Steverulez
Member
You mean Below
We have Max: The Cure of Brotherhood made by Pressplay but MS own them, so probably not actually indie.
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Unity to be Free for indie XB1 Devs
- Thread starter Poker360
- Start date
You mean Below
We have Max: The Cure of Brotherhood made by Pressplay but MS own them, so probably not actually indie.
Yeah this is now the story
Wonder which way it will turn out, both have interesting consequences.I wouldn't be surprised if the conversion requires ID@XBox approval though, I'd be pretty amazed if every single XBOne purchaser now has a Unity Pro XBox license waiting for them!
Barristan Selmy
Member
Housemarque isn't indie? Everytime I read about Resogun the author makes it a point to mention that it was made a Finnish indie studio.
If by not indie you were referencing the quality of the game, then I guess we all have different opinions on what indie really is.
GalacticaN7
Banned
But that's the whole point of this.....to make things far more accessible for devs which goes along with the ID@xbox stuff too. When the console was revealed, their stance was the exact opposite, so yes.....this is really a big reversal of their policies from a few months ago.
But like you said, maybe all this is window dressing. We will see if it does make a difference for devs.
Definitely great news and a good step by Microsoft towards the indies.
The Xbox One is pretty attractive this way.. well, if Microsoft handles it the right way and will also give some indies more spot light and a good treatment/support. Let's hope for the best and don't let there be some new horror stories in a few years.
The Xbox One is pretty attractive this way.. well, if Microsoft handles it the right way and will also give some indies more spot light and a good treatment/support. Let's hope for the best and don't let there be some new horror stories in a few years.
I remember around the time of Kinect there was a vocal minority that refused to count XBLA games in their list wars because their narrative was "Xbox doesn't have any exclusives anymore". Funny how the perception of smaller downloadable titles changed.
statham
Member
Fantastic!
Yeah this is now the story
I wouldn't be surprised if the conversion requires ID@XBox approval though, I'd be pretty amazed if every single XBOne purchaser now has a Unity Pro XBox license waiting for them!
Yes sorry, let me clarify! This is for developers in the ID@Xbox program.
Nightengale
Member
Ceh, you almost actually delivered on Mattrick's 'overdelivering in value' statement. =)
Though Microsoft would have losses of up to $1,500 per console if you did that.
FranXico
Member
Fixed.
EDIT: Should have typed "/jk" or something, as this comment was taken as bad drive-by flaming.
I see now that it was not even a good joke to begin with, so I would like to apologize all my fellow GAFfers for it.
I won't derail the thread any more, promised.
Console unity does not cost what PC unity does so if you're using RRP then $1,500 would be generous
Chris - One question on the clarification - Will you need to be in ID@XBox to turn your retail unit in to a dev kit, or were you just saying that you need to be in ID@XBox to qualify for the Unity license?
Steverulez
Member
I take it its up to developers in the ID@Xbox program to announce games for Xbox One when its right for them?
Is there any reason why we haven't had any yet? (e.g. have MS asked indies not to announce them yet?) Would like to hear about what games will be part of it.
What.
blitzcloud
Banned
Yeah well, I tried to apply to the program, and I didn't receive any confirmation that it went through okay.
The inputs seemed to clearly specify that they want people who have done a game/have experience already. First projects don't seem to be welcome (again, this is based on the fact you have to input years of experience (field that can't be 0) and all that.
http://www.xbox.com/en-us/Developers/id
"Can I use my retail kit as a development kit?
As part of our vision for enabling everyone with an Xbox One to be a creator, we absolutely intend to enable people to develop games using their retail kits. Right now, though, you still need a development kit! We provide two kits to everyone in the registered developer program. Additional kits, if needed, can be purchased."
Not really believing they would give me one just for applying.
If they did, i'd probably do my first commercial game for the XBO (if there's really no binding like they say), despite my leaning towards sony.
The inputs seemed to clearly specify that they want people who have done a game/have experience already. First projects don't seem to be welcome (again, this is based on the fact you have to input years of experience (field that can't be 0) and all that.
Console unity does not cost what PC unity does so if you're using RRP then $1,500 would be generous
Chris - One question on the clarification - Will you need to be in ID@XBox to turn your retail unit in to a dev kit, or were you just saying that you need to be in ID@XBox to qualify for the Unity license?
http://www.xbox.com/en-us/Developers/id
"Can I use my retail kit as a development kit?
As part of our vision for enabling everyone with an Xbox One to be a creator, we absolutely intend to enable people to develop games using their retail kits. Right now, though, you still need a development kit! We provide two kits to everyone in the registered developer program. Additional kits, if needed, can be purchased."
Not really believing they would give me one just for applying.
If they did, i'd probably do my first commercial game for the XBO (if there's really no binding like they say), despite my leaning towards sony.
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
ugh ... that's a terrible "fix"
FranXico
Member
Prophet Steve
Member
Yeah well, I tried to apply to the program, and I didn't receive any confirmation that it went through okay.
The inputs seemed to clearly specify that they want people who have done a game/have experience already. First projects don't seem to be welcome (again, this is based on the fact you have to input years of experience (field that can't be 0) and all that.
http://www.xbox.com/en-us/Developers/id
"Can I use my retail kit as a development kit?
As part of our vision for enabling everyone with an Xbox One to be a creator, we absolutely intend to enable people to develop games using their retail kits. Right now, though, you still need a development kit! We provide two kits to everyone in the registered developer program. Additional kits, if needed, can be purchased."
Not really believing they would give me one just for applying.
If they did, i'd probably do my first commercial game for the XBO (if there's really no binding like they say), despite my leaning towards sony.
Just saw this tweet so you never know: https://twitter.com/ID_Xbox/status/397756296541110272
One day things will just be explained so we won't have to track down bits and pieces of information like this
graywolf323
Member
so this is yet something else that's coming next year? it is nice but why is everything cool for Xbox One not at launch?
LukasTaves
Member
It's both.
The add on will be free for everyone to try, and if you get chosen into the ID@X program you will also get UnityPro for free.
http://news.xbox.com/2013/11/xbox-one-unity-id
LukasTaves
Member
Actually after re-reading the wording a few times I think they are implying that the XBox add-on is available to windows devs, not that the windows add-on is available if you are part of the id@XBox program.
it's nearly 2 AM I'm tired
Still a super cool program though and I'm sure it will spark a ton of XBox indie dev.
The add ons from every Ms platform (W8, WP8 and Xbox) will be free to everyone. But there are different licenses of Unity itself.
The Pro costs 1500 and has some extra features over the free one. If you are an indie without a sdk you could still develop for MS' platforms with Unity free. But,if you are chosen into the program you will also get the Pro version of Unity for free.
Free dedicated/compute servers for all devs, every Xbox One a dev-kit, self-publishing, unified online store with equal treatment and two free dev kits to all indie devs wasn't wise?
I don't think people are giving Microsoft enough credit lately.
Just to remind everybody who keeps bringing up that Sony needs to match this, Sony already offers a free multiplatform game engine called "PhyreEngine".
Mr_Antimatter
Member
True, but unity is pretty widely used, and would ensure more indies can make the jump to ps4 dev.
blitzcloud
Banned
yeah but unity would allow you to output multiplatforms without needing to write specific code (i lie, some of the code can't be ported from PC/consoles to mobile).
Then why Indie support for Xbone is so pitiful and there are shit ton of indie games coming for PS4 ?
Biggest problem here are not things you mentioned but MS indie treatment, certification, update policy, marketplace policy and so on.
Go listen to some indie devs and how they were handled by MS and how much time and effort they needed to put to get their game on their system compared to Sony or even fucking Nintendo of all platforms.
MS policies are the biggest problem not things you mentioned
$$$ & $$$
Simple. It's easier on the wallet to pay an indie dev to port a title for their own console than it is to pay an indie team to create a title for all systems. Most indies for next gen are getting some sort of help... Advertising, money, and all sorts of things. True indie devs are struggling. But you won't hear of them because they aren't popular or important enough to break into the blogosphere.
Sell your soul and get noticed or work hard until you get noticed.
Then again sony turned around so it's all well and deserved. Nintendo also turned around. Ms is turning around.
I believe all the launch titles that claim to be indie are just buzz words to maintain the allure of indie friendly console.
Indies should be trying to get their games on all possible platforms and get as much exposure as possible and not looking for the highest bidder.
PS4 <3 indies
Have you read anything lately?
Microsoft changed all of those bad policies, they no longer charge for updates, they get fair treatment in the online store now and they have much more breathing room with certification.
ID@Xbox had hundreds of applications within the first hour.
I don't know why it's so hard for some people to give Microsoft credit for doing what is right even if they were forced to do it.
You want to tell them when they are doing bad and encourage them when they are doing good.
Educate yourself first
Date: 2013 GDC
MS recent changes are good i never said they are not. But problems with MS were much deeper than that watch above presentation in full to "get" why indie devs are/were so annoyed by MS.
They have still work left to do.
SmoothRunningGun
Member
One of the best things ms is doing.
Agreed, this move is great on Microsoft's part, but let's be honest here, it's largely reactionary to the fact that most indies were leaning much more heavily towards Nintendo and Sony already. This just evens things out a bit.
Spirit of Jazz
Banned
Do they still need a subscription to Live Gold?
This may be true, but unless they offer a way passed the unity licensing fee, XB1 will be the platform of choice for a lot of indie devs.
Cool marketing quote but this ups any marketing nonsense.
HammerOfThor
Member
So its only qualifying devs, which I'm assuming means they will most likely sell enough games where MS can make enough money to be able to pay any fees on the dev's behalf?
Yes no maybe?
Yes no maybe?
CambriaRising
Member
Thats awesome, hopefully Sony follows suit. This will inject a lot of new blood into the platform.
Great post sir.
Mobius and pet octopus
Member
MS deserves the credit indeed.
Apparently devs will save 2k per dev kit over ps4 and now another chunk for licensing... no upkeep costs for MP games or leaderboards etc... daayaamn. It is a good time to be an indie dev.
