Why did Net Yaroze fail?

Sheffield Hallam
Hull University
Abertay University

Edit:

Middlesex University
Portsmouth University

I would have to google for the rest.

 

As I mentioned, it didn't fail in the UK, but in the US Sony dropped the Net Yarouze like a day old turd as soon as it was released. SCEE gave both that and the PS2 Linux kit the love they deserved. SCEA didn't support it worth a shit (which would explain why Benedict thinks it failed if he lives in the US as indicated in his profile).

-hl718

 

It seems like all the game companies have a problem allowing people in the US to play with development hardware, sanctioned or otherwise. Both Net Yaroze and the PS2 Linux Kit were never released in reasonable quantities in the US.

There are dozens of universities outside of the US (i.e. Japan, UK, etc.) which Sony and Nintendo have allowed to purchase and use current generation development kits. There are maybe two in the US with such an arrangement and Nintendo at least will NOT consider US universities unless the coursework is purely vocational in nature (i.e. pure programming, no theory). It is really frustrating for those of us trying to get a broad CS background (graphics, sound, algorithms, AI, etc.) or a higher level degree to be told that we should go some place like DigiPen if we want to work with real development hardware.

 

I totally agree. This sucks.

 

its all about money, mind you the reason why a place like digi pen is offering those people development kits, is the fact that not only can nintendo get new ideas from these people, but they also can possibly offer them a job with them and such. Not only that, but it states in the rules with nintendo, that any project they work on at digi pen stays at digi pen and can not even be released to the public, even if it is something developed on 64, they are not allowed to release them to the public. Even then these students get special access to tools and software avaliable to no one else.

 

Personally, I think that it is this kind of closed mentality by the hardware manufacturers which is lowering the quality of new games. It seems that there is more value placed in being able to just program a game without putting any thought behind it. Sure, they may be able to make a wonderful, graphically pleasant game, but could it have been done better, faster, with more functions by someone who has more than a vocational background?

 

Similar rules at the A.I.E(where I go). All the code I make whilst going there is property of the A.I.E.

 

the hell is DigiPen?

 

The Steadster:

Middlesex university also used the Net Yaroze. It launched competitions and by the end of the degree students had their projects put onto a PSX yaroze disc (if it was good!).

I know Portsmouth has just launched a course staring this September using the PS2 Linux kit.

 

How come you never hear about any US Universities doing this? How come UK Demo discs (maybe from the Official Playstation Magazine) had Yaroze demos on there each month? I don't think my US OPM magazines had any demos. Hmm, did anyone here collect those UK OPM magazines? I wouldn't mind grabbing all of the demo discs that had Yaroze demos on them. (Did they inclde the source code too?)

 

i might have some that have demos but not all of them.

 

I once bought a PS disc called "Power Source" in a gamestore, it was actually some sort of demo disc with various Yaroze demos on it and a little "documentary" on the Yaroze, and some more crap like demos from retail games. Anybody heard of it?

 

I'm interested in UK demos with Yaroze (since I can't get them in the US). I heard of Power Source and have been looking for it.

 

I have an official PSX disc with the Net Yaroze logo slapped on it and when it starts it shows the brick screen (just like a yaroze!) and it has about 55 full Yaroze games fron the Europe, Japan and the US.

That would be the best one to get.

It even has Fatal Fantasy VII (the spoof!). I can't remember where I got the disc from though. Think it was free with a UK OPSM magazine. It is an official PSX black disc in PAL format.

I've seen it on ebay a couple of times so keep an eye out for it.

 

Cheers guys.

 

What do you mean by "had their projects put onto a PSX yaroze disc"?

...Do you mean just to archive their data?

 

....Mmmm sounds like a useful disc

 

I belive europe is also famous for indie devlopers, such as these two brothers who created games for an old computer on their own as well as the brothers who created rare. Here in the U.S. there are programers out there, but for some reason most people here arent intrestead or have any knowlledge on how to program(i might be wrong im generalizing), but sony im guessing mostly just drops support due to the small market for it here as well as possible piracy reasons (hence why they have not released any personal devlopment kits such as the yaroze and the ps2 linux). But it is true, the yaroze wasnt a complete failure. Such games as devil dice were created on the yaroze.

 

Technically, it is (now) a degree offering school with a focus on game design. It was also one of Nintendo's pet projects, so they have some access to things that normal US universities don't have. However, most people view the school as providing nothing more than vocational training (i.e. they teach you how to just program games, nothing more).

 

Yes, that seems to be true to some extent. For instance, we have the demoscene, and had a very active Amiga community.