Nintendo & Microsoft turn independant game distributor
By Andrew Redfern @ 21st February 2008 10:23 am
Games Devlopers Conference, San Francisco. In a move aimed at encouraging & nurturing the untapped indepedant game designing talent in the market gaming giants Nintendo and Microsoft both announced that these indpendant games will be available through their online gaming networks. Designers wishing to use design XBox games will be required to use the company’s XNA development platform. This comes in the same week as the corporation announced free access to XNA Game Studio 2.0 for students as part of it’s DreamSpark programme.
Nintendo revealed it’s WiiWare distribution system aimed at taking some of the financial risk out of games development. This service will launch in May and already has some promising titles lined up.
Sony has taken a lead in this field distributing games through it’s PlayStation Network. Games like “Flow” and “Everyday Shooter” being notable examples of how small independant design teams can reach wide audiences.
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