Developers struggling to obtain WiiWare license?
Nintendo’s online service for Wii’s brand new content, the WiiWare download channel that is the company’s answer to Microsoft’s Xbox L!ve Arcade Marketplace and Sony’s PlayStation Network is seen by many as the answer to the dreams of various small developers around the world. But could it be that this is not really the case after all?
Gamers have already seen classics from smaller companies such as Lost Winds from UK outfit Frontier Games hitting the WiiWare service that launched in the US on 20th May and across Europe and Australia ten days later. But the bubble appears to have been somewhat burst by the revelation of Xiotex Studios. It would appear that the team attended the WiiWare summit in London, UK that Nintendo held to entice developers onto the service, with Takao Yamane-san, head honcho at Nintendo Europe talking about how great WiiWare for the small developer and how it will enable them to make games that do not require big businesses, thus proving to be a fantastic opportunity for many. Sadly, Xiotex Studios’s application form for registration fell on deaf ears. Below is the response received from Nintendo:
“Thank you for your interest for Authorized Developer status for Wii. We have completed our evaluation of your application and are unable to offer your company Authorized Developer status at the present time.
In evaluating developers, Nintendo looks for relevant game development experience. In addition, Nintendo looks for secure business facilities, sufficient equipment and staffing, financial stability and other attributes that would distinguish the developer.
Nintendo provides Authorized Developers with highly confidential information and many of Nintendo’s Licensees rely on recommendations and referrals by Nintendo to Authorized Developers. For these reasons, Nintendo exercises a very high level of discretion in approving only a select number of applicants.
In accordance with our policies, we are not able to re-evaluate requests for developer status for at least six months. Again, we appreciate your interest, and welcome any questions or concerns you might have regarding this decision.
Best regards,
Software Development Support Group & Licensing Department
Nintendo of America & Nintendo of Europe”
Clearly this was not quite what Xiotex Studios was expecting, seemingly going against everything that Takao Yamane claimed about the great opportunity. Prior to starting up Xiotex, the head of the company worked on numerous other projects within the Industry, such as Mutant Storm Empire and Bliss Island for PomPom, Miami Vice for Rebellion, as well as the console versions of ‘The Movies’ for Lionhead Studios (which sadly got cancelled when Peter Molyneux’s group was bought by Microsoft). In addition to this, Xiotex was already working as a contractor on a Wii game, plus had worked on GameCube products. Following feedback from the comments section, Xiotex made a follow-up post to clarify some matters. It turns out that the rejection letter is one Nintendo sends out to any developer that is turned away from the WiiWare service. The reason for doing such a thing in the first place, though, is because Nintendo enforces a strict rule that a developer must at least have office space, rather than just working out of a personal home.
The latest blog entry goes on to talk about how things are getting out of control, though, with people believing that Xiotex is purposely trying to bring Nintendo’s service down. In response to the feedback so far, the site admin states,
“When I started the ‘WiiWare is a lie’ blog post I had no idea it would go as far as it would. Instead of just me venting my frustration after going through a lengthy application process with Nintendo it seems to have taken a life of its own including getting interview requests from people wanting to take it further. While I would like to see Nintendo remain true to their original projected vision of what WiiWare was supposed to be I am by no means on a mission to cause them trouble or trouble for the company I work for by association. If anything this has been an exercise in being careful what you say because you really have no idea how far stories like this can travel.”
But what is your take on the matter? Apparently it will take another six months before Nintendo will allow a developer to re-apply and given the current financial constraints, Xiotex may not be able to make WiiWare a viable platform for its planned game ‘Containment’. Should the developer try to hang on, set up a small office in the meantime and then re-submit the application?
That depends on their ability to do so and how they feel about it. However I think that Nintendo’s rule of requiring office space is a bit anally retentive and outmoded for the changes in corporations taking place in the modern age. Its as if they want to have an innovative and flexible software delivery system without innovative and flexible rules on approval.
LOL@ first post. So they should just send te dev kits to people homes that are also not secure so the dev kits or games can be stolen? That doesnt make any kind of sense at all. The reason they want any company to have a legit address is really simple and not what a lot of people are trying to make it out to be. I’m sure MS or Sony would also require your business to have some form of legit office space to work in. It is hardly anal or outdated. It makes perfect sense to anyone who would just stop and think about it, not just see the name Nintendo and go into hate mode.
again. lol at the first post ;D (though i`m a different person hehe)
hardly is it a hard task to get an office space especially if you`re a company ( given the number of games this guy`s worked on its safe to say he should have one ). nintendo has every right to demand you at least have an office space, these are well within the demands of any company to impose. in fact working for many other companies may garner many more restrictions of similar ideals.
that being said the only issue here is the fact that the developer here never read clearly what exactly were the requirements. I myself have browsed the nintendo site for developers and its stated quite clearly in the requirements, `have an office space` so there`s no reason to complain honestly.
LOL at 2nd and 3rd post: not outdated? really? really? Seriously, there are no independent game developers who work from home? There are no professionally minded consultants who don’t rent separate office space? Offices have some kind of inherent security and never leak anything? There is no innovation and quality from inexperienced developers? The requirements are oppressive, archaic and stupid, much worse than App Store (regardless of whether he read them properly).