820°

Sony dominates the indie scene at GDC by showcasing 25 games

Sony is really focused on supporting independent games recently and at GDC they are showing off no less than 25 titles for PS3, PS Vita and PS Mobile. Gems like Spelunky, Hotline Miami, Ibb and Obb, Guacamelee and Thomas Was Alone to name a few. The recent announcement to make the approval process easier bode well for the future. The fact that Sony employed former gaming press individuals like Nick Suttner and Shane Bettenhausen who are doing a great job to promote the indie scene and pick up independent developers has made a huge difference.

StrongMan4042d ago

This is why Sony will rule the hardcore gamers. They keep games at the forefront and have the guts to show up at GDC.

NastyLeftHook04042d ago

tentonsoftube approves this message!

iGAM3R-VIII4042d ago (Edited 4042d ago )

iGAM3R-VIII also approves this!!

Anyway, 25 indie games is actually quite a lot. It proves that Sony kept their word when they said they would be more open and encouraging to idie developers on the PS4. One of the many reasons I cannot wait until the release of the PS4, and E3

Ritsujun4042d ago

Sony doesn't need a braking system, at all.

miyamoto4042d ago (Edited 4042d ago )

I am astonished by Sony PlayStation's dedication to gamers and game makers regardless of sales figures. No wonder the games are flowing to PSP, PS Vita, PS3 and PS4.

GREAT RESPECT!

Skips4042d ago

Same here.

If GDC showed off 25 indie games...

Then DAMN! Just imagine how effin crazy E3 will be this year!

nix4042d ago

25 games is like 2 games every month.

Army_of_Darkness4041d ago

Since they didn't dominate this Gen and took nintendo and MS lightly, it backfired and dropped they're #1 spot to #3... And obviously, Sony is not happy with their current position judging by all the crazy changes they have made for the upcoming PS4 and it's really impressing everyone so far! including myself. I'm telling you, they're coming back with a vengeance! LOL!
Which brings me to the conclusion that Sony just might once again dominate the gaming industry! and that would be a great thing cause I know they are clearly about the gamers and developers, especially compared to the other platforms..

darthv724041d ago

are some of my favorite releases on psn/xbl/wiiware.

These smaller development houses have some creative people coming up with fun and entertaining content.

justpassinggas4041d ago

Microsoft fanboys about the PS3 when it launched:
IT HAZ NO GAEMZZZ!!111

Microsoft fanboys about the PS4 when it launches:
IT HAZ TOO MENY GAEMZZZ!!!11

morganfell4041d ago

"ince they didn't dominate this Gen and took nintendo and MS lightly, it backfired and dropped they're #1 spot to #3"

Actually Sony didn't drop to number 3. They are in 2nd but only in sales of their main console. As regards games, their quality and breadth of choice, they never slipped from 1st place.

BattleAxe4041d ago

Looks like it really will be a battle between STEAM and PS4 this next generation. I think Android is going to have more of effect over Nintendo and Microsoft in the next generation also.

thechosenone4041d ago

Sony is killing it with the indie news. Well done Sony, keep this momentum going!

sikbeta4041d ago

Would be nice if Sony expand PSM further and invest more in the platform, such waste to see it barely getting games...

+ Show (9) more repliesLast reply 4041d ago
DoomeDx4042d ago

And I loooooove indie game!
The only game developers that are not influenced by casuallity.

specialagent45324042d ago

Me too it looks like Sony has truly learned from their mistakes. Now I am more interested than ever for PS4. Damn I just love indie games so creative and innovative these titles are. I am not sarcastic is the truth. Games that I played in the beginning of this generation echo chrome, the last guy, puzzle quest, trine, etc.

specialagent45324042d ago

Me too it looks like Sony has truly learned from their mistakes from this generation. I am now more interested in the PS4 is that I love indie games so creative and innovative these titles are. I am not being sarcastic is the truth so much that in the beginning of this generation I played echo chrome, puzzle quest, trine the last guy, etc..

GraveLord4042d ago

Meanwhile Microsoft is busy making deals with ESPN, Disney Channel, Sesame Street or whatever other shit they've been pushing lately.

Does anyone still think the gaming part of Xbox hasn't suffered?

Godmars2904042d ago

This gen MS tried to make the issue about exclusives, rather about how they didn't matter, and by most counts failed. Now so far by rumor and hearsay they're going for entertainment for next gen.

Just have to wait and find out, but who here thinks that's good for gaming?

AngelicIceDiamond4042d ago (Edited 4041d ago )

Everything was all good up until this comment. Do people see why now N4G will never be taken seriously?

It's comments like these that strays respect for other gamers on here.

That comment wasn't necessary.

EDIT: So I guess its cool to make fun of Xbox but, "off with his head" when making fun of PlayStation. Ok, I see how how it is.

Aww yeah Lets give him a "well said" hes so smart I wanna be just like him.... Losers

loulou4042d ago

no godofmars, microsoft made it a priority of securing as much 3rd party support as possible this gen, and breaking sonys stranglehold on gta and games like that.

search the net, i am sure you will find it.

the ps2s sales were propelled by games like gta, ff, mgs etc. the only first party game in the ps2 era that helped sony massively was gt (a bit like this gen really). although nearly every big 3rd party franchise that i mentioned above did find it's way to the xbox, they were so long after sony had had them that they didn't really count.

imagine what would have happened to the 360 if they had had the same level of 3rd party support as last gen? or if gta had been exclusive or had followed the same as the ps2 era.?

microsoft would already be out of the console business

specialagent45324042d ago

Financially speaking no; however, their reputation has gone down the drain.

Jobesy4042d ago

"Everything was all good up until this comment. Do people see why now N4G will never be taken seriously?"

People don't really take any comment sections on the net seriously. People come to N4G for the news and the comment section for entertainment. If you want a deep engaging conversation then try the forums instead of comment sections.

loulou4042d ago

jobsey, yes and know. perhaps the forum part maybe. But n4g is a nothing site the is choc full of fanboys, top 5s, and blogs that are wrote especially for the fanboys that dwell here

Godmars2904042d ago

MS had largely tried to copy what Sony did when they first went into consoles, but aren't getting it right.

Where it was the PS1 which ended Nintendo's stranglehold on the industry, allowed it to grow and franchises like FF, MGS and RE to become what they were, though the PS2 built upon that with GTA, it was really it movie playback which won the brand its place in the consumer market. If Sega had supported VCDs, which was a similar tech right along DVDs, or MS not messed up and forced to use a kit, then that gen would have been different.

Likewise because they did nothing directly, failed to show any true advantages like the PS1 did against the N64, any benefits MS might have had by throwing money around to get exclusive largely means nothing now. For all the programming issues the PS3 has, it has games which - arguably, of course arguably - set the benchmark for this gen. Meanwhile the 360 just has PC ports.

And if not for all the money they had, they wouldn't still be around when RRoD happened.

loulou4042d ago

sorry gravelord but i do and dont agree.

dvd was a big plus last gen. but no way was a forced kit from microsoft the reason why sony sold 100m more ps2s thne they sold xboxs. it was all the games. and not the the first party ones either.

no one can deny this!

now imagine the same scenario this time around. very little 3rd party support....? 360 would have died with 4 red lights about 6 months after gta4 hit as an exclusive on the ps3.

kenshiro1004041d ago

Only for the same third party games to end up going to other consoles...

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 4041d ago
JoGam4042d ago (Edited 4042d ago )

Well I heard MS has added 25 cable stations to 720. Im kidding. Seriously, you gotta just wonder what MS is doing now.

Veneno4041d ago

If comedy central was one of them that'd be pretty kool.

xHeavYx4042d ago

"Sony dominates"... So... what's new? Sony always dominates

Jack of Death4041d ago

Really? I thought MS was the most innovating when it came to the gaming market. When the original Xbox came out it was clearly a dominate system. They came out with a gaming service called Xbox live that makes/made so much money and Sony definitely learned from MS. Sony had to give PSN for free or it would never have survived this console gen. Competition is good and brings out the best for the consumers. I hope the gaming industry keeps on innovating. It only helps the consumers. I bought just about all the consoles this gen.... Holding out on the Wii U. Just don't think Nintendo is keeping up with the times. I really think Sony learned so much from this and the past Gen. Don't charge 600+ for your console at launch and then when it breaks a little more than a year later charge another 180 for it to be fixed. I'm still really pissed about that. You mess up building a console you fix it. My PS2 had issues reading disks and Sony would not fix it(both launch consoles). I really hope Sony gets their act together and starts caring about the consumer. I'm not going to buy their system at launch do too the last 2 consoles I bought from them.... Or maybe if their is an extended warranty I will think about it..... Sony usually gets better with time. Just like PSN. It was so crappy at launch. It used to lag and lacked so many features that xblive had. Now it's just as good. I'm not a fanboy.

Irishguy954042d ago

Just wait till E3/ GDC usually sucks even moreso that the sorry excuses of 'e3' we have had the last few years. Sony showed up this time round

GenericNameHere4042d ago

"Just wait till E3"
Haven't you Xbox fanboys been saying that since 2009, and have been disappointed with each one ever since?

badz1494041d ago

1 time MS didn't show up and Sony put up a good show, suddenly the GDC "usually" sucks ha?

SubtenkoGaming4041d ago

PSN was the new name for the online part of PlayStation and its always been for free....it never costed any money... Sony didnt have to do anything but keep being Sony and thats what they are doing now.

What M$ has to do is keep misleading people and gamers using cheap tactics like timed dlc since they are always stumbling every step they take like an alcoholic on a Saturday night.

I really was thinking about getting the xbox720 but screw it,lol I mean I still have to wait and see what they are going to do but they might be screwed at this point.

kenshiro1004041d ago

Just wait until E3...

Just wait until...

Just wait...

You're serious, right?

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4041d ago
Apollosupreme4042d ago

Wake me up when Minecraft or Terraria is available to play on Vita...

Jaqen_Hghar4041d ago

really? This is a user's reply? A man will play these games on PC if he feels like it (which he doesn't)

Apollosupreme4041d ago

Confirmation. This was in fact a user reply. Note the user name, time stamp and message. All classic indicators.

Minecraft and Terreria are two of the premier indy games on the market and are on consoles now. They would play better on the Vita due to it's superior controls. It's a natural progression for these two wonderful games. Sales indicate that "A man" will like to play this on whatever he can get his hands on.

Hicken4041d ago

Wake me up when Microsoft has a handheld, or more than one console on the market at once.

Shall we run off a list of indie(not "indy") games on Sony consoles? I'm certain we could find quite a few worth mentioning in the same breath as your two.

And didn't I hear a rumor about Terraria on something Sony? Yeah, it's gonna be on PS3 just like on 360, so that just leaves Minecraft.

I'm sorry, what was the point of your comment again?

Side note: good job not understanding Jaqen's posts. That might be the saddest part of all.

Apollosupreme4041d ago (Edited 4041d ago )

My point is that I want Minecraft and Terraria on my Vita... You guys can take your console peeing contest elsewhere. You're worthy of being considered a human being whether you're exclusively married to Microsoft or Sony. Never forget this. All the best.

profgerbik4041d ago (Edited 4041d ago )

Terreria actually might come to the Vita..

"while publisher 505 Games readies itself for the port's PS3 launch, it’s also hinted that the game could be coming to the PlayStation Vita, too."

"a company representative responded to a query regarding the likelihood of a Vita release with a cryptic tease. “Stay tuned next week,” the publisher said. “We might address that question.”

They very well could just say it isn't coming but they also could say it will. So there is one of your games you want, with a chance of coming to the Vita.

Minecraft is a little different, I don't think that could run on the Vita due to it's intensive RAM and CPU moments. Of course the game itself isn't much but it is the customization that makes it hardware heavy at times depending on the user of course.

If they put Minecraft on the Vita, it would probably be a stripped down version like the mobile "Pocket Edition".

dedicatedtogamers4041d ago

I'd be down for a handheld Minecraft (already rumored for PSN, possibly Vita), or Terraria (out for PSN, this week, I think). I'd also be down for Fez (already rumored for PS3/Vita, also). I'd be happy for a lot of indie games, actually, which is exactly what Sony is doing. They're being smart.

Blackdeath_6634041d ago

minecraft is shit without user created contents and mods while terraria is already coming to consoles.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 4041d ago
dedicatedtogamers4041d ago

I'm just excited to see the Vita getting more support. Smaller, quicker, pick-up-and-play games are why I do the majority of my gaming on handhelds anyway, so to see more of those sorts of games flocking to the Vita makes me a very happy gamer.

ICECREAM4041d ago (Edited 4041d ago )

They are really preparing for Gaikai, just to compete with xbla and steam.

BlmThug4041d ago

Sony is literally doing every thing right with the PS4! Cannot fault them at all

Veneno4041d ago

WRONG WRONG WRONG! They didn't show the console!

Thirty3Three4041d ago

Since it doesn't seem to have gotten old yet.......

Thirty3Three approves this message as well! :)

SPAM-FRITTER-1234041d ago (Edited 4041d ago )

Meanwhile Sony is busy making deals with ESPN, Disney Channel, Sesame Street or whatever other shit they've been pushing lately.

Does anyone still think the gaming part of PS3 hasn't suffered?

ps3_pwns4041d ago

i agree 154 agrees and only 14 disagrees. you disagreers gonna be the only 14 people playing the xbox while the millions of others gonna be playing the playstation. you might want to reconsider what console you gonna get because the ps4 is the next big thing and it will have the most people online, the most and the best games. do not fight it! or you gonna have a realy realy sad lonely time next gen. believe that

fsfsxii4041d ago

@livealie25
You just read the truth :)

Army_of_Darkness4041d ago

Oh I totally agree with you bro, Sony Kicks ass when it comes to actual games for gamers. I was talking sales wise, which I should have been more specific on my last comment.

+ Show (11) more repliesLast reply 4041d ago
DigitalSmoke4042d ago (Edited 4042d ago )

Marching foward.
(the people who disagreed with this should truly be a shamed of themselfs)

maniacmayhem4042d ago

I'm all about the indie scene and a big supporter of all or anything independent. From movies, music and definitely games. I was probably one of the few who bought indie games on 360 just because.

For this next gen I don't think I'll be able to have all three systems seeing how doing that this gen was sort of a waste but if PS4 can secure or have an open pipe line (like Steam)and bring in games like Hotline:Miami then I will definitely be on board.

Makasu4042d ago

That's very interesting to hear from a 360 owner. I really hope they can sustain and develop the indie scene on the PS4, hopefully the move to make it easier to self publish will bear fruit.

iMaim4042d ago

Sony, your love is killing me.

Donnieboi4042d ago

What the heck is that in your avatar?

mt4042d ago

one of the characters in a anime called bleach, I don't know his name thought.

clintagious6504041d ago

Hes the captain of the 12th division named "Kurotshuchi Mayuri".

NateCole4042d ago

There are a lot of reasons why this focus on indie devs is good for sony.

One other reason is to really attract mobile devs and gamers to PS.These will not be android games.

Show all comments (102)
280°

Sony Taps Bungie's Head of Revenue to Lead Live-Service Games

Sony has recruited Bungie's head of revenue Jaremy Rich to head up its live-service gaming division, Rich has announced on social media.

Read Full Story >>
techraptor.net
ChasterMies14d ago

Please do not put Destiny’s monetization into Sony’s first party games. The monetization is what’s driving players away from Destiny.

just_looken14d ago

The new temp boss is the sony cfo bean counter so i can see this being a thing get every penny.

Cacabunga14d ago

PlayStation officially losing it.. fans will never support gaas games

just_looken14d ago

@car

The new boss did a interview in japan he wants to tap into the mobile market like nintendio so he give 0 fucks about gamers/fans

https://www.pushsquare.com/...

Redemption-6414d ago

@Cacabunga
You only speak for you and those who think like you, but most fans will support what they want. Playstation and PC fans are literally supporting Helldivers 2 and that is a gaas. Maybe you wouldn't, but many more would if they like it.

Huey_My_D_Long14d ago

@Redemption-64
Look, Im not making any judgement calls about this guy, but I will say that Helldivers 2 GaaS model is unique to Helldivers, and legit the only other game I can think of thats similiar was the Avengers game except HD2 pass is still better.
The fact that you can earn in game currency in a way that doesnt make you feel like you have to grind forever, as well you being able work on that pass that you bought...on your own time without a time limit...that right there is fucking huge to me, and I can't name any game other than avengers that avoided trapping players with FOMO logic...I think GaaS on HD2 shouldn't be compared to the rest of the industry...it should be copied.

Einhander197214d ago

Cacabunga

Helldivers 2...

Redemption-64

In Europe it's a 60 40 split favoring PC.
In the US its a 60 40 split favoring PS5.

So PlayStation owners supported the game just fine, it's not getting carried by PC or anything like that.

FinalFantasyFanatic14d ago

@just_looken,
I'm perfectly fine with the way Nintendo entered the mobile market, I never touched their mobile games, meanwhile, the console/handheld stayed the way it is. As for being a bean counter, he's probably going to reel in these massive budgets that Sony's studios have had lately, I haven't played Spiderman 2, but I cannot see how they almost tripled the budget for that game.

@Redemption-64,
That's an exception to the rule, I'm expecting a lot of these GAAS games from Sony to fail, to be fair, they only need a few to succeed, but I would have preferred that they put more of their resources into other types of games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 14d ago
DivineHand12514d ago

True their monetization is driving players away and at the same time, their decision to chop out content and convoluted systems is keeping new players away from the game.

Joe91314d ago

I don't think that will happen based on how things worked out at Naughty Dog now that we know what we do, seems they had the option to fully commit to live service games or stay making single player experences so they gave up on their live service game. We are not sure how things came about with Bend making a live service game but I hope that was not a forced situation. Sony doesnt seem like they are forcing studios to switch up but we will see, Sony's bread and butter is single player games it is how they dominated the console market.

Obscure_Observer14d ago

Yeah, I though Sony learned something from all their failures in the LS segment under Bungie´s disastrous leadership and supervision which led to games been cancelled, studios closed and all the people laid off.

Looks like Bungie still plays a major role in Sony´s LS initiative and Sony is not backtracking on their GaaS plans.

S2Killinit14d ago (Edited 14d ago )

Are we forgetting that Destiny is also a highly successful franchise? I feel like that definitely deserves mention here.

Besides, there is no reason why a person cant learn from past experiences.

Joe91314d ago

I agree, people act as if Destiny flopped when it came out lol it took 9 to 10 years for the numbers to fall yet people are still playing it add the success of Helldivers 2 no wonder Sony is going forward down this path.

S2Killinit13d ago

Personally, I see no problem with Sony also having service games as long as they make good ones, and more importantly they deliver the AAA story driven games that they are known for. So yeah, I agree 100% with you.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 13d ago
Christopher14d ago

I mean, this person made some pretty bad decisions at Bungie. I hope they've learned from them because I definitely don't see those type of ideas as good for PlaySation in general.

CrimsonWing6914d ago (Edited 14d ago )

Honestly, what’s to learn from? How to make people happily continuously dump money into a single game over its life-time? Buy season passes continuously for several years with a smile on our faces?

GaaS is a design decision that is everything wrong with this industry. The fact that Helldivers 2 did so well and people defend the monetization because it was $40 and is a fun game, scares the sh*t out of me to see that the door is open and all shift will probably be to replicate that in future games. We already know the ROI for traditional game dev cost isn’t doing it for them.

I thought with Jimbo leaving we’d see a change for the better… I’m not so sure now.

S2Killinit13d ago

Service games are being offered by everyone. Sony cannot afford to only create single player AAA games. No one can. They already said they will be doing both.

Abnor_Mal14d ago (Edited 14d ago )

Ps5 gamers in 2023 seemed to play more live service types of games, so regardless to how people feel about them, numbers don’t lie and Sony is going where the money is. I mean look at the excitement around Helldivers2, people are showing that they want live service games.

Christopher14d ago

They play long-time existing live service games like CoD, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Destiny 2, and the like. Mass majority of new live service games are considered failures and aren't moving gamers away from older games.

just_looken14d ago

Yep the huge issue with live service is they need paid players along with a reason to play them.

You forgot mobile market that also taps into that player base as well as the eve online style games there is only a certain amount of krakens/whales blind supporters compared to the amount of live service games we have its not sustainable math wise.

700 restaurants making food for every seat for 1000-3000 eaters just does not work out

Einhander197214d ago (Edited 14d ago )

Christopher

I am not a big live service fan and literally own zero of the games you listed, but that is not true, unless you call games that aren't the top games to be failures.

There are tons of live service games that are profitable.

Games don't have to be the biggest game ever they just need to make more than they cost.

I challenge you to show professionally prepared data that shows that more live service games fail than make enough to keep going.

Because all the data that I have seen shows that live service is less of a gamble than making a big AAA budget game which needs to survive off retail sales.

FinalFantasyFanatic14d ago

I sometimes wonder if we're at saturation point, where it's hard for a new game to join those ranks unless it's particularly exceptional, people only have so much time and money to devote to these types of games.

romulus2314d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218314d ago

Lol it's not even a quarter of the ps5s sold. Helldivers may have been a hit but let's not say most are enjoying it because truth is most(the real most ) don't care about it.

S2Killinit13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

I play what is fun. If a live service game is good I’ll play it as long as its not a money scheme which Helldivers is not.

And Im a single player gamer.

mastershredder14d ago

How do you kill a franchise that already been killed?
Destiny’s grind, cash-in-on-playbass-cha-Ching, and pop-culture-insertion mainstream-me-too bs totally killed any rep Bungie had. Sony/Bungie, if you are doing this to ward-off players, it’s already working.

crazyCoconuts14d ago

Headline truncated:
"... off a cliff"

Show all comments (43)
80°

Sony May Soon Let You Decide How Much NPCs Talk In Games

Sony has patented to add multiple dialogue modes to let players switch between how many conversations with NPCs they want in the game.

blackblades20d ago

Sony is like the only ones outta the 3 that has atuff like like this pop up changing thing in ways.

just_looken20d ago

Sony in the past has always been first at bat with new ideas/tech but in the end never fully use it or just toss it away.

blackblades20d ago

I think they did use some but yeah most usually never happened but at least they thought about it. Sony seeks things like this and other, Nintendo seek different ways of playing going by there different controler designs and console designs.

just_looken20d ago (Edited 20d ago )

some of the other stuff sony want's/owns never used
https://gamerant.com/sony-p...
https://gamerant.com/sony-p...
https://www.eurogamer.net/s...
https://metro.co.uk/2023/03...
https://decrypt.co/114754/s...

monitor/adjust game difficultly as you play
https://www.techradar.com/g...

Sony nfts
https://www.theblock.co/pos...

Pay ai to play the game for you
https://thebusinessofesport...

Oh all the above last 12 months

I just imagine a evil scientist with test subjects when it comes down to sony recent patent reports.

Kaii20d ago

Will we get dialogue options that won't spoil puzzles in a matter of seconds? :p

280°

Judge rules in PlayStation's favour in $500m patent infringement lawsuit

Genuine Enabling Technology was seeking damages, claiming the tech allowing PlayStation consoles and controllers to communicate infringes its rights.

Read Full Story >>
gamesindustry.biz
S2Killinit22d ago

Big victory for Sony. And a long time coming.

DarXyde22d ago (Edited 22d ago )

Crazy to think the savings from this lawsuit allows them to develop one AAA game.

Make it Bloodborne 2, please and thank you.

22d ago
Profchaos22d ago

Sounds like patent trolling they tried the same thing against Nintendo with the same pattern.

Motion and control input traversing over higher and lower frequencies seperate from each other allowing the controller to do both

Pyrofire9522d ago

Patents suck. Most of them are complete garbage.

Knightofelemia22d ago

So to recoup the money Genuine is going to take on Nintendo or Microsoft next. I hate patent lawyers they are some of the worst bottom feeders out there.

Show all comments (13)