A new report claims Nintendo will enforce a cap on game sizes and title releases for its forthcoming WiiWare service. The report also covers details of the financial models supposedly being applied to the service.
Set to launch in 2008, the WiiWare download service will offer short, creative titles, much like those found on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. It will allow both established developers and independent developers with small budgets the chance to bring their original games to market.
IGN reports on its latest Wii-k in Review podcast that developers have two options for getting their titles on the service. One option is to approach Nintendo directly with a game pitch, and if the platform holder likes the idea it will effectively agree to become the game’s second-hand publisher. Alternatively, developers can go through third party publishers who are likely to demand a large portion of the game’s future profits in return for cash up front. Interestingly, if a developer goes straight through Nintendo, IGN says they will receive a 65 percent share of the profit any game makes, with Nintendo taking the remaining 35 percent. Nintendo will also reportedly allow developers to dictate the selling price of their own games.
Only officially licensed Nintendo developers with Wii development kits will be able to utilize the service. Having spoken to numerous developers, IGN says the average development budget per WiiWare title is under $100,000.
The platform holder is said to be “actively discouraging” larger games, and is reportedly enforcing a 40MB size limit on titles, while developers will only be allowed to release one WiiWare game per month so as not to flood the market.
Titles slated to launch when the service goes live next year include Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Little King and the Promised Country, Dr Mario and Pokemon Ranch Channel.
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Only officially licensed Nintendo developers with Wii development kits will be able to utilize the service. Having spoken to numerous developers, IGN says the average development budget per WiiWare title is under $100,000.
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