Indie game Tales from Space receives funding from Sony

By Ryan Winslett

In a time when publishers and developers are often accused of price gouging, holding back DLC content that should have been included on-disc in the first place and other such questionable business practices, it's nice to occasionally see the big guy look out for the little guy.

A couple years ago, Sony Computer Entertainment America established a Pub Fund initiative to help up-and-coming developers find the resources to bring their game to the world stage.

Those who applied for the Fund had to commit to build their game to completion as well as offer a period of console exclusivity. Burn Zombie Burn and Joe Danger are two such titles to benefit from the Pub Fund, both meeting with tremendous success on the PlayStation Network.

With any luck (and, of course, a solid title), Toronto-based DrinkBox Studios aims to be the next Pub Fund success with their co-op platformer Tales from Space: About a Blob.

Being accepted by the Pub Fund, SCEA has agreed to provide a development-budget-matching royalty, essentially doubling the up-start studio's funding to finish up their game and unleash it on the masses.

DrinkBox CEO Ryan MacLean said the Pub Fund has allowed the company to "confidently focus on finishing our game while retaining ownership and artistic control over the project."

Tales From Space: About a Blob is slated for an early 2011 release and all sorts of information about the development of the title can be found at aboutablob.com.