Path: chuka.playstation.co.uk!news
From: James Rutherford <j.t.rutherford@sms.ed.ac.uk>
Newsgroups: scee.yaroze.mydemos
Subject: Am I being too naive?
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 13:19:56 +0000
Organization: PlayStation Net Yaroze (SCEE)
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Yes, I agree with the majority of what both of you (Toby and Brian) have
said.

However, whilst I am aware that:
1) Getting a game onto the market has high production / distribution
	costs.
2) There is currently precious little on the SCEE pages to inspire
	confidence in such a venture.
3) Sony is a business (ie. profit-orientated).

I am also aware that:
1) The price of games has risen at a far higher rate than inflation
	(high production costs are always wielded as an excuse).
2) Some of the more recent SCEI stuff is at least appproaching the big 
	league - I cite Hover Racing, Gas Girl and TanTank 2 as
	examples.
	I (perhaps naively) believe that this sort of thing would sell
	very well at the 10ukp/sub-10ukp level.
3) Businesses (like Sony) ought to keep fresh in order to thrive:
	Getting software out with this kind of price tag is something
	which Nintendo COULD NOT DO with the N64 (regardless of
	quality).


So while it is true that the idea is currently unfeasible (due to a lack
of marketable quality software), I think it WOULD be technically
possible for Sony to get games out at such a price (with their
doubtlessly well-established distribution lines).

I think I read a quote in Edge magazine to the effect that Sony would be
"keen to work" with Yaroze people who were producing quality stuff.
Whilst I wouldn't expect them to lower the Playstation brand-name by
releasing 'third-rate' software (though some commercial stuff isn't too
hot), I believe some Yaroze coders have it within themselves to produce
a 'first-rate' game engine and Sony can help with the GFX/SFX sparkle
later (the game engine is after all, what this is all about - please
nobody forget this).

All it takes is one programmer or team to produce something worthwhile.
By talking through the idea, the Sony think-cogs can at least be put
into motion. Maybe it is unfeasible, but if it IS feasible then the
structures will already be in place to take this wonder game from our
screens to the marketplace as soon as it appears - people may also be
more focussed in what they do.

Does anybody have any other thoughts?

SCEE? (I listen to my voice echo around the room...)

James Rutherford (mrfrosty).