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67 Comments
- Auronius, on 10/12/2007, -2/+67And in other news, ten thousand game studios were started today.
- neocitron, on 10/12/2007, -7/+61Nintendo probably analyzes then sorts out the poor developers from the rich established ones and helps them out financially... by either giving them a discount on dev kits or, just giving them a few...
This is incredibly smart thinking on Nintendo's behalf... The gaming industry as it is now, is afraid to take risks.... taking risks mean possibly losing money, something that large developers cannot do. Independent developers can be more creative, they have little to lose compared to someone like EA. Nintendo realizing this and making dev kits free will give developers all the more reason to be that much more creative...
Nintendo seems to be all about taking risks and supporting startup developers.... And i completely support them for that.
Although this may not only apply to startup developers. - KJSatz, on 10/12/2007, -6/+51If it's true (I'd say a 40% chance, really---probably a misunderstanding), that's cool. Send me one, Nintendo!
- timpkmn89, on 10/12/2007, -5/+44I wonder if the box played a tune like Penny Arcade's DS Lite.
- yaozornation, on 10/12/2007, -6/+33It's a business model that might actually work. Imagine that.
- CaptShmo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+28I could see nintendo doing this, and I think it is a fantastic idea. If this is true, nintendo deserves every dollar they make off the wii and more
- NinjAlt, on 10/12/2007, -9/+34Nintendo is a very very smart company. This goes to show you what a smart considerate company can do and deserves to win this generations console wars with Xbox 360 close behind in second place. As for PS3, it can burn.
- elnerdo, on 10/12/2007, -4/+28I think that Sony lost quite a bit of the Joe Schmoe market because of their price tag.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+24Finally somebody got it right.
1. Send a dev kit to a small game company who can not afford to buy it/ was not going to develop for it.
2. Small game company develops killer game.
3. Collect royalties/licensing fees, profit!
The extremely small amount for the dev kit (maybe 1000 - 2000) is easily made up in royalties/licensing fees. I am glad Nintendo is doing this. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -12/+34Is this the first-ever documented case of Nintendo being NICE to a third-party developer? Why, yes, I think it is! Kudos to them for finally figuring this out. Took them long enough, though...
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+22I don't even like consoles, I hated the gamecube, and I didn't like the N64 as much as the PS2... But damn, Nintendo rocks. I'm gettin' a Wii.
And at lava:
Wii will get a flash player when we linux users get a flash player. - miscoco, on 10/12/2007, -1/+20I think when you start a debate with "You're an idiot" you lose a bit of credibility.
- catfive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+23How about for a long, rambling post lacking relevance and solid points (not to mention its disproportionately emotional impetus)?
- electromagnetic, on 10/12/2007, -2/+21"Nintendo treat third-party developers like crap"
And for a damn good reason, it's because of third-party developers that caused a crash in the video game market. Remember that? Just about every company making games went out of business, the rest that did survive never managed to get back afloat. It was the NES that broke out of the collapse and most likely because they only allowed 5 third-party games a year to be released, this ensured that the third-party games would be ***** good and not a cheap ass joke like before the crash.
Oh and I'm sorry last time I checked we're moving into the 5th post-crash console generation and in my books that's a good thing. Nintendo now might be realizing that such authoritarian control is against their interest in todays era, but back then that control did make sure amazing games came out. Oh erm, let me think of a gaming series it spawned... Final Fantasy! 4 days ago I picked up Dawn of Souls for GBA to play on my DS and I've racked up about 25 hours because they're still amazing games. Nintendo's quality control made one of the best RPGs ever. - defectDS, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13@cyanidenfs
Or we just didn't agree with what his irrelevant post was saying. I cant see why that would show immaturity. - motang, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14That is cool, and very generous of them. Does this mean we might see a lot of indie games on the system.
- echeese, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11@8086ed: I don't think it's really fair comparing PS2 to N64, they're different generations, after all. Sorta like comparing me to my grandfather, I'm better cause I'm newer, and he's old and he sucks.
I'll take 2 devkits, please. - SamuraiPanda, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10You're forgetting one vital thing: Nintendo is greatly encouraging indie developers to make short and sweet games (Katamari come to mind?) and offer them up on the Virtual Console. Very much so like the similar Microsoft-offered service, but the greatest difference is that developers love the Wii controller. I wouldn't be surprised to see tons of little games on the Virtual Console for download made by devs who just want to experiment with the Wii.
Plus, development costs for the Wii are the lowest of the three so far. The only pricey part is trying to learn how to program the new controller, as the Wii's hardware is very similar to the Gamecube's in terms of how you program for it. Thats another one of the maaany reasons why the Wii isn't just a fan favorite, but the bigger (and smaller) companies are really taking a liking to it. Why do you think so many people are jumping ship from the PS3 to the Wii? - diggmaddy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13Dear Nintendo,
Your dev kits are beyond my budget. Please send me one for free.
Game Studio. - jjesusfreak01, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9Well, it doesnt work that way. The big developers cant just buy one. They need alot. Nintendo giving away one to a developer doesnt mean much. If they want to develop a full scale big title they will have to buy more dev kits. If they just want to develop some good virtual console games, then one is probably fine.
- SamuraiPanda, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Satoru Iwata, the new president of Nintendo, is taking the company in a completely different direction. And if E3 and all the hype the Wii has been getting is any type of barometer of how well he is doing, I'm confident that Iwata is going to make Nintendo back into the former place of power where it deserves.
- godfa7h3r, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Thanks for putting the word "RUMOR" in all caps and as the first word in the topic. Helps out a lot and should stop people from reporting as inaccurate. That would have to be an oxymoron... reporting a rumor as being inaccurate?
- bethanyb, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8If this rumor is true, then it is a very bold step from Nintendo to really push the Wii to third parties…and a very cool one at that. I really hoped the Wii would have strong 3rd party support, and this is a great way to do it.
- RyeBrye, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9If I were a mid-sized developer that actually had to buy a dev kit, I wouldn't be happy that Nintento was giving them away to smaller competitors of mine.
- CardinalFang, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Nintendo only charges about 2 grand for a Wii devkit. Nintendo can afford to give a few away. PS3 devkits are about 30 grand. Sony could probably afford it, but there's no chance Sony will ever give even one away. I also think that this is Nintendo's way of saying "We want you to make games for our system, so let us help you get started."
- jer2eydevil88, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4@razorsharp
I find it very interesting that you have lumped Nintendo and Microsoft into the category of FPS consoles. I agree that the major selling point for the XBOX was Halo but Nintendo's N64 had the Mario franchise behind it as their golden egg.
Even if you want to argue that Sony has the multi genre game market you cannot ignore how lately they have had a pig headed approach to their customers. No responsible company should tell customers they are getting a bargain on a $500 game system, its like telling every prospective customer that they have more money than they know what to do with.
Also I (being a digger) prefer Real Time Strategy games, which may cripple half of your argument. - Abjure, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Its true that usually the smaller, independent developers make something truly innovative. I think Nintendo knows that and are making the right move.
- elnerdo, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7I willn't believe this until there's some more information. a small developer in a 'big, coastal city' is NOT enough information.
- nogwater, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Free or not, I hope they sent one to Introversion.
- rocke86, on 10/12/2007, -5/+8I guess after Google's success with thier "Do No Evil" motto, other companies are joining in. Good for everyone, except the fat cats who want money for doing little to nothing. If true, way to go Nintendo!
- shitthisfook, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4OK, if this is true, nintendo has just taken competition to a new level. They're seriously killing all the other companies this year. Is it me, or does it seem like nintendo is actually reading what we say on the net and DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT?
- erkokite, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5It would be great if the big N made it easier for the homebrew community as well. Judging by the stance on 3rd party dev'rs and the push to get the Wii into the homes of non-gamers, I could imagine that Nintendo could offer a cut down dev-kit(software only) to homebrew developers for non-commerical purposes. I'm probably just dreaming though.
- crashflow, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4In other news, multiple bomb threats regarding buildings housing independent game studios were received by police. Mysterious packages were confiscated and subsequently destroyed. The phone tips were traced to a payphone outside Sony HQ.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Good points, but unless your 4...
- skywake, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@razorsharp...
how in any way are Microsoft and Nintendo targeting the same audience?
and how can you say that Sony targets the "single player" market?
i havent brought a console (non-handheld) since my SNES, i have played on a fair few in passing via friends and in-shop demos. Sony lost my intrest with the PS2, sure it had a DVD player in it (sound fammiliar?) and there was a lot of hype around it but to me it seemed like same-old same-old. MANY of my friends had (and still have) the Xbox, Multiplayer Halo was fuking brilliant. with the GameCube i thought same-old same-old becuase there was no real change, the 64 was great but the Cube seemed like a smaller glorified more powerfull 64 IMO.
now for the first time in ages i am considering getting a console because of the Wii. its cheap, it has changed the way that i think about gaming and now is possibly giving out cheap/free dev kits to small developers. IMO the PS3 and 360 are just same-old same-old.. sure they are more powerfull... and? IMO, one will win. you cant do the same thing two generations in a row and expect the same results.
Nintendo is trying to get people who were turned off consoles/games for whatever reason
i am that group that Nintendo is targeting... and i am getting a Wii... - HPSauce, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Jesus, what is wrong with Brain Ashcraft of Kotaku? It seems like every week he forices out a Rumour - unconfirmed, mind you - but enough to play around the fanboys and casual readers minds'.
First it was the made up IM conversation with a "key PS3 developer" stating it was less powerful than the 360; then another, from an "important, unnamed source" stating the PS3 was severely crippled.
Now, he's moving onto some pro-Nintendo news; apparently, we have (unconfirmed) reports of a dev kit arriving at a developer! No pictures, name of the devco etc. though. But we're still telling you because we want to plant ***** into your heads to make you think it's true!
Seriously everyone, don't be a sucker and fall for every report from Brian Ashcraft of Kotaku. Owner of the website, do yourselves a favour and sack this ***** from your staff roster, he's doing your site no favours by making up *****. - RobotDog, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3It would be awsome. I would defnently buy the wii if there were a bunch of indie games being developed for it.. This would be great.
- kippie, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2this is very good news but i think it perfectly ties in with Wii thinking.
all the demo games seem to be inventive and its probably the most unique console in a long time. there's a very strong possibility that some ideas will emerge from small studios that could completely change the climate of games by using the controller in a way that even nintendo couldn't dream up. - cambrown99, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4The coolest thing about Nintendo right now is that it seems that the enire company has taken on the heart and soul of Miyamoto. It has been a truly remarkable transformation.
- theratdotus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2would mean its real! lets report it as a rumor to make it reallllllll!
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I think the reason for giving free dev kits away to 3rd party devs is because there are people out there who have their own ideas for what they would like to do with the Wii. Nintendo knows they cant think up everything under the sun that can be done with the Wii, so they become more open to allow others to use their own imaginations to come up with creative uses for the Wii.
- CardinalFang, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It's possible the company could have a non-disclosure agreement as a stipulation for the free devkit.
-EDIT- Supposed to be a reply to elnerdo. - inerte, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1They weren't possible before?
- Rockarollr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Nintendo has officially become the shiznit with this generation.
They definitely have my support this time around. - KJSatz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1So? As someone pointed out earlier, you can hardly develop a "real" game with one dev kit. So a smaller company signed the agreements and bought a few, and Nintendo slips them another because they think it'll help them make a better product. Huzzah.
- RobotDog, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1recently there have been many game engine releases with the "we make money when you make money" thing going on. While these engines arnt that great it is good for them, They host your game when and if people sign up to play your game they get like 75% of the profit.Thats fine you used there engine and some other tools free of charge and they are floating the server fee. All you do is promote and build and maintain it. you get a little money but not nearly as much as if you had the cash to buy the engine in the first place, if it realy takes off, If it only sells or you get only a few users even tho you make a little portion of that you made way more then if you bought the engine and had to pay back that fee to your bank account.
This could easily be made posible by nintendo.. You make the game, they have to make the oficial gamedisk for you, you get people to buy the game from a nintendo website, they press as many as are sold and if it gets realy popular you see it on store shelves.
Or you can play it from the wii arcade some how, download it direct to your wii, for a fee or free. (this was done with the ps2 linux kit, a 299 dollar hard drive and linux os for your ps2 and video cables to hook it up to your monitor +keyboard and mouse.) this was all avalible from the playstation website, it might still be. I know you can google it, and wikipedia it.
I cant say any real great games came out of this, Not many people harnessed even half the power of the dev kit in there. Most just bought it because it turned there ps2 into a computer. it was a prity waterd down dev kit according to some. And the games could only be shared among other ps2 linux users, Bad system if you ask me.
But nintendo could harness that to bring them self a profit, All games have to be released by nintendo, only popular ones will actualy make it to the shelf, ETC.
Other then that, its probably not true and if it is there will mostly be side scrollers and other very crude games, but it would still be prity cool. - dimplemonkey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I believe the boys at Guinness summed it up best when they said...
"BRILLIANT" - AmazingAndrex, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Correction: Wii devkit = ~$1720. With virtually no losses on Wii consoles out of the gate, I think this idea is entirely feasible, and ties in greatly with the Wii dynamic.
- catfive, on 10/12/2007, -6/+6the above was @razorsharp, thought I could sneak it in there...
- goatfish, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1There is no way this is true. Nintendo has pretty stringent agreements that studios/publishers have to agree to before they can get dev kits.
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