GameTieMiddleware to support inter-console

communication

Danny O’Connor, 0747076 – Michael Shaw, 0742597

GameTie is a middleware solution to take the current online communities of console gaming – specifically PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE - and unify them using a middleware solution without affecting the consoles or the way that they are used. This would allow a wider online community and remove the platform dependency issues associated with online play.

Concept

The two big consoles that support online play both have separate communities.

PlayStation users can only play with other PlayStation users

Xbox users can only play with other Xbox users.

New gamers are forced to choose

Currently…

Current State of Community Gaming

The objective of this business is to provide a middleware solution that will allow both online communities to connect on a common ground

This would allow Xbox users to play with PlayStation users (and vice versa)

Intercommunicative Online Console Gaming within a MUCH larger community

Plan

Plan - Diagram

We believe that this proposition is both technologically and monetarily feasible

Costs would involve investigating the console-server communication…

…and then developing a stable middleware element allowing console communication

Much of the work involved could be outsourced

Feasibility

‣Getting Sony and Microsoft jump on board?‣It would be imperative that the service

functions efficiently and to the users’ satisfaction

‣ Synchronization between consoles‣ Communication between consoles

Problems

Games developers will snap at the concept as it increases potential for online play

Developers and players will pressure the manufactures to accept concept.

Bigger Community means wider collaboration amongst gamers.

Advantages

As of February 5th 2010 Xbox LIVE has a user base of 23 million members approximately

As of June 14th 2010 PSN has a user base of 50 million members approximately

Both communities are still rapidly growing in their number of registered users

With the maturity of the service, GameTie would eventually be capable of supporting both communities

Potential

Sell middleware to games developers for a license

License would be renewed on a yearly basis Fee per game that utilises middleware that

developer pays

Potential

Apply for Grants from enterprise boards/local authorities.

Look for possible investment from philanthropists

Funding

Development will be outsourced. Development Timeline will be 9 months. Testing rolled out globally. Testing Timeline will be ongoing First Beta Release within 1st year.

Development

For first market release of GameTie, we will target a small, entry level FPS developer.

GameTie will be free to this developer. If successful will bring a lot of media

attention to developer and GameTie. For subsequent Games the developers will

have to pay the full licensing fees.

Marketing

http://mashable.com/2010/03/01/faceoff-xbla-vs-psn/

http://www.allthingsdistributed.com/2008/12/

http://www.coated.com/sony-playstation-3-users-get-hulu-plus-access-1104201005/

http://www.reghardware.com/2010/07/16/review_gaming_microsoft_xbox_360_250gb

_console

/

http://tiffanycarter.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/brainwav/

http://shirt.woot.com/blog/viewentry.aspx?id=4511

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/press/2010/0205-whittenletter.htm

http://asia.playstation.com/sg/en/news/pressDetail/159150

Reference