Apparently if you fancy doing a bit of Next Gen console development on the cheap, the Revolution is where you should be looking. OK, it may not have the raw power of PS3 or XBox 360, but it does have the cool new controller and the cost of purchasing the SDK to develop for the system is only around the $2000 mark. OK, $2000 may not be all that cheap to normal punters like you and me, but to a develop house it isn’t very much at all. Even the cost for the PSP is supposed to be several times that!

Obviously not just any Tom, Dick or Harry can get hold of the SDK. Nintendo (as with all console manufacturers) vet all applications seriously. You’ll need to have a company in place first of all, and generally you’ll also need to have a full game design before you’re even considered.

Hopefully the low cost of development will mean that lots of companies will get on board and try out their ideas. The new controller is shouting out for more odd, niche games, the sort of games that most publishers will generally say something like, “Yeah, we like the idea, but it’s too risky” or “It won’t sell 500,000 copies” which would generally prevent a lot of games even starting development in the first place.

Nintendo already claim to have sent out 1,000 development kits to games companies, and the prototype SDK is said to be approaching it’s fourth revision any time now. With the cost of the console expected to be in the $150-200 range, the hope is we’ll see some original new game ideas appearing when the Revolution is finally launched.

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