Sony PSP could rival iPhone with free dev kits
App Store tussle important to Sony
At present, Sony charge their game makers some 1,500 USD per PSP handheld development kit, a situation the firm are considering changing as it emerges that Apple give out iPhone SDK's for free.
"Further down the line, we may investigate a totally free model or supported model. Right now, we're looking for a good portfolio of games. Unlike with the App Store, we're looking to support everyone that develops for us, instead of leaving developers out in the wilderness. We're not immediately interested in giving developers free access and no help," Sony Computer Entertainment's Zeno Colaco told Develop.
"There are dangers in having total open access; having six thousand applications where probably only thirty are discovered by the consumer. Some of the developers working on the App Store and PSP Minis tell us that they prefer our approach because they get more visibility."
Colaco continues, explaining that Sony's stance will evolve as they establish their 'minis' service is competition with the iPhone's App Store download platform. We'll be watching their efforts with interest.
