Sony 'Generous Enough' To Loan Vita Dev Kits To Indies

Indie developer Rubicon Development has confirmed with Gamasutra that Sony has loaned multiple PlayStation Vita dev kits and is bringing its iOS title Great Little War Game to the upcoming handheld. Paul Johnson, managing director at Rubicon, posted on the NeoGAF forums over the weekend, noting that Sony "sent us four kits. Gratis. Just like that." He has now told Gamasutra, "On the basis that you can't put the cat back in the bag, I can confirm that Sony was generous enough to loan us some kit, and that's one of the many reasons why I big them up every opportunity I get." "They really do seem to have gotten behind smaller developers, based on my own experience and from talking with other small devs, and I think they should be saluted for it." He continued, "We're entering a new era in which digital downloads can be translated into mass market sales for smaller operators - once only the preserve of the big boys." He did, however, note that the dev kits he has received, "are just loaners - we have to give them back when we're done." Reports circulating on the web claim that the kits are "freely available" to indies, but neither Sony nor Rubicon could immediately confirm the extent or scope of any such initiative. Gamasutra has contacted Sony for comment. Sony revealed last month a new $20 million, three-year investment plan that will see more PlayStation Network exclusive games released from independent developers, including the likes of Eufloria, Okabu, Payday: The Heist and Papo & Yo.