Sony's plan for "snackable" PSP game and application downloads revealed

Sony already announced its intentions to bring more developers to the PSP platform at the big E3 gaming show last month. And the move to simplify its development tools was seen as a hint of new PSP applications beyond games. Now Develop has laid bare Sony's PSP development strategy as explained by Zeno Colaço, Sony's head of developer relations. According to Zeno, over 50 studios are working on "new kinds of games and applications" that will be sold via a "specially-branded separate area" of the PlayStation Store accessible by PSP and PSPgo owners. In effect, Sony is going after the kind of "snackable content" made popular by Apple's App Store -- inexpensive games and apps that can be downloaded in less than a minute for immediate gratification -- according to Subatomic Studio's Ash Monif. In fact, Subatomic, best known for its massive App Store hit, Fieldrunners, is developing a PSP-exclusive version of its tower defense game. Unlike Apple, however, Sony is charging for its PSP SDK in a bid to keep things, uh hem, "professional," as Zeno calls it.

[Thanks, Calvin H.]

[Niels @ Jul 16th 2009 4:24AM]

Hmm, I know that game..

[Hujit @ Jul 16th 2009 4:29AM]

Fieldrunner?

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Jul 16th 2009 12:07PM]

Close.

It's Fieldrunners.

[PhotoFre@k @ Jul 16th 2009 4:26AM]

I'm really bored of my DSi and this could solve my boredom. Can't ask for more than an all in-one device. Hopefully Grand Turismo show up at launch.

[Jean P. @ Jul 16th 2009 6:10AM]

Even thou it looks like a cheap oversized keyring?

[Jake @ Jul 16th 2009 4:33AM]

Hmm, professional... well, that's right in line with high end Sony products. By high end, they mean high prices, not guaranteed high quality. Same thing that the PS3 faces, high price and price undercutting competition. Function over funding.

[Hashbrown Hunter (OneGiantCluster.blogspot.com) @ Jul 16th 2009 9:48AM]

Actually I'm kind of glad the PSP's app store is not gonna be the free-for-all clusterfuck the iTunes App Store is.

Plus Sony has already stated they are reducing the costs of the SDK and trying to streamline the approval process, so maybe they are on to something there.

[Mike @ Jul 16th 2009 4:51AM]

Something looks wrong with the portion of the hand underneath the PSP. Anyone else see it?

[Rob @ Jul 16th 2009 9:49AM]

You're right. That's probably because Sony doesn't want people to realize how painful holding the PSPGo really is. So, they did some terrible Photoshop to it. This is an awful route for Sony to Take.

[Jamesology @ Jul 16th 2009 10:55AM]

Well, so far it don't matter what route Sony takes. Everyone will still criticize it.

IMO, at least they haven't implemented a stupid touch screen.

[AoMoe @ Jul 16th 2009 4:52AM]

Quick get me a time machine.

[Colin Middleton @ Jul 16th 2009 5:22AM]

Fingers crossed some bright spark develops an app that allows a psp to access an adhoc network for an internet connection. I want remote play over 3g when I'm at work and I want it NOW!

[Fred @ Jul 16th 2009 5:53AM]

"inexpensive games and apps that can be downloaded in less than a minute for immediate gratification"

So.. XBLA?

[Muu @ Jul 16th 2009 11:22AM]

XBLA, App Store, whatever. Hope they don't get the bright idea of making minimum prices $.99 or something; people will be willing to pay 5 bucks for crap if that's the only thing on the menu, but once you lower the price bracket there's no going back.

[Mizzike @ Jul 16th 2009 6:28AM]

noonooo stick with the full games u twats. The reason y apple made 'snackable apps' is 'cos the ipod touch and iphone cant handle shit.

[M. @ Jul 16th 2009 6:38AM]

Doesn't the 3GS have more powerful hardware than the PSP?
I'm just saying, you can do incredible stuff as a developer on the iPhone, don't write off a platform because it aims itself at a different audience.

[Dr. Evil Genius @ Jul 16th 2009 10:53AM]

IMO, having more powerful hardware on the iPopCulture 3GS is like saying that's a nice-looking woman....

....with no arms...

[M. @ Jul 16th 2009 6:36AM]

if Sony wants this to blow up big, they need to make the SDK cheap or free. Don't they want a big library of games for the PSP Go, the Go part insinuates they want a more mobile (iPhone like) game experience. Give the SDK to indie developers and you'll see some innovative stuff on the Go, and it just might become a success...

[Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jul 16th 2009 8:34AM]

blow up big??

Dude its Sony....they ARE big....

[tekdroid @ Jul 16th 2009 6:38AM]

* Small, snack-type games.
* Consumers 'consuming' games in totally different way.
* Sony trying to appeal to this 'trend'...
* More aggressively pursuing download-only content.
* 20MB games, less than a minute to download....
* Courting iPhone developers and others...
-----
"Their creations will then be sold via a specially-branded, separate area of the PlayStation Store open to the PSP and its upcoming successor the PSPgo."

Analysts and armchair CEOs alike widely believe this specially-branded section of the store is to be branded Krapware.

[Dr. Evil Genius @ Jul 16th 2009 10:57AM]

...I agree with you totally. Trends are constantly changing as the mindless continue to try to be someone else.

This trend could go by the wayside before they ever get up-and-running.

[htd @ Jul 16th 2009 7:33AM]

I bet most of them will be the expensive VC type of stuff.

[Duda @ Jul 16th 2009 8:02AM]

Will these snackable games also be subjected to the same annoying Sony Playstation Portable splashscreen that displays for longer than it takes the games to load?

Adding that already makes it a two course meal with a bloated starter.

[tekdroid @ Jul 16th 2009 11:38PM]

Haha, good point.
Even with games that DO load slow, no means to get past their propaganda is a real pain, especially when you want a short gaming burst. That applies to DS, too - far too much branded propaganda before your game even starts.

[Grrrl @ Jul 16th 2009 8:09AM]

Wow SONY is never gonna learn. Charging fro their SDK is gonna turn away a lot of developers as i dont really see people being overly excited about the PSPgo in the first place. Plus charging for the SDK means that somehow the developer is gonna have to recoup those funds somehow..

Oh i know pass the buck to us consumers so that well be paying the "PREMIUM" prices usually reserved for really large or high profile games on the XBOX360/Iphone being the normal price of games on the PSP.

Question, if SONY is chrging for its SDK does that mean that they're not gonna be taking any of the profits from the sales of these these games or is SONY gonna do just like it did with the PS3 and Bite at both ends You know, charge ridiculously high prices and not subsidize anything because its sheer profit margin that their concerned with. It absolutely must be a western mentality thing going on at SONY, because Microsoft and Apple two of the largest American based companies are proving that taking the consumer into account and listening to what people want actually makes a difference in the long run. When Apple or MSFT screws up they try to fix it alng with their image so as to keep those $$$ rolling in. Happy consumers equal loyal consumers. But Sony who sell competeing products in both AREAs that MSFT and Apple occupy hasnt being doin nearly as well as either company and has this "well theres more where they came from " approach to everything. I know the wholel Japanese business model is like "failure is not an option" but seriously take a hint when something just isnt working. People arent buying your products so you dont go and charge more for everything else to make up for what your losing.

[Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jul 16th 2009 8:35AM]

ummmm What game System has a FREE SDK??? seriously....

[solarshadows074 @ Jul 16th 2009 9:44AM]

how come whenever sony does things somewhat right a douche like you comes in and says that they're doing something wrong.

[cduran01 @ Jul 16th 2009 9:59AM]

Apples SDK may be free but you still need to pay $99 A YEAR to be able to publish so technically Apple's SDK isn't free to app publishers.

I also reckon that the PSP's SDK has a lot more game libraries than Apple's GameKit (which is only an API for peer to peer networking).

[cduran01 @ Jul 16th 2009 10:09AM]

Forgot to add that to develop for the iPhone requires a Mac, last time I looked Macs aren't free or cheap. Sure its good for people like me that already have a Mac, but what about the millions of other small independent developers that don't have a Mac, for them the iPhone SDK will cost at minimum the price of a Mac mini (cheapest Mac available) plus $99 a year.

[Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jul 16th 2009 8:38AM]

They do have a point. All you have to do is own a Mac to make an iPhone app, while that can potentially set you back $1,300+, its still cheaper than the SDK kit. Meaning you HAVE to be serious about what you are doing in order to buy one. Pretty much assuring you are determined to make a GOOD game and you have what it takes. Some iPhone apps are just pointless as hell, at least we wont have to worry about seeing the "This app does nothing and its free so download it anyways" apps....

[jason bergman @ Jul 16th 2009 8:47AM]

Apple charges $80 for their SDK.

[luke @ Jul 16th 2009 9:02AM]

Jason, the iPhone/iPod SDK is free. I downloaded it myself a couple of months ago and started developing with it. If you want to release the game to the app store you need to buy a $99 developer account, then that's it.

[cduran01 @ Jul 16th 2009 10:15AM]

@luke: Unless you don't have a Mac then it will cost you that too......Oh and that $99 is a yearly fee, I know, I just got my renewal notice.

[Kain @ Jul 16th 2009 2:01PM]

never the less the article is missleading

[drdre74 @ Jul 16th 2009 9:15AM]

So Sony is going to drop the ball again on this big time. Damn charging devs. Ok the thing that makes Apple sucessful is the fact that anybod can make a game good or bad. My best games on the iphone are games that a small studio of like 2 or 3 people made. Not the big name Devs like Capcom or Glu. Sony is dropping the ball by not putting this in the hands of the people that will make creative games.

[solarshadows074 @ Jul 16th 2009 9:48AM]

BUT HEY LOOK SONY IS NOT APPLE. and no one mentioned that Capcom or Glu is gonna be into that section of PSN. companies like Gameloft the ones that are probably going to be in this.

[Alexander @ Jul 16th 2009 10:21AM]

Pocket God for PSP go Sweet!

[MuSeW @ Jul 16th 2009 12:02PM]

Snackable games!?
Thats like the two best things to do put into one!

[Tommo @ Jul 16th 2009 12:24PM]

HOW ABOUT THAT GPS? Sony fail...

[Srikky reddy @ Jul 16th 2009 12:41PM]

kewl!

[Alejandro Jauregui @ Jul 16th 2009 1:27PM]

I love that game on my iphone cant wait for it on PSP

[iKurt 7 @ Jul 16th 2009 2:28PM]

Copying Apple as always

[Silverfrog @ Jul 17th 2009 11:11AM]

Games are devolving. They're going back to their roots, when things were simpler.