PS4 vs Xbox One Features: Playstation 4 Indie Game Policies Trump Microsoft Limitations
The newest PS4 vs. Xbox One battles are over how the two consoles will handle Indie games, and so far PS4 is getting the edge according to reports.
According to Techland.time.com, Microsoft is infuriating developers of Indie games because they can't publish on the Xbox Live network and instead have to find a publisher and sign a deal of exclusivity if signing on with Xbox.
Essentially, that would take away the entire notion of being an Indie game. In addition, if the developer would like to make changes to a game, they would have to pay to do so.
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For Indie companies these charges and limitations could totally wipe them out since their games are made cheaply without the backing of a large scale company.
"Why do we need a publisher when we self-finance our games, we build our own IP, we manage our own IP and we've turned nearly two million units online as indie publishers sold – not free downloads? Why? What's wrong with us?," said Lorne Lanning, president and co-founder of Oddworld Inhabitants to Eurogamer. "Who's in touch with their audience? And who seems out of touch with their audience? All we know is we've tried to get our games on their platform and we can't do it – and I even helped them release the box."
Phil Fish creator of Indie game Fez, spoke out against Xbox One on what is most likely the thoughts of many other developers.
"PS4 seems to be doing everything right. It's too early to tell how everything is going to unfold but their heart definitely seems to be in the right place. Which is a weird thing to say when talking about giant monolithic corporation, but there's a handful of people working at Sony today who are really trying to do some good. And whether or not I would develop for it comes down to how the platform holder treats me. With Microsoft they've made it painfully clear they don't want my ilk on their platform. I can't even self-publish there. Whereas on PS4, I can. It's that simple. Microsoft won't let me develop for their console. But Sony will," he said to Polygon.
Fish's sentiments about the PS4 are correct, especially with Sony's strong showing and support for Indie games at the E3 conference.
"We absolutely love scouring the earth for the most creative and innovative developers," said Adam Boyles, vice president of third party relations at SCEA according to ComputerandVideoGames.com.
Unlike the Xbox, PS4 is affording Indie developers the ability to self-publish games in hopes that premium content will reign triumphant on the console.
"Our vision is crystal clear: to continue to lead the console space as the most open and inclusive platform for developers, while providing gamers with an endless variety of beautiful, challenging and fantastic experiences," Boyles said.
