Q-Games: Dynamic themes won't make money on PS3
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Sep 8th 2009 at 7:00PM }
Yet, in spite of the high price, Q-Games' Dylan Cuthbert explains that developers are unlikely to recoup the cost of making a dynamic theme. "Remember that we'll be lucky to sell even a few thousand themes and so the cost of developing the theme (3-4 weeks of coder/artist time, checking, testing etc) will still far exceed any money we make from it," he explained.
We have a solution for Cuthbert, though. Drop the price, and we're certain far more people would be willing to download a dynamic theme as an impulse buy.
[Via Gamasutra]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ashitaka @ Sep 8th 2009 7:04PM
I really want some Dynamic Themes... But I have this policy of not buying images/porn/costumes (like the Home ones).
I wanted the Afrika theme, but isn't it kinda complicated to create a JPN PSN account?
bobisworking @ Sep 9th 2009 11:05AM
Just google it.....pretty easy really
TypeF @ Sep 8th 2009 7:14PM
3$ is too expensive >.> i hope Qore gives one for free =P
rolandscottshaw @ Sep 8th 2009 11:18PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYnDuU_M-Co&feature=email
I love theme
fundando @ Sep 9th 2009 5:49AM
I just got the Afrika theme from the Jap PSN store. Free is the best price, although I would pay $1 for something good.
carterk88 @ Sep 8th 2009 7:12PM
So far I think the dynamic themes for sale are all too silly. Now give me a KZ2 or MW2 one and we'll talk. I want to look at something bad ass if it's gonna cost me 3 Mc Chickens!!
natureboy46 @ Sep 8th 2009 7:28PM
I picked up the LBP theme and I have to admit that I feel like it was $3 well spent. I love how the sun/moon correspond with the time of day and every time sackboy looks into the screen my infant son waves to him.
The icons are great and everything is visible (something many themes get wrong).
Having said that, I'm not sure I'll be buying too many more themes at $3 a piece.
carterk88 @ Sep 8th 2009 7:18PM
Give me something bad ass to look at for a $3 theme!! Killzone, MGS, MW2........anything with even a hint of testosterone in it!! Like that commercial for KZ2 when the camera follows that bullet across the battlefield and into the helghast's face.
ocdog45 @ Sep 8th 2009 7:21PM
i said yes to the first question because i bought the LBP theme. won't be buying another one though. it is pretty cool, but they defenetly need to drop the price. for that price it better do more as well.
TypeF @ Sep 8th 2009 7:26PM
what's cool is Kratos ripping Helios head off over and over again! man i hope they make one like that XD
Barry32171 @ Sep 8th 2009 7:22PM
Don't get this fascination with $3... I voted YES to both questions. I paid for the LBP theme, b/c I wanted to see it. For now, it has replaced my Fallout3 theme. I do agree, over the long haul, that $3/theme might be expensive, but that's for later on down the road. To many around here are to bothered by $3, IMHO. Sure, if the devs had started out charging only $.99, this might not be an issue (but I doubt it, there would be those who would still bitch about 99 cents...).
Hell, I'm just glad we have the ability to do dynamic themes...
stormtrooper190 (IcelandTerrorist) @ Sep 9th 2009 5:01PM
I would bitch about even 01 cent. do to me not being able to get it as psn does not like Icelandic credid cards and users in Iceland. i need to youse a UK account to get the free stuff
eNrique @ Sep 8th 2009 7:25PM
Maybe if they low the price to $1.49 they would be able to sell +2x so it can be profitable.
Still, I might be wrong.
(01) @ Sep 8th 2009 7:26PM
Ooooh, it's all sciencey!
johnnynumber5 @ Sep 8th 2009 7:33PM
I've already bought two of them. heh.
Sly697 @ Sep 8th 2009 7:50PM
i dont pay for themes as it is..theres plenty of free ones online or the ones they offer for free are usually pretty good.
johnnynumber5 @ Sep 8th 2009 9:30PM
Oh yeah I agree and I never once bought a static theme. Has the community made these dynamic themes yet?
Fane [A-MF Brigade] @ Sep 8th 2009 7:53PM
I answered "no" to the first question and "yes" to the second, but I would have answered "maybe" to the latter if it were an option. It would have to be an amazing theme for me to pay $1 for it, but I might.
It will take a while for them to find the ideal price point (i.e., max total revenue), but if they start at $3 each, of course they'll be lucky to sell a few thousand. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I wonder how many they'd sell if it were 25 cents (or even 5 cents); if you'd download a free theme, you'd probably drop a nickel on one. If 100,000 people buy it at 5 cents, that's more revenue than 1,000 at $3.
MICROtransactions, Sony.
mercurywa @ Sep 8th 2009 8:01PM
Actually, if they were a nickel (or even a quarter) I'd briefly consider it because I always wind up with "couch change" amounts after most of my PSN purchases.
Bill$ @ Sep 8th 2009 8:03PM
i answered NO to the firstand NO to the second .because im cheap like that
Dahk @ Sep 8th 2009 8:59PM
Lol I'm pretty sure that if they started to offer anything under $1, it'd cost them even more for Visa transaction fees and whatnot.
Fane [A-MF Brigade] @ Sep 9th 2009 7:38AM
As it is, you can't put less than $5 on your PSN wallet, so you wouldn't have that problem. You would need to keep money in your wallet (something I don't currently do) to make these sort of microtransactions.
Wiizer ($299) Having BC On Your Launch Console? (Priceless) @ Sep 8th 2009 7:57PM
Coming from someone who actually MADE PS3 themes, I hope they release some type of SDK for these, so the community can be creative again. I guess you can make static ones, but I'd like to try to make one of these!
ThisSnakeIsSolid @ Sep 10th 2009 7:11PM
I Googled it, and apparently they are made using the PS3 Dev Kit. So unless you can somehow get your hands onto one of those, I believe you are S.O.L. (Can you somehow give me a link to your themes? I would like to see them.)
Andrew Yoon @ Sep 9th 2009 10:50AM
Unfortunately, there's no plans on releasing a SDK for dynamic themes.
Wiizer ($299) Having BC On Your Launch Console? (Priceless) @ Sep 9th 2009 12:02PM
@ Andrew
Dang, thanks for confirming.
It's okay, though. I'm sure the community will mess around with it, and will possibly crack it... I'm hoping it's somewhat Flash-based. That would be the easiest way to work with these...
@ ThisSnakeIsSolid
I have some older ones that aren't as professional as I would like them, but this was my pride and joy before the big update:
http://forums.littlebigworkshop.com/lbp/board/message?board.id=pod&thread.id=41291&view=by_date_ascending&page=1
mercurywa @ Sep 8th 2009 7:57PM
I think it's a little ridiculous to charge for them at all. I wouldn't pay for them.
How long do you really stare at the XMB screen between games (or what-have-you)?
biggrapp @ Sep 8th 2009 8:00PM
i bought the LBP theme with no regrets because i and my son like it (i downloaded it to his system too) but i feel kinda like a sucker for buying the pain one. after buying that wack bullshit i definitely wasn't gonna buy that pixel junk...junk. for the money i wasted on the pain theme i coulda bought a LBP costume, an episode of bully beatdown, sons or anarchy, etc. and still had a dollar left so no more 3 dollar theme purchases for me. they're really just not worth it.
maxpontiac @ Sep 8th 2009 8:09PM
How does $2.99 translate into "quite expensive", Andrew? Anyone for that matter??
Andrew Yoon @ Sep 8th 2009 8:51PM
I think the poll results (so far) show that $2.99 is priced too high for a theme. Drop it down to $0.99 and far more people are willing to pay the fee. In the end, you would make more money on a cheap (good) theme than an expensive one.
Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Sep 8th 2009 8:55PM
But would it really be three times as much sales as $2.99?
My guess is no. I think $1.99 is a better price, it just seems like a much lower price (even though it's only a dollar). And I don't think that they would lower dynamic themes price lower than some of their current themese.
John @ Sep 8th 2009 8:10PM
If there was a way to preview the dynamic themes, then I would consider thinking about a purchase. But until then, I'll stick with my homemade static Megaman theme.
Jtenma @ Sep 8th 2009 10:32PM
there is... goto preview, just like you would of a game/movie from PSN.
John @ Sep 8th 2009 11:02PM
What I meant was a dynamic preview. 2 still images aren't really enough to show these off.
johnnynumber5 @ Sep 9th 2009 12:04AM
@John
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=youtube
johnnynumber5 @ Sep 9th 2009 12:06AM
look:
SIMPLE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYnDuU_M-Co&feature=email
nihillasohen @ Sep 8th 2009 8:39PM
I answered yes to both questions, but they need a better description/preview. I love LBP theme, and nothing would make me happier than to get more of them. The price is steep, but with anything tech the price will come down.
Example:($299.99)
My suggestion would be free with the purchase of the game or pre order. Its simple and it doesn't take up any room on my shelf.
EcnobA @ Sep 8th 2009 8:40PM
as someone that like custom thingies i hope they realease the tools so that we can make our own dynamic themes.
check my theme i made for my MGO clan Pink Kalaveras!
http://www.ps3-themes.com/gaming/pink-kalaveras.html
johnnynumber5 @ Sep 8th 2009 9:33PM
So did the PSN icon actually change when the theme is installed?
It always bugs me thats the only icon that doesn't change when I download and install and theme. Why the hell can I have the rest custom but not the PSN icon?
johnnynumber5 @ Sep 8th 2009 9:34PM
Oh and cool theme by the way. Looks like a bunch of crazies ... good stuff.
Space @ Sep 8th 2009 10:24PM
the psn icon is a logo that they use across different platforms and vehicles. It's part of branding. You will never see it change.
...the rest are just icons.
EcnobA @ Sep 9th 2009 12:01AM
yes it never changes. although on the theme creator there it seems that you can make your own but when is install it doesnt change...but i still do want to make my own moving background
black_ryuk @ Sep 8th 2009 8:42PM
the price is too high for something your only gonna use and noticed depending on how long u actually stay using the xmb
Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Sep 8th 2009 8:51PM
I already bought the LBP theme...
Jacksons @ Sep 8th 2009 9:10PM
All these little extra personalization aspects are hard for me to justify spending money on. I wouldn't even consider myself "cheap". I don't see any value in it. My picture of Ratchet slapped on there is working just fine, thank you.
DrunkRaba @ Sep 8th 2009 9:13PM
I bought the PJM theme and love it. The price puts them out of impulse buy range though. Had to go on youtube to see what it actually did as well since SONY just gives you a couple still screens of it.
ryan_gliebe @ Sep 8th 2009 9:51PM
I don't really mind the $2.99 price tag, as its not something I'll more than likely buy more than a couple of and will probably only get ones that either really impress me or for games I love... like LBP.
Its still a cool idea and, just like with regular themes, I'm sure regular joes will begin to make their own and distribute them.
They're a pretty cool idea and I don't regret my purchase of the LBP dynamic theme, but I know for sure, at $2.99, I won't buy another one unless it has to do with inFAMOUS, MGS4 or some other PS3 game I loved as much as, if not more than, LBP.
As for making money, I don't know about that... more than half my friends on my list have a bought one as they've commented on it, let me know about it and I've done the same. So, there's at least been a few curious souls out there.
JackkStraw @ Sep 8th 2009 11:09PM
Don't you think the developer should be looking at the dynamic theme as more of a marketing tool rather than a money making venture? I mean, perhaps it's not so much about how much they see in direct sales, but more the value in increasing awareness about a new game.
Also, these new dynamic themes, like anything else turn into commodities in the marketplace like for pre-orders and bonuses for purchasing Qore or whatever.
I wouldn't get too caught up in the pricing scheme because Q-games qualms about the money making factor. I bet there will be plenty for free along the way.
roland @ Sep 8th 2009 11:20PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYnDuU_M-Co&feature=email
I love theme
edge @ Sep 9th 2009 1:59AM
Too expensive at $2.99. More reasonable at $0.99 or $1.49. But like others above, I have to ask:
WHERE IS THE SDK FOR DEVELOPING OUR OWN DYNAMIC THEMES?
C'mon Sony, I know firmware 3.00 was all about trying to pull money from our wallets (what with all the new store links, the annoying "What's new?" crap, and the bar at the top that constantly nags you about what's new/special), but maybe, just maybe, you could have added some stuff for people who actually PAID FOR YOUR DEVICE, like:
* An SDK for Dynamic Theme development?
* MKV/Divx HD support?
* FLAC/WMA Lossless support?
* 24-bit/192 khz audio support?
* Quicktime MOV support (which should be drop dead easy, as most MOVs released these days are just H.264/AVC video with AAC audio, which you already support in MP4 containers)?
* exFAT support on external storage so I can actually have my 8 GB movies stored as a single file on my portable hard drive?
C'mon Sony, get with the program...