Edit: I meant it WON'T!!!

Q Games president Dylan Cuthbert has said that the studio will be "lucky" to sell enough Dynamic Themes on the PlayStation Store to cover development costs.

Introduced with the new 3.0 firmware, Dynamic Themes are interactive backgrounds for the PlayStation 3. The developer has just released a theme to promote PixelJunk Monsters, priced USD 2.99.

"Remember that we’ll be lucky to sell even a few thousand themes and so the cost of developing the theme (3-4 weeks of coder/artist time, checking, testing etc) will still far exceed any money we make from it," said Cuthbert, writing on the PS3 blog.

However, Cuthbert said his team was proud to work on themes with Sony, as it has been something they have had a hand in developing.

"We’re proud to say that this is a system we were involved in developing. Sony Computer Entertainment wanted to spice up the background a bit and static pictures just didn’t cut the mustard.

"So we collaborated with them to make a system where developers can display what they want and animate and move them around. This definitely adds a little life to the PS3’s background," he wrote.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ps3-theme-sales-wont-cover-development-costs-q-games

That's got to be the most misleading title I've ever seen. Well done Mr. OP, well done.

They take a hit for us gamers? I like that.

sony needs to have a preview that actual shows the theme moving. i'm a bit reluctant to drop $3 on 2 screenshots of the theme.

this misleading title was definatly planned!!!

.... some talented modders could make such themes in 3 days....FOR FREE

Making money from the downloads isn't really the point, and honestly, the more popular a game is, the more likely it is that a couple artists/programmers time over a month will make it worthwhile from the download cost alone, not to mention the "self advertisement" a (for example) online game can get from it, encouraging users to keep the game long after its play value would have normally waned.

Imagine where you can go with this concept. MMOs: dynamic raid/server info and news, Twitter & Facebook updates if those become part of the PS3's offering, Any sort of weather, news, etc. info you care about... all of which can effectively operate as advertisements for new DLC and websites that want your traffic.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if, over its lifetime, this tiny product pays for itself many times over -- I'm kinda surprised these guys don't think so, especially given their "3-4 weeks for a couple people" comment. No cost-of-goods (okay yeah.. some bandwidth charges), no retail cut... it'll make money at a pretty good clip.

a small 2.99 download shouldn't have a chance to cover developmental costs, I agree, that's why they charge a price for the games at walmart

They should release the tools for custom animated themes. I'd rather not be paying money for my themes and in the mean time, my static custom themes will have to do.

Isn't the tools the same as the ones that make the games? I'm not sure a mass release would be a good idea.