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Sony Removes the PS2 Certification Process in Europe

Developer relations manager George Bain points out the benefits of an "open platform" PS2.

By Kyle Stallock, 10/28/2008
Stamp of Approval

For developers and publishers hoping to release their titles to the console market, the content approval process can be notoriously stressful. Having a game bounced back by Sony, Nintendo, or Microsoft indicates that changes need to be made to the near-finished product. Sometimes this causes more errors to surface, potentially pushing the release date back. But what if the certification processes were to be removed entirely?

According to an article from GameDaily, Sony Computer Entertainment of Europe is doing just that. While addressing an audience of Eastern European developers, Sony Europe developer relations manager George Bain said that developers will no longer have to submit a game for content approval, effectively making the PS2 an open platform. Bain noted that Russian and Indian developers can "create low-development cost titles and release them in their market" as one of the positive effects of this decision.

An "open market" is nothing new to the industry, as PC gamers have been enjoying one filled with various indie and Adults Only titles for decades. Maybe now the aforementioned content can finally find a home on the PlayStation 2 and extend the console's life by a few more unexpected years.

Comments

By NutMan @ Tuesday, October 28, 2008 6:43 PM

I think Sony is really trying to use the PS2 to compete with the Wii and this is just another way of doing that. In case you haven't noticed, Nintendo barely has a certification process. I think getting a game certified on the Wii goes something like this...

Publisher: So, like, here's something we put on a Wii disc. I don't even know what it is. It's probably not even a game, it might just be random midi files, but it works on the Wii. We really have no business making games and trying to sell them to people.

Nintendo: So it works on the Wii? Okay cool your game is certified!

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