Editing Net Yaroze

{{Short description|Development kit for the PlayStation}}
[[File:Net-Yaroze-Full-Sdk.jpg|thumb|300px|Sony Net Yaroze with [[software development kit]]]]

The {{nihongo|'''Net Yaroze'''|ネットやろうぜ|Netto Yarōze}} is a [[Game development kit|development kit]] for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] [[video game console]]. It was a promotion by [[Sony Computer Entertainment]] to [[computer programming]] hobbyists which launched in June 1996 in Japan<ref name=EGM88>{{cite magazine |title=Tidbits|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=88 |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=November 1996|page=22}}</ref> and in 1997 in other countries.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Letters |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=35|publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=November 1997 |page=218 |quote=Sony's Net Yaroze was in fact released earlier this year, amid much apparent public interest but little official fanfare from Sony.}}</ref> It was originally called '''Net Yarouze''', but was changed to Net Yaroze in late 1996.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=We Say Yarouze, Sony Says Yaroze|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |issue=26|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=February 1997|page=19}}</ref> ''Yarōze'' means "Let's do it together".<ref>{{cite web|author=Sony|title=Net Yaroze|url=http://www.absolute-playstation.com/api_faqs/faq13.htm|website=Absolute PlayStation International |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311153757/http://www.absolute-playstation.com/api_faqs/faq13.htm|archive-date=March 11, 2016}}</ref>

Conceived by PlayStation creator [[Ken Kutaragi]] and priced at around $750 [[United States dollar|US]], the Net Yaroze (DTL-H300x) package contained a special black-colored [[debugging]] PlayStation unit, a serial cable for connecting the console to a personal computer, and a CD containing PlayStation development tools.<ref name="NGen25">{{cite magazine |title=If You Can Build a Better Game...|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=25 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=January 1997|pages=40–49}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">IGN UK, "Net Yaroze", {{cite web |url=http://uk.psx.ign.com/objects/896/896838.html |title=Net Yaroze - PSX - IGN |access-date=2012-06-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426004003/http://uk.psx.ign.com/objects/896/896838.html |archive-date=2012-04-26 }}</ref> The user has to provide a personal computer (an [[IBM PC compatible]] or [[Apple Macintosh|Macintosh]]; [[NEC PC-9801]] was also supported in Japan) to write the computer code, compile it, and send the program to the PlayStation.

The Net Yaroze was neither the first nor only official consumer console development kit. The PC-Engine Develo predates it, and the [[WonderWitch]] followed it. The [[GP32]] can run user programs out of the box. Finally, many earlier consoles ([[Astrocade]], [[Famicom]]) offered limited programming capabilities with [[BASIC]] dialects. Net Yaroze had no direct successors on subsequent PlayStation platforms, but Sony's [[Linux for PlayStation 2]] and YA-BASIC offered a similar feature to hobbyists and amateur developers on the [[PlayStation 2]] console.

==Contents==
{{System requirements
| caption = Net Yaroze system requirements
| useminandrec = no
| width = 36em
| platform1 = PC
| os1 = IBM PC compatible or Macintosh
| cpu1 = 66Mhz
| memory1 = 4MB
| gpu1 = SVGA monitor compatible
| sound1 = None
| network1 = 28.8kb/s
| hdspace1 = 10MB
| media1 = 
| display1 = 
| input1 = 
}}
The Net Yaroze kit contains the following items:<ref name="NGen25"/>
*The Net Yaroze PlayStation console, which is identical to a standard PlayStation console except that it has different boot ROMs, lacks a [[regional lockout]], uses a different encryption scheme, and is black.
*2 PlayStation controllers (black matte texture)
*The Net Yaroze key disc, required to boot programs which were loaded from a PC.
*The Access Card, a [[dongle]] which must be placed in memory card port 1 in order to boot programs which were loaded from a PC.
*A CD-ROM containing development tools. The tools included vary according to version, but invariably include a [[C compiler]], a compiler assembler, a [[Linker (computing)|linker]], a debugger, tools for converting graphic and sound files to PlayStation format, and programming libraries.
*The Communications Cable, a special serial cable used to link the console and the computer.
*"Start Up Guide", "Library Reference", and "User's Guide" manuals. These document the programming libraries and PlayStation-specific development, but do not give instructions on how to program; the Net Yaroze kit assumes the user has basic programming knowledge.

==Versions==
Though it lacked regional lockout, the Net Yaroze console exists in three variations: one for Japan, one for North America and one for Europe and Australia. The Europe/Australia version boots in [[PAL]] mode, while the others boot in [[NTSC]] mode. There are further differences between the Japanese kit and the others; the manuals are in Japanese, the software for Japanese PCs is included, and the discs and access card sticker have different printing. The Japanese version is sometimes unofficially referred to as DTL-3000 rather than DTL-H3000.

The Net Yaroze was only available for purchase by mail order; but Sony also provided it to universities in the UK, France ([[École Pour l'Informatique et les Techniques Avancées|EPITA]]), and Japan.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

Additionally, a version of [[CodeWarrior]] for PlayStation was released for both Windows and Macintosh in October 1996.<ref name="NGen25"/> [[LightWave 3D]] was another consumer-level PlayStation development tool.

The Net Yaroze lacks many of the features the official PlayStation Software Developers Kit provided, such as advanced hardware debugging, special software, certain libraries, and Sony's extensive technical support (including [[Bulletin board system|BBS]] and live telephone support). Dedicated [[Usenet]] groups, with access restricted to Net Yaroze members, were maintained by Sony; homepage hosting was also provided. The access was restricted according to the kit's region of origin, which made collaboration between users in different territories impractical.

The Yaroze's primary RAM was the same as the consumer's model (2 megabytes). Game code, graphics, audio samples and run-time libraries were limited to fit in the 2&nbsp;MB of primary RAM, 1&nbsp;MB of VRAM, and 0.5&nbsp;MB of sound RAM, since the Net Yaroze will not play user-burned CDs, a necessary restriction in order to prevent piracy and ensure that the Yaroze program would not compete with the PlayStation's professional software development kit.<ref name="NGen25"/> This however, was not a problem for licensed developers who owned the official SDK. There are many commercial PlayStation titles (such as ''[[Devil Dice]]'', long mistaken as a Net Yaroze game<ref name="DevilDice">{{cite web|author=John Szczepaniak|title=PS1 Puzzler Devil Dice Was Never A 'Net Yaroze' Title, So Why Does The Internet Think It Was?|url=https://www.timeextension.com/features/ps1-puzzler-devil-dice-was-never-a-net-yaroze-title-so-why-does-the-internet-think-it-was|website=Time Extension|accessdate=2023-09-15}}</ref>) that can be entirely RAM-resident, and have been developed with the Net Yaroze, while using the CD strictly to spool Red Book audio ([[Compact Disc Digital Audio|CD-DA]]).

==Games produced==
{{main|List of Net Yaroze games}}
[[File:PS1 Hover Racing (Net Yaroze).png|thumb|right|Screenshot from ''Hover Racing'', one of the games developed for Net Yaroze and released on demo discs<ref name="SJ72">{{cite magazine|last=Sanz|first=Juan Carlos|url=https://archive.org/stream/Superjuegos_072#page/n121/mode/2up|title=Aprende a programar Playstation con Net Yaroze - Japon Siempre En Cabeza|magazine=Superjuegos|issue=72|publisher=Grupo Zeta|date=April 1998|pages=122–123|lang=es}}</ref>]]
Sony set up an [[online forum]] where users could share their homemade games, swap programming tips, and ask questions to Sony technical support staff.<ref name="EGM88"/><ref name="NGen25"/> Many games made by hobbyists on the Net Yaroze were released on various demo discs that came along with the ''[[Official UK PlayStation Magazine]]'' (as well as other official PlayStation magazines in PAL regions) from 1997 to 2004. The last ''Official UK PlayStation Magazine'' issue, number 108, featured a compilation with many Net Yaroze games. A promotional disc, limited to a thousand copies and featuring a number of user-developed games, was produced by SCEE and sent to PAL-zone Yaroze owners. This disc can only be played on a Net Yaroze since it requires the access card included with the system to work.

Some of these games were based on arcade classics such as ''[[Mr. Do]]'' and ''[[Puzzle Bobble]]'', while others (e.g. ''Time Slip'') were illustrations of a novel concept. The Game Developer UK Competition, organized by [[Scottish Enterprise]] in collaboration with the Scottish Games Alliance, Sony and ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' in 1998, accepted Net Yaroze entries; the overall winner was Chris Chadwick for his game ''Blitter Boy – Operation: Monster Mall''. An updated version of ''Time Slip'' was later released for [[Xbox Live Arcade]] in February 2011 and Windows in January 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smudgedcat.com/timeslip.html |title=Smudged Cat Games - Timeslip |publisher=Smudgedcat.com |access-date=2012-12-17}}</ref> Some of the system's developers moved into the games industry; ''Fatal Fantasy'' and ''Terra Incognita'' developer [[Mitsuru Kamiyama]] became director of the ''[[Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles]]'' series at Square Enix.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/169245/15_years_later_how_sonys_net_.php?print=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501221432/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/169245/15_years_later_how_sonys_net_.php?print=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 1, 2012|title=Gamasutra - 15 Years Later: How Sony's Net Yaroze Kickstarted Indie Console Development|website=[[Gamasutra]]|access-date=2016-06-02}}</ref> ''Magic Castle'' by Kaiga was pitched to various publishers but went unreleased until it was distributed online in 2021 by one of the original staff members.<ref>{{cite web|last=Yin-Poole|first=Wesley|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-01-02-long-forgotten-psone-net-yaroze-game-magic-castle-comes-out-over-20-years-later|title=Long-forgotten PS1 Net Yaroze game Magic Castle comes out over 20 years later|date=January 2, 2021|work=[[Eurogamer]]|publisher=[[Gamer Network]]|access-date=2021-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127231647/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-01-02-long-forgotten-psone-net-yaroze-game-magic-castle-comes-out-over-20-years-later|archive-date=2021-01-27|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Spoken Wikipedia|date=2024-04-23|Net Yaroze Recording.ogg}}

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[[Category:Video game development software]]
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