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Microsoft issues apology over late XBLIG payments
Microsoft has addressed late payment concerns raised by developers enrolled in the Xbox Live Indie Games program, and the company is "working hard" to pay affected studios by the end of the month. "Due to a technical issue in our payment system, we recently learned that some payments to select developers in the Xbox Live Indie Games program on Xbox 360 were delayed," Microsoft's statement reads. "Our partners are important to us and we work hard to help make sure they have a great development experience. This was an unfortunate error and we are working hard to fix it. We apologize for this incident and anticipate developers will receive payments within the next two weeks." Bleed developer BootDisk Revolution, Trailer Park King creator Freelance Games, and other studios have previously spoken out regarding the issue. Speaking to Gamasutra, Charlie Murder developer James Silva notes that Microsoft has been "way later in the past" with regard to XBLIG revenue payouts. Launched in 2008, the community-driven Xbox Live Indie Games service presents a lower barrier to entry than traditional Xbox Live Arcade and retail game releases. To date, more than 3,000 games have launched for the program, including standouts like The Impossible Game, CastleMiner Z, and Protect Me Knight. [Image: Microsoft]
Time Viking is the follow-up to I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES, out now on Xbox 360
Ska Studios' well-known Xbox Live Indie Games success, I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES 1NIT!!!1, has a new baby brother. TIME VIKING!!!!!ANDSPACERAPTOR is the spiritual successor to Z0MB1ES, and it's just as insane. The game revolves around a time-traveling viking with incredible mind powers and ... well ... a space raptor. The trailer speaks volumes, but we'd advise just trying the game whenever you can. The trial is free on Xbox Live right now, and the full game is a dollar.
Next-gen Microsoft: What the new Xbox can do for indies
The Xbox 360 accrued an arguably bad reputation in terms of indie games publishing over the past few years. Many vocal observers – players, mostly – saw Xbox Live Arcade as a closed, unsupportive platform that asked developers for thousands of dollars to update their own games, and Xbox Live Indie Games was a stagnant hole filled with Minecraft clones and zombie games. Microsoft may have to overcome this public perception with its next-gen Xbox conference today at 10 a.m. PT. But from an indie developer's standpoint, the issues in publishing with Microsoft are different – or nonexistent. "Working with Microsoft is great," writes James Silva, one half of Ska Studios and creator of The Dishwasher series of XBLA games. "I have heard a few stories that contradict my experience, and I know quite a few people who are happier on platforms other than XBLA, and that's fine for them. XBLA is a closed, carefully curated platform with its own set of fairly rigid standards and protocols." Ska Studios works with only Microsoft, publishing The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai after winning the Dream Build Play competition in 2007, and from there developing The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile for XBLA, I MAED A GAM3 W1TH ZOMB1ES 1N IT!!!1 on XBLIG and a version on Windows Phone, and now polishing another XBLA game, Charlie Murder. Silva makes enough money developing games for Microsoft platforms to support a life of developing games for Microsoft platforms. He says that with Microsoft as a publisher, he retains full creative control, and Microsoft supports him in terms of bug-squashing, meeting goals, play-testing, and even taking him to dinner when he's in town. "Shortly after The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai launched, I absolutely spent a night at my producer's cabin in Snoqualmie, drinking IPA and playing around with GarageBand," Silva says. "Yes, it was fine, it was fun, and it's unfortunate that 'everything's fine' doesn't really register as newsworthy, because there is currently a 'Microsoft is bad for indies' narrative trending in gaming news."
Penny Arcade's On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 4 teases in first trailer
While we do have some idea of what to expect in Penny Arcade's On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 4, we have yet to catch a glimpse – until now. This teaser trailer from Zeboyd Games' upcoming sequel promises demonic trains and vast underhells; it promises a cadre of monsters to capture and throw into battle.Previously developer Zeboyd Games revealed this latest episode would not grace iOS, Mac or Android – all supported platforms for Rain-Slick 3. The upcoming fourth episode will launch on PC and Xbox Live Indie Games some time this spring for 400 MS Points ($5).
Take control of an 80s arcade with Arcadecraft, out now on XBLIG
Arcadecraft, the 80s arcade management sim from Firebase Industries, is available now on Xbox Live Indie Games for 240 MS Points ($3). In Arcadecraft, players must dig themselves out of debt with the latest craze in entrepreneurship, starting an arcade. As owner and manager, players purchase arcade machines, position them around the space, name their arcade, paint the walls, change the floors, and add graphics and neon wherever they deem necessary.Arcadecraft has almost 80 arcade machines of different design, each with adjustable difficulty and price settings, and some games will jam, break down and need servicing as customers use and abuse them.Firebase Industries, the team behind Orbitron: Revolution, has Arcadecraft on Steam Greenlight and is working on a touch-based Windows 8 version.
Top Xbox Live, Arcade, Indie and Windows games of 2012
If an alien intelligence agency got a hold of this "Top Xbox games of 2012" list, it might come away with the conclusion that humans are really, really into mining. The aliens might also conclude that we enjoy warfare, including the kind that affects extraterrestrials, so let's hope that they focus on the harmless digging thing and keep their lasers to themselves.Major Nelson breaks down 2012's top 20 games of the following categories: Live, Arcade, Indie and Games for Windows Live. The top Xbox Live games of 2012, determined by average unique users per day, are Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Modern Warfare 3, Halo 4, Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition and Black Ops. Following that is a round of sports games, including FIFA Soccer 13 and 12, and Halo: Reach, Assassin's Creed 3, Battlefield 3, Borderlands 2, Far Cry 3 and Skyrim.The top five Xbox Live Arcade games, determined by full versions purchased, are Minecraft, Trials Evolution, The Walking Dead, Pinball FX2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Castle Crashers is hanging out at No. 6, followed by Fez at No. 13. Indie games are ranked with the same method, and they carry a familiar theme, headlined by CastleMiner Z, CastleMiner, Total Miner: Forge, Avatar Deathmatch and FortressCraft Chapter 1.Games for Windows Live games get ranked by average unique users per day, and the top five are Grand Theft Auto 4, Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition, Age of Empires Online, Batman: Arkham City and Super Street Fighter 4: Arcade Edition. Remember, aliens, humans sure do love the smell of fresh, pixelated dirt. See for yourself with the full lists, provided by Major Nelson, after the break.
Penny Arcade 3 now on Mac, iOS, & Android, free Seamstress DLC live
Penny Arcade's On The Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3 is now raining down on iOS, Android, and Mac. All versions include the free Lair of the Seamstress DLC which trickled concurrently onto Steam and Xbox Live Indie Games, as well as the Fanfiction Pack dropped earlier this year. The Android and iOS versions storm in at $2.99, with the Mac version a spot more at $4.99.The Lair of the Seamstress DLC includes a new dungeon, which Zeboyd says can be entered when all your classes are Level 40 or higher by "going to the top floor of the Class Shrine." There's also a new zombie-themed costume pack, almost as if to tie in to some horror-themed annual holiday.
CastleMiner Z cracks one million, still fastest-selling XBLIG
DigitalDNA Games is popping corks right now, having surpassed the one million download mark for its Xbox Live Indie Games offering, CastleMiner Z. The self-described "voxel/sandbox zombie survival game" became the first XBLIG game to sell one million copies, DigitalDNA Games says, in little over 10 months.CastleMiner Z, the sequel to CastleMiner, surpassed 900.000 copies sold just last month. CastleMiner Z is currently available on Xbox Live Indie Games for 80 MS Points ($1).
CastleMiner Z crests 900,000 sales, becomes fastest-selling XBLIG
As of August 15, Xbox Live Indie Game CastleMiner Z, which is priced at 80 MS Points ($1), has exceeded sales of 900,000 – making it the most successful XBLIG to date, developer DigitalDNA Games claims."Based on the positions in the daily best selling lists it may very well be the best selling XBLIG of all time, but I won't feel fully comfortable saying that until we have reached the top of the xbox.com best selling list, which I project should happen when we round out 1M units sales in the next 4-6 weeks, becoming the first XBLIG to do so," DigitalDNA Games' Thomas Steinke told Joystiq. Still, CastleMiner Z has been at the top of Major Nelson's XBLIG list since launching back in November. And CastleMiner Z is always at the top of the daily best-selling area of xbox.com.Steinke only had nice things to say about Microsoft, saying that creating XBLIG games has been "an unbelievable and life changing experience," though he does wish they paid more attention to the XBLIG channel. "We have really wanted to make an XBLA title for a long time, you would think when you have a developer that has moved millions of units on XBLIG that it would get some attention from them, however that hasn't been the case for us."Joystiq has contacted Microsoft to confirm DigitalDNA's claims; however, the company typically does not disclose XBLIG sales data to the public.
XBLIG Companion app available now for Windows Phone
The Xbox Live Indie Games Companion app we first reported earlier this month is now available on Windows Phone. The app allows for easy browsing of Xbox Live Indie Games, including information, screens and links for each game. The app will even point users to Xbox Live Marketplace, where XBLIG demos or even full games can be purchased directly from their phone. Honestly, the XBLIG Companion looks like a much easier way of finding indie games than on Xbox Live Marketplace itself.Windows Phone users can nab the app now for the reasonable price of no dollars. Developer Eat Studios notes that iOS and Android versions of the app "should be available in the near future."
Xbox Live Indie Gems: Nyan Cat Adventure
Crowded as it is with farting massage simulators, it can be hard to find worthwhile titles on Xbox Live Indie Games. That's why we sift through all that rough to unearth a few gems. That way, you get the skinny on quality games and we get to indulge our secret passion for fart machines. This week, we try out Nyan Cat Adventure, a platformer from 21st Street Games. Indie developer 21st Street Games has found a niche: bizarre platformers. Its previous offering, Techno Kitten Adventure, was a visual assault backed by a simple gameplay mechanic, and the studio's latest is no different. The Xbox Live Indie game Nyan Cat Adventure takes the popular internet meme into the realm of single-button arcade gameplay.But the most surprising thing about Nyan Cat Adventure is the variety I found in such a simple experience. True, the game only uses one button, but what that button does constantly changes throughout the game's main mode of play, dubbed 'Party.'
Brand swings on to Xbox Live Indie Games
Brand caught our eye all the way back in August of last year, and we've just gotten word that the game is available now on Xbox Live Indie Games, yours for the low price of just 240 Microsoft points ($3). You can see a release trailer above, and all of those swords you see in there are custom-made, because the game allows you to create your own.We're also told that you can play as your own Xbox Live avatar, and that there's about five hours of nonlinear exploration gameplay across three big areas. Looks good -- if you give it a download, let us know what you think.
Activision OK's XBLIG; you probably haven't heard of it, it's pretty underground [Update]
After accruing millions of fans and billions of dollars through mainstream blockbusters such as the Call of Duty franchise, Activision is going indie. Dark Reign: Redux is a modern, fan-made remake of the 1997 title, Dark Reign: The Future of War, which was developed by Auran and published by Activision. The revamp is available on XBLIG and was developed by Magnetar (no, that's not a Pokemon) Games to include updated resolution, widescreen, and PC, console and mobile capability.Dark Reign: Redux is $5 (400 MS Points) on XBLIG now, and buying it supports the indie and mega-huge gaming industry in one blow.Update: Activision isn't the direct publisher of Dark Reign: Redux, but it did OK the title in a licensing agreement with Magnetar Games, who self-published it.
Microsoft loosens up on Xbox Live Indie Game devs: increases file allowance, drops minimum price to $1
The Xbox Live gatekeepers have decided to cut their faithful indie game developers some slack -- but not too much, mind. New changes for 2012 include a new 80 point ($1) entry price for smaller games, expanded size limits (up to 500MB) and the ability to create up to 20 titles -- devs were previously limited to half of that. However, there's still no access to Xbox Live Achievements or Leaderboards for those impoverished indie developers. Way to keep the little people down, Microsoft.
Xbox Live Indie Games get increased file size, reduced minimum prices
It's been something of a rocky road for Xbox Live Indie Game developers, often confronted with less than ideal exposure and competing with not only huge retail games, but also incredibly cheap titles on mobile platforms like iOS. Microsoft has today addressed a handful of concerns that XBLIG devs face, notably the issues of game size and pricing. First, the size of projects has been greatly increased, from 150 megabytes to the new maximum of 500 megabytes. Second, and perhaps most important, Microsoft has removed one of the major restrictions on price. Before, all games that exceeded 50MB in size we required to be priced at either $3 or $5, making them hard to position against both XBLA titles and mobile titles on other platforms. The minimum price has now been reduced to $1 (80 MS Points), making XBL Indies more competitive and (potentially) more lucrative. Finally, Microsoft has raised the cap on the number of titles any developer is allowed to host on the Indie Games service. Previously topping out at 10, developers may now have a total of 20 games available at any given time. Of course, you know what this means: Moar Gaems with Z0mb1ES in Th3m and a larger assortment of choice weapons.
New Xbox Dashboard features leave Indie Games in the lurch
Now that the new Xbox 360 Dashboard is out there, many are finding the new features don't extend to Indie Games. Sure, Indies haven't supported Achievements for a while, and there's always been a price ceiling, but it looks like Beacons don't work with them, cloud storage isn't supported, and new releases don't appear under, well, new releases. It's all in the video above, provided by GameMarx. Even that new Xbox iOS app doesn't list Indies. Why is nobody thinking of the little guys?
Xbox Live Indie Gems: Annecto
Crowded as it is with farting massage simulators, it can be hard to find worthwhile titles on Xbox Live Indie Games. That's why we sift through all that rough to unearth a few gems. That way, you get the skinny on quality games and we get to indulge our secret passion for fart machines. This week, we try out Annecto, a puzzle game from oh-four-hundred. With the Xbox Live Indie Games Summer Uprising underway, there's already a glut of high quality games arriving. We've got one more to add that isn't part of the promotion. Say hello to Annecto, a unique puzzle game about building shapes and fending off curses. See it for yourself in the latest episode of Xbox Live Indie Gems. Want to try out Annecto? You can queue the trial version for download here on Xbox.com! The full version is 240 MS Points ($3). If you've discovered (or created) an outstanding Xbox Live Indie Game and think it deserves some more visibility, email Richard aat joystiq dawt com, subject line "Xbox Live Indie Gems." Want to find more indie gems? Check out the archive.
PSA: Xbox Live Indie Games Summer Uprising is go
Just a quick reminder that the Xbox Live Indie Games Summer Uprising has officially begun. The final two games have been chosen by the community, making for a total of ten new games to be released over the coming two weeks. A new title will be released every weekday, starting today with side-scrolling slasher Raventhorne. Each game in the promotion will cost $3, with the $1 exceptions of Battle High: San Bruno and Cute Things Dying Violently. You can see each game in action in the trailer above and find the complete release schedule after the break.
Indie Games Summer Uprising gets new trailer, community voting begins
So, those eight games chosen to headline the Xbox Live Indie Games Summer Uprising, would you like to see some footage? No? How about footage set to the tune of Mega Man 2's first Dr. stage? Yes! We knew you would come around. Since you're here, you should also know that community voting for the final two games has begun. Check out the entries page on the Summer Uprising website and then head over to the Facebook page to cast your vote. We'd love to strong-arm our readers into voting for The Jump Hero, but what sort of example would that set for other responsible websites? The Summer Uprising officially begins later this month on August 22.
8 headlining games chosen for Indie Games Summer Uprising
Much like the outdoor temperature, the Indie Games Summer Uprising is heating up. Eight of the promotion's headlining titles, as chosen by Indie Game developers, have been revealed. The titles run the gamut of fighting, platforming, role-playing and train simulator (no really!) games. This August, voting will begin for two more titles to be chosen by the community itself. Voting will start on Monday, August 1, and will run until August 14 on the Indie Games Summer Uprising Facebook page. See the full list of developer-chosen games (including links to descriptions and trailers) after the break.
