Indie's on Revolution
by GJS · in General Discussion · 02/12/2006 (11:27 pm) · 11 replies
I know that Nintendo has to be more open to indie developers. I know a few developers personally who would love to work with Nintendo or just have their game on a Nintendo console. The problem I think is Nintendo doesn't know how many games and developers they are missing, and they kind of avoid this whole market because of that.
My question to you is two fold... If you were given the chance, would you develop for Nintendo Revolution or Nintendo DS?
Would you try and do something befitting of the unique features each system has?
I'm asking because recently, my team decided that our adventure game Orb can only be done on Revolution, the PC is far to limiting for what we want to do, and other consoles make the whole game too complicated to control. We've actually gotten a huge ammount of support from the Nintendo fan community, many people even saying they are going to get the game as soon as they can. Yet an easy route for Torque users such as us to work on Revolution and DS remains illusive not because of GG's reluctance, but I think maybe lack of manpower and Nintendo's reluctance to talk.
Many fans have asked how they can help get more indie titles like Orb, Tube Twist, Think Tanks, Orbz, Marble blast, etc, on Revolution and DS... and if they are willing to help, I'd like to know who will support the systems should they come through and convince Nintendo to talk with Garage Games.
My question to you is two fold... If you were given the chance, would you develop for Nintendo Revolution or Nintendo DS?
Would you try and do something befitting of the unique features each system has?
I'm asking because recently, my team decided that our adventure game Orb can only be done on Revolution, the PC is far to limiting for what we want to do, and other consoles make the whole game too complicated to control. We've actually gotten a huge ammount of support from the Nintendo fan community, many people even saying they are going to get the game as soon as they can. Yet an easy route for Torque users such as us to work on Revolution and DS remains illusive not because of GG's reluctance, but I think maybe lack of manpower and Nintendo's reluctance to talk.
Many fans have asked how they can help get more indie titles like Orb, Tube Twist, Think Tanks, Orbz, Marble blast, etc, on Revolution and DS... and if they are willing to help, I'd like to know who will support the systems should they come through and convince Nintendo to talk with Garage Games.
#2
Best of luck to you!
02/13/2006 (7:04 am)
The problem I see with developing for Nintendo is that they seem fairly adamant that you have several published examples of your work before they will lend you support. Their official developer site (http://www.warioworld.com/) mentions such things in their information. If you have published works and financial stability, then by all means, drop them a line and inquire about development on the DS and Revolution. (Keep in mind, they may not be ready to accept new/unknown developers for Revolution titles, as much of the information on the system is still very hush-hush.)Best of luck to you!
#3
02/13/2006 (7:08 am)
I agree with Dave, why is a PC so limiting... as him, i have a computer that could blow PS2/XBox360 (put together) out of the water... and my system is two years old.
#4
The fact that you're coming closer to actually doing what your game avatar is doing is a thrill for some. Makes things more interesting, provided the original game idea was sound.
02/13/2006 (7:18 am)
I think he meant limiting as in forms of interaction. Touch controls and the "pointer" functions on the Revolution lessen the disconnect between what you're doing in the game and what you're actually doing. (In Nintendogs, you could pet the dog. On any other system, you would press a button to "pet the dog".)The fact that you're coming closer to actually doing what your game avatar is doing is a thrill for some. Makes things more interesting, provided the original game idea was sound.
#5
Other platforms like the PS2 and Xbox360 also have a disconnect as most movement and such is boiled down to arbitrary 2d movement on a stick. It really does take away from the experience the game is trying to offer. And we have tried numerous times with many different gamespads on the PC to get it working to a point where it feels natural.
The Revolution controller actually lets us do what we want based on it's features... it is essentially the first 3d movement device that will be available to the mass market, and it makes the game that much more intuitive.
02/13/2006 (10:43 am)
The PC is very limiting, because I'm not pushing graphics, I want good graphics, but I don't care about tham that much. I want the game interaction and experience to be there first, and that comes first with the control method. On the PC you have a 2d control surface with a mouse and the most complicated button controller at your fingertips. For some of the stuff we want to do a mous just doesn't work, it ends up being a large disconnect for the player from the rest of the game, and very counter-intuitive.Other platforms like the PS2 and Xbox360 also have a disconnect as most movement and such is boiled down to arbitrary 2d movement on a stick. It really does take away from the experience the game is trying to offer. And we have tried numerous times with many different gamespads on the PC to get it working to a point where it feels natural.
The Revolution controller actually lets us do what we want based on it's features... it is essentially the first 3d movement device that will be available to the mass market, and it makes the game that much more intuitive.
#6
My team at CSE also got mentioned on joystiq.com and we are getting a consistent 400-700 unique hits a day with at least one day a week hitting 1,600 unique at least.
The point of all of this is, since we announced our intentions to support Revolution, we've gotten many publishers contacting us, some very big ones at that.
Our plan at CSE is to show a PC prototype at E3, and we've set up numerous meetings with publishers and media sites at E3.
Hopefully, some more of you will be joining us, because we've all played Xbox360 before, it was called PS2, Gamecube, or the original Xbox. Nothing changed except it has a fresh coat of paint. We all have to shake up the industry and make it be about having fun and great experiences, not eye candy.
03/28/2006 (2:15 am)
Just would like to update this saying that other indie developers Nibris and Lifespark Studios have also announced their intentiones to create games for the Rev, and have been getting a lot of press.My team at CSE also got mentioned on joystiq.com and we are getting a consistent 400-700 unique hits a day with at least one day a week hitting 1,600 unique at least.
The point of all of this is, since we announced our intentions to support Revolution, we've gotten many publishers contacting us, some very big ones at that.
Our plan at CSE is to show a PC prototype at E3, and we've set up numerous meetings with publishers and media sites at E3.
Hopefully, some more of you will be joining us, because we've all played Xbox360 before, it was called PS2, Gamecube, or the original Xbox. Nothing changed except it has a fresh coat of paint. We all have to shake up the industry and make it be about having fun and great experiences, not eye candy.
#7
In my mind the original Xbox, GameCube, and PS2 were always playing catch up. They didn't start out with online services (Nintendo still doesn't have one for the GameCube). The Xbox couldn't even run the Unreal engine at full settings.
Those consoles were still very limited in what they could do. The newer consoles finally have enough horsepower to create the type of full-blown gaming experiences you can expect on the PC, and its showing, and there are some incredible games out now (or are coming out within the next few months).
03/28/2006 (6:26 am)
Greg, I would have agreed with you 2 weeks ago, but the 360 really has an incredible lineup of enjoyable games that is only getting better and better.In my mind the original Xbox, GameCube, and PS2 were always playing catch up. They didn't start out with online services (Nintendo still doesn't have one for the GameCube). The Xbox couldn't even run the Unreal engine at full settings.
Those consoles were still very limited in what they could do. The newer consoles finally have enough horsepower to create the type of full-blown gaming experiences you can expect on the PC, and its showing, and there are some incredible games out now (or are coming out within the next few months).
#8
03/28/2006 (12:26 pm)
My point was not that they have horsepower, my point is there's no difference between the 360 and it's predecessors in terms of gameplay, nothing has changed. Last generation I didn't care, this generation I'm sick of the same old same old.
#9
The point of next gen consoles is to immerse the player into a more realistic virtual world. Graphics/Speed is the most important part of next gen game play. If this weren't true nintendo would just release that sucky one hand controller for their horrible gamecube system.
In my opinion, I think all controllers lack the superior functionality of the keyboard/mouse.
I also think it will be very difficult for nintendo if they place all their hopes on a one handed controller.
03/28/2006 (1:57 pm)
Have you used the revolutions controller yet? How do you know it will be better than keyboard/mouse or PS2/Xbox controllers? It may be a bomb. Is that the only difference between revolution and PS3/XBOX360? No.The point of next gen consoles is to immerse the player into a more realistic virtual world. Graphics/Speed is the most important part of next gen game play. If this weren't true nintendo would just release that sucky one hand controller for their horrible gamecube system.
In my opinion, I think all controllers lack the superior functionality of the keyboard/mouse.
I also think it will be very difficult for nintendo if they place all their hopes on a one handed controller.
#10
And almost everyone who has tried the controller for Rev has said it is very intuitive and fun, and I think we may see the Keyboard and mouse fall by the wayside, especially where FP games are concerned.
03/28/2006 (2:17 pm)
The point of games is not to immerse players in a realistic world... the point of games is to allow the user to experience things and places they have not before, and pushing photo realism limits that ability.And almost everyone who has tried the controller for Rev has said it is very intuitive and fun, and I think we may see the Keyboard and mouse fall by the wayside, especially where FP games are concerned.
#11
Yeah, People also said that the Zboard was really great for gaming. And the Joystick. And the Retro-Stlye Arcade stick, yet they are all impracticle marketing Gimmicks with no real use when it comes to basic gameplay.
The PC is, if anything, the LEAST limiting gaming platform - if you don't like the keyboard/mouse, engineer your own gaming device and send it to Logitech to get mass-produced. With consoles, you need to contact the consoles manufacturer for permission to use their patents and then somehow create an input device using closed firmware which you need to reverse-engineer to get the device working anyway.
03/28/2006 (5:54 pm)
Quote:And almost everyone who has tried the controller for Rev has said it is very intuitive and fun, and I think we may see the Keyboard and mouse fall by the wayside, especially where FP games are concerned.
Yeah, People also said that the Zboard was really great for gaming. And the Joystick. And the Retro-Stlye Arcade stick, yet they are all impracticle marketing Gimmicks with no real use when it comes to basic gameplay.
The PC is, if anything, the LEAST limiting gaming platform - if you don't like the keyboard/mouse, engineer your own gaming device and send it to Logitech to get mass-produced. With consoles, you need to contact the consoles manufacturer for permission to use their patents and then somehow create an input device using closed firmware which you need to reverse-engineer to get the device working anyway.
Torque Owner Dave