In order for small development houses to make games...

Small development houses have expressed concern in developing games for the PS2 because of difficulty... Sega is going to publish middleware tools. What is unknown is if It will be for there internal use or not. See, Big developers like Konami, Take-Two, EA, ect, will need to make some game engines availible to small development houses. Much like how the quake 3 and unreal engines are used by many. If this doesn\'t happen... We\'ll see a lack of innovation.

I kinda wondered myself if Sega is going to keep there middleware tools to themselves or not.  I think I read Sega has got some amazing tools for the PS2 and are showing great results.  Would Sega make money for "lending" its\' tools?  

"See, Big developers like Konami, Take-Two, EA, ect, will need to make some game engines availible to small development houses. Much like how the quake 3 and unreal engines are used by many. If this doesn\'t happen... We\'ll see a lack of innovation." - Animal Mother

Now let me get this streight.. you think that innovation will INCREASE if small development houses use rehashes of pre-existing engines to create their games? Sorry, but I can\'t agree with you there. I think that Innovation would be better served by everyone comming up with their own engines, and getting a first hand knowlage of the PS2\'s hardware. It\'s increadibly difficult work on such increadibly limited budgets, but then again, who ever said innovation was easy? There will be those who stumble and fall along the way, but it\'s up to Sony to see that the little guys aren\'t lost in the shuffle and are supported whenever possible. Weither they will do that or not, is not yet clear.

I want to see the little guys succeed, because that is where the future of gaming begins. Provide them with the support, knowlage, and experience needed to succeed so that if they fail, it will be their own fault.

Now I\'ve got nothing against using pre-existing or modified game engines to create new titles. But if the little guys begin to rely solely upon those engines, then innovation will be the first casualty as development houses turn into nothing more than digital McDonalds.. pumping out the same old stuff in new packages over and over again as quickly as possible in order to gain a buck. Sure they might become successful, but we (the gamers) will end up paying the price in the longrun.

Yes SonyFan, I think the last thing we need is re-used game engines.  Variety is the spice of life.

I doubt Sega will share.  If it will give them an edge, right now they need it to get some $$$ back.

At what point does a developer sell a tool that will help the competition? I have no real clue but it seems to me it would normally only happen after they had something better to work with or no longer had much use for guarding the tool. To my thinking, its up to Sony to provide the library of tools to enable a small developer to squeeze a good game out of their hardware.

The main obstacle for developing on any "next generation" systems will be the cost in time to fill such huge empty canvases with rich engaging detail along with (we can only hope) original gameplay. More and more akin to producing a major motion picture. How often is a group of talented artists/programers going flock together and work for next to nothing for over a year to produce a game that may or may not be a hit? It\'s looking to me like the meaning of the phrases "easy/hard to develop for" are getting nebulous. While the other two systems are building their user base, the challenge for Sony will be to make available the software tools so their hardware won\'t be a major cost factor. Which is exactly what I think they\'ll do.

Originally posted by SonyFan
"See, Big developers like Konami, Take-Two, EA, ect, will need to make some game engines availible to small development houses. Much like how the quake 3 and unreal engines are used by many. If this doesn\'t happen... We\'ll see a lack of innovation." - Animal Mother

Now let me get this streight.. you think that innovation will INCREASE if small development houses use rehashes of pre-existing engines to create their games? Sorry, but I can\'t agree with you there. I think that Innovation would be better served by everyone comming up with their own engines, and getting a first hand knowlage of the PS2\'s hardware. It\'s increadibly difficult work on such increadibly limited budgets, but then again, who ever said innovation was easy? There will be those who stumble and fall along the way, but it\'s up to Sony to see that the little guys aren\'t lost in the shuffle and are supported whenever possible. Weither they will do that or not, is not yet clear.

I want to see the little guys succeed, because that is where the future of gaming begins. Provide them with the support, knowlage, and experience needed to succeed so that if they fail, it will be their own fault.

Now I\'ve got nothing against using pre-existing or modified game engines to create new titles. But if the little guys begin to rely solely upon those engines, then innovation will be the first casualty as development houses turn into nothing more than digital McDonalds.. pumping out the same old stuff in new packages over and over again as quickly as possible in order to gain a buck. Sure they might become successful, but we (the gamers) will end up paying the price in the longrun.

 

Have you seen American McGee\'s alice? That\'s innovative. A engine is mearly a canvas to be painted on.

[Living-In-Clip]

I\'m with the rest of them. The last thing we need is to keep rehashing engines. Yes, Alice is original and what not. But how offen does that happen? Not very offen.

It is a good idea also though. Save development time for the small ones. And in theory, that way they can focus on gameplay instead of the engine,etc.

It can be good or bad. In my opinion, most likely the bad will out-weigh the good.

"Why would developers bust their butts for next to nothing?"

Simple.  They know that if they do hit it right with a good game it will sell millions.  PS2 probably has the largest userbase of the console market and the biggest attraction.  You have to start somewhere.

Actually, all the reviews I\'ve read of American McGee\'s Alice say that the control is absolutely horrid and sluggish. It sometimes makes the game more of a chore to play than an enjoyable experience despite the excellent graphics and dark storyline. Expecially when trying to make long jumps. Perhaps if they had made an engine specifically for what they were trying to accomplish with the game?

I Don\'t know squat about Alice, saw the box but that\'s all. The Game box, not hers perv. Do know that sequels sell like hotcakes so all this talk about rehash being the last thing gamers want is mostly hallow. Old engines, fresh paint and story could do wonders. Example: RE 1,2,3, vs Silent Hill. If its not the same engine it might as well be. Totally different tasty evil ball o wax. No?