting, in either case. In the end it only matters if the game is fun or not.
LOL Nintendo being too popular for it's own good? Coming out from under a nearly 10-year Playstation streak?
The Wii's success was something that Nintendo could only hope for. An increase in support after developers was something they counted on. However, the level of demand for both really caught Nintendo off-guard and after a year's worth of scrutiny and even more with the DS, I can't say I blame them.
Vidikron @ Feb 20th 2007 4:02PM
@17
Your assessment of XNA isn't entirely correct. As I understand it games made with XNA can be submitted to be added to XBLA. So while it's true that being part of the XNA Dev Club lets the devs (and anyone else who pays the fee) share games they have created, I don't think it will be the only way to play them. The best games will likely be added to XBLA. That's how I understood it anyway.
Striderhayasa @ Feb 20th 2007 4:03PM
this, just like the online portion is another example of how Nintendo just isn't as prepared as they had us all believe.
PR and corporate jargon aside, Nintendo should have planned better for the Wii launch. But who's going to listen to the people that see the screw ups of the launch...Wii is selling like sliced bread.
Flit @ Feb 20th 2007 4:04PM
Sorry, but One developer who gets all butt hurt because he doesn't get his Wii development software when he wants it, and says so on his blog, is hardly huge damaging news for nintendo.
Crono @ Feb 20th 2007 4:20PM
Striderhayasa,
Hindsight is 20/20, isn't it. I had just about everybody and their brother telling me not to bother to pre-order a wii, because there'd be plenty on the shelves based on what Nintendo said they wanted to ship.
Well Nintendo shipped what they said they would, and nobody can find one except when they're lucky. Nobody, not the armchair analysts, not the "internet", not Nintendo could have predicted the launch success that is the Wii.
To now say "nintendo should have been more prepared" is dishonest. Everybody thought they were overprepared pre-launch.
I'll agree with a previous poster: Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Grog @ Feb 20th 2007 4:21PM
Striderhayasa-
I would have loved to have online play at launch, but we all knew it wasn't going to be there. Nintendo has been quite upfront about it, and the loads of complaints about it are just rather absurd. I'm curious, though, about your other statement: "PR and corporate jargon aside, Nintendo should have planned better for the Wii launch." What exactly would you have done differently? Having been party to two consecutive console "failures" (comparatively - they still made tons of money), how should Nintendo have done stuff differently? They managed to meet their rather lofty ship/sell goals - if they had thought they could sell more, wouldn't they have made/forecasted greater sales? This sort of revisionist thinking irks me. Nintendo has been vastly more successful than they could have expected, so obviously they should have delayed the launch several months stockpile more units, huh? Besides having ruined the launch, that would have been an impressive bit of precognition.
sheppy @ Feb 20th 2007 4:22PM
Vidikron, I'm actually aware of that clause (which is why our current game engine runs DX9 to make porting, if we decide to, completely easy) but here's the problem.
XNA was also supposed to be able to let you distribute your concepts to nonXNA members as well but here is the problem. All these things are currently promised as "future additions." The way XLA is working right now, the chances of any XNA projects making the arcade by the end of the year is slim to none, especially if bosses keep quitting. So while I'm watching these promises, until they happen, I'm not counting them.
Likewise, notice how I was doubtful on the Sony program as well.
Martin @ Feb 20th 2007 5:50PM
hey im not sure what exactly comes with a dev kit but WTF!! how can u be out of dev kits, thats like saying we dont like u, to bad u dont get to make a game for ur consol, thats gay, Nintendo i bought ur Wii so u better let anyone who has a idea make a game, i wana see some great 3rd party games, some crappy 3rd party games and some useless but maybe cool idea 3rd party games, lol
Brandon @ Feb 20th 2007 4:33PM
I've got to agree with #21... Now if it was after March and Indie Developers were still not able to obtain a Wii Dev kit then I could see problems. But with the massive amounts of requests I can see why they are not able to keep up. Mid to late March is my prediction for when Indie Developers will be able to obtain the Dev Kits.
Ken Seang @ Feb 20th 2007 4:41PM
You know why don't these people start on GC dev kits then convert to Wii once they get them...? You I know its something that stupid..
Unit @ Feb 20th 2007 4:43PM
@crono & crog, nice to see that other's see what's happening. And like i've said before you're damned if you do,and damned if you don't. Everyone that would've been in nintendo's positon during the previous console generations would have done the same thing when releasing their new systems. Also ya'll have to remember that nintendo was coming into this generation with 2 big negatives over their heads 1.thier previous consoles were lackluster in sales and 2. the wii is a big risk in today's gaming industry. So why would you invest in putting out X amounts of systems on the market when you don't know what'll happen? And unlike sony or microsoft, nintendo only makes consoles and games!! No t.v.'s,computers,mp3 players,software(windows,excel),etc. to fall back on.
Evan @ Feb 20th 2007 4:49PM
@17. "Pay a ridiculously large amount for a 360 dev kit or pay membership into a club that isn't buying anyway. AKA, a huge clusterfuck."
Ridiculously expensive? A 360 dev kit is cheaper than a PS2 dev kit, let alone a PS3 dev kit. And unlike Sony, you don't need to buy a whole bunch of third party tools and libraries to get up and running, all you need is Visual Studio. I had code running on my dev kit within a day of unpacking it! It's certainly not a cluster fuck.
"But indies have many flaming hoops of hell to jump through (see Xbox Live Arcade certification process)"
Certification is there to assure crappy software doesn't get released. Requirements like "Games must enter an interactive state that identifies the game and accepts player input within 20 seconds after the initial start-up sequence." (TCS#003) are there to avoid user frustration. And I wish Nintendo enforced a requirement similiar to Microsoft's "When the player has selected widescreen mode, the game must use a 16:9 aspect ratio to render graphics" (TCR#018)!
Also, Microsoft provides an "Authoring Submission Tool" to help package up your application to send to Microsoft. What more do you want?
sheppy @ Feb 20th 2007 5:16PM
Evan, incidently, how much does a 360 dev kit run, nowadays? Main reason I ask, last time I asked the question was a prelaunch GDC and all a Microsoft Rep was willing to tell me (Since I was not, in fact, a developer, but instead an artist looking for a job) was it would be around $12,000. So my ignorance in that regard is because I heard that number and decided "screw that."
Mr Khan @ Feb 20th 2007 5:29PM
Nintendo figured Wii would be like DS (that's what they've been trying to bill it as, DS made into console) they figured it would be a slow start, but eventually explode with a few out-of-the-blue titles
Little did they know that thier pack-in title would gain limitless popularity amongst hardcore and casuals alike, Nintendo's doing what it has to to meet new demand, and that's all that can be done
Quakeulf @ Feb 20th 2007 5:44PM
:3
Duscrom @ Feb 20th 2007 6:14PM
"26. You know why don't these people start on GC dev kits then convert to Wii once they get them...? You I know its something that stupid.."
This is an Indie developer, not a GC 3rd party. Nintendo has never opend it's doors to indies before, so there is no way to have Gamecube kits unless you were a cube licencee.
As far as XNA is concerned, i think the subscription is more of a game makers club. Make the game on the 360, and be able to share it, get input from your peers, and be able to make it into a retail product. It's better for indies then one's previous option of making it for PC and then hopefully getting to the publisher then needing to port it to the console.
Rocketboy @ Feb 20th 2007 6:28PM
/\--- uh, what?
Rocketboy @ Feb 20th 2007 6:29PM
(the what was for #32, Martin)
Striderhayasa @ Feb 20th 2007 6:33PM
Look, get off it.
MS has been pushing online since the last gen. - FACT
Sony and MS knew online in the next gen (now current gen) would be STANDARD - FACT
Nintendo knew in the LAST GEN that Online would be STANDARD. Otherwise, why release the modem -FACT.
The whole damn world knew online would be STANDARD in the next gen (now current gen) - FACT
3rd party support for the Gamecube was average and that's being considerate. 64 3rd party support was pathetic - FACT
The best way to offset lack of support? Independant developers...now we hear Nintendo isn't making dev kits readily available for the same indie developers that could help prevent future droughts and increase the value of the VC? That's brillant.
Could Nintendo have had an online infrastructure up and running for the Wii launch? Yes they could have when they KNEW in the gamecube era that online was becoming increasingly important. It sure as hell wasn't a money issue. Nintendo has over 6 billion in the bank so this nonsense that "they couldn't have" is bullshit.
@ crono and Grog
Save it. I'm tired of the bullshit excuses, I'm tired of the nonsense, I'm tired of the fuck ups.
This is all about providing the best experience for the fan old and new...some of the same fans that have supported nintendo over the past ten years at the worst possible times...or do we not remember how the industry made the move to CD and Nintendo jerked us with the cartridge format for an extra generation...or do we not remember the piss poor support for the gamecube after Nintendo swore to the fan base that they learned their mistakes from the N64. Or the fact that Miyamoto himself admitted that he didn't push the gamecube's graphic abilities in most of his titles on GC...this from the same company that pushed the 4mB RAM expansion for 640x480 resoultion in an age of 320x240. Now Nintendo is crying about how graphics aren't important and HD isn't important? Give me a break. If gameplay is more important than graphics then where are the damn games? What happened to "no game drought"? What happened to "Nintendo doesn't want to lose it's current fan base but wants to also expand it"? It pisses me off because I am a long time Nintendo fan and I'm sick of the "woulda coulda, shoulda but didn't" game. I thought they'd learn from the pathetic drought that the DS experienced right after launch. From a business perspective, Nintendo is doing great selling the Wii...from a gamer's perspective, it's really starting to sicken me.
Evan @ Feb 20th 2007 6:47PM
@29 "last time I asked the question was a prelaunch GDC and all a Microsoft Rep was willing to tell me ... was it would be around $12,000"
Our dev kits were provided to us as part of a contract, so unfortunately I never saw the actual price. But yes, that's the price I heard.
The average budget for an original XBLA game is around $300K, so spending $30K on a pair a dev kits, PCs, and software is not out of line for a serious developer with a realistic chance of getting published.
sheppy @ Feb 20th 2007 7:23PM
"Our dev kits were provided to us as part of a contract, so unfortunately I never saw the actual price. But yes, that's the price I heard.
The average budget for an original XBLA game is around $300K, so spending $30K on a pair a dev kits, PCs, and software is not out of line for a serious developer with a realistic chance of getting published."
See, here's the problem I have with the console industry, right there. Our team, six people, fronted the cash to afford the necessary software and the goal to get a PC game up and running in the casual market. Right now, because it's all being done in our freetime, we're looking at a budget of $7K. This is the most we could afford because we are privately financed. Once we get everything together in playable format, we'll start trying to make connections but the ultimate goal is deved for under $7K, for the entire game. Keep in mind, that includes 3 copies of Maya 8. Our engine is from scratch, our model format our own, our soundtrack? There is a MicroKorg on my desk. All in all, we're out to not only release a fun casual game, but prove garage development is still possible. Sadly, it means we have to stick to PC.
Rubang B @ Feb 20th 2007 7:33PM
I think this is good news. It means that third party developers have gobbled up all the devkits faster than Nintendo expected. In a year or so the Wii will have a boneload of games. This will be good. So what if this Bogost guy has to whine for an extra month or two? Now my first impression of the guy is that he's a whiner. I hope he makes a good game though. Best of luck to all my indie homies out there. You da man, sheppy.
I seriously miss the days when I could beat a game on the NES and the entire credits would be in the single digits. Those games were always the ones that took the biggest risks and that I remembered for 20 years.
Brandon @ Feb 20th 2007 7:54PM
Striderhayasa I don't know if you understand why they are selling out of their dev kits. Unless for some unknown reason they are tossing them out or not producing them anymore, both highly unlikely, they are selling out of them to the bigger names which means that there should be some games on the horizon sometime soon. Just because we don't hear about it does not mean it will not happen. But I doubt they are trying to completely screw over indie developers.
Terrak @ Feb 20th 2007 8:22PM
#36
"this from the same company that pushed the 4mB RAM expansion for 640x480 resoultion in an age of 320x240"
And how exactly did that help the N64? Even with that expansion it was still thoroughtly beaten by the (graphically inferior) ps1. That proved to Nintendo that horse power alone cannot win the console war.
"or do we not remember the piss poor support for the gamecube after Nintendo swore to the fan base that they learned their mistakes from the N64"
They have learned from N64, they know they cannot go toe to toe with either sony or microsoft, the GC 'fiasco' (well coming last)confirmed it. THe Wii is a change in Nintendos strategy so they do will not directly compete. As for games droughts etc i'm sure The Wii can get out of this, with a high install base of around 5 million and a healthy attach rate of almost 4 (3.8) things are going to get better (should trends continue).
You do raise legitimate concerns though. Nintendo need to get there act together with their online strategy and also increase the number of titles released. It is important that these points are raised so Nintendo do not rest on their laurels, the console war has just started and they have a long way to go before the claim victory.
arrrgh @ Feb 20th 2007 9:47PM
ok look people. If your dev kits were as INSANELY cheap as the Wii dev kits are (we're talking less costly than psp dev kits even) they'd be in short supply too. Given that other console dev kits tend to cost 10 times more than the Wii dev kits, i think this is an understandable shortage
LongshotX @ Feb 20th 2007 9:58PM
How hard is it to make flash games?
Cuja @ Feb 21st 2007 3:27AM
What? Nintendo put down a billion dollar wager in Vegas that they won't succeed? It's the only explanation. Throw in the towell and win a bet. They made their money. While everybody else loses.
Sly @ Feb 21st 2007 3:40AM
I think they can dig up some old Gamecube dev kits to make up for the shortage along with some unsold Gamecubes to cover the console shortage as well.
Burnt Meatloaf @ Feb 21st 2007 3:52AM
Arrrgh: "ok look people. If your dev kits were as INSANELY cheap as the Wii dev kits are (we're talking less costly than psp dev kits even) they'd be in short supply too."
The Wii dev kits are the same as the GC dev kits. A dev kit is a PC-like workstation, which is not the same as a debug system.
The real reason why Nintendo is keeping 3rd party developers off Virtual Console is so original software doesn't interfere with Nintendo's ability to make "free" profit from re-released games. Duh.
It doesn't really matter whether Indie developers are given opportunity or not. People will always pay money no matter what Nintendo does.
t_m @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:33AM
Dev kits are absicaly software solutions run on a defined PC configuration anyway, aren't they? No excuse for a shortage.
Nintendo is really shooting itself in the foot by contiually delaying its independent game developers program and not sending out dev kits.
I note that this cooincides quite nicely with telltale advertising for a 360 developer.. they have obviously given up and decided to put sam n max on live arcade instead. sigh. Telltale, old lucasarts, and adventure games in general would be a great fit for the Wii (and DS for that matter)... but if non of the smal developers can get dev kits then they are all gonna end up on other systems.
Being a nintendo fanboy is hard sometimes when they keep hamstringing themselves, seemingly on purpose.