Sony recently released their brand new PSP Go system, a mild upgrade from the PSP 3000 that features downloadable only games, including the new “Mini” platform for smaller titles (less than 100mb each). My first thought upon hearing about this new service was that it would be perfect for indie developers who are just looking for a different place to distribute their game. I mean, after all, who wouldn’t want to create a portable game? Plenty of indie devs make games for the PC and Xbox Live’s Indie Games section, so it may seem to help you stand out from the pack a little bit if you were able to get your game onto Sony’s popular handheld system.

Unfortunately, it’s just not that easy…

Yes, Sony’s new Mini distribution is made for smaller games and it can be utilized by basically any indie developer. Sony seemed to have thought ahead and gone with a very clear and easy to understand QA process as well as share royalties from the beginning, even if your game never achieves any amount of strong sales (unlike Nintendo’s WiiWare set-up). But there’s just one tiny little thing wrong with this for independent developers.

The PSP dev kit (even for Mini’s) still costs $1718 USD.

That’s a lot of money for an independent developer. Most of the indie devs I know are just one-man teams who are trying to keep their hobby alive by creating something they love. They usually aren’t in it for the money and will release their games for very little or nothing. On top of all that, they certainly aren’t the types who are willing to spend almost two grand just to develop for a certain platform. Hell it’s hard to get them to pay for a decent game engine when it’s only $100 (TGB 2D)… it just doesn’t make much sense when coding for the PC and Xbox 360′s Indie Games section is absolutely, 100%, free.

I write all this, mainly, because some of these games would be absolutely perfect for the PSP’s new Mini system and it would really give both Sony and indie developers an edge in seeking a gaming-only, portable audience with physical controls; something the iPhone just can’t offer.

Please Sony, open up a little bit for the indie’s beyong the glimmer of maybe, perhaps, someday offering gratis dev kits.