SCEA's "Concept Approval" process

Crovax

Crovax

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I figured that people have had enough of Sony-related threads in News and Rumors and General Discussion, so I figured I'd post it here.

The following was posted on another message board by Zach Meston, who writes for GameSpy (and other publications) as a freelance game journalist. He talked with a friend in the industry about Sony's approval process and discovered the following:
==========

* SCEA now rejects any 2D game out of hand.

* Gameplay does not, in any way, enter into the process, but graphics are all-important. My friend was quite literally told this: a gorgeous game that plays like dogshit will be approved, and a fantastic game that looks like dogshit will not be approved.

* My friend's company had almost completely localized the PS2 sequel to a successful PS1 game, thinking its approval was a no-brainer, but SCEA rejected it.

* SCEA is about to publish a new set of concept-approval guidelines to make its idiotic priorities clearer to third-party publishers, because companies are desperately trying to figure out what Sony is thinking.

If this is true (which I believe is likely given the source), it may mean that very soon, importing may be the only way to get ANY decent games for Sony's overrated system, and not just the obscure dark horses. The future looks bleak if Sony is allowed to remain at the top of the video game industry.
 
F

Freelancer

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Yet another reason to avoid Sony Playstation games! :)
My hatred of Sony and it's consoles continues to be justified! :buttrock:
 
S

splits

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Look on the bright side, you won't ever have to worry about chipping a domestic Playstation. You can just go straight to an Import system.
 
R

RAINBOW PONY

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wow this sounds exactly like what sega of america did to the saturn. too bad the ps2 will still sell regardless.
 
Liquid Snake

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I thought Capcom will release Mega Man Anniversary disc on PS2.....

and Sony will still approve this title even though it's a 2D game?
:eek_2: :eek_2:
 
bokmeow

bokmeow

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Crovax said:
I figured that people have had enough of Sony-related threads in News and Rumors and General Discussion, so I figured I'd post it here.

The following was posted on another message board by Zach Meston, who writes for GameSpy (and other publications) as a freelance game journalist. He talked with a friend in the industry about Sony's approval process and discovered the following:
==========

* SCEA now rejects any 2D game out of hand.
Click to expand...

If that's the case, how did KOF 2000/2001 get approved? :confused:
 
tsukaesugi

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What about the Guilty Gear series? Haven't they been released for the English PS2?
 
dragonwillow

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2k/2k1, because it's a 2-pack?

I'm sure GG series got approved for it's above-average 2d...
 
Crovax

Crovax

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Re: Re: SCEA's "Concept Approval" process

bokmeow said:
If that's the case, how did KOF 2000/2001 get approved? :confused:
Click to expand...

Well, all that I can say is that this news was posted today, and likely reflects a policy change since KOF 2k/2k1 was approved.

Furthermore, it does say

SCEA is about to publish a new set of concept-approval guidelines to make its idiotic priorities clearer to third-party publishers, because companies are desperately trying to figure out what Sony is thinking.
Click to expand...

To me this says that SCEA's current criteria for approving/rejecting games is somewhat cryptic or at least not very rigid because many third-parties are confused. Thus, the need to really set in stone their expectations.

Moreover, elsewhere in the thread in the link I posted it is also mentioned that SCEA often plays favorites, sometimes because a company will hold a title they believe will sell well hostage if they don't approve something else. Alternatively, some companies just are better at wining and dining Sony reps. These tend to be larger companies like Capcom and Konami, while SCEA is harder on smaller companies like SNK and Working Designs.

Also, it should be noted that, as with the PS1 days, their standards fluctuate, and right now SCEA is very insecure about the relative inferiority of their hardware compared to Gamecube and X-box. In response, they really have started cracking down lately.
 
I

IoriYagami n8

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I seem to recall SCEA giving Capcom a hardtime about Megaman of all things. But then Capcom turned around and got the idea that they might not release RE on PSX and they came around pretty quick to the idea of Megaman. I would imagine that some developers will get special treatment simply based on brand name.
 
N

Nick Goracke

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IoriYagami n8 said:
I would imagine that some developers will get special treatment simply based on brand name.
Click to expand...

Absolutely true. The reason we've seen any disparity thus far is no more complicated than this. Bundles and value pricing have really been the only way around it for those without the corporate muscle...

I'm worried about La Pucelle all of the sudden (sequel to Disgaea). Disgaea sold. Will that matter?
 
J

jethrek

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Liquid Snake said:
I thought Capcom will release Mega Man Anniversary disc on PS2.....

and Sony will still approve this title even though it's a 2D game?
:eek_2: :eek_2:
Click to expand...

Since Capcom gave SCEA a kidney punch by making RE4 a GC game...maybe.

But Mega Man Anniversary is currently listed on GC and PS2. Whether or not the PS2 version will come out is unknown.
 
beelzebubble

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shadow tower abyss was recently cancelled due to "sub par graphics and sub par gameplay" :(
 
Q

qube

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I wonder where this leaves the Sakura Taisen games that are planned for a US release? SEGA finally decides to take one of their best selling series global, but will SCEA let them? Such a niche game in the US may never have a chance to reach a broader audience because of SCEA's "approval process". SEGA should have made Sakutai available on their own hardware in the US when they had the chance :mad: While the games are in 3D, they don't really fit SCEA's typical mold for US "blockbuster" sellers.

Q-
 
T

toy_brain

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I really hope those dumbass rules only apply to America and not also to Sony Europe. :oh_no:
(No offence to you guys in the USA, but we get shafted enough as it is here in Europe)
 
Last edited:
Reality Check

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Crovax said:
I figured that people have had enough of Sony-related threads in News and Rumors and General Discussion, so I figured I'd post it here.

The following was posted on another message board by Zach Meston, who writes for GameSpy (and other publications) as a freelance game journalist. He talked with a friend in the industry about Sony's approval process and discovered the following:
==========

* SCEA now rejects any 2D game out of hand.

* Gameplay does not, in any way, enter into the process, but graphics are all-important. My friend was quite literally told this: a gorgeous game that plays like dogshit will be approved, and a fantastic game that looks like dogshit will not be approved.

* My friend's company had almost completely localized the PS2 sequel to a successful PS1 game, thinking its approval was a no-brainer, but SCEA rejected it.

* SCEA is about to publish a new set of concept-approval guidelines to make its idiotic priorities clearer to third-party publishers, because companies are desperately trying to figure out what Sony is thinking.

If this is true (which I believe is likely given the source), it may mean that very soon, importing may be the only way to get ANY decent games for Sony's overrated system, and not just the obscure dark horses. The future looks bleak if Sony is allowed to remain at the top of the video game industry.
Click to expand...

That's Bullshit! If that were true than I would have heard that Mega Man Anniversary collection, Street Fighter II Hyper and the upcoming Sammy vs. Capcom won't be approved. About the gameplay thing is bullshit aswell. A year ago, the SCEA didn't approve the PS2 version of Charile's Angels because it had poor gameplay and some other stuff.
 
mog

mog

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As far as I recall sony only seems to not approve games with release schedules that conflict with theirs. For example Soul Hackers.
 
Crovax

Crovax

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Re: Re: SCEA's "Concept Approval" process

Reality Check said:
That's Bullshit! If that were true than I would have heard that Mega Man Anniversary collection, Street Fighter II Hyper and the upcoming Sammy vs. Capcom won't be approved. About the gameplay thing is bullshit aswell. A year ago, the SCEA didn't approve the PS2 version of Charile's Angels because it had poor gameplay and some other stuff.
Click to expand...

Did you even bother to read any of the comments other people posted? What this is saying is that Sony is revising its approval policies, and making them more rigid. Why the hell would a game approved a year ago even matter?

As for hearing about lack of approvals, that's debatable. So many games are just quietly canceled. For instance, how long did it take for an official announcement that Capcom Fighting All-Stars had been cancelled? Or, an even better example, how much official information have we received from SNKP in regards to the status of ports? Nothing Official. Everything we know comes from people requesting information. Not to mention, two of the titles you mentioned are by Capcom, and as evidenced by history, that's one company that Sony often makes exceptions for (see my second post and those immediately following it).

Nothing more about Sammy vs Capcom has been said other than its announcement for Atomiswave, so you really can't say anything about that.

Believe it to be bullshit if you want, but we'll see how well it holds up by looking at what games get approved later in the year.
 
J

jethrek

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toy_brain said:
I really hope those dumbass rules only apply to America and not also to Sony Europe. :oh_no:
(No offence to you guys in the USA, but we get shafted enough as it is here in Europe)
Click to expand...

SCEA only matters in America. I doubt Sony's European software arm could be so dumb.
 
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