Playstation Network Development

Given you apparent definition of "indie," I'm surprised you have this opinion of PSN. Microsoft, via XNA and the Xbox Community Games program, provides a much better option for the kind of indie developer you are talking about.

Pretty much anybody can get a game on the 360 via the community games program, provided they have the capability to develop the game and the money to pay for creator's club membership (which is about $100/year). It's vastly easier than getting something on PSN, which as far as I know still requires you to a registered Sony developer -- a major hurdle for the type of 'indie' you're talking about.

What you'd need to do is build the game on the PC, and then prepare a pitch and such to Sony or another publisher, deal with all that marketing and licensing stuff, and then port the game to the PS3. Assuming you got permission.

Giving the amount of failure points and issues that are basically beyond your control and/or extremely unlikely to go your way, a PSN game is much less likely to ever become a reality for you than a 360 game.

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Original post by jpetrie Given you apparent definition of "indie," I'm surprised you have this opinion of PSN. Microsoft, via XNA and the Xbox Community Games program, provides a much better option for the kind of indie developer you are talking about. Pretty much anybody can get a game on the 360 via the community games program, provided they have the capability to develop the game and the money to pay for creator's club membership (which is about $100/year). It's vastly easier than getting something on PSN, which as far as I know still requires you to a registered Sony developer -- a major hurdle for the type of 'indie' you're talking about. What you'd need to do is build the game on the PC, and then prepare a pitch and such to Sony or another publisher, deal with all that marketing and licensing stuff, and then port the game to the PS3. Assuming you got permission. Giving the amount of failure points and issues that are basically beyond your control and/or extremely unlikely to go your way, a PSN game is much less likely to ever become a reality for you than a 360 game.

ah ok so say i manage i get together a team of people who are prepared to work for nothing..We then make the game for pc then ask sony or microsoft to endorse it..Do you think i could do this with an extremely low budget ?

With XNA, you just upload and get peer reviewed. Once passed by the community, its up for sale on the 360. Microsoft really isn't involved with what the community puts on 360 through XNA. Well, unless you break some laws or some rules.

For PS3, I am not sure.

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ah ok so say i manage i get together a team of people who are prepared to work for nothing..We then make the game for pc then ask sony or microsoft to endorse it..Do you think i could do this with an extremely low budget ?

It is quite unlikely. Besides, what do you mean by "endorse it," exactly? They won't port it for you, even if they were to consider the game so amazing that they would be willing to arrange a developer licensing deal.

XNA is what you want here.

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Original post by Wilex Do you think i could do this with an extremely low budget ?

For the PS3, no way. Just getting a dev kit is a multi-thousand dollar investment. Becoming a licensed developer means giving money to sony and, frankly, isn't possible for an indie developer. You need multiple shipped titles (or at least your game must already be very successful on the PC) for them even to consider allowing you to give them tens of thousands of dollars. For the PS3: time + many shipped titles + very slim chance for a license + thousands of dollars = game on PSN

For the 360, absolutely. You can get XNA free and start developing on your PC also free. You can have a game up and running before you need to spend $100 to get it on the 360. For 360: time + $100 = game on the creators club marketplace.

Though a radically different platform, the iPhone offers a similarly low bar for indie developers: time + $100 => app on the iTunes app store.

-me

In order to develop for the PS3 you have to be a registered developer. In order to be a registered developer you need show proof of some sort of office, pay for the dev kits, and get in bed with the licensing folks.

Is it possible? Sure. Do you need money first to get things rolling? yes.

As everyone else pointed out, Xbox Live Community Games were where it's at. It only costs about $100 to join the XNA Creators Club.

Slight thread hijack, my apologies - but it's on topic with the OP.

Would anyone be interested in one of us covering this session at the GDC?

Independent Self-Publishing On PlayStation Network

Currently in that time slot I have another session I'm looking at but I could change plans or see if anyone else on the team is willing to sit in on it if you guys want. Spread the word, let me know.