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Sony introduces a new PS3 dev kit for bargain shoppin' developers
While we're still waiting for our PS3 price drop, Sony has announced the release of a newer, cut-rate PlayStation dev kit. While the current Reference Tool is priced at a mere $10,250 and has all the personality of a Betamax VCR, this new guy is going for a jaw-droppin' $2,000 and shares the PS3 form factor -- not that you're buying these things for aesthetic purposes, but it's true! The company promises "enhanced technical support for developers, an optimized PS3 compiler (SNC PPU) to improve efficiency, and better documentation for PhyreEngine." Looks like Sony's hoping sales will benefit from the "flood" of new releases this move is sure to instigate. Unless, of course, this was one of the demands of the Sony France hostage debacle. Libération de la PlayStation!
Sony slashes PS3 dev kit cost by half
Sony's extending its PS3 birthday celebrations today with a hefty price cut on its PlayStation 3 "Reference Tool" (developer kit) to ease the barrier of entry for fledgling developers and the cheapskate majors. The kit now goes for the rock bottom price of $10,250, and Sony's promising more price cuts as more developers sign on board. In comparison, a Wii dev kit is somewhere in the ballpark of $2k, and while we're unclear what the actual 360 dev hardware runs for, the XNA "YouTube for games" Game Studio Express license is a mere $99. That said, we're liking this price cutting trend out of Sony, and can only hope it continues.[Via Joystiq]
