Developers concerned over lack of 2010-11 titles

Independent videogame developers across the world are concerned at the lack of deals being made in the business as publishers pull back to focus on core products.

According to several companies that GamesIndustry.biz has spoken to there is a fear that the lack of commissions as things stand will lead to a relatively bare slate for the 2010-11 period.

One such developer is Tantalus, whose CEO Tom Crago explained that he hoped publishers would enjoy a strong Christmas, and that the New Year would see a flurry of activity.

"Absolutely, we hope that will be the case," he said. "From our point of view we're heavily dependent and processes of publishers. We hope their outlook is rosier, particularly into 2010 and 2011, and that the volume of titles that are being commissioned increases."

But Crago, who is also the president of Australia's trade organisation - the GDAA - expressed his worry that even projects given the green light then would be subject to pressure.

"You get into this cycle of titles starting too late, not having enough time to do the job that you'd like to do on that game. We'd like to prevent that," he explained. "From a publisher standpoint you can understand the wait-and-see approach, but there needs to be a meeting in the middle."

The full interview with Tom Crago is available now, and GamesIndustry.biz will have more on the issue in the coming months.