conzer16 Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 According to gaming blog Kotaku, Nintendo are sending out Wii dev kits to smaller studios for FREE. Seems like an effort to get as many studios as possible (big or small) on board with Wii. They seem to be really going after 3rd parties this time round! Good job Nintendo!
Tellyn Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 The dev kits are 90% cheaper than Xbox360 and PS3, priced at 900 odd pounds.
Guest Stefkov Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 thats really cool, imagine if r-e made a small group of games creators. you could get one.
DiemetriX Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 It's a rumor, and I don't belive it. But If it's true Nintendo will realy impress me.
Dante Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 It is a just a rumour folks. Do you really think Nintendo would give out dev-kits free for small studios and lose $2,000 a piece for them?
conzer16 Posted July 29, 2006 Author Posted July 29, 2006 Its a rumour yes, but what is $2000 to Nintendo if they can get as many studios as possible to develop for the Wii, and make killer sales? $2000 is absolute pittance to Nintendo if they can guarantee major 3rd party support right across the genres right throughout the Wii's lifetime.
mcj metroid Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 i'm still worried about these smaller studios though.They wouln't have enough to make a proper game,but i could be wrong here.
Helmsly Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 I can't imaging the other studios being happy that something they had to spend $2000 on was given for free to another studio.
Tellyn Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 they had to spend $2000 on ... Does anyone listen to me?
Helmsly Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 ... Does anyone listen to me? I know you mentioned its just £900 but that link says this info came from " A developer in a big coastal American city" So they won't care what it is in £.
Tellyn Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 $2000 is like 400 quid difference to 900 pounds though.
Charlie Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 i'm still worried about these smaller studios though.They wouln't have enough to make a proper game,but i could be wrong here. I would be happy if they could make some VC games that were the same quality as XBL Arcade games on the 360. Marble Blast Ultra is the best £8 I've ever spent
SpinesN Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 $2000 is like 400 quid difference to 900 pounds though. Tax mayhaps?
Jamba Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 Quick question to anyone who would know: What does a dev kit actually contain? I'm guessing the console, a way to interface it to another computer, specialised software and a bunch of manuals. In Nintendo's case also a hotline for dev questions too...
YenRug Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 Well, current exchange rates put: US$2000 = GB£1072.79 Anyway, odds are they won't be given "free", they will probably be long-term free loans, provided on the basis that they can be returned at any time.
Charlie Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 Quick question to anyone who would know: What does a dev kit actually contain? I'm guessing the console, a way to interface it to another computer, specialised software and a bunch of manuals. In Nintendo's case also a hotline for dev questions too... I think the Wii's one will come with small tech-demos showing how the controller works, but with code too. IGN got their hands on one and said it had a wired controller with it with a nun-chuck which was connected via USB.
Jamba Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 Was just wondering whether it was worth getting your hands on a dev kit. Cause if you don't get that much extra stuff or interface then you may just as well develop straight for the commercial console unit, if you get me.
Meo Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 I think the Wii's one will come with small tech-demos showing how the controller works, but with code too. All console companies provide their development kits with first and second party tech demos, and some other documentation and code to help development process. I would say the Wii is no diferent, especially when they have a new concept which has to be very well understood by programmers.
DCK Posted July 30, 2006 Posted July 30, 2006 I bet the 1000 odd quid they lose for this is made up by any game released on Wii, no matter how poorly it sells. This strategy would make sense.
Fierce_LiNk Posted July 30, 2006 Posted July 30, 2006 I bet the 1000 odd quid they lose for this is made up by any game released on Wii, no matter how poorly it sells. This strategy would make sense. Agreed. Imo, this would be a very good move by Nintendo. They can afford to lose this money, especially if it means that they'll be getting more games for the system. They're going to need to make some sacrifices.
Konfucius Posted July 30, 2006 Posted July 30, 2006 Maybe they give the devkits out for free and in return the game must be exclusive to the Wii. It could also be that these are outdated devkits for VC games. After all I doubt a VC game would ever need all of the Wii's resources. After all it would give them a lot of great support from indy developers and lots of games for the VC.
Fierce_LiNk Posted July 30, 2006 Posted July 30, 2006 I think that would be pretty sweet, actually. They get given devkits for free, and they are more or less under Nintendo's wing.
DCK Posted July 30, 2006 Posted July 30, 2006 I don't think that's a good idea actually, it sounds a lot like Nintendo's arrogant way of working back in the NES/SNES era when they used to pull off a similar trick. It hasn't helped them. Besides, a Wii game is so unique in control and hardware power, any game developed on it isn't very likely to be ported on.
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