Sony opens doors to indie developers, gets rid of concept approval

Previously, how it worked, is that there were two stages. There was Stage 1, which was purely the concept approval, and then there was the second stage you would send in, much later on. And all of the different various stages of approval for putting your content out and putting a patch, basically your server ID would be given to you once you passed Concept Stage 2. 

Previously what happened is you would get some feedback that was written by various teams around the globe, and compiled, and sent back to you. And we just found that when we talked directly to developers, and said, "Okay, we required you to respond to that feedback line-by-line, we required everyone to read them."And a lot of time when we talked to bigger teams, and even mid-sized teams, we said, how helpful was that feedback, and as we sat down with them they said, "We're paying 300 people to make a game," or 80 people, or 100 people. "We have a market for it, we have a publishing and marketing team, we do focus testing. Why do we need your feedback?" 

And it made us realize that, why are we creating feedback for partners? If they want it, they can get it. That was the first big change. Let's make it a checklist. So they absolutely have to adhere to one of our main pillars for our platforms. 

And then the second part was, why do we need it to be two stages? Realistically, if we want to be a facilitator for content, we want to get out of the way as much as possible. We obviously want to be aware. So now we almost treat it as, if we see stuff that we like, we're like, "Oh, maybe we can Pub Fund that, or we can do a partnership around that title." So that's more of an accounting task, whereas in the past it was an editorial staff task. And that's why guys like Nick Suttner who were hired into the eval group are now account managers in the Developer Relations team.Sony

This is great news, getting your game approved will be a much less mundane process this time around so perhaps that'll attract even more devs to the PS4.

It's about time the ignorant ass cows to be exposed to the greatness of indie gaming.funsohng

It's about time the ignorant ass cows to be exposed to the greatness of indie gaming.funsohng

I guess what I'm saying is, it's about time Sony tore down that wall keeping its gamers from enjoying more of what they clearly like.

Ebb and flow

PS4 keeps on turning
Proud Kaz keeps on burning
And we're rolling, rolling
Rolling on to E3

BAM! http://au.gamespot.com/forums/topic/29371804/sony-kills-concept-approval-makes-moves-to-get-indies-onto-ps4campzor

My bad, didn't see the thread topic :P

I guess when you're a near bankrupt company, you have to throw a lot of shiit at the wall and hope some of it sticks. Sad times indeed for $ony. RIP.

This is huge. This will allow developers to give their games a lot more support too. This makes F2P competely viable on the Playstation 4.

I expect a version of Planetside 2 to be on the PS4 ASAP. Not the current version, but some spin off.

Sony are sorting their s*** out while MS seem to be doing everything they can to be obstructive, both to indie developers and gamers. No idea wtf is going on at MS, but I sense the 3rd console curse coming on hard and fast.blue_hazy_basic

We were already blessed by this news but it's always good to remind lems about it. Thank you Lord Kaz. Lems being cried.kuraimen

Sony has been making a lot of great decisions lately. Definitely excited to see what they have in store once the PS4 is out

I guess when you're a near bankrupt company, you have to throw a lot of shiit at the wall and hope some of it sticks. Sad times indeed for $ony. RIP.

HaRmLeSS_RaGe

Sony are sorting their s*** out while MS seem to be doing everything they can to be obstructive, both to indie developers and gamers. No idea wtf is going on at MS, but I sense the 3rd console curse coming on hard and fast.blue_hazy_basic

[QUOTE="funsohng"]It's about time the ignorant ass cows to be exposed to the greatness of indie gaming.blue_hazy_basic

[QUOTE="funsohng"]It's about time the ignorant ass cows to be exposed to the greatness of indie gaming.Shewgenja

I guess what I'm saying is, it's about time Sony tore down that wall keeping its gamers from enjoying more of what they clearly like.

[QUOTE="blue_hazy_basic"][QUOTE="funsohng"]It's about time the ignorant ass cows to be exposed to the greatness of indie gaming.funsohng

Give it a few years. I like how all of a sudden PS fans are so proud of their limited indie game line up. If people are really indie fans, they would have been PC gaming a long time ago. Soon they will be clamoring that they want more core/AAA games and will complain that Sony isn't focusing more attention on it. Eh, whatever. Also, breaking down barriers to make it easier does not mean better games. It just means more shovelware/bad games will have an easier time getting through the approval process. if a game is good, it would have gotten through with the old standards.

[QUOTE="funsohng"]It's about time the ignorant ass cows to be exposed to the greatness of indie gaming.blue_hazy_basic

I applaud you Sony!

[QUOTE="blue_hazy_basic"][QUOTE="funsohng"]It's about time the ignorant ass cows to be exposed to the greatness of indie gaming.II_Seraphim_II

I agree. For every ten indie games that I have played, only one is probably worth recommending to a friend. Most are just mediocre ways of spending a couple hours. Rarely can and indie hope to compete with the retail titles. In fact, a lot of the mediocre retail games would be considered the best thing since sliced bread if they were made by an indie developer.

[QUOTE="blue_hazy_basic"][QUOTE="funsohng"]It's about time the ignorant ass cows to be exposed to the greatness of indie gaming.II_Seraphim_II

[QUOTE="blue_hazy_basic"][QUOTE="funsohng"]It's about time the ignorant ass cows to be exposed to the greatness of indie gaming.II_Seraphim_II

More support can't be a bad thing.

should read "Sony desperate and willing to accept help from anyone, anywhere with no obstructions."

sorry thats just what i read.

indie games 3 days ago were bullshyt that nobody cared about and didn't count but now... indie is ****ing core yo.  dats the powa of the quad.

Bravo, Sony, bravo. Undoubtedly one of the best pieces of gaming news in a while.charizard1605

[QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"][QUOTE="blue_hazy_basic"] Hopefully it will end the nonsense bashing of them by some consolites on this board, although I think thanks to a few recent games on the 360/PS3 almost everyone has already changed their tune.blue_hazy_basic

Well lemme stop you right there good sir, because there is only 1 bioshock infinite! :D As for quirky gameplay, I agree. I loved FTL. It was a great and fantastic game, but the overwhelming majority of indie games that I have played feel like throwaways. What I have come to understand that bothers me about indie games is the over reliance on one core gimmick. They build the game around the gimmick, when I would rather they made the gimmick fit the game. So what you end up having is a game that just concentrates on that one gimmick and and neglects everything else.

Lets take FTL for instance. I love that game. Its great fun, but you have to admit its pretty barebones. And you are just doing the same thing over and over again. Sure, you can make the same claim regarding FPSes and TPSes and so on and so forth. But lets compare Bioshock Infinite with FTL. Bioshock infinite has pacing, story, narrative, characters you actually care about and on top of that, fun gameplay. Now lets look at FTL. It has a freaking awesome sound track that should be oscar nominated, and a core gameplay mechanic. Thats all there is to the game. U do the same thing over and over until you reach the end. There is nothing else to keep you interested. Thats my issue. Indie games are fun, but they have a long way to go before the majority start taking them seriously.

One gimmick and a fancy artstyle does not make a game. Sure if you're making a game like tetris or other puzzle games, you can live off 1 gimmick. But in other genres? we have come to expect a little more. And maybe we are spoiled and we expect too much, but if someone told u right now "oh you will now have to walk 10 miles to get your water from a well" you would complain too. Maybe you are spoiled, but thats the standard you are accustomed to. That's why indie games arent as main stream. People are accustomed to a certain level of quality that indie games dont always give.

[QUOTE="blue_hazy_basic"][QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"] Im a predominantly PC gamer, and I have enjoyed quite a few indie games, but I feel like PC gamers take it way too far. If I had a choice between Bioshock Infinite and the best Indie game, I would take biochock infinite in a heart beat. Indie games are great fun, dont get me wrong, but I have never run into a single one that comes close to the quality and fun of a full launch retail product. I think the problem comes from both sides. Consolelites just bash indie games without cause, and PC gamers hail Indie games as the second coming of christ. The truth is Indie games lie somewhere in the middle. I personally im getting sick of tired of every indie game just coming up with some quirky artstyle in an attempt to find its own "identity". It just become obnoxious and its starting to feel pretentious. But then again, thats just me. Oh yeah, and 8/16bit games need to stop. Its getting old now.II_Seraphim_II

Well lemme stop you right there good sir, because there is only 1 bioshock infinite! :D As for quirky gameplay, I agree. I loved FTL. It was a great and fantastic game, but the overwhelming majority of indie games that I have played feel like throwaways. What I have come to understand that bothers me about indie games is the over reliance on one core gimmick. They build the game around the gimmick, when I would rather they made the gimmick fit the game. So what you end up having is a game that just concentrates on that one gimmick and and neglects everything else.

Lets take FTL for instance. I love that game. Its great fun, but you have to admit its pretty barebones. And you are just doing the same thing over and over again. Sure, you can make the same claim regarding FPSes and TPSes and so on and so forth. But lets compare Bioshock Infinite with FTL. Bioshock infinite has pacing, story, narrative, characters you actually care about and on top of that, fun gameplay. Now lets look at FTL. It has a freaking awesome sound track that should be oscar nominated, and a core gameplay mechanic. Thats all there is to the game. U do the same thing over and over until you reach the end. There is nothing else to keep you interested. Thats my issue. Indie games are fun, but they have a long way to go before the majority start taking them seriously.

One gimmick and a fancy artstyle does not make a game. Sure if you're making a game like tetris or other puzzle games, you can live off 1 gimmick. But in other genres? we have come to expect a little more. And maybe we are spoiled and we expect too much, but if someone told u right now "oh you will now have to walk 10 miles to get your water from a well" you would complain too. Maybe you are spoiled, but thats the standard you are accustomed to. That's why indie games arent as main stream. People are accustomed to a certain level of quality that indie games dont always give.

It's about time the ignorant ass cows to be exposed to the greatness of indie gaming.funsohng

we invented it dummy.

[QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"]

[QUOTE="blue_hazy_basic"] I don't think they are necessarily up there either, but how many Bioshock Infinites a year are there? Indie games can bring totally different perspectives on gaming, which can often get stale because when you're dealing with budgets of $10's millions you have to play it safe. Being quirky for the sake of being quirky doesn't interest me. FTL giving me a game I could never get from a mainstream publisher anymore? Yes ****ing please!blue_hazy_basic

Well lemme stop you right there good sir, because there is only 1 bioshock infinite! :D As for quirky gameplay, I agree. I loved FTL. It was a great and fantastic game, but the overwhelming majority of indie games that I have played feel like throwaways. What I have come to understand that bothers me about indie games is the over reliance on one core gimmick. They build the game around the gimmick, when I would rather they made the gimmick fit the game. So what you end up having is a game that just concentrates on that one gimmick and and neglects everything else.

Lets take FTL for instance. I love that game. Its great fun, but you have to admit its pretty barebones. And you are just doing the same thing over and over again. Sure, you can make the same claim regarding FPSes and TPSes and so on and so forth. But lets compare Bioshock Infinite with FTL. Bioshock infinite has pacing, story, narrative, characters you actually care about and on top of that, fun gameplay. Now lets look at FTL. It has a freaking awesome sound track that should be oscar nominated, and a core gameplay mechanic. Thats all there is to the game. U do the same thing over and over until you reach the end. There is nothing else to keep you interested. Thats my issue. Indie games are fun, but they have a long way to go before the majority start taking them seriously.

One gimmick and a fancy artstyle does not make a game. Sure if you're making a game like tetris or other puzzle games, you can live off 1 gimmick. But in other genres? we have come to expect a little more. And maybe we are spoiled and we expect too much, but if someone told u right now "oh you will now have to walk 10 miles to get your water from a well" you would complain too. Maybe you are spoiled, but thats the standard you are accustomed to. That's why indie games arent as main stream. People are accustomed to a certain level of quality that indie games dont always give.

Ok this is REALLY huge!.. PS4 will not only see some amazing exclusives and console multiplats but ALSO most likely get a lot of games that are on PC ( indie's, MMO's, MOBA's, etc ).

They even confirmed devs will NOT pay to patch their games so no Patch fee's... THIS IS really big!! well done Sony!

Sony are sorting their s*** out while MS seem to be doing everything they can to be obstructive, both to indie developers and gamers. No idea wtf is going on at MS, but I sense the 3rd console curse coming on hard and fast.blue_hazy_basic

MS is self desteructing like Nintendo with the Wii U. Sony is solid. 

I applaud you Sony!

DivineSword

This is really good news. :twisted: