I don't think they have an issue attracting devs.
Are you an expert?
I don't think they have an issue attracting devs.
Except the PS4 is clearly getting way more indie games.
I have no idea how accurate these lists are, but currently the PS4 has 140 more games than the XB1. Not sure what percentage are indie games.Are they really though? What are the numbers? I have both systems and see tons of Indies on both. Don't feel like there is a major gap unless there's a ton of shitty ones I just haven't looked at.
You believe, 'this clause is dead, but it also never existed; here are all the things we make developers do so they can self publish on our platform?' When you have the head of id@xbox admitting the clause exists two months ago?
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2015-04-29-chris-charla
And you also don't believe the devs who post here on GAF who says this clause exists and that their business is negatively affected by it?
Just a guy that's holding a physical box of 1000 ID@Xbox cards in it with games coming to Xbox One over the next couple of years and thinking how it's odd that people think indie support is or will be lacking.Are you an expert?
thinking how it's odd that people think indie support is or will be lacking.
Well yes I agree with you . But some do believe that, I've seen it around here and in other topics in the past*Nobody's thinking that.
People are thinking that this policy is better off not existing.
*hyperbole
Well yes I agree with you . But some do believe that, I've seen it around here and in other topics in the past
Sigh.
Just a guy that's holding a physical box of 1000 ID@Xbox cards in it with games coming to Xbox One over the next couple of years and thinking how it's odd that people think indie support is or will be lacking.
Just a guy that's holding a physical box of 1000 ID@Xbox cards in it with games coming to Xbox One over the next couple of years and thinking how it's odd that people think indie support is or will be lacking.
You're my new favorite gaffer.I don't quite get why this clause gets so much hate on a GAF. It's like he said before. Owners of The One should feel like they are First Class. If you are going on a flight, living the life with a first class ticket, like a boss, how would you feel if those second-class losers got to board the plane before you did? Then you wouldn't be first class, and that's not how you should feel like a The One owner.
[stuff]
I don't quite get why this clause gets so much hate on a GAF. It's like he said before. Owners of The One should feel like they are First Class. If you are going on a flight, living the life with a first class ticket, like a boss, how would you feel if those second-class losers got to board the plane before you did? Then you wouldn't be first class, and that's not how you should feel like a The One owner.
Another way to say first class is Tier One. If you are Tier One, you should get your stuff first. If you are a Tier One country, like the USA, of course you should get the The One before second tier countries like Japan or Europe. Similarly, if you are a The One owner, you shouldn't wait to get your games until after those Tier Two PS4 gamers.
Another way to say First Class is Alpha, because Alpha was the first letter of the Egyptian alphabet. If you're Alpha, and you're out partying with some Beta friend, of course the girls would choose to go with you before your friend. Sure, if your friend manages to convince her to do a threesome with both you and him (multi-platform game), then sure that's ok. Let him get in on some action. He doesn't get a lot of chances, so of course you are going to be a good friend and let him join. (But cross-platform multiplayer is out of the question because dicks touching each other is not how you roll.)
Now if this chick would go with your friend first, of course you won't chase after her to be with you later. First, you are Alpha, you don't do sloppy seconds, and second calling her to be with you, just because she was with your friend makes you look pathetic. But still, you are a nice guy. You know that the world gets better the more people get to be with you. So you are willing to make some exceptions. You may be able to forgive this stupid broad for going with your friend if she does something nice to make up for it. So you say: "Come talk to me. If you really want to be with me, give me a call and we will find a way to make that happen. We can get together and you can work something out to make it special in some way." And then maybe she will cook you a meal, or do some freaky shit with you that she would never do with your Beta friend. In this situation you can be with her without losing face.
I hope you all understand their position now. I realize that the last example may be a bit difficult to understand for PS4 owners, as they don't get to have much sex, but I did my best to explain.
I don't quite get why this clause gets so much hate on a GAF. It's like he said before. Owners of The One should feel like they are First Class. If you are going on a flight, living the life with a first class ticket, like a boss, how would you feel if those second-class losers got to board the plane before you did? Then you wouldn't be first class, and that's not how you should feel like a The One owner.
Another way to say first class is Tier One. If you are Tier One, you should get your stuff first. If you are a Tier One country, like the USA, of course you should get the The One before second tier countries like Japan or Europe. Similarly, if you are a The One owner, you shouldn't wait to get your games until after those Tier Two PS4 gamers.
Another way to say First Class is Alpha, because Alpha was the first letter of the Egyptian alphabet. If you're Alpha, and you're out partying with some Beta friend, of course the girls would choose to go with you before your friend. Sure, if your friend manages to convince her to do a threesome with both you and him (multi-platform game), then sure that's ok. Let him get in on some action. He doesn't get a lot of chances, so of course you are going to be a good friend and let him join. (But cross-platform multiplayer is out of the question because dicks touching each other is not how you roll.)
Now if this chick would go with your friend first, of course you won't chase after her to be with you later. First, you are Alpha, you don't do sloppy seconds, and second calling her to be with you, just because she was with your friend makes you look pathetic. But still, you are a nice guy. You know that the world gets better the more people get to be with you. So you are willing to make some exceptions. You may be able to forgive this stupid broad for going with your friend if she does something nice to make up for it. So you say: "Come talk to me. If you really want to be with me, give me a call and we will find a way to make that happen. We can get together and you can work something out to make it special in some way." And then maybe she will cook you a meal, or do some freaky shit with you that she would never do with your Beta friend. In this situation you can be with her without losing face.
I hope you all understand their position now. I realize that the last example may be a bit difficult to understand for PS4 owners, as they don't get to have much sex, but I did my best to explain.
I wonder what the positive is for Microsoft and what they fear. It's very confusing.
Do they think if there is no rules, all devs will avoid Xbox on release. Are they hoping to build bridges, get insight into new games, snag exclusives by forcing direct contact with devs. It's hard to think of reasons why they are setting out their stall that way. If a person hasn't played the game, what does it matter as long as it's available to play on the platform they're using at that time.
Why use a carrot to incentivize developers to come to your platform, when you can act like a bully and swing a big stick instead. I guess. The stick doesn't cost them anything but the carrot does.I wonder what the positive is for Microsoft and what they fear. It's very confusing.
Do they think if there is no rules, all devs will avoid Xbox on release. Are they hoping to build bridges, get insight into new games, snag exclusives by forcing direct contact with devs. It's hard to think of reasons why they are setting out their stall that way. If a person hasn't played the game, what does it matter as long as it's available to play on the platform they're using at that time.
Why use a carrot to incentivize developers to come to your platform, when you can act like a bully and swing a big stick instead. I guess. The stick doesn't cost them anything but the carrot does.
Just a guy that's holding a physical box of 1000 ID@Xbox cards in it with games coming to Xbox One over the next couple of years and thinking how it's odd that people think indie support is or will be lacking.
This generation has been amazing for game development. As a game dev working on two unannounced games, I'm thrilled that Steam, MS, Sony and Nintendo have revised their indie stances and have made game development easier and better than ever in making titles for their platforms. However, there is one remaining issue that is crippling game development on one specific platform: the Xbox One. I'd like to take a moment to explain what that issue is, how it has affected development, and what can be done about it.
What is the Indie Parity Clause?
The indie parity clause dates back to the Xbox 360, where MS mandated that you could not release a game on the 360 at a later date than any other version without having exclusive free content for Xbox owners.
Since the launch of the XB1, MS has revised that policy for the worse. Now that loophole is closed, and devs are not allowed to release an XB1 version of their game, period, if they have already released it on PS4. At the time of the indie parity announcement, MS allowed games that were already announced for PS4 to be released at a later date on XB1. Those games included Contrast, Warframe, and many other PS4 launch window titles. There are now no more titles that fall under this loophole.
There are three ways around this clause. The first is to release your game simultaneously on PS4 and XB1. The second is to launch first on XB1 and release a PS4 version later. Finally, the third is asking Phil Spencer for a free pass, which has NDA'd guidelines and specifics that I cannot get into, nor know the specifics of.
Why would this hurt developers?
Indie devs typically have small amounts of staff, and tend to "roll out" games gradually on a number of platforms. While the architecture of XB1 and PS4 may seem similar enough, it's incredibly difficult to simultaneously develop for both platforms at the same time. First off, each one has their own certification process and requirements. One build may pass on one platform, but fail on the other. You have to constantly revise release date estimates until both versions are in line with each other, and even then, you'll have platform specific bugs that you'll have to fix at the same time once both versions launch. It is a bit of a nightmare, to say the least. That's why many devs opt to focus on one platform, typically the biggest one (Steam), and then go from there.
Why not develop for XB1 first?
This is inherently why the parity program exists: to give XB1 exclusive games without the need for exclusive marketing or financial deals. But yes, that's a question that cannot be universally answered. Many devs have their own personal reasons. I can only share my own.
I applied to both the ID@Xbox program and the Sony developer program back in Feb. While both programs are fantastic and have great people behind them, I was able to get my Xbox One dev kit first by a few months. Theoretically this should have allowed me to get started on an XB1 port of my game except for one issue: the engine I use, GM Studio, would not be supporting XB1 until later this year. PS4/Vita support was already built into the engine. So, I started studying PS platform requirements, APIs, and GM Studio integration in preparation for my dev kits which I received last month. Through no fault of my own, I was developing first for Playstation because that's the engine that was available to me via GM Studio. My PS4 game will be ready much earlier than my XB1 version. And despite having an XB1 dev kit, MS doesn't want my game at a later date. They want me to delay my PS4 version until I can get the XB1 version out the door. And that's impossible for me to do from a scheduling and financial standpoint. And so, just like that, I'm unable to make XB1 games, even though I very much want to. Even though I'm an ID@Xbox dev. Even though I have a dev kit right here next to me.
I could talk to Phil and tell him my situation, and maybe, just maybe he'll grant me a pass. It is ludicrous that I have to plea with MS to slip me through the door. Hence why I'm creating this topic, so that MS will maybe revise the parity clause not just for me but for everyone wanting to make XB1 games.
Doesn't MS provide free dev kits and free engine licenses? Shouldn't they be able to call the shots in terms of releases?
Absolutely agreed. However, the option to purchase our own dev kits and have our own release schedule doesn't exist. There is no way around the parity clause. (Sony also offers a number of free engine licenses like MS, none of which tie into any sort of exclusivity or parity clause).
Is this really causing any issues? Won't indies come to MS at some point in the future?
At one point earlier this year, I too thought that indies would eventually have to do a multiplatform release or exclusive XB1 release. Many said that the games would balance themselves out by 2015 and we'd see an even number of games being announced for both PS4 and XB1.
Q: "Is the parity clause dead?"
A: "Yes, it never existed! All we do is require the things people say are in the parity clause!"
Most of the "are there any dev stories", "how many more indie games is the Ps4 getting", "Is this actually a thing" questions can be answered if people would just read the chubigans thread:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=947986
Most of the "are there any dev stories", "how many more indie games is the Ps4 getting", "Is this actually a thing" questions can be answered if people would just read the chubigans thread:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=947986
I don't quite get why this clause gets so much hate on a GAF. It's like he said before. Owners of The One should feel like they are First Class. If you are going on a flight, living the life with a first class ticket, like a boss, how would you feel if those second-class losers got to board the plane before you did? Then you wouldn't be first class, and that's not how you should feel like a The One owner.
Another way to say first class is Tier One. If you are Tier One, you should get your stuff first. If you are a Tier One country, like the USA, of course you should get the The One before second tier countries like Japan or Europe. Similarly, if you are a The One owner, you shouldn't wait to get your games until after those Tier Two PS4 gamers.
Another way to say First Class is Alpha, because Alpha was the first letter of the Egyptian alphabet. If you're Alpha, and you're out partying with some Beta friend, of course the girls would choose to go with you before your friend. Sure, if your friend manages to convince her to do a threesome with both you and him (multi-platform game), then sure that's ok. Let him get in on some action. He doesn't get a lot of chances, so of course you are going to be a good friend and let him join. (But cross-platform multiplayer is out of the question because dicks touching each other is not how you roll.)
Now if this chick would go with your friend first, of course you won't chase after her to be with you later. First, you are Alpha, you don't do sloppy seconds, and second calling her to be with you, just because she was with your friend makes you look pathetic. But still, you are a nice guy. You know that the world gets better the more people get to be with you. So you are willing to make some exceptions. You may be able to forgive this stupid broad for going with your friend if she does something nice to make up for it. So you say: "Come talk to me. If you really want to be with me, give me a call and we will find a way to make that happen. We can get together and you can work something out to make it special in some way." And then maybe she will cook you a meal, or do some freaky shit with you that she would never do with your Beta friend. In this situation you can be with her without losing face.
I hope you all understand their position now. I realize that the last example may be a bit difficult to understand for PS4 owners, as they don't get to have much sex, but I did my best to explain.
So Rocket League ever gonna come to Xbox, because they need to court that game they are missing out.
edit: probably not...
In all fairness that thread is old now and a few of them were later announced. Still, to put it into perspective last month we had I think 35 PS4 games and 19 XB1 games.
It's been almost a year since that thread, I feel we need a new one to bring more attention to how little the policies have changed, despite all the protests from MS saying otherwise.
The problem with this thread is that posts from non-developers are either various interpretations of whatever this "thing" is or variants on "I don't care."
It's really not going to go anywhere.
*summons Chubigans*
Shit
What is this shit?, also... i literally cringe when someone refers to the XBO as "The One".
What is this shit?, also... i literally cringe when someone refers to the XBO as "The One".
But each time this subject comes up, I'm always so disappointed with some of the willing ignorance, shameless fandom, or general disrespect this topic seems to bring out in some of the forum.
Practices like this, no matter who is the one enabling/directing it, are toxic to our industry.
*whispers* It was parody. it's ok.
I wonder what the positive is for Microsoft and what they fear. It's very confusing.
Do they think if there is no rules, all devs will avoid Xbox on release. Are they hoping to build bridges, get insight into new games, snag exclusives by forcing direct contact with devs. It's hard to think of reasons why they are setting out their stall that way. If a person hasn't played the game, what does it matter as long as it's available to play on the platform they're using at that time.
The thing is they can waive the clause on the successful games. That's the most fucked up part. The ones that get hurt are the small developers who don't have breakout hits. They're the ones who are bullied
*looks at Phantum DustYou put enough things on the list, eventually some of them are bound to happen. Doesn't make his lip service any less frustrating
*looks at Phantum Dust
Seems like a sensible idea. Help make a late port more interesting.
I wonder what the positive is for Microsoft and what they fear. It's very confusing.
Do they think if there is no rules, all devs will avoid Xbox on release. Are they hoping to build bridges, get insight into new games, snag exclusives by forcing direct contact with devs. It's hard to think of reasons why they are setting out their stall that way. If a person hasn't played the game, what does it matter as long as it's available to play on the platform they're using at that time.
Is this pointing out that it was pseudo shelved, or that they actually had a studio working on it? I'm not sure what you're going for.
Or helps the port never exist at all. If you like that, then cool.
I think a lot of people theorize that MS stubbornly won't let this clause go because they still hope they'll be back in the number 1 position like with the 360.
You can see how this clause would be extremely powerful if the Xbone was the number 1 home console. Basically it would strongarm most of the indies to never release for PS4 first again.
The fact that it's not happening anymore after Spencer ran his mouth and played with the fans and most importantly MY feelings! lol