Sony to PSP devs: make games with bigger names, shorter play time
Sony has started changing their gameplan for the PSP by giving some advice to third-party devs. They’re asking devs to make more games from big franchises, but make them shorter. Think Chains of Olympus.
Details after the link.
Sony has started changing their gameplan for the PSP by giving some advice to third-party devs. They’re asking devs to make more games from big franchises, but make them shorter.
Think Chains of Olympus. It’s a pretty short game, but it’s one of the best PSP titles out there.
The idea is to encourage developers to not be hesitant about making games for the PSP because of the high costs of development. John Koller, head of marketing for the PSP, explains that PSP games outsell DS games in terms of unit sales, but
DS games require much less development investment, because the graphics arenÂ’t as good, the gameplay isnÂ’t as deep. In general itÂ’s just not created for a more sophisticated, mature gamer, but usually [someone who is] under 12.
And so devs would still rather prefer developing for the DS. However, their new plan should get devs back on the Sony track: “The number one request we had was: look at franchise games, and donÂ’t port them.”
We did get into quality, and we did get into size. So quality is very important, obviously… Size is another thing. Many of the publishers had gotten caught up in the idea that ‘We have to make a console-sized game’ and it’s just not true. We launched ‘God of War‘ last year in March with eight hours of gameplay.
When we launched it there was an immediate reaction [against that]. But when you realize how a PSP is used, you use it for 10 minutes, put it down for an hour, pick it up for 15 minutes — eight hours was a very deep game. If you look at that size, that translates into development investment.
Now let’s hope developers don’t hear this and translate it as “so let’s make DS-quality games for the PSP.” That’d just suck. They’re also looking to promote more PSP-PS3 interconnectivity:
If you have a big franchise, think about ways you can connect it to the PSP. Of PSP owners, 30% own a PS3, so that cross-ownership rate is growing. It’s a very strong loyalty. And there’s a really good opportunity for a publisher — or even us on the worldwide studios side — to have two sales, plus the consumer loving the interaction between both of them.
Related Articles:
- Sony UK promises to ‘reinvigorate’ PSP with unannounced franchise titles
- Sony restructures, PS Network to be integrated into other Sony products
- Koller: Recently announced PSP lineup just “half the story”, more coming
- Sony wants Ready At Dawn back for new PSP game
Via MTV
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