Sony talks about an 'open' PS2 platform and opening the PSP and PS3
by Christopher Grant 
{ Oct 29th 2008 at 2:14PM }
We're not quite sure what to make of Sony's under-the-radar, Casual Connect announcement in Kiev last week. Sony Europe's developer relations manager George Bain told an audience of Eastern European devs that, following the de facto model already in place in Europe for the PlayStation 2 – it's "effectively an open platform ... you no longer have to submit a game for content approval" – developers "no longer need a publisher to distribute games on PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3." He elaborated that "without the need of a licensed publisher it's a direct relationship between a developer and Sony."
Considering the audience – casual game developers in Eastern Europe – we're inclined to think this change won't have much of an impact on us, but Bain was quite clear that this wasn't a limited effort. In fact, there will be a new "global approval system" – instead of seeking approval through Sony Europe, Japan, and America, game ideas can be "sent through a single website." Modifying the traditional developer / publisher relationship? Sounds ambitious to us and could potentially open Sony's platforms up to an immense amount of smaller games. Perhaps more important is Sony's stance on the PS2 as an "open" platform – as long as it's still selling dev kits to developers, Sony's not going to stop them from making whatever game they want. So ... adult games confirmed?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Haggard @ Oct 29th 2008 2:17PM
I was literally forming the comment "porn games confirmed?" as I was reading. Curse you 'stiq!
Zertoss @ Oct 29th 2008 2:20PM
Same here. It was the first thought that popped into my head.
I'd say porn games confirmed. Because you KNOW we all thought it.
borland502 (SDF Macross) @ Oct 29th 2008 5:18PM
Custer's Revenge II: ESRB Can bite mah arse
But why limit yourself to pr0n?
Singstar: Qur'an Editition
Resistance 3 - Fall of the Anglican Church
Blank-Mage @ Oct 29th 2008 2:20PM
So basically, Little Big Platform?
Meta @ Oct 29th 2008 3:07PM
PC
Titanium_Orchid @ Oct 29th 2008 2:20PM
Does anybody have ideas on how this might effect ports? I want S.T.A.L.K.E.R on the PS3
Meta @ Oct 29th 2008 3:07PM
That was to Blank-Mage
Ayrkain @ Oct 29th 2008 2:23PM
While pr0n games may be one result of this, a more likely reason is that Sony is trying to pitch the PS2 to these 2nd/3rd World countries as an affordable alternative. The open platform strategy lets local devs make games in their own languages, which would make Sony oversight difficult.
Hyams @ Oct 29th 2008 2:25PM
I prefer the porn one.
5th hot meal @ Oct 29th 2008 2:29PM
I also envisage using these relatively low cost sku's as devices for educational content and 'serious games'.
I work in the field of serious games as this is great news, with the network capable features you can then create mmo's for education.
kudos to SONY
BigD145 @ Oct 29th 2008 2:32PM
If all this approval goes through one central location, I could easily see this being an ESRB or MPAA type of problem. You could end up with a ton of Unrated games that will never make it to store shelves because they have a Cathedral level or one short scene of two girls kissing. Basically, not much will change and Australia and Britain will still ban everything in sight except for the cheapass mini games.
aahatimy @ Oct 29th 2008 3:19PM
The BBFC is leniant compared to most other countries' certification boards. When they demand something being changed or outright removed it is with good reason.
Example: Manhunt 2 before the changes the game too violent -even with an 18 rating - with no valid reason, their words IIRC were 'violence with no justified motive' so they demanded the content be modified if Rockstar wanted the game to be released here.
Now the 'Hot Coffee' scandal, LMFAO.
j.howlett @ Oct 29th 2008 2:29PM
yeah, adult games is one of the first thoughts i had when i read the headline in the edge news letter, but i clicked the link and it didn't lead to the story. thanks for the further details
Mr Khan @ Oct 29th 2008 2:33PM
For the PS3 and PSP, it probably applies to their PSN model
For the PS2, it probably does mean a truly open platform, however.
This is exactly the sort of thing Sony should encourage. The PS1 was friendlier for developers and publishers alike, and won Sony it's place in the industry. Though the PS2 abandoned this friendliness somewhat in terms of architecture, the PS2 ran on the PS1's coattails and took advantage of the many, various weaknesses of the competition to become the only viable platform for many developers
Obviously PS3 is losing that left and right, with the 360 being an equal platform, and the Wii having the advantages of larger install base and lower dev costs. A more open relationship could help Sony try to reclaim their winning strategy
PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Oct 29th 2008 2:43PM
SOny has really tried to rectify early PS3 growing pains with a slew of tools to encourage PS3 development. We have the dev kit cost reduction, Phrye engine, no PSN limitations, Nocturnal Project and now casual connect. It seems they are doing their best to help and encourage development on all of the Playstation platforms with little control and oversight. This is in direct contrast to the Nintendo model. For now the cheaper development cost of a less exotic architecture, larger install base and huge casual market makes the Wii the most profitable platform for developers.
PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Oct 29th 2008 2:49PM
But even with that said the Wii still lacks quality 3rd party exclusives. However, I do think if a company wants to make an exclusive game they would probably choose the Wii because even a bad game has a better chance of selling more copies. We see allot of huge Wii sellers that are of very horrible quality. It's kind of like taking advantage of the large casual install base.
xrayzwei @ Oct 29th 2008 2:42PM
Seems to me this PS2 games being opened up is a good thing for the PS3 owners with BC systems.
J @ Oct 29th 2008 2:38PM
glad my ps3's backwards compatible.
S4Rs @ Oct 30th 2008 7:48AM
thats what I was just thinking, except I refused to pay 600 bucks for one and got the latest 80 gig model.
Why dont they open up access to the RSX engine on the PS3 if they want to be so righteous? They tell everyone, "You can install linux, no problem, we just aren't gonna give you the graphic card."
Seph X @ Oct 29th 2008 2:39PM
Mr Khan apparently missed the Joystiq article that talked about PS3 topping Xbox 360 in Q1 sales...
Anyways, I'm not sure I necessarily like this 'open platform' idea. It seems like its taking away a bit of the gaming infrastructure a little. And wasnt it that lack of structure that caused the game industry crash back in the day?
Mr Khan @ Oct 29th 2008 2:42PM
I was speaking more towards the Sony-dev relationship, which is at a low ebb compared to the past 14 years
PlayStation exclusives were a dime a dozen (not that they weren't quality, per se), but now they are a rarity if they aren't published or developed by Sony.
Skullman @ Oct 29th 2008 5:59PM
World of Warcraft port on PS3? :)
PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Oct 29th 2008 2:46PM
Mr.Khan
That goes for all the platforms. With the current cost of development 3rd party exclusives are pretty much non-existent. We see some timed exclusives but other than that exclusives are a thing of the past. I think it's an issue of necessity and profitability than it is an issue of developer loyalty. Joystiq has done allot of stories lately about the death of 3rd party exclusives.
Haggard @ Oct 29th 2008 3:05PM
Well the problem is in the olden days there wasn't much competition for PS1 and PS2 (N64 notwithstanding). Now with the 360 selling as it has there's no real reason to make a playstation exclusive unless you're Sony.
PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Oct 29th 2008 3:14PM
Haggard -
That really goes across the board. The only reason to make an exclusive is either 1. If you are paid money to do so and 2. if you want to play to the specific strength of the console.
Heh (Mr. ESC, living in the hearts of us all) @ Oct 29th 2008 2:47PM
I've always referred to my PSP as my "Pr0nstation Portable" so this won't be much different.
George McBain @ Oct 29th 2008 2:56PM
That guys ALMOST stole my name!
PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Oct 29th 2008 3:00PM
By The Way PC Gamers ...
I have a Call Of Duty World At War PC Beta code if anyone wants it ... Hit me up on the PSN or post a reply here and we can make arrangements. I don't have a gaming PC but I got the code from Activision as a promotion.
The Fatass of Kickassness @ Oct 29th 2008 3:20PM
Heeeeey, I'm down if you're willing to give it to me.
PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Oct 29th 2008 3:21PM
yeah you can have it for free ... post an e-mail here now ad I will send it to you ... Just post it like Me AT ME DAWT COM so you dont get spammed
MDRL @ Oct 29th 2008 3:36PM
I'll take it, if no one else has claimed it.
MDRL @ Oct 29th 2008 3:37PM
Whoops. Waited far, far too long to hit submit. :(
PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Oct 29th 2008 3:42PM
well he hasn't posted an e-mail ... Post your e-mail and you can have it ... I don't even care
The Fatass of Kickassness @ Oct 29th 2008 3:43PM
veeserang@yahoo.com
The Fatass of Kickassness @ Oct 29th 2008 3:43PM
Ruh roh, I'mma get spammed. Oh well, that's my backup email anyway.
PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Oct 29th 2008 3:46PM
Ok fatass sending the instructions now from my gmail account!
Enjoy!
PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Oct 29th 2008 4:06PM
Just sent it out Fatass ... let me know if you have issues
Slaziman @ Oct 30th 2008 1:56AM
What a nice fella!
Did you try selling it on Ebay or something first though?
alan @ Oct 29th 2008 3:09PM
Yay! I can't wait to play Goregasm: Legend of the Dong Slayer!
Evan Brown @ Oct 29th 2008 3:16PM
this is a great idea!
Courtney @ Oct 29th 2008 4:01PM
This makes a lot of sense, now to see how many developers actually pursue it as a model.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Oct 30th 2008 8:20AM
Probably not so much on the PS2 as on the PSN (PS3. PSP). This is an especially good thing for the PSP because there are not many PSN games on its Store and most of them are first-party, so this is something Sony should be emphasizing at major game and technology conventions.
yyr @ Oct 30th 2008 9:43AM
Something's missing from this story...what kinds of dev tools are Sony going to release for the developers hoping to take advantage of this so-called "open" platform? Until that announcement I will remain skeptical.
XNA and Xbox Live Community Games are going to change the gaming landscape next month.
www.snake360.com
That's my entry...it doesn't look like much but the gameplay is great. And there will be a ton of other great games at launch too. All exclusive!
If Sony doesn't release some dev tools that can easily be used by the general public for free, they will never catch up.
Casey O'Donnell @ Oct 30th 2008 9:55AM
Precisely what I was thinking. These posts are desperately short of details. Where can I get an SDK? What kind of build tools are we talking about? Are these identical to those that were previously shipping for the PS2?