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Dave Perry's piracy solution: Be better than free
It's a well known fact that, though we stop at piracy, we love free stuff. But Acclaim's Dave Perry has opened our eyes today with a concept he thinks could be the one thing that could beat the pirates for good: "Better than free." Basically, he says that the industry needs to set a price bar so low and a convenience standard so high that stealing an inferior product just stops making sense.We don't want any of you to cop to piracy, but we're curious: What steps could publishers take to ensure that neither you nor anyone else you know would want to consider illegally downloading a game?[Via Edge]
Sony's John Koller says 'tangible disc' still important
In the latest assault in what we've come to think of as "Operation: Spite David Perry," Sony's John Koller is still insisting that the UMD disc is a valued member of team PSP, telling Gamesindustry.biz, "We look to the tangible disc as continuing to be very important. I think there's certainly a consumer out there who values tangibility. We say that alot [sic] in our research." We're hoping he means "see that a lot," or we're not sure they understand exactly how research works.We've had our top decoders working on Sony's UMD message, and we think we've got it just about cracked: "We're going to keep telling you to buy UMDs until the moment we tell you our next system won't play them." We may not like it, but dammit if we don't respect it.
GDC09: Joystiq lunches with gaming luminaries
From L to R: Rob Pardo, Dave Perry, Neil Young, Gary Whitta, Brian Fargo, Will Wright, and Warren Spector Story contributed by N. Evan Van Zelfden Imagine sitting at lunch with Will Wright, Neil Young, and Warren Spector. They're each eating, laughing, and talking about game design with animation and enthusiasm. On the other side of the table are David Perry, Rob Pardo, and Brian Fargo.Collectively, you have the founder of Interplay, Blizzard's top designer, the father of Earthworm Jim, the man credited with Deus Ex, an iPhone pioneer, and the mind behind Spore – guided in discussion by screenwriter and former game journalist Garry Whitta.Also at the table, a dozen of the top game industry journalists sit quietly, taking notes and typing into small laptops. And excellent food is entirely secondary: it's the conversation that matters at this luncheon.
Sony's Maguire: UMD 'wasn't brilliant' for third parties
One of the most important classes in blogger college is Learning to Decipher Executive Quotes 101. So, for example, when Sony responded to Dave Perry's claims of a UMD-less PSP 2 with a, "Can't comment either way," we knew that meant, "We're not ready to announce that yet, but yeah, totally." Now, SCE UK's senior VP Ray Maguire has given us a new assignment, to which we'll now apply our 6-hours of LDEQ.So when Maguire says, "The UMD model wasn't brilliant for third parties," what he's really saying is, "When we do announce that we're dropping UMD, remember that no one, not you, not anybody liked that thing, except maybe pirates." And when he goes on to add, "The downloads side of it will increasingly become a bigger part of its future," he's actually saying, "No, seriously, this is totally happening." No, no, don't thank us. Thank Prof. Steinburg and the rest of the St. Vincent's Community Blogging College faculty. We couldn't have done it without them.
Dave Perry challenges Sony to confirm UMD in PSP 2
Wow, son, this s**t just got real. Wait wait, let us get you up to speed with a fictionalized one act play.Dave Perry, Acclaim COO: The PSP 2 totally isn't going to have a UMD drive.Sony spokesperson John Koller: Huh? Wha? PSP 2? Dave Perry, game industry veteran: Exactly.Now, DP has gone one step further to extend the beef. He just dispatched a Twitter message (or, as they say on the streets, a "tweet") saying, "John Koller is publically questioning my post about PSP 2. So I confirmed with Top PSP 2 developers. John, state that PSP 2 WILL have UMD." Oh snap! Dave, how about you stop sweating the contents of the PSP 2 and make us another Wild 9 for it? Please?
Sony doesn't say 'no' to UMD-less PSP
Rumors about yet another iteration of the PlayStation Portable have been gaining momentum, some pegging it as a "PSP2," while others suggest an incremental update, a la the PSP Brite. Yesterday's claim by Shiny founder Dave Perry -- he knows someone who knows all about the new PSP and it doesn't have a UMD drive -- has been presented to and waffled at by Sony itself.Interviewed by MTV Multiplayer, John Koller, who heads up SCEA's marketing of PSP, said that he "Can't comment either way," but did add, "I will reiterate that the digital component is very important to us. That's all we can say at this point."Perry referred to the ostensibly new PSP model as a "fully digital online device;" one that would forgo UMDs in favor of downloadable, digitally distributed software. That said, Koller's comment already has us putting together our E3 2009 bingo cards.
PSP 2 is ready and UMD-less, claims Earthworm Jim developer
We've lost count on the number of times we've heard from a friend of a coworker of a cousin whose girlfriend's stepfather happens to work at Sony and they're all but ready to launch a UMD-less PSP in 17 different color options bundled with a portable version of Street Fighter IV. Typically, we remain skeptical, but when it's veteran developer David "I made MDK and Earthworm Jim" Perry, we'll give him the floor to speak. Earlier this week, his Twitter account updated to say he's heard the PSP 2 is done and minus that disc drive. He later reaffirmed that comment to GameDaily, saying he can't reveal his source (naturally), but he feels certain UMD is gone. Is his source bunk? He's certainly a guy who'd know a guy, but we've heard this story far too many times to take a leap of faith now.[Via Joystiq]Read - David Perry's TwitterRead - GameDaily
Dave Perry absolutely 'certain' next PSP will forego UMD
Everyone on the internet seemingly has an "inside source" at Sony. Did you know that a forum poster's best friend's cousin works at Sony R&D and TOTALLY wants to spill the guts on firmware 3.00? Yeah. Dave Perry, former COO of now-defunct Acclaim, left a Twitter message claiming to have heard about Sony's next PSP. "I hear Sony FINALLY has the PSP 2. And thank goodness, they've removed the stupid battery-sucking UMD disc drive. I'm excited!"GameDaily BIZ followed up on Perry's tweet, and it appears Perry is willing to go on record with his statement. "I can't reveal my sources, but you can be certain there's no UMD, which means fully digital online device, and you know I know people."We usually doubt anyone that claims to have an unnamed source at Sony -- and we still place a lot of doubt on this industry alum. However, his rumor is given a bit more weight thanks to a similar report at PC Watch released today, which states that SCEI is currently looking into PSP2 development much more seriously. Certainly, something is happening behind the scenes. Will Perry's claim come true?
DICE 2009: Dave Perry predicts rise of free, online games, death of single-player titles
Continuing the trend of DICE 2009 speakers casting chicken bones and reading crystal balls in order to divine the secrets of upcoming movements in the gaming industry, Dave Perry (founder of the now defunct Shiny Entertainment and all-around industry veteran) possessed a unique, unsettling vision for the future. He explained that as the technology supporting remote storage and processing improves, the need for gamers to own hardware and software will naturally disappear, ushering in a gaming era where free-to-play online titles reign supreme.As totally awesome as a world where all video games are sans-price sounds, Perry cautioned that this scenario means that "the days of single-player games are numbered." Equally alarming is the fact that this new business model would make it extremely difficult for traditional developers to compete against their uncostly competitors. Worst of all, think of the impact the rise of Flash games will have on poor ol' GameStop! That part alone is going to prevent us from getting any sleep tonight.
Dave Perry: Selling Earthworm Jim was the 'dumbest move ever'
Dave Perry has been feeling a twinge of seller's remorse since washing his hands of former platforming icon, Earthworm Jim. More than that, actually, as the Shiny Entertainment founder admits in a recent interview that, in hindsight, selling off the rights to annelid-made-superhero was probably the "dumbest move ever." The outspoken Wii detractor lays the blame for the miscue largely on the industry's transition away from 2D and into the third dimension in the 90s, his animators at the time unwilling to lay down their pencils in favor of the almighty polygon. Of course, the team eventually went on to create the fabulously tongue-in-cheek action epic, MDK. Now, like Perry, we're left to sit and wonder what might have been as we wait for Interplay to push Jim up from the soil once more.
Dave Perry 'stunned' by Marvel MMO cancellation
Dave Perry believes Microsoft may have made the wrong choice in canceling Cryptic Studio's Marvel Universe MMO. In a recent interview with Eurogamer, the Shiny Entertainment founder expresses his surprise at the decision to halt the game's development, saying it was "absolutely stunning."According to Perry, the Marvel license easily eclipses the mass-market popularity of World of Warcraft, and for that reason could be an actual competitor to Blizzard's behemoth. Though he is disappointed by Microsoft's decision, he understands that the cancellation was likely due to financial concerns, as it's difficult for large companies to ascertain whether sizable investments in MMOs will ever see any return.Dave Perry is currently developing free-to-play MMOs at Acclaim, as well as tackling a number of side projects, including the direction of a entirely user-generated racing game. We like your ambition, Mr. Perry, but we do recommend picking a less intense photo for your "about" page (as seen above). It scares us a little.
Dave Perry honored by Queen's University Belfast
Outspoken developer and former Shiny founder Dave Perry has found himself on the receiving end of an honorary degree by the UK's Queen's University Belfast, to be awarded as part of the school's centenary year celebration this July. While the degree would be equally served for recognizing Perry's unceremonious commentary on the Wii's questionable longevity when compared to the competition, the architect behind MDK and others has instead received a diploma in science engineering for distinction in computer game development and design. Perry shares the honorary spotlight with some distinguished company as well, with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Taioseach Bertie Ahern, actors Joanna Lumley and James Ellis and others filling out the university's honorary graduate list, though we doubt any of those can boast having breathed live into a gun-toting earthworm.
Codies suit doubts Wii sustainability, expects Wii 2 'pretty quickly'
Y'all may recall a rant from Dave Perry last year, in which Earthworm Jim's dad predicted that the Wii would lack staying power, due to its shortage of technical grunt. Well, Codemasters CEO Rob Cousens is clearly singing from a similar hymn sheet, because he's made pretty much the same prediction in an interview with GameDaily.Warning that people would write Sony and Microsoft off "at their peril," Cousens claimed that Wii 2 would have to come along "pretty quickly" if Nintendo wanted to keep the Wii dream going for a full ten years. In short, he reckons the hordes of new gamers that have propelled the Wii to success may grow tired of the console before long."I could give you an argument that says there's going to be a Wii 2 pretty quickly because [Nintendo would need one] in order to sustain momentum over a 10-year period," claimed Cousens. "And what type of software would it have then? Because right now it isn't driven by technological supremacy or power."I wonder if the idea of opening up a whole new audience to 60-year-olds looking to make sure their brain cells don't die off is a sustainable form of entertainment," he added. "Maybe they got it right because we are all an aging population in Western markets, but I somehow think as a form of entertainment that won't be the case."It's a little early in the console cycle to decide whether he has a point, but Cousens' argument also sounds as though it's based on a personal hunch, rather than any compelling evidence. But who knows, maybe we're all going to be horribly wrong when it comes to guessing the eventual victor from this bloody battle.
Earthworm Jim finally coming back? Groovy.
Probably some of the most inventive, off-the-wall crap to come out on the SNES were the Earthworm Jim titles. Nothing could give the sense of high-octane shootin' action as well as some of the most insane humor found in video games of their day. Well, in another interview with former Shiny boss Dave Perry, it seems the worm-in-a-suit will be coming back for more.Perry said the entire team behind the games had reformed: "We reformed the (Earthworm Jim) team and they were all into it. Trust me, all the original Earthworm Jim guys are still very interested in the whole idea; just know that it'll happen eventually." Eventually, indeed. The last one to grace consoles on the N64 was delayed so many times people thought that was actually the game -- waiting. We don't know anything else. No consoles declared, no details... just that it'll happen eventually. Groovy.
PS3's power -- untapped for years?
The former boss of Shiny Entertainment, Dave Perry, has decided to shower the PS3 with praises, calling it "the best piece of hardware, without question" among other things... but says that statement won't become obvious for a few years. He says that so far, he's not seen a single game that properly shows off the power of the PlayStation 3. "I haven't seen anything even close to what the machine's capable of doing. So that's the sad part for Sony - I feel really bad for them that somebody hasn't really stepped up to show us the hardware all singing, all dancing."He cited the common cycle in the console market -- first-gen games to last-gen games on a console. We've done that before, you know what we're talking about. Games initially look like crap when compared to the last games released for the system -- Perry used God of War as his example of how the PS2 created gorgeous games after being around for a few years. But he placed most of the blame on hardware designers, specifically, the fact that software developers should have more say in what's put into a console and less add-on stuff like web browsers. What do you guys think? Is he right? Should software developers get a say in what they'd like to find in a console instead of just dealing with the difficult programming business that comes along later?
What Dave Perry wants from a PSP redesign
Dave Perry, the respected creator of games like Earthworm Jim, recently went on record to SPOnG about what he'd like in a potential PSP redesign. He starts by describing the system as "a great little machine, but the price is a major barrier. The American public like $149 to $99 for handhelds." Lowering the price would be substantial in getting more PSPs out there. Mr. Perry has a lot of ideas, some great, and some not-so-much: He proclaims Sony should "make the PSP with a clamshell design, to protect that lovely screen, and they should have made the screen at least DVD resolution." A screen that's 480p would certainly be far pricier to manufacture than Sony's current screen, no? "I would also kill off the UMD disc, remove it entirely and shrink the device size." But that would get rid of compatibility with old PSP games. Maybe for PSP2? Mr. Perry gets a boner for digital distribution, and for good reason: "Embracing digital distribution... would bring movies and games back to the PSP in a sensible way. Then I can buy movies or games for less (ZERO cost of goods), keeping the library safely stored on my PC, picking the ones I want to watch next, and all I have to do is sync. If they wanted to be forward thinking, they could offer modern features like game demos, trial music from new artists, item sales, vast customization of items, characters and in-game objects from databases too vast to store on the PSP." As seen by the popularity of downloadable demos, it's clear that PSP owners want to download games to boot from Memory Stick. The eventual popularity of PSone game downloads may lead Sony to start thinking about offering full PSP titles digitally, saving gamers from UMD costs, and UMD loading times. Homebrew can actually help Sony, according to Mr. Perry: "Did user-created content hurt YouTube? Why not open the PSP? Welcome indie games, welcome development, get the users promoting the device... I bet Sony tries to tell you it doesn't matter. Well, if you type "Sony PSP hack" into Google, there are now 8.6 MILLION pages dedicated to the subject." I completely agree that Sony should be supporting homebrew developers on the platform. In fact, embracing the development community might've prevented the popularity of illegal emulators and ISO programs. Sony could've kept a watchful eye, instead of dividing the community between those that actually play new games, and those that pirate games. One of the greatest attributes of the PSP is that it can connect to a PC, and you can move files between them both. Digital distribution of more demos and games will be key for all PSP owners, and I hope Sony gets working on it.[Via kikizo]
Dave Perry leaves Shiny to save Shiny
Following the news that Atari is looking to unload their internal development studios, the Orange County Register (reg. req'd... try Bugmenot) is reporting that Dave Perry, head of Atari's Shiny Studios, will step down to help facilitate the impending sale. Perry explains:"Atari can go ahead and sell Shiny, but I think I can help, too, because I'm on the board of a lot of things. I can bring a lot of parties to the table, and I can do that faster if I hit the streets myself... If I'm an employee of Atari, then I'd be stepping all over them. This way, I'm representing a buyer. I can act swiftly and get buyers on the table. I pitched Shiny last time and got $47 million."Dave's not abandoning his baby, he's trying to save it! Sure, Shiny's last couple games (Enter the Matrix anyone?) have been stinkers, but they're currently working on a sequel to the seminal Earthworm Jim. Someone better buy these guys, cause if they cancel Earthworm Jim...[Via Next Generation]
