Availability of console SDKs

Hello,

I know that this question might be a bit off-topic in this forum, but I think this is the best place to get the answer.

I've always been wondering, why the SDKs for gaming consoles are only available to large companies which are charged large fees for the SDKs.

I mean: Shouldn't it be in the interest of the console publisher to make it possible to develop games for it for as many people as possible, considering that every game increases the popularity of the console?

So, I'd be thankful if someone could explain this situation to me.

Regards
Opfer

[604 byte] By [Opfer] at [2008-2-6]

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# 1

Few reasons

The largest being money, they charge alot for the SDK to make up for some of the loss from selling the console. If anyone could make games they would not be able to charge a license fee.

Another reason is quality, console makers do not want a ton of bad games on the the market for their system. This was a problem for Atari and ever since them a license has been required to sell games for a given console.

aka_Big_Wurm at 2007-8-30 >

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# 2

Ah ok, that makes sense to me, thank you for the quick reply.

Opfer at 2007-8-30 >

# 3

aka_Big_Wurm wrote:

Another reason is quality, console makers do not want a ton of bad games on the the market for their system. This was a problem for Atari and ever since them a license has been required to sell games for a given console.

Definitely. Don't ever want to see THIS or THIS happen again (warning: That first link isn't really a "child-safe" link, but wanted to give an idea of what console companies dread repeating)

DavidWeller at 2007-8-30 >

# 4

Wow. I'd never even heard of the first one. The infamous E.T. game is the poster-child of bad use of a license.

JimPerry at 2007-8-30 >

# 5

I see.

So it's actually quite a nice step of Microsoft to make that available for 99$ per year. If they find a way to distribute the binaries, I may actually consider signing up for that.

Again thanks for the quick and informative replies.

Opfer at 2007-8-30 >

# 6

It's already been stated that the ability to distribute binaries will happen sometime in the future (hopefully not too long after the release).

JimPerry at 2007-8-30 >

# 7

RE: Custer's Revenge - Are you kidding? i expect at least 80% of the game the club creates to be in this vein. Nothin' but porn, gore and bad taste. Take a look around newgrounds.com to glimpse the Ghost of Christmas Future.

- MrSock

MrSock at 2007-8-30 >

# 8

Well, I can guarantee you that at least one developer won't be going that route!

JimPerry at 2007-8-30 >

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