Gaming consoles are closed platforms. They demand quality over quantity. To prove you are serious as a video game developer, what should you do? What can you do to help promote yourself in the community as an indie dev? Xbox Development is improving its Dev Mode, releasing a new Creator's Program, and launching the upcoming Xbox One X. Learn what goes into the process of publishing video games to Microsoft's major gaming consoles in 2018.
IaC & GitOps in a Nutshell - a FridayInANuthshell Episode.pdf
Developing for Consoles as an Indie in 2018
1. Developing for Xbox as
an Indie in 2018
Sarah Sexton, Microsoft Technical Evangelist
2. Your Host & Speaker
Sarah Sexton (@Saelia)
Software Engineer: github.com/SarahSexton
Developer of: Games, Mobile Apps, Web, Software
Blog: http://aka.ms/SarahSexton
“Internet Famous”
3. Getting on Consoles as an Indie in 2018
Consoles are closed platforms.* They demand quality over quantity.
*(Some platforms are more closed than others.)
To prove you are serious, you should:
Be a Registered Company or Sole Trader*
Secure authentication
Have a “track record”*
Have a VAT (value-added tax) or Tax number
“The Big Three”
Xbox One (Microsoft)
PS4 / PS Vita (Sony)
3DS / Switch (Nintendo)
@Saelia #GDEX2017
4. What do you mean, “Track Record”?
“One shipped game, three years’ experience.”
…More like guidelines than actual rules.
More of a way to ward off people that aren’t serious.
Console-makers want a legal business entity.
Sole Trader (Single Individual)
Corporation (Group)
C-corp
The corporation itself is a taxable entity
S-corp
The individual is a taxable entity
Partnerships
LLP (Limited Liability Partnership)
@Saelia #GDEX2017
5. Secure Authentication
Microsoft requires two-step authentication.
Nintendo only requires a single username and password to look at
documents on their website.
You have to encrypt uploaded files.
@Saelia #GDEX2017
6. The Process begins with…
The Big 3 (Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo) expect simultaneous release across all consoles.
In the mind of the console-maker:
If the features are the same, the release date ought to be the same.
Otherwise, there should be unique features to the platform to justify a late arrival.
Another work-around is simply renaming the game (example, “Gold Edition”).
Speak to your Dev Account Manager (DAM) for more information for negotiation.
What is the “Parity Clause”?
Your Name
Address
Website
Games already released
@Saelia #GDEX2017
7. Expensive Items
Required: Errors & Omissions Insurance
Covers Intellectual Property & Copyright violations, etc.
Using an insurance broker, the cheapest E&O insurance you might
find could be to the tune of around $2,000.
Optional: Foreign Country Rating boards
To release in foreign countries, your game must be rated by the
official ratings boards, PEGI (Pan-European Game Information).
This can also cost roughly $2,000, depending on the country.
United States requires Entertainment Software Rating Board
(ESRB) rating, approx. $800
@Saelia #GDEX2017
8. Start Up Costs
Expenses to get your studio up and running
Software
Adobe Premier, Photoshop, Unity, etc.
Licenses
Windows Developer’s License is $19 individually, $99 for a company.
Maintaining your game’s domain name
Hardware
USB & video cables, HDMI capture, etc.
Video capture device for making a trailer ($60)
Production Team
Professional services
Bookkeeper, Lawyer,
Legal fees to protect Intellectual Property
E+O Insurance
Work space / Utilities (Rent a desk at a co-op, etc.)
@Saelia #GDEX2017
9. Microsoft
Apply for the ID@XBOX program.
If accepted, you receive two (2) Xbox One Dev Kits and a Unity Pro license
for free.
This process may take several weeks / months.
Overwhelmingly large number of applicants
People often do not fill out the form correctly, so Microsoft cannot contact them
If you know someone at ID@XBOX or Microsoft who is willing to stick their
neck out…
Reach out on a monthly basis to Microsoft:
Send game-play videos! Screenshots!
Send a PC build!
www.xbox.com/developers/ID @Saelia #GDEX2017
10. Xbox One
Farewell, Xbox Live Indie Games (XBLIG) 2008 – 2017
All console makers will want something special.
Reach out to your Dev Account Manager (DAM) and ask them,
“What are you trying to highlight right now?”
Kinect, special character model unique to that platform, a special name
Cross-Play (ability to play between Xbox One and PC)
PlayStation Plus: Cloud Multiplayer
Nintendo Switch: HD-Rumble pack, local-based social play
www.xbox.com/developers/ID @Saelia #GDEX2017
11. Xbox Live Creators Program: Open to All
Any developer can build an Xbox Live-enabled UWP game for Xbox One & Windows 10.
Indie/Student/Small Game Developers can submit apps to the XBOX store with 4 steps.
If you know of a game that would be great to highlight on the platform… Tweet @Saelia!
https://www.xbox.com/en-US/developers/creators-program
@Saelia #GDEX2017
13. Xbox Live Creators Program: Open to All
Any developer can build an Xbox Live-enabled UWP game for Xbox One & Windows 10.
Indie/Student/Small Game Developers can submit apps to the XBOX store with 4 steps.
If you know of a game that would be great to highlight on the platform… Tweet @Saelia!
https://www.xbox.com/en-US/developers/creators-program
@Saelia #GDEX2017
14. The Xbox Live Creators Program is an open program.
Any developer can build an Xbox Live-enabled UWP
game for Xbox One and Windows 10.
15. Xbox Live Creators Program | Overview
Standard Store
Policies
Easy Configuration
No Licensing
Right-sized feature set for any
game to access Xbox Live
Self-publishing when game is
ready to play
Simple, open, and ready for any game.
16. Xbox Live Creators Program | What do I get?
Community & Engagement Building Tools
Player-managed experiences to create
community around any common
interests and the games that they love.
Critical to the reach and engagement
for any game, Beam Interactive
Livestreams let everyone share the fun!
Publisher-managed experiences to draw
players into a community setting to
share or celebrate game media & news!
Low-latency, high-quality voice and text
chat keeps friends together, even in
non-multiplayer scenarios.
17. Xbox Live Creators Program | Overview
400+ Million Devices
Access Windows 10 PCs and the entire Xbox One family of
consoles…including a future of Windows Mixed Reality UWP
games on Windows powered by Xbox Live services.
…cross-platform within the entire Windows ecosystem.
18. Xbox Live Creators Program | What do I get?
Free, World-Class Gaming Platform Features That Scale
Over 1B game clips from the most
trusted promoters: your friends.
Text to speech, speech to text, speech
synthesis and other features to make
Xbox fun for everyone.
Build asynchronous competition
between friends or let players compare
their profiles for bragging rights.
Gamer profiles and game saves can
roam to any device your game ships to
through the Windows Store.
19. • Join the Xbox Live Creators Program
• We invite any and all to join us in the Insiders Program we’ve created
• No application process, just a first-come, first-serve capacity managed
• Go here to sign up: https://aka.ms/xblcreatorsinsiderprogram
• You can begin shipping your title on the Xbox Live Creator Program!
Getting Started
20. • Xbox Live Creators Program is Open Source
• Our APIs, tools and engine plugins are open on GitHub.com today
• See our User Voice page at aka.ms/xblcpuv to promote your ideas
• Join us more directly with submitting your own pull requests
Want to get even more involved?
22. PlayStation
Sony is the only platform who actually demands:
an attached file proving that you are a registered company
an attached file describing the game you want to develop
(for example, a Game Design Document)
.PDFs are preferred
Response time from Sony is fast – only 1-2 weeks.
Sony generously doles out Dev Kits.
www.nohurdlesjustgames.com
@Saelia #GDEX2017
23. PlayStation
You can barter for what you need:
Timing: When in the year does it launch?
Exclusivity length: How long does it need to be exclusive?
Marketing & funding
Pub Fund:
Sony doesn’t own your IP rights
You can get an advance on sales/royalties in exchange for
limited platform exclusivity.
www.nohurdlesjustgames.com
@Saelia #GDEX2017
24. Nintendo
As an indie, start focusing exclusively on Switch and 3DS.
Apply for Nintendo’s Self-Publishing Program.
These are the most common approaches to developing games:
C and C++ works on every console
DirectX on Xbox
Open GL on all others
Unity or Unreal 4 work for the Switch
They loan Dev Kits for 1 year.
There is an opportunity to buy refurbished Dev Kits in addition to what you
are loaned for about the cost of a PC ($800).
www.developer.Nintendo.com
@Saelia #GDEX2017
25. Console Development Environment
SDK is downloaded from each company and installed.
Dev Kits are connected over a local network.
Visual Studio integration allows deploying to consoles and loading files from
PC over the network, without explicitly making and pushing builds.
Tools available for profiling bottlenecks on Xbox and PlayStation platforms.
PIX, Dev tuning & Debugger
Additional tools are included for final packaging, which can be cumbersome.
@Saelia #GDEX2017
26. Console Design Considerations
Naming and branding guidelines must be adhered to for release.
(Proper names for buttons, proper usage of capitalization.)
Important visual elements must be within TV-safe margins.
User management and controller assignment edge cases must be thoroughly tested.
Requirements must be met for load times, warnings, and other issues related to
maintaining general consistency on each particular platform.
Additional items like achievements, saves, leaderboards, generally require a fair
amount of implementation time.
@Saelia #GDEX2017
27. Community
If the console-makers don’t believe you have a good game, they will not be quick
to get back to you.
If you show great promise as a developer, all three of these companies have
opportunities to loan/give you their Dev Kit for free.
The Chicago games community is very supportive!!
Indie City Games
Chicago Unity 3D MeetUp
Indie City Co-Op + weekly Friday Indie Lunch
Voxelles: Chicago’s Women in Game Development
International Game Developers Association (IGDA)
Indie Video Game Developer Association
@Saelia #GDEX2017
28. GDC 2017 Presentations
Meet the Converged Windows Store for Windows and Xbox
Reaching More Gamers Through Xbox Accessibility Features on Xbox One & PC
Windows Holographic Rendering – One SDK to target VR and AR ecosystems
Extending your Game’s Reach with Interactive Broadcasting on Beam
Game Mode and the Evolution of Cross-Platform UWP Game Development
@Saelia #GDEX2017
“Some platforms are more closed than others.” Nintendo is the most closed, Sony is in the middle, Creators Program is the most open.
A value-added tax (VAT) is a type of consumption tax that is placed on a product whenever value is added at a stage of production and at final sale.
(Stay on this slide for audience notes)
It definitely helps, but all these platforms have accepted people who have not released console games before. So even mobile app games are a solid track record.
Generally, large companies will have business internet and opt for static IP, but those are much more costly than residential.
It comes down to, how well does someone negotiate with Chris Charla and the legal team? They are the ones who can kind of slide with the parity clause. But the idea is that you want, as a platform-owner, we would ideally like to have “timed exclusivity.” “We don’t want people to release on other platforms first.” Day and Date, we want the same release. For more information, contact your Dev Account Manager, because almost every platform has one. It all depends on time, who is in there, and what the current state of the industry is. Everything is negotiable.
If you build a violent game, and someone says that a criminal committed a violent act because of your game, now you’re protected. Or, games will have epileptic seizure warnings before the game starts. What if someone has a seizure while playing your game? This is to protect you from that.
More information: If you create a mobile application, you still go through the ESRB and PEGI, but you self-rate. That means they’re trusting you with the Honor System to properly rate your game for everyone. If you rate a super-violent game as E for Everyone, you’ll get the BanHammer.
Also, let me tell you something you might not think about: when you do submit to the ESRB or PEGI, those ratings boards are not PLAYING YOUR GAME. Those boards are watching gameplay video footage that you submit of your game. So submit the footage that you think would be the POST provocative parts of the game, so that the ratings boards can decide how to handle your game at its “worst” so that it can place it at its “best.” When you submit, you can say, “Hey, I still feel my game is T for Teen, here are the most provocative areas with context, and here’s why I think it’s T instead of M for Mature.”
Hire Production Team / Professional services Outside of your "Zone of genius"
But remember: If you can't see the end of the road, neither will they.
Biggest points:
Dev on retail xbox
Compare and contrast to ID@XBOX program. The big selling points that ANYONE can create games on Xbox One and Windows 10. Do not have to go through ID@XBOX. They develop on their retail hardware. It’s very similar to XBLIG (Xbox Live Indie Games) on 360 – Find Chart that shows difference between the Creators Program and ID@XBOX. Biggest differences: It’s much easier to go through the CP. No cert, no ESRB, no PEGY ratings, but, the downfall is that you are missing things like Multiplayer, and no achievements. Start with the CP, get familiar with writing a game, getting it on to the platform, and then either take that same game, or later on, try going to ID@XBOX with a new game.
Compare and contrast to ID@XBOX program. The big selling points that ANYONE can create games on Xbox One and Windows 10. Do not have to go through ID@XBOX. They develop on their retail hardware. It’s very similar to XBLIG (Xbox Live Indie Games) on 360 – Find Chart that shows difference between the Creators Program and ID@XBOX. Biggest differences: It’s much easier to go through the CP. No cert, no ESRB, no PEGY ratings, but, the downfall is that you are missing things like Multiplayer, and no achievements. Start with the CP, get familiar with writing a game, getting it on to the platform, and then either take that same game, or later on, try going to ID@XBOX with a new game.
Compare and contrast to ID@XBOX program. The big selling points that ANYONE can create games on Xbox One and Windows 10. Do not have to go through ID@XBOX. They develop on their retail hardware. It’s very similar to XBLIG (Xbox Live Indie Games) on 360 – Find Chart that shows difference between the Creators Program and ID@XBOX. Biggest differences: It’s much easier to go through the CP. No cert, no ESRB, no PEGY ratings, but, the downfall is that you are missing things like Multiplayer, and no achievements. Start with the CP, get familiar with writing a game, getting it on to the platform, and then either take that same game, or later on, try going to ID@XBOX with a new game.
Connect with your gamers
Xbox Live is about access to devices.
Last GDC, Windows 10 was an opportunity to reach 200M devices. This year, that install base has grown to over 400M Windows 10 PCs and Xbox One consoles that games can reach through the Windows Store.
…access to Devices.
400M Devices
https://news.microsoft.com/bythenumbers/windows-ten
Plan for success.
Think ahead to the day your game is incredibly popular and you need to keep thousands upon thousands of gamers happy…AT THE SAME TIME. Xbox Live is designed for scale by default, providing secure services that can handle high traffic and complex network communication. Do you want to build these services or do you want to leverage services we’ve already built for you and continue to improve every release? We thought so.
People are still making cross-play (Vita to PS4) games.
The Dev Kit is hard-wired, connected to your development PC via local area network (LAN) so that the Dev Kit cannot be used as a retail console. (Patrick Story, We had a Wii U dev kit that was in the other room from the PC and had a 100ft, Ethernet cord running down the hall. At PS All Dev Kits are wired to LAN ports that talk directly to Dev Net. No Wireless)
Your game has to “fail gracefully.” That means that if a controller comes disconnected, the game has to react to that in some graceful manner. Have the entire game pause, and have an overlay that says “Controller X missing” or some such. If someone is writing a save to the memory card, and the memory card is pulled out, the game cannot crash.