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How to make the best indie game ever: Lessons from J-Force Games
When J-Force Games released Avatar Massage Online in 2010, they were clear about their intentions -- they wanted to make money. Avatar Massage wasn't a genre-shattering revelation of graphics or gameplay; it was a mindless yet entertaining time-waster, or a clever way to buy a vibrator without worrying your mom would come over and find your secret stash. The J-Force team had dreams of developing the "best indie game ever," and to do that they needed money. What better way to fund an indie game, than with an indie game? "We just saw a bunch of mini-games and little apps in the top-sellers on XBLIG and said hey, we could do that too," Jeremy Eden of J-Force said. "Since we needed money it was a no-brainer." The 16,000 people who bought Avatar Massage seemed to agree with this sentiment. But a slew of other people did not -- many argued that releasing a "crappy" game to make quick money and fund a more ambitious project was "immoral" on a deep level, according to the (very secret) Rules of Gaming Ethics and Morality. J-Force didn't expect a violent backlash, but they were prepared with a response regardless. "The nutshell argument is this: There's no difference in making a game for the money versus working any other job for the money -- most people hate their jobs, but they put up with them just for that paycheck," Eden said. "People then argue, 'But you're releasing crap for money!' And by 'crap' they mean basically any type of game that doesn't suit their superior taste. If Avatar Massage Online was crap, why have 16,000 people bought it?"
Indiecade 2011 preview: Ten games to watch for
IndieCade 2011 kicks off this weekend in Los Angeles' Culver City, shining a spotlight on some of the biggest and best games the indie gaming community has to offer. The full list of finalists was announced a while ago, and all of those developers are expected to be live in person during the event, with demo units of each game available for the public to play all weekend long. The event really gets into gear this evening at the IndieCade awards, where developers and their games will be chosen for a series of categories like Fun/Compelling, and the Jury and Audience Choice awards. We'll have more on the results of those later on this evening, but before the festival begins, here's a look at ten of the biggest finalists, including some you can load up and play right now.
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.
The Joystiq Show - 004: The Toys of Summer
It's summer, and that means a wasteland of retail releases, but never fear, there are plenty of great smaller titles on the way. XBLA has turned the Summer drought into a veritable smorgasbord of great downloadable releases, and the indie scene is looking to bring their goods as well. Twisted Pixel delivered Ms. Splosion Man last week, and Richard talks with Twisted Pixel's Frank Wilson about the follow-up to 2009's XBLA hit. Indie games are also getting their due with an interview about the Indie Games Summer Uprising on XBL. Supergiant Games's freshman effort and Summer of Arcade 2011 opener, Bastion, gets an audio review from Ludwig and a review roundtable featuring MTV Games's Russ Frushtick. Part 1 (1:27) - Twisted Pixel interview Part 2 (10:56) - XBLA Indie Games Summer Uprising interview Part 3 (30:58) - Bastion audio review and roundtable Thanks to Chris for the hot new Joystiq Show artwork. Get the podcast: [iTunes] Subscribe to the Joystiq Podcast in iTunes [Zune] Subscribe to the Joystiq Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace [RSS] Add the Joystiq Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator [MP3] Download the MP3 directly Host: Richard Mitchell (@SenseiRAM) Guests: Frank Wilson, Dave Voyles (@DaveVoyles), Kris Steele (@kriswd40), Russ Frushtick (@RussFrushtick) Producer: Jonathan Downin (@jonathandownin - Game Thing Daily) Production Coordinator: Richard Mitchell (@SenseiRAM) Music: Trash80 and Broke For Free. See the full guest list, and stream the show, after the break.
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.
Valve Potato Sack bundle hides possible Portal 2 ARG
It would appear that Valve's "potato sack" bundle is hiding something beneath the surface, much like the hidden ARG found in Portal after Valve updated it. A wiki page chronicles all of the discovered changes so far, which include some hidden glyphs and, if Razer equipment is detected, a message that reads "1...2...3...Drop That Beat (Like An Ugly Baby)." That odd phrase, of course, translates to "Secret Message." Common speculation is that this has something to do with Portal 2 (the Razer tie-in lends credence to that). Nothing has been confirmed yet, and folks are still finding stuff -- if you discover more interesting info, feel free to contact us! [Thanks, Arslan]
Clover: A Curious Tale gets permanent price drop
Binary Tweed's Deejay has announced that his game, Clover: A Curious Tale, has received a permanent price cut on Xbox Live Indie Games. Originally 400 MS Points ($5), the title has been discounted to 240 points ($3). Having recently been featured as part of a special St. Patrick's Day deal of the week, it's time for Clover to be sent "to roost," Deejay wrote on the Binary Tweed website. "It's never going to do more sales, it's not going to contribute a huge wedge to my income," he noted, "so I might as well make it as cheap as possible so as many players get to experience it." He added that he'd lower the price further, but 240 is the lowest price that can be offered by Indie Games over 50MB in size. Deejay hopes to lower the price of the PC version as well, though the logistics of dealing with various download distributors "could be a bit tricky."
Xbox Live Indie Gems: Aban Hawkins & the 1000 Spikes
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 go exploring with 8bits Fanatics' Aban Hawkins & the 1000 Spikes. We play games for different reasons. Generally, most of us do it for fun. Others, by some alien logic that I don't understand but am all too comfortable with, are in it for the punishment. Aban Hawkins & the Thousand Spikes is their game. In the words of its Japanese developer, 8bits Fanatics, Aban Hawkins is an "8-bit retro style Hardest Extremest Craziest Platform Action Puzzle Adventure." It might not be the most eloquent of descriptions, but it's certainly accurate.
Xbox Live Indie Gems: Squid
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 take a look at Salmon Steve Productions' passive shooter, Squid. There are plenty of shooters available on the Xbox Live Indie Games channel. More than a few of them pack in neon graphics, pulse-pounding music and lots of eye-catching explosions. In this respect, Salmon Steve Productions Squid is no different. What does make it different from most shooters out there is pretty simple: You can't shoot.
Xbox Live Indie Gems: Antipole
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 the gravity-altering platformer, Antipole, from Saturnine Games. There's a an oft-used formula used by game developers. First, come up with an interesting gameplay mechanic. Second, build an entire game centered around that mechanic. The central mechanic of Antipole is easy to explain: Pull the trigger to reverse gravity. It's a very simple mechanic -- and not necessarily one that's never been used before -- but the way in which Antipole uses gravity is what sets it apart. As Saturnine Games' Edward Di Geronimo Jr. puts it, "Our gravity ability isn't just a replacement for a jump, but rather a core part of the game world."
Top Xbox Live game launches of 2010
It's a curious way to organize data, but Microsoft's Major Nelson has posted the top Arcade and Indie games of 2010, based on "full versions purchased" during a game's first seven days of activity. Topping the Arcade list is Dead Rising 2: Case Zero, which definitely owns its place as Capcom's "most dynamic sales weapon" ever. Capcom's other Dead Rising 2 standalone tie-in, Case West, also did some faaaaa-ntastic numbers, taking the seventh spot. Limbo, which was one of our top games of 2010, took the second spot, while the Perfect Dark refresh can be spied in third. Super Meat Boy, prime at five on our best of 2010, hunkered down on this list at spot 17. In the Indie section, Baby Maker Extreme popped up in first place, followed by several games that have "Avatar" in the title. A game called Try Not To Fart also made it into the list. Check out the top 20 Arcade and Indie titles after the break.
Xbox Live Indie Gems: Vorpal
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 take a look at Red Wolf's bullet hell shoot-em-up, Vorpal. Upon first trying Vorpal, I wasn't sure I'd be able to beat the very first level. Inspired by Touhou, Vorpal is a bullet hell shoot-em-up, and true to the genre, success is as dependent on dodging bullets as it is on defeating enemies. It's important for smaller, independent games to have a quick, recognizable hook, be it enjoyable gameplay mechanics, catchy music or simply a unique look. Vorpal, it turns out, has all three. %Gallery-114768%
Xbox Live Indie Gems: Cthulhu Saves the World
Crowded as Xbox Live Indie Games is with farting massage simulators, it can be hard to find worthwhile titles. 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 take a look at the Zeboyd Games retro RPG romp, Cthulhu Saves the World. Let's just start with the premise of Cthulhu Saves the World: You take control of Cthulhu, the squid-faced, winged god created by H.P. Lovecraft. Cthulhu emerges from the sea after centuries of slumber only to find his dark powers immediately sealed away by a mysterious holy wizard. A narrator then informs the player that the only way to break the curse is to become a true hero. Quickly breaking the fourth wall, Cthulhu informs the narrator that he was eavesdropping and now knows how to break the curse. Thus begins his quest to become a true hero, but only so he can restore his world-rending powers and wash the earth in a tide of insanity and despair. Oh, it's also an RPG inspired by the 16-bit adventures of yore. %Gallery-112189%
Free for All: Four games I'm dying to play in 2011
The year 2010 was a great year in gaming. If anyone tells you any different, look him in the eye -- you've just met a madman. In fact, 2010 did so much for me, personally, that it might be hard to top it for a while. I actually started getting paid to write my blog entries this year, discovered so many wonderful new developers this year, and played more hours than in all of the previous years combined. As luck would have it, there are already several new games being announced that are making 2011 look like an even bigger year for me. Browser-based technology is only growing more robust and rich, indie gaming is finally starting to get a lot of the respect it deserves, and I now have the ability to contact almost any developer I want for use in my columns. All of this adds up to some exciting times ahead, for sure. All thanks to Massively, of course. There are four games in particular that I am very excited about. More will come, I'm positive, but these four have already cast huge spells on me. Click past the cut to see what you should be excited about, too!
IGF China honors indie games from Asia and Australia
The Chinese arm of the Independent Games Festival has announced its award winners for the year, and you can see all of them on its official blog. 2D platformer Sugar Cube (not to be confused with The Crying Sugar Cube Leprechaun game) walked away with the Best Game award and iOS App Store puzzler Train Conductor 2: USA won Best Mobile Game. Best Student Game went to a sandbox-style tower defense title called The White Laboratory, available in demo form on Google Code. The IGF China awards honor games from both Asia and Australia, and are awarded every year at GDC China. Winners picked up a cash prize and will be shown off in Shanghai during the conference itself.
Indie Games Winter Uprising kicks off today with 'Epic Dungeon'
The Xbox Live Indie Game development community's attempt to separate the platform's wheat from its chaff, aggressively named "Indie Games Winter Uprising," begins today and will run throughout the first week of December. To showcase the 14 titles which will either be released or discounted during the promotion, the official Uprising website has released a trailer showing off a few quick gameplay clips from each. It seems like the promotion's organizer's couldn't wait to get things off the ground, as the first Winter Uprising title, a roguelike RPG titled Epic Dungeon, is due to arrive on the platform today. Keep an eye on the official Winter Uprising site to stay abreast of the other games' arrivals.
One Shots: Mine!
You know what we're thankful for? We're always thankful to see new, independent MMO games entering the market like Perpetuum! They generally take interesting chances and try out various new things, which in turn gives us great One Shots to check out. Today's example from Perpetuum is a great case in point. While this may look like a fierce, fiery flower against a rocky cliff at first glance, the actual story of what's going on here is much more interesting. Embolism, submitter of today's screenshot, tells us a bit about what this is: "A few nights ago our corporation, Gallowglass, figured out how to make some new toys. We also had the need for a few million tons of raw material. Given our current need for little toy robots that blow stuff up, we all got together as a corporation to strip the land of its precious resources." The other thing we're always thankful for is more screenshots in our One Shots email box! If you'd like to give us a reason to be thankful to you in particular, you can send in a cool screenshot from your MMO travels. Email it to us at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. Guild, corp, group, server, or anything else of that nature is welcome as well. Yours could be the next one we feature here on Massively! %Gallery-85937%
Xbox Live Indie Games store now falls under Games & Demos section
In a remarkably quick 180 (for the 360), Microsoft has moved its Xbox Live Indie Games channel back into the "Games & Demos" section of Xbox Live Marketplace. When the fall Dashboard update hit Xbox 360 last week, the Indie Games channel was swept into the "Specialty Shops" section, alongside Avatar clothing items rather than other video games. The folks most affected by the change -- Xbox Live Indie Game developers -- have taken to the Microsoft forums to celebrate the change, saying, "Microsoft ARE LISTENING! Indie Games are back in the games section! We ARE having an effect. The new placement isnt PERFECT - but its a huge step in the right direction. The icon feels very out of place being such a different style -- and in searches etc. it doesnt look like indie games are included - but we ARE in the games section." The original complaint forum thread has even been changed from "xbligs are not 'games' any longer" to "mourning is over!", giving an indication of just how important the re-categorization was to the XBLIG development community.
Xbox Live Indie Games moved to 'Specialty Shops' on new Dashboard, devs not happy
The new Xbox 360 Dashboard Update makes the whole interface look smoother and cleaner, but it has rubbed one part of the community the wrong way. Xbox Live Indie Game creators are bummed over on the Microsoft Developer Network forums, as their creations have been relegated to the "Specialty Shops" section of the new Dashboard, hidden behind the Avatar Marketplace and away from most of the game and demo traffic. Most developers actually sound resigned to their fate, admitting that, while there are a few indie game breakouts, the category in general wasn't a big moneymaker for Microsoft, so it's not surprising it didn't get the spotlight when the update came around. But other devs say it's a chicken-and-the-egg problem, that indie games won't get the sales without the exposure, and hiding them away only dooms them to more failure. That said, there's no sales data yet off of the new Dashboard; we'll just have to wait and see what effect this new placement has. [Thanks, Richard!]
Microsoft's XNA Creator's Club is now 'App Hub'
If you fancy yourself an Xbox Live Indie Games developer, you might have noticed a change to the XNA Creators Club today. In conjunction with the unveiling of Windows Phone 7, it appears that Microsoft has quietly changed the Creators Club to the much more generalized "App Hub." The site purports to offer resources for developers to create applications for both Windows Phone 7 and Xbox 360, though the site currently seems to favor the former. In fact, the Education Roadmap section -- which introduces would-be programmers to XNA Game Studio -- only offers tutorials for Windows Phone 7. Of course, it's understandable that Microsoft would want to recruit as many programmers as possible for its new baby. There are still examples and code snippets for Windows and Xbox 360 programming, but hopefully we'll see some more robust introductory tutorials in the future. [Thanks, Niko]
