Tech companies welcome software written by outsiders
Their goal: boosting sales by increasing the number of games and other applications that run on a single device. "There are more companies doing this today than ever before," says Matt Thompson, a senior director with computer-maker Sun Microsystems. Among them:
- Sony launched new software last week that makes it easier for programmers to create games for the PlayStation 3 video console.
Sony writes a few games in-house, but has long relied on outside companies, such as Electronic Arts, to create most of them. Now, Sony wants more smaller firms and tech-savvy individuals "to create the best games possible," says spokesman Al de Leon.
To do so, they need the developer software kit. Sony cut the price in half, to $10,250, to make it more accessible. That may seem like a lot, but it's a relatively small investment for gaming entrepreneurs. (They also pay Sony royalties on games.)
- Apple plans to release a developer kit for the iPhone in February. That's notable, since Apple has famously controlled access to many of its products. Its decision to not widely open early Apple computers to outside programmers is often cited as a reason why IBM-style PCs became the norm.
- Google next year plans to sponsor a $10 million contest for developers who write programs for Android, its new set of cell phone software. Google hopes Android will begin powering cell phones next year, allowing more mobile users to access Google services.
Although Google's programmers are working on the software, outsiders will create programs "we could never have thought of ourselves and can't even imagine right now," says Engineering Director Steve Horowitz.
Opening a product to outside developers can be a wise move, says independent tech analyst Rob Enderle. There's no way one company can create the programs that every customer wants, he says.
Sun has long taken that approach, and now has about 3 million people writing software for its products. "There are a whole lot of smart people, and not all of them work for Sun," Thompson says.
But there are risks. It's easier to control quality when a product is completely developed in house, Enderle says. And customers may not be able to distinguish between problems with outside software and the original product. "All they see are the end results," he says.
That's not deterring many companies, however, and some independent programmers are benefiting. Jonathan Mak, a 25-year-old programmer in Toronto, spent two years writing a PlayStation game, "Everyday Shooter," on evenings and weekends. It became a hit and is now sold through Sony's online store. Mak has quit his job to try game-writing full time. Working for others "is not as cool," he says.
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