- The Black Magic Distribution Idea -



I had this idea the other day.

I'm sure Sony must have considered it, but I've never heard anything about it.

The thing is, I think Sony could quite easily manage to produce a budget range of software for the Playstation using Yaroze programmers' code.

It makes sense.

The cost of games has escalated to an almost prohibitive height - high production costs (approaching Hollywood film budgets) commonly being cited as a reason.

If the Official Playstation Magazine can manage to get itself and a coverdisk onto the shelves for a fiver, then surely Sony themselves could get a budget range out for less than a tenner.



Okay, the mechanics of it:

  1. Sony asks for submissions for the scheme (like they have previously asked for coverdisk submissions - but without deadlines).
  2. Some code-whiz comes up with a game-engine that looks as though it might work well and submits it.
  3. Sony spots 'a good thing' and asks for a small report on the game: how many levels, whether there's a cheat mode, whether anything has been 'borrowed'.
  4. The game is put through a small amount of Sony QA to ensure that it is substantially enjoyable / doesn't hang too frequently.
  5. Sony either responds with a report asking for more levels / more variety / less difficulty or accepts the game as it is.
  6. (?) A minimal amount of labour from the Sony codeshop could be used to put an extra sparkle on the graphics or clean up the sound.
  7. A contract is signed.
  8. Sony creates an identity for the scheme - single thickness CD cases, silver stickers, a picture of a Yaroze on the box. Some snappy title is attached to the range ('Black Magic' is a favourite of mine) - it's all gimmicky, I know, but it'll help sales.
  9. CDs are pressed and packaging constructed.
  10. For every game sold, a small royalty is sent to the originator (to help cover the cost of Yaroze and programming time, as an incentive to keep the quality high and to help buy new kit).
  11. The coder is sent regular sales reports and five / ten limited edition (packaging) copies of the game to treasure or give to friends.
  12. Two options:
    - the scheme flops: Sony loses very little money, gets a pat on the back from the gaming press and everybody goes home a little wiser.
    - the scheme succeeds: everybody benefits big time.



Accountancy Was Never My Strongpoint:

As I've expressed, I'm sure it wouldn't be that expensive to create the physical media. There are no SGI / movie production costs. Placing the game in the shops at a 'feel-good' price (*) would allow point-of-sale profit, a couple of quid for the programmer and a similar amount for Sony. Advertising could be done cheaply through game demos on magazines (produced by the coder), or as demos on other Black Magic disks. Game reviews / news will also do no harm (Three good lines of text in Edge would secure interest from all of their PSX readership).

(*) (to me 6.99 sounds just too cheap for a quality game and 9.99 could be too expensive - try 7.99). Remember that covermount magazines sell relatively well for a fiver.

It's pretty obvious that consumers won't be expecting a 10 quid game to be up to the standard of a 40 quid game, and certainly the graphics and sound won't be. But after playing for a bit I'd hope they'd be surprised at how enjoyable the budget game is compared to the real thing - and they'd give the scheme another go. It's important that the standard of gaming experience is kept high throughout these games so that the range is not tarnished.



What SCEE would get out of it:



A Cautionary Note:

At one point (before Yaroze came to Europe), Sony were talking about releasing Yaroze compilation disks. I would avoid this idea. Compilations tend to devalue the individual games and I feel that a single game at 8 quid would give more gaming pleasure than three at 20.



What do YOU think?
Please post your comments in reply.
(This article is available on the SCEE newsgroup - send by email to me if you can't access this)
I'd be particularly interested in responses from journalists, SCEE propellor-heads and anyone who thinks they've produced anything worthwhile.

Cheers,

James Rutherford

j.t.rutherford@sms.ed.ac.uk
http://www.netyaroze-europe.com/~mrfrosty