Independent publisher Metanet says a working prototype was key to securing its Xbox Live Arcade deal.
SAN FRANCISCO--Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) has seen its fair share of hits and misses, but for aspiring developers, the online downloadable service is still an extremely attractive way to get their game out to a wide audience without the hassles and costs of full-scale publishing and distribution. Mare Sheppard from Metanet Software--developer of the about-to-be-released N+ on XBLA--has one major piece of advice for those wanting to jump on the XBLA bandwagon: Have a working prototype of your game before you apply.
N+ started its life as a freely downloadable flash game called N way back in 2004, but for its Xbox Live debut, Metanet handed off development duties to Slick Entertainment while it took on publishing duties. In N+, players take the role of a sprightly ninja as he attempts to traverse a wide array of environments filled with environmental hazards and dangerous enemies.
"For our Xbox Live application, a prototype really helped. It basically lets financiers and publishers pretty much see exactly what they're going to get. It's a tangible example of the look and feel of the final product," she said.
"It also helped everyone see the commercial viability of the project. There were some issues with graphics--Microsoft was concerned that it wouldn't translate to HD in a really exciting way. So it was nice to have a prototype so we could point to it and have evidence that the graphics worked, that people liked them, and it wasn't really going to matter very much."
Sheppard also revealed the cost to make the freeware N into the N+ Xbox Live Arcade title--roughly $214,000, which includes production and marketing costs. However, Sheppard said the project could have been done for even less providing further sacrifices were made.
"If you were to do all the work in-house and not pay yourself much, we still figure it would cost around $145,000 to develop it," she said. "However, in order to acquire the amount of funding necessary to cover development costs, we had to pretty much defer everything, including all of our salaries. So things got very difficult later. My point here is to pay yourself as much as you can because there are always delays and there are always unforeseen bumps in the road."
N+ will be released on XBLA on February 20 for 800 Microsoft points (US$10), with PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS versions due out next month.
Randolph Ramsay loves games in the same way monkeys love bananas. Sure, they can live without it, but what's the point? He also loves fighting games, but never plays online in case people notice just how bad he is at them.
I also love the game. the level creator takes getting use to but it's great everything that happens within it is all in your imagination. all the other grand things are the 4 player co-op, I've met some really interesting people on there that have the determination and will to finish what was once started, so that will stick around for the 45-60 minutes needed to finish any given level. The addiction rate is high; i think that's the best part.
love the game, CC is full right now, but once i get credit, im purchasing it for sure!:) dload the demo. its 4 player too...
Anyone worried about the cost of this game should stop worrying now, it's so good, multiplayer is very fun, 250+ levels single player and potentially neverending custom made levels. This is great value, highly recommended!
The financial side of the video game industry is scary indeed...there is almost no room for the little guy
I had no idea what this game was until I tried the demo, and I loved it, so I paid for the whole game
How much is 800 points? I mean, if you have the latest version (1.4 I think) and kept up with N Ninja, $8-$10 isn't much.
@VFA-102 I concur. 800 points is a bit much. But you know Micro$oft, "Gimme dat money!". So it probably has less to do with N+. Nonetheless, if I don't download it, I'll cop the DS version. This interview also provided some insight into the way XBLA works with small dev teams.
hahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa OMG I LOVE N hope the DS one isn't gonna cost 30 bucks...
This game is definitely not worth 800 points. I understand they have to make their investment back, but, come on.
you can play this game for free..its a flash game...kind of sucks that they are doing this to us. It is an interesting game though, but i'll stick with the PC version Well, if you're opposed to developers making money, that's pretty sad.
you can play this game for free..its a flash game...kind of sucks that they are doing this to us. It is an interesting game though, but i'll stick with the PC version
Sounds like quite a fun game and i'd love to have it in my collection XBLA or DS so count me in.
meh, $145k is nothing if you get a business loan, and nowadays commercial lenders are willing to give loans at the drop of a hat. I know this, because I work in the commercial lending dept. of a bank that does that. with any luck, that'll be the reason we inevitably go out of business, too. :-)
I think N+ looks very fun and it's a game I'd like to have in my DS collection. If I had a 360 it would be a no brainer to plunk down $10 for it, but I'm disappointed that the handheld versions are $30. I'd go out and buy the DS version on launch day for $20, but I'm on the fence whether I should buy it at $30 or not. I guess it would be nice to help a small developer out. Also, I can't believe it costs that much to turn a flash game into an XBLA game. That kind of crushes any dreams I might have had of making my own game.
I downloaded the free pc version the other day, and I can't wait to get it on my 360 and play with a controller.
I played N a while back, it was great fun for a while. I havent gone back to it since the first time but id definately be interested in a new one. Though if its just the same game but on 360 ill stick to the flash game.
I know practically nothing about the game itself except for it's a platformer and it involves a sprite-ly ninja. That was about all it took to interest me.
Companies actually announcing a specific release date for XBLA games beforehand? What has the world come to? They rarely do that.
It'll be interesting to purchase if not for anything else the backstory connected to it. How much that backstory is worth is debatable
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