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[Toma]

I find the idea that Vita is a hit among indie game developers to be intriguing... Namely, there has been concern about how smartphones and tablets are doing compared to dedicated handhelds, but if Vita is doing well for people making games that would appear on smartphones and tablets, then maybe Vita could carve out a niche for itself. I'd probably not buy one at least unless it has Kindle and Comixology support though. I prefer reading on my handheld devices.

I can get behind Comixology as well. Wasnt there a mention of that lately for japan at least? Forgot where I saw/read that.

 

[Carl]

For those unfamiliar with our RPGs, this is what our new game that's coming out soon currently looks like:

CSH (which would be the one that we would be putting on the Vita) is going to look even better. Should look very awesome on the Vita's screen.

I would play this on my vita

 

[AgentOtaku]

GAT DAWM

This thread is awesome!

<3

 

[@MUWANdo]

Unity has Playstation 3 support (I will need a link for Unity building to vita). Costs a penny though...dunno about Vita. And I'm not so sure about 3DS...can you provide a link for this? I've been developing for Unity a couple years now and I've never seen 3DS or Vita export...

Vita support is definitely real, I don't think 3DS support is in, though. Wii U-only.

This game came out on Wiiware too right, I wonder how hilarious those sales were.

Not to drag this thread off topic, but, here's what the RCR dev had to say about WiiWare now that all is said and done:

The only weaknesses on Nintendo’s end during the Wii development have both been fixed for future platforms, so a big kudos must go out to them. They listen to feedback and take action to improve things if there’s a better way. In both cases, the original policies had the best intentions, but turned out to be a bit problematic.

The first was the office space requirement. As a mostly one-man company, I could have worked from but instead needed to get an office, just for myself and the development hardware. This ended up draining a significant chunk of the bank account which I’d saved to for so many years to fund the game’s development full time. Secondly, it became public knowledge on Gamasutra in 2009 (one year before RCR’s announcement) that a sales threshold is in place, whereas, if you don’t sell enough copies, you don’t get paid a cent. This had the best intentions, to avoid shovelware, but the problem was that WiiWare wasn’t the hit that it was anticipated to be and while there are millions of consoles out there, a very small percentage of those consumers were downloading these games.

Many developers became unable to sell enough units, and this became a reason for so many cancellations of announced WiiWare titles. The publishers knew they wouldn’t make a cent and needed to cut their losses. Between the office rent, hardware, insurance, game ratings and other costs, had I not done the WiiWare version, I could’ve saved around $20,000 – not even including my salary in porting it. And as it stands, virtually no games hit the threshold these days, so it’s only being released as fan service. A $20,000 gift to the fans. However, I wanted to keep my word and didn’t want to see it go to waste. I’m happy to see it finally out, and the many happy players. That said, I encourage everyone to buy it! I’m crossing my fingers that it will hit the threshold at least in one region.

tl;dr: he's pretty much resigned to the fact that the WiiWare version won't make him any money but he's releasing it anyway as a gesture to the fans who waited so long.

 

[Redhood]

Also the developer of Sunflowers [Native vita game] sated that the game sold much more on the vita rather than next to none exposure on the iOS.

Let me search for a link!

 

[speedpop]

I can see myself grabbing indie titles on the Vita while possibly skipping them on the PC if PSN stayed like it is on the Sony handhelds.

 

[serplux]

I'm a little curious about how much developers have actually made on the 3DS eShop. Considering revenue projections from last year, plus the current all time charts, I wonder if it's fair to say that all of the top 20 have made close to $700,000 or so at least on the eShop? I wish Nintendo would give out numbers publicly so that we could see a tangible amount.

 

[VXLbeast]

This whole thread makes me a happy gamer.

 

[Ouren]

I can see myself grabbing indie titles on the Vita while possibly skipping them on the PC if PSN stayed like it is on the Sony handhelds.

Yea! Indie games on a great handheld, ho!

This whole thread makes me a happy gamer.

Makes me a happy developer!

If you want to see more games from some top notch developers, you should go poke around http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?board=27.0 and see if they are willing to do a PSM (or native Vita) version of their game. PSM is a lot like XNA, so it's pretty simple.
Bother your favorite small time developers




EDIT:
Also, just wondering, would you all want to pay a little extra to have voice acting in a PSM game we're working on, or is that something you even care about?

 

[wilflare]

We should have a post (a single post) that gives indie devs enough reason why they should develop on the Vita!

shall we come up with a consolidated post?

 

[wilflare]

We should have a post (a single post) that gives indie devs enough reason why they should develop on the Vita!

shall we come up with a consolidated post?

hoping this thread gets more discussion/attention though.

-i'm just looking forward to Vita devs talking/sharing about their coming games-

 

[Palette Swap]

So, does CSH stand for Cthulhu Saves Handhelds?

 

[zulux21]

So, does CSH stand for Cthulhu Saves Handhelds?

nah, there have been a number of details about CSH mentioned by the creators, and they have confirmed it's not Cthulhu related (though it sounds likely that at some point they will revisit Cthulhu)

So the official first public look at Penny Arcade&#8217;s On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 4 is tied up in bureaucratic red tape at the moment (bleh!) so let&#8217;s talk about our game after PA4! Keep in mind this is all subject to change at a whim.

Internal codename acronym is CSH.

It will be a Science-Fiction Spy-themed RPG.

We&#8217;ve been working on the design for this on and off for a while.

Distant future; none of this Star Ocean &#8220;Let&#8217;s crash land on a fantasy planet&#8221; nonsense. Laser guns, virtual reality, robots, giant mechs, spaceships, the works.

Female protagonist.

Noticeable improvements to our game engine. Will still retain the 16-bit aesthetic but will be more sophisticated than anything that could have actually come out on the SNES/Genesis.

Chrono Trigger-style combat directly on the exploration map.

Easy to understand but still versatile & deep LV-Up system.

Will probably have a Diablo-style New Game+ where you can restart the game with your end-game characters and face high LV-appropriate challenges (and maybe even a little new content as well).

taken from their blog.

 

[Bamihap]

Sony is giving money to developers to release games on PSVITA (won't go into numbers). Even if sales are bad the porting costs are covered. BUT, this tactic can't last forever. Sony can't keep spending millions to get games on their dying platform if no-one is buying their system.

 

[Tizoc]

Sony is giving money to developers to release games on PSVITA (won't go into numbers). Even if sales are bad the porting costs are covered. BUT, this tactic can't last forever. Sony can't keep spending millions to get games on their dying platform if no-one is buying their system.

It'll prob. pay off in the long run. Do these Indie games get released in Japan as well I wonder?

 

[Bamihap]

It'll prob. pay off in the long run. Do these Indie games get released in Japan as well I wonder?

I don't think it pays off at all. Instead of creating tools specifically for PSVITA development, those indies just hire an external dude to port the game over. It's not an investment into developing for PSVITA. It's just a way to get a nice profit. Don't get me know: I think Sony is helping out indies with the money. But I can't see this working out for Sony in the long run.

 

[BlackLagoon]

Sony is giving money to developers to release games on PSVITA (won't go into numbers). Even if sales are bad the porting costs are covered. BUT, this tactic can't last forever. Sony can't keep spending millions to get games on their dying platform if no-one is buying their system.

That's an "interesting" post to make in a thread about the developer of a seemingly successful game noting that the Vita version was the one that sold the best...

 

[Carl]

I don't think it pays off at all. Instead of creating tools specifically for PSVITA development, those indies just hire an external dude to port the game over. It's not an investment into developing for PSVITA. It's just a way to get a nice profit. Don't get me know: I think Sony is helping out indies with the money. But I can't see this working out for Sony in the long run.

You can't see more support, more games, more sales, and more money "working out for Sony in the long run"? :S

 

[Bamihap]

That's an "interesting" post to make in a thread about the developer of a seemingly successful game noting that the Vita version was the one that sold the best...

He's probably under an NDA

 

[Bamihap]

You can't see more support, more games, more sales, and more money "working out for Sony in the long run"? :S

If that equation works than every game company should be a 2nd party developer paid by the big three.

 

[FantasticMrFoxdie]

nah, there have been a number of details about CSH mentioned by the creators, and they have confirmed it's not Cthulhu related (though it sounds likely that at some point they will revisit Cthulhu)


taken from their blog.

Whoa. This game sounds sweet. Color me interested.

 

[lynux3]

Sony is giving money to developers to release games on PSVITA (won't go into numbers). Even if sales are bad the porting costs are covered. BUT, this tactic can't last forever. Sony can't keep spending millions to get games on their dying platform if no-one is buying their system.

Who cares? The more games the better. It is up to Sony to fund the right game that will sell or at least break even. Sony wouldn't be throwing away money thinking it wouldn't be worth it.

 

[JoshHood]

You can't see more support, more games, more sales, and more money "working out for Sony in the long run"? :S

I think you missed his point a bit there. Look at Call of Duty Declassified: sure the game is one of the biggest sellers on Vita and seems ripe for a follow-up, however, it was developed externally, on an external (again) engine. If Activision wanted a follow-up, they'd have to rehire another team, get a new engine etc. The success of their one game doesn't set them up in any way to help them in the future.

It's like The Witness on PS4 (different story of course because of the PC base etc.), it's a separate team doing the PS4 version, so it's not like the actual Witness team comes out of it with any PS4 experience themselves to help in the future.

Does anyone really think that Sony getting an internal team to port Epic Mickey to Vita (even if it sells well) will convince Disney to release games for it? Of course not. It's completely separate.

I get it, and it is a worry I have too - when the money runs out from Sony, there won't actually be the studios with experience to carry on regardless of sales.

 

[michaelius]

That's a game which would be completly awesome on Vita

 

[Maedhros]

Sony is giving money to developers to release games on PSVITA (won't go into numbers). Even if sales are bad the porting costs are covered. BUT, this tactic can't last forever. Sony can't keep spending millions to get games on their dying platform if no-one is buying their system.

Who are you?

 

[wilflare]

I think you missed his point a bit there. Look at Call of Duty Declassified: sure the game is one of the biggest sellers on Vita and seems ripe for a follow-up, however, it was developed externally, on an external (again) engine. If Activision wanted a follow-up, they'd have to rehire another team, get a new engine etc. The success of their one game doesn't set them up in any way to help them in the future.

It's like The Witness on PS4 (different story of course because of the PC base etc.), it's a separate team doing the PS4 version, so it's not like the actual Witness team comes out of it with any PS4 experience themselves to help in the future.

Does anyone really think that Sony getting an internal team to port Epic Mickey to Vita (even if it sells well) will convince Disney to release games for it? Of course not. It's completely separate.

I get it, and it is a worry I have too - when the money runs out from Sony, there won't actually be the studios with experience to carry on regardless of sales.

i just hope that when the money does run out from Sony, the Vita install-base would be large enough to convince more developers to release games for it.

It's an amazing platform. It's quickly becoming my sole platform of play (other than the PC). It is to the point that I hope every other game is released on it.

(it bewilders me why it isn't selling as well as it should (minus all the issues of business/marketing/pricing). Is handheld gaming really waning? (the 3DS says no.. although its growth is slowing as well). If we were to say that mobile gaming (on smartphones, tablets) is the new future, I somehow think that it is just a phase... I would even say that this whole relationship between handheld gaming and mobile gaming is cyclic. People would ultimately go back to handheld gaming where there is a prevalence of more in-depth gaming experiences (this is not to say mobile gaming do not offer such... but I would argue it is less prevalent).

ignore my verbosity.. tired from writing too many academic essays

 

[oldergamer]

why are people freaking out over simple features that are also on PS4? seriously. the amount of people in this thread saying " always online? always on? kinect??? forget it i'm not buying the console!!!" is ridiculous.

This is yet again, another rehash of the same information that vgleaks posted before. They literally have no new information so they dribble out the SAME info that they were given months ago (even if it is older then that).

 

[DiscoJer]

i just hope that when the money does run out from Sony, the Vita install-base would be large enough to convince more developers to release games for it.

It's an amazing platform. It's quickly becoming my sole platform of play (other than the PC). It is to the point that I hope every other game is released on it.

Personally, I felt that way about the PSP. But the Vita largely leaves me cold, despite its specs and sticks, it just doesn't have much I want to play on it. (Heck, I still play my PSP while my Vita sits)

I mean, people probably aren't going to rush out and buy a Vita for indie games when iOS and Android have a lot more indie games. A whole lot more.

Heck, the original example in this thread - an RPG from the Cthulhu Saves the World guy, well, you have the Penny Arcade RPG from him on Android. And the Cthulhu RPG. Neither of which are coming to the Vita.

But hey, the Vita might get an RPG from him in a year or two. But I imagine it will also be on Android.

 

[BlackLagoon]

He's probably under an NDA

Huh? You entirely missed my point - regardless of how the deals are put together, what basis do you have for stating that the ports are unprofitable? Especially in a thread about the Vita version of Retro City Rampage being the one that sold the best?

 

[Toma]

why are people freaking out over simple features that are also on PS4? seriously. the amount of people in this thread saying " always online? always on? kinect??? forget it i'm not buying the console!!!" is ridiculous.

This is yet again, another rehash of the same information that vgleaks posted before. They literally have no new information so they dribble out the SAME info that they were given months ago (even if it is older then that).

Kinect? You sure you are in the right thread? lol

 

[wilflare]

Kinect? You sure you are in the right thread? lol

I laughed at this hahahaha

 

[BosSin]

why are people freaking out over simple features that are also on PS4? seriously. the amount of people in this thread saying " always online? always on? kinect??? forget it i'm not buying the console!!!" is ridiculous.

This is yet again, another rehash of the same information that vgleaks posted before. They literally have no new information so they dribble out the SAME info that they were given months ago (even if it is older then that).

I think you took a wrong turning somewhere and somehow ended up in the wrong thread

 

[KiteGr]

The biggest problem with Inde games is that they are Digital-only games, and like all digital content has Zero collection vallue. I love collecting games as much as I like playing them, so inde games are not excactly my type (kinda regret getting a Vita).

Still, if they manage to revive the Vita, then bigger developers will take it more seriously and we'll see some real games on it.
So I guess I support this argument!?...

 

[Bamihap]

Huh? You entirely missed my point - regardless of how the deals are put together, what basis do you have for stating that the ports are unprofitable? Especially in a thread about the Vita version of Retro City Rampage being the one that sold the best?

I didn't say they were unprofitable. I said that continuing to pay developers to port games probably won't be profitable. Don't get me wrong. I love Sony for paying small indies. Thanks to Sony we're going to get games that might otherwise not have been made. Also, to clarify: I'm not saying that Sony paid for Retro City Rampage. I'm glad that game is doing well on PSVita. Hope more will follow.

 

[AranhaHunter]

Sony is giving money to developers to release games on PSVITA (won't go into numbers).

Who are you and why should we believe what you're claiming here? GAF is full of pseudo insiders making similar insider claims that turn out to be false. Unless you can prove to be in the know, people should take this post with a huge grain of salt.

 

[wilflare]

Who are you and why should we believe what you're claiming here? GAF is full of pseudo insiders making similar insider claims that turn out to be false. Unless you can prove to be in the know, people should take this post with a huge grain of salt.

He's a developer with the Stolen Couch guys.. (they've made some really impressive iOS games and also started the Greenlight Bundle)