I can't comment on the XBox360 version, other than to say that it is SEPERATE from the Big Time Consuming Deal that has been taking up all of the time, and pushing things back slightly.
Very big things afoot, looking forward to the (very near) time when we can talk about it.
Without violating NDAs or ongoing contracts that are unannounced, I'll say that we haven't had any publisher balk at $0.99
The thing to remember is, being on the iPhone, Apple has to get their cut too. And with the smaller installed user base on the platform, you can't be as profitable (or even cover your expenses) with a small percentage of the installed user base. 1% of 14 Million (while large) is much smaller than 1% of almost a Billion.
August 20, 2009 1:30 am @Oand18 for the current 'set top boxes' (such as cable companies digital cable boxes with DVR capabilities and tiVo) no. They do not have the necessary hardware to make it possible. There are some that are 'in development' that would make it possible, but no cable or sat company has stated plans for rollout for these devices. I think you *will* see set top boxes capable of handling it inside of 7 years at the longest, but it depends on how much heat the competition on platforms such as FioS puts on cable and sat companies to have a competitive edge/supply more capabilities.
@gobo - The DS has palette and memory restrictions which would prevent the 'one stop' publishing to all platforms, but the DL capabilities and expanded memory capabilities of the DSi change that a bit. The point was more that Sony is not the 800 pound gorilla it once was.
@ProjectX2 - On a Hi-Def TV, it looks amazing. I warned my wife that many hour may be spent laying in bed reading comics on the big screen TV in the name of 'research and application analysis' On standard def. TV's yeah... it's a bit more of an issue since the resolution is so low.
@NaveenM - As noted, there is a submission project for indie/self-publishers to submit their books to be carried on LongBox. Details on the process and procedures will be released towards the end of the year.
@ultimatehoratio - Hmmmm, I think we've just identified our first piece of LongBox merch...
@wayne2001bc - we're discussing that with publishers now. New comics will be released on the same day every week, but we're still going back and forth on which day of the week that is, since we have to have the majority agree on that.
Ok, let's say that computers don't exist. There are NOT close to 2 billion (at last estimate) installed Mac & PCs worldwide. Game systems are the ONLY form of digital entertainment available to you. So, stats, then...
14 million installed PSPs + 10 Million installed PS3s worldwide. (47 million installed... jesus, Sony wishes)
vs. almost 40 Million XBox 360s worldwide
vs. close to 70 million installed Nintendo Wiis worldwide + double that number for DSs.
Those are INSTALLED numbers, not 'shipped'. Not sitting in warehouses or stores waiting to be purchased... those are consoles and devices actually PURCHASED.
Notice in all of our mentioning of "supporting game consoles", we've mentioned various consoles, but never Sony PS3? (or for that matter, PSP) There's a reason the majority of 'star developers' (Rockstar, Square, Konami, etc) that used to be PS-exclusive or lead by a year with PS before appearing on other platforms AREN'T doing so anymore. They either aren't on the platform at all, or they do multi-sku simultaneous launch. TNC you can be loudly skeptical, to the point of being abrasive and rude, but it doesn't change my previous statement. It also assumes that any digital comic-related announcement that comes out these days is a surprise or shock to me. Both the games industry, and the comic industry is very very small and everyone knows everyone (or is seperated by one degree)
Also, as we've said many many times, none of our distribution agreements is exclusive. So again... it doesn't affect our ongoing plans or business discussions. As Josh noted, if you do business in a reactive sense... trying to play catch-up, and freaking out when something comes out you get... well... the majority of crap that is out there. You spend a few years doing the biz dev ahead of time and planning out your launch, your one year expansion, and your market growth accounting for 100+ different variables over 5 years, with projections and options for 10? That's a bit of a wiser approach to take.
@cenquist - we're in final paperwork stage to deal with the launch regions. The current plan is to launch (barring complications) in North America (including Canada), the UK, Australia, & NZ, as well as a possible couple of others. Expansion to other regions within a year of launch (such as the EU, etc)
@NaveenM - I know what you mean (RE: Dev attitudes). I've been doing software dev for 16 years as it still amazes me how many developers don't take their users into account, or get so caught up in their own design or ideas that they forget the users. Thank you for the UI feedback, much appreciated.
@Shenanigans - We've announced Image creators that have signed on, and there are more publisher announcements upcoming. (How's that for answering without answering? ;) )
I can't comment on the XBox360 version, other than to say that it is SEPERATE from the Big Time Consuming Deal that has been taking up all of the time, and pushing things back slightly.
Very big things afoot, looking forward to the (very near) time when we can talk about it.
Without violating NDAs or ongoing contracts that are unannounced, I'll say that we haven't had any publisher balk at $0.99
The thing to remember is, being on the iPhone, Apple has to get their cut too. And with the smaller installed user base on the platform, you can't be as profitable (or even cover your expenses) with a small percentage of the installed user base. 1% of 14 Million (while large) is much smaller than 1% of almost a Billion.
Oh, missed this...
@gobo - The DS has palette and memory restrictions which would prevent the 'one stop' publishing to all platforms, but the DL capabilities and expanded memory capabilities of the DSi change that a bit. The point was more that Sony is not the 800 pound gorilla it once was.
@ProjectX2 - On a Hi-Def TV, it looks amazing. I warned my wife that many hour may be spent laying in bed reading comics on the big screen TV in the name of 'research and application analysis' On standard def. TV's yeah... it's a bit more of an issue since the resolution is so low.
@NaveenM - As noted, there is a submission project for indie/self-publishers to submit their books to be carried on LongBox. Details on the process and procedures will be released towards the end of the year.
@ultimatehoratio - Hmmmm, I think we've just identified our first piece of LongBox merch...
@wayne2001bc - we're discussing that with publishers now. New comics will be released on the same day every week, but we're still going back and forth on which day of the week that is, since we have to have the majority agree on that.
Ok, let's say that computers don't exist. There are NOT close to 2 billion (at last estimate) installed Mac & PCs worldwide. Game systems are the ONLY form of digital entertainment available to you. So, stats, then...
14 million installed PSPs + 10 Million installed PS3s worldwide. (47 million installed... jesus, Sony wishes)
vs. almost 40 Million XBox 360s worldwide
vs. close to 70 million installed Nintendo Wiis worldwide + double that number for DSs.
Those are INSTALLED numbers, not 'shipped'. Not sitting in warehouses or stores waiting to be purchased... those are consoles and devices actually PURCHASED.
Notice in all of our mentioning of "supporting game consoles", we've mentioned various consoles, but never Sony PS3? (or for that matter, PSP) There's a reason the majority of 'star developers' (Rockstar, Square, Konami, etc) that used to be PS-exclusive or lead by a year with PS before appearing on other platforms AREN'T doing so anymore. They either aren't on the platform at all, or they do multi-sku simultaneous launch. TNC you can be loudly skeptical, to the point of being abrasive and rude, but it doesn't change my previous statement. It also assumes that any digital comic-related announcement that comes out these days is a surprise or shock to me. Both the games industry, and the comic industry is very very small and everyone knows everyone (or is seperated by one degree)
Also, as we've said many many times, none of our distribution agreements is exclusive. So again... it doesn't affect our ongoing plans or business discussions. As Josh noted, if you do business in a reactive sense... trying to play catch-up, and freaking out when something comes out you get... well... the majority of crap that is out there. You spend a few years doing the biz dev ahead of time and planning out your launch, your one year expansion, and your market growth accounting for 100+ different variables over 5 years, with projections and options for 10? That's a bit of a wiser approach to take.
@cenquist - we're in final paperwork stage to deal with the launch regions. The current plan is to launch (barring complications) in North America (including Canada), the UK, Australia, & NZ, as well as a possible couple of others. Expansion to other regions within a year of launch (such as the EU, etc)
@NaveenM - I know what you mean (RE: Dev attitudes). I've been doing software dev for 16 years as it still amazes me how many developers don't take their users into account, or get so caught up in their own design or ideas that they forget the users. Thank you for the UI feedback, much appreciated.
@Shenanigans - We've announced Image creators that have signed on, and there are more publisher announcements upcoming. (How's that for answering without answering? ;) )