not sure if simscarnival is flash-based or more console focused. www.fyrebug.com already allows you to create and share your own flash games

drkknght

Sounds pretty similar to gamegardens.com, which has been around for ages. Haven't really tried either, though.

celery

Seems like a cool way for budding developers to hone their skills. I'm in the beta and it looks like there's a simple visual programming tool, in addition to a visual content swapping tool and a wizard/tuning tool. That last one lets you tune a pre-made game with things like "projectile speed" and "gravity" and "extra guy at x-points". Rough around the edges, but that's what beta's for, I guess.

Starstew

Wow, it seems like developers are facing almost an embarrassment of riches in the opportunities department. Everybody and their brother is coming out with platforms to create and publish games on. So far, not a single one of them has been approached by a company that actually has incentive to make it worth a damn or the soul to make it worth anyones time, but maybe eventually a smaller company will come along and provide a viable platform.

To that future small company, here it is spelled out in small words so your CEO and finance guys can digest it:

Your service is only to provide a place for the community to rate and share games. Not to showcase your properties or groom developers for your stable.

The stuff you view as "useless" and "stupid" on YouTube and other community sites will be your lifeblood.

If you take more than 20% of each transaction for yourself, YOU WILL FAIL. These games need to be cheap. For these games to be cheap, a developer needs to be able to make some bank off of the thing even if they're only charging $3 or $5. You WILL make up for it in quantity IF you listen to these rules.

No censorship. Nobody has ever been harmed by a game where penises jump into vaginas or blood is spurting everywhere or any of the other things you fear as a spineless imbecile businessman. Impose content labelling restrictions, parental controls, and things like that, but no censorship if the stuff is labelled clearly. This is not optional.

No ratings by "officials". You couldn't guess which of those YouTube videos would be the most popular because you think they're stupid right? So what makes you think you can guess which game will be good? You can't. Save the bank and don't hire someone to guess. Let the community rate them.

otakucode

This does sound great, but I wonder what the end product can look like and how difficult it is to make them, you better update us :)

Irenicus-the one and only

@Mit:

little big planets slogan is "playcreateshare"

naxik

@KindaGamey: EA isn't a family friendly company. It's not like they edit out the word "damn" or "hell" in ALL their games with licensed music. /sarcasm

DONNYchiban

The website is so vague about what you actually get to do it's almost useless.

Pixelantes Anonymous

"We're very excited to launch TheSimsCarnival.com, a new and accessible gaming experience that gives players all the tools they need to play, create and share games online with friends."

What a novel concept!

xot

I'm enthralled that the site screenshot above mentions that the games will be, in fact, trendy. I'd hate to be caught playing something unfashionable, especially if it doesn't match my shoes.

Koztah

@dealer:excellent!

rawg

@Mit: That would be Plagachef. No copyright infringement here!

PaddyStardust

Does it have to involve use, or interaction with The Sims? Because I hates me some Sims.

PaddyStardust

Wow, I expected something like this from EA The Sims, eventually, but didn't think they'd do it so soon. I imagine it'll be pretty crude to begin with in terms of what you can actually create, but if they support it long-term with new versions and updates -- and if they can actually attract people to use it -- it could become a fantastic resource for amateur game designers.

ArmiMaan

I already develop plenty of fun little games in Blitz, but having zero artistic talent, I've found switching to Flash to be a right pain in the ass.
Decided to sign up, just incase it's actually usable, and potentially results in a few of my games being online.

..

and, of course..

... worried that EA might steal all my ideas!

Jayenkai

I've got a new idea for a Sims game. It's a sim dairy farming game. It will be called The Sims: Milking It.

dealer

Lots of news touting user generated content lately. If I was a conspiracy theorist I would say that Sony's PR department was trying to dilute the impact of Microsoft's XNA announcement. From what I've seen so far in 2008, Sony's new PR people are pretty slick.

rawg

@SinistarX: What with Europe getting C64 games on the VC, they should release an updated version of AGCK where you can trade your games with your Wii friends or upload them to a central server for sharing w/ strangers.

eugaet

I signed up Just for the hell of it.

sUKi

I have no idea what I signed up for, but I hope its good.

Sap_My_Sentry

I think i just signed up for it...

Cchrist

This sounds amazingly familiar!

SinistarX

I think the LBP developers might have something to say about that ad. I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'.

Sean Bryant

Curious. Might just sign up for this, could be a laff. Although it will more than likely be rubbish, with just a buncha identical flash games. With penises for main characters.

PaddyStardust

What's LittleBigPlanet's slogan again?

Mit

I have absolutely zero interest in designing games... but that's just good for society really. Nobody on earth needs a game based on anything in *my* head.

MrBionic

Mmm... tempting concept. But I'm scared it will be entirely too family friendly. Would love to see what is possible.

KindaGamey

I just got approved, so I'm not sure if they're still looking for beta testers or what, but approvals have definitely been sent out at least.

NeoStarr