Hope for Small Game Developers
Nintendo Announces Plans for Digitial Distribution of Original Games
Smaller game development companies got some good news today as Nintendo announces its plans for the digital distribution of small-scale original games early next year.
Digital distribution is the principle of providing digital content over the internet through products and services. Digital distribution has been steadily on the rise along with the rise of consumer broadband. The growing number and speed of online services has directly led to the growth of the industry. Currently, digital distribution is still relatively limited in the areas it provides services for, but it is growing at an ever-increasing pace. The biggest present uses for digital distribution are: books, films, music, software, video games, and television programs.
The newest generation of consoles already makes heavy use of digital distribution, and it seems like this trend is only going to grow. Already Xbox Live and Playstation 3 have their own online stores. These stores offer users game trailers, game demos, TV shows, and movies all available at any time, directly from your living room chair. The newest and most innovative next-generation console, the Nintendo Wii, is taking this trend one step further. The Wii is already famous for the digital distribution of old Nintendo console games, and there is more to come.
Starting next year, Nintendo will start allowing small-time developers the ability to sell their games with the use of Wii Ware. This new service will help smaller developers create and sell their own original downloadable games over through the Wii Shop channel. Presently, the Wii has only re-released game for use with their Virtual Console (a program that allows the older console games to be played on the Wii itself), but this press announcement heralds the age of an entirely new way to make and distribute games.
While details are still sketchy, Nintendo has answered a few of the most obvious questions. By digitally distributing small developer games, Nintendo hopes to offer ways for these smaller game development companies to promote their original and innovative games without the risk associated with making a game for retail sale. Early speculation hints that the first Wii Ware games will be released early next year.
Nintendo of America’s president, Reggie Fils-Aime, said that developers will be given access to Nintendo software development kits to create their own games. Ultimately pricing, one of the biggest questions involving the new Wii Ware games, would be decided by Nintendo, but input from the developers and publishers would be taken into consideration.
If trends like this continue, smaller-game development companies could possibly begin springing up overnight. In the past decade, the price for game development has risen drastically, and it was a nearly insurmountable obstacle for small-time developers to over come. Hopefully, Nintendo will lead the way in helping developers without the backing of Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo make their game design dreams come true.
