PlayStation Suite Developer Program SDK Now Open Beta, FAQ Out

57w ago - Following up on the previous announcement and GDC 2012 presentation, today Sony has officially launched the PlayStation Suite SDK v0.98 as Open Beta alongside an FAQ below!

The PlayStation Suite SDK had previously been in Closed Beta since November last year, but now the free SDK is available for anyone to download, and one notable addition to the Open Beta is that it allows for content to be developed for the PS Vita too.

Download: PlayStation Suite SDK 0.98 (287 MB)

What developers can expect from this release is:

• The ability to create games and apps for touchscreen and physical button devices.
  
• Test and debug what they have developed on PlayStation Certified Devices and the PlayStation Vita.
  
• Access the Developer Forums to discuss issues and information with other developers and SCE employees.
  

The full version is "scheduled to begin later this year (2012)" according to the PlayStation website but will also come with a new contract to sign and for a fee (US $99).

If anyone wants to give it a try then hit up the PlayStation Suite Developer Portal and download it for yourself.

PlayStation Suite SDK 0.98

PS Suite SDK is a software package for developing applications that can be run on the PlayStation Vita system and PlayStation Certified devices.

PS Suite SDK includes PC applications such as PC Suite Studio, as well as PS Suite UI Composer for laying out UI components.

Further, in addition to basic graphic and sound libraries, PS Suite SDK also includes GameEngine2D for games using 2D graphics, Physics2D for 2D physical engine, as well as superior libraries such as the UI component library UI Toolkit.

Rather than providing only basic samples for explaining each basic API, the SDK also gives you access to samples of games and applications using 2D and 3D graphics.

For further details, see the documents included in the SDK.

Developer Program for PlayStation Suite (Open Beta) FAQ

1. I read that I will be required to sign another separate contract once the Open Beta period ends. Can you go into more detail? After the Open Beta period ends, use of the PS Suite Development Assistant will be restricted. You will then be required to pay a fee (US$99 per year) and sign a contract to validate developed content for use on actual devices (PS Certified devices and the PS Vita systems) and sell this content in the PS Store.

2. When will the Open Beta period end? The Open Beta period will end when the Developer Program for PS Suite officially launches. The official launch is scheduled to begin later this year (2012).

3. I have already signed a license agreement for PS PS Vita/PSP/PS3/minis platforms. Does this cover the Developer Program for PS Suite? A separate contract is required. For Open Beta, you will be asked to agree to a License Agreement for the SDK, as well as Terms of Use for the Developer Portal.

4. Can content developed in Open Beta be sold in the PS Store? In order to sell developed content in the PS Store, you will be required to sign a separate contract, which includes a fee (US$99 per year). Further, you will be asked to update your SDK to the latest version.

5. What can be done in Open Beta that could not be done in Closed Beta Test? In Open Beta, you can use a version of the SDK that, as a result of Closed Beta Test, has undergone various improvements and enhancements in, for example, GameEngine2D.

Additionally, developed content can be tested on the PS Vita system, rather than just PS Certified devices. Further, developers throughout the world will be allowed to participate in development starting in Open Beta. For details, visit here.

6. When will content begin to be sold? What countries will content be sold in? You can start submitting and selling content to users once the Developer Program for PS Suite officially launches later this year (2012). We are now making every effort to ensure that your content can be sold in as many countries and regions as possible. We will post information on this website as it becomes available.

7. How much will content be sold for? What percentage will developers receive? We can't provide detailed information at this stage, but we are considering a pricing structure based on current market conditions.

8. Can anyone be a developer? We can't provide detailed information at this stage, but we are now making the necessary preparations to allow developers to smoothly move through the contract stage. We will post information on this website as it becomes available.

9. Are there guidelines for developing content? We are currently drawing up guidelines for selling content in the PS Store. We will post information on this website as it becomes available.

10. Can I use PSN features? When will I be able to use them? We can't provide detailed information at this stage, but we are doing everything we can to make requested features available as soon as possible.

11. Can I develop free games and applications? Development will be limited to paid (including freemiun) content.

12. Is there a system for in-game/app purchasing? If so, when can I begin to use it? An in-game/app purchasing system is expected to be usable through a scheduled update during the Open Beta period. We will post information on this website as it becomes available.

PlayStation Suite Developer Program SDK v0.98 Changelog

Overall

New / Changes

• PS Suite applications can be developed and executed on PlayStation(R)Vita. See “Settings to Execute on PlayStation(R)Vita” for the details.
  
• Copy constructors of the following class have been withdrawn, and ShallowClone() method has been added, instead.
  
• Texture2D
  
• TextureCube
  
• VertexBuffer
  
• Image
  
• Font
  
• Directory structure has been changed. The files/directories for the application package must be placed in the “Application/” directory. ( “texture/foo.jpg” -> “/Application/texture/foo.jpg” )
  
• The number of layers of sub-directories that can be created under Application/, Documents/ and Temp/ are limited, the number is limited to 5 layers below the corresponding directory, including file.
  
• “/Application/1/2/3/4/5.dat” -> OK (Same as Documents/, Temp/ directories)
  
• “/Application/1/2/3/4/5/6.dat” -> NG (Same as Documents/, Temp/ directories)
  
• Sample has been installed in the following locations by default.
  
• Windows XP: “C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Documents/pss/”
  
• Windows 7: “C:/Users/Public/Documents/pss/”
  
• The name of the program to run PS Suite applications on devices have been changed to PlayStation(R)Suite Development Assistant.
  
• How to start up the PS Suite applications on devices has been changed.
  
• No need to sign-in.
  
• Network connection is required.
  

Restrictions

• In the case of Windows XP, USB driver needs to be manually installed at the first connection with Vita. For the details, please see “Settings to execute in PlayStation(R)Vita” in the document.
  

Core

New / Changes

• The following APIs have been added.
  
• Matrix4.InverseAffine()
  
• Matrix4.MultiplyAffine()
  
• Matrix4.TransformProjection()
  
• Quaternion.Lerp()
  
• Quaternion.Log()
  
• Quaternion.Exp()
  
• Quaternion.Transform()
  

Environment

New / Changes

• The following class has been withdrawn.
  
• Storage
  

Graphics

New / Changes

• The following API has been added.
  
• The constructor which takes ShaderProgramOption of ShaderProgram as an argument.
  
• The following API will be withdrawn.
  
• The function which stores Primitive[] in VertexBuffer
  
• MirroredRepeat mode of TextureWrapMode
  

Restrictions

• Currently PlayStation(R)Vita has a restriction as below.
  
• GraphicsContext.SetVertexBuffer() applies only the first VertexBuffer.
  
• GraphicsContext.SetPolygonOffset() is not supported. The specified parameter is neglected.
  
• ShaderProgramOption is not supported. The specified parameter is neglected.
  
• Texture2D.GenerateMipmap() does not work correctly in some cases.
  
• TextureCube is not supported. An exception occurs when it is created.
  

Imaging

New / Changes

• Constructors which receive bitmap image have been added to the Image class.
  
• In Image class, the argument order of constructor Image(ImageSize size, ImageColor color, ImageMode mode) has been changed to Image(ImageMode mode, ImageSize size, ImageColor color).
  

UI Toolkit

New / Changes

• Dispose() of Widget and UIElement class has been changed from virtual function to nonvirtual function. Then, Dispose(bool) and
• DisposeSelf() have been newly added as virtual functions.
  
• RenderToFrameBuffer method has been added to Widget class.
  
• Instance method of UnloadFromCache has been added to ImageAsset class.
  
• If linefeed code was included in Label strings, it was not displayed correctly. This problem has been fixed.
  
• The values of LocalPosition and WorldPosition of DragEventArgs were reversed. This problem has been fixed.
  
• The values of MoveTarget of SlideTransition were reversed. This problem has been fixed.
  

Restrictions

• Only DemoRssReader sample does not work on PlayStation(R)Vita.
  

PS Suite UI Composer

New / Changes

• Preview functionality has been added.
  
• For the details, please refer to “Layout Guide” in the document.
  
• In addition, fine adjustment has been made and problems have been fixed.
  

PS Suite Studio

New / Changes

• In the BuildAction of None or Resource, files cannot be copied to the devices. Please use Contents.
  

Restrictions

• While performing debug executing on target device, PlayStation(R)Vita, console output is not displayed in the application. In execution without debugging, it runs correctly.
  
• While performing debug executing on target device, PlayStation(R)Vita, if “Stop” is selected, it reports application error. While executing without debug, “Stop” works correctly, without causing application error.
  
• There is a bug that cannot step execute after pausing (Run->Pause) the running application. In the case, put the breakpoint just below the paused point it can be workarounded.
  
• With the problems in Windows 7, when the menu items are selected, with the white characters in the pale background, it becomes difficult to read the items.
  

Model

Restrictions

• Model file type is the one under development. It may be changed in the future versions.
  
• HighLevel.Model is under development. Not all the features are implemented yet.