Sony of America is EVIL!

[A Black Falcon]

To state Sony of America's guidelines out explicitly...

SCEI Future Concept Approval Process Guide Lines
Rev 19.1 -2004-

Development of two-dimensional games is to be discouraged for the chief home consoles. (PS2, PS3)

This also applies to the handheld market. (PSP)

All games genres under this rule include Action, Adventure, Driving, Role-Playing, Simulation, Sports, and Strategy. (Plus unlisted sub genres)

All games genres not under this rule include Puzzle, and Novel.

Gameplay is irrelevant, as long a graphics standard is kept (3D)

In the case of a non agreement the game will be suggested for the handheld market. (PSP)

http://www.yakyak.org/viewtopic.php?t=47758

This doesn't mention the "or if we don't like it" subclause that denies Working Designs the rights to publish Growlancer or PS2 Goemon, but it covers the main points...

Really, just about anything with "modern" 3d graphics (and gameplay; Viewtiful Joe, for instance, was evidently hard to get approved) will now be hard to get released on a Sony console -- and now it looks like this policy is worldwide.

Sickening, because 2d is just as good a gameplay medium as 3d is. Making such a superficial and pointless distinction, and forcing it on their consumers, is not the act of a good company... and sickening, because, for no sane reason, it denies consumers access to fantastic games that publishers want to release and people would buy...