Llamasoft does TxK for Sony Vita

[gravy]

Ok, I don't get it. While I think Llamasoft being able to develop on Vita is awesome (and am actually getting tempted to buy one because of Sony's indie-friendly stance) I'm not sure how it's different from any other developer. Check this article at Gamasutra out.

Ahmad notes that a number of people were surprised to see Sony working with Jeff Minter recently, and questioning the move.

"Well, because the guy is a legend! Why not Jeff Minter, right?" was Ahmad's reply.

So while I'm glad to see Llamasoft in a more comfortable space, happy with the work and doing bigger things, I'm a little fuzzy as to how it's seen as such a big surprise. Based on Sony's recent indie stance, it seems perfectly logical to me.

James

The received wisdom of big publishers and first party is to invest big in proven franchises or team's proven to have been able to create big franchises in the past.

And it's generally a buyers market so the onus is on the developer to pitch and persuade the publisher.

First party actively seeking out and courting and funding indie devs who have great creative provenance but are doing niche products is about as far away as you can get from what normally happens. That's surprising isn't it?

[gilesgoat]

What Gaz said.

What is happening here in fact is almost the complete reverse of what normally happens nowadays.

But it is very good to see at least someone ( Sony in this case ) is really trying something different, could start a new trend maybe.

[gribbles]

Minter. You Cunt.

I now have to decide between buying myself a Vita, or my wife an iPad mini for her birthday.

Damned if I do, damned if I don't....

[Meatpuppet]

I'd be cautious of releasing too much game in progress/prototype content in the forums, as it just seems to generate misinformed commentary and noise such as 'hope those aren't the sounds/graphics in the final version!!!'.. etc and can be easily taken out of the 'community' of YakYak, and therefore out of context. If this was a crowd sourced project then clearly the investors/fan-base have a stake in the product and specific expectations - Since it's not, and this is your company, job and profession you've only got yourselves to please in this venture.

[TFO]

Minter. You Cunt.

I now have to decide between buying myself a Vita, or my wife an iPad mini for her birthday.

Damned if I do, damned if I don't....

Buy her a Vita for her birthday...

[gribbles]

I am giving it serious consideration.

As long as Jeff can guarantee that TxK will be better than sex, we're good to go...

[Harlequin]

As long as Jeff can guarantee that TxK will be better than sex, we're good to go...

Is that the alternate pronunciation?

[gribbles]

As long as Jeff can guarantee that TxK will be better than sex, we're good to go...

Is that the alternate pronunciation?

yes...Yes...YES!!!

[Misfit]

As long as Jeff can guarantee that TxK will be better than sex, we're good to go...

Is that the alternate pronunciation?

yes...Yes...YES!!!

Prices are getting better, maybe you could get both?

Pre owned Vita's £122 from Grainger Games:

http://www.graingergames.co.uk/consoles ... nsole-wifi

Or get a new 3G one, with a memory card and Little Big Planet for £170 at Argos (and top up a fiver and get Wipeout for free):

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/p ... rrer=COJUN

[gilesgoat]

I'd be cautious of releasing too much game in progress/prototype content in the forums, as it just seems to generate misinformed commentary and noise such as 'hope those aren't the sounds/graphics in the final version!!!'.. etc and can be easily taken out of the 'community' of YakYak, and therefore out of context. If this was a crowd sourced project then clearly the investors/fan-base have a stake in the product and specific expectations - Since it's not, and this is your company, job and profession you've only got yourselves to please in this venture.

Thanks for reminding this, what you say is VERY TRUE and we know it VERY WELL.

It's a bit of "damned if you don, damned if you don't" situation, and that's why everything that goes out needs to get
"calibrated".

You can bet the kind of answers you could get could range from "hey look at this this is AWESOME" to "hey look at this he's doing the same identical shit", this is the internet for you.

But yes, from one side is ok to keep some interest/information going, from another you have to be very careful about what you put out.

We know it ... we know it very well ..

[Harlequin]

As long as Jeff can guarantee that TxK will be better than sex, we're good to go...

Is that the alternate pronunciation?

yes...Yes...YES!!!

Prices are getting better, maybe you could get both?

But which is more expensive, sex (pronounced 'secs') or TxK (pronounced 'tsekz')?

[gilesgoat]

As long as Jeff can guarantee that TxK will be better than sex, we're good to go...

Is that the alternate pronunciation?

yes...Yes...YES!!!

Prices are getting better, maybe you could get both?

But which is more expensive, sex (pronounced 'secs') or TxK (pronounced 'tsekz')?

We all have txk ...

Tyrosine-protein kinase TXK is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the TXK gene.

[Jamesac]

The received wisdom of big publishers and first party is to invest big in proven franchises or team's proven to have been able to create big franchises in the past.

And it's generally a buyers market so the onus is on the developer to pitch and persuade the publisher.

First party actively seeking out and courting and funding indie devs who have great creative provenance but are doing niche products is about as far away as you can get from what normally happens. That's surprising isn't it?

Definitely, and it's the reason I'm considering a Vita. It's the reaction to Llamasoft specifically that's been surprising to me. Sony has been on a roll with some really interesting games the last year, and it looks like they plan to hold the course. If they want to fund stuff like Dyad, Papo & Yo, or even see ports of games like Thomas Was Alone, I'm more than happy to throw all my money at them.

James

[Markie]

Buying a vita hmmmm ... the 2nd hand market is actually quite good as posted above so maybe a good option.

I love the fact that TxK is on there! and it's looking fucking powerful already! Is there a way to port the vita onto a large screen by cable? Kinda how TxK should be ... Would look stunning on my HUGE LCD

[PVB]

Buying a vita hmmmm ... the 2nd hand market is actually quite good as posted above so maybe a good option.

I love the fact that TxK is on there! and it's looking fucking powerful already! Is there a way to port the vita onto a large screen by cable? Kinda how TxK should be ... Would look stunning on my HUGE LCD

Not yet, unless you want to mod/hack the hardware (Google finds the report) and there may be a future version with micro USB/hdmi connection, but nothing's been confirmed.