'Indie Spotlight' on FilePlanet.com

[Fargo]

Hey all!

First post from a lurker. My name is Dave 'Fargo' Kosak and about I year ago I stepped up to take the reigns as the Editor-in-Chief of FilePlanet.com (the big file downloads site that's part of the IGN/GameSpy network.)
As a big fan of the indie community one of my first goals was to help games like yours get more attention. I spelled out my goal on the site:
http://www.fileplanet.com/indiegames/index.shtml

Since then we've been featuring Indie games as an "Indie Spotlight" on the front page of FilePlanet. (Right now we're featuring Mars Miner - look for it in the featured files slot.)
FilePlanet's audience is pretty hardcore (the games with the most downloads are MMOs, first-person shooters, and real-time strategy), so unfortunately not all indie games are appropriate to feature. "Match-the-jewel" casual games or puzzle games generally don't get a lot of traction there (we make occasional exceptions, like Puzzle Quest, which had an RPG component that most hardcore gamers liked).
But indie games that have a little bit of a hardcore appeal, or are really original, or bring a new twist to a longtime classic arcade -- those are perfect. We'd love to feature 'em!

I'm posting because although I'll try to make the time to swing by here for the latest releases, I definitely wanted everyone to know that you can contact me directly when you've got a release that you think would be a good fit for FilePlanet's spotlight. We reach 4-5 million users a month so I can get you some eyeballs. :)

If you've got an interesting project, hit me up: fargo@fileplanet.com. Looking forward to see what you've got!

-Dave 'Fargo' Kosak
FilePlanet.com Editor-in-Chief

[Pkonst]

Thank you, Dave! It's really inspiring :)

And the whole idea to support indie developers is great!

[cliffski]

I'll definitely be in touch when my next game is ready, it should suit the fileplanet audience well.

[Andy]

I'll definitely be in touch when my next game is ready, it should suit the fileplanet audience well.

...blood, violence, sex abuse in rock'n'roll format?.. ;)

Diffinitely nice option Fargo!

[alfie]

Hey all!


I'm posting because although I'll try to make the time to swing by here for the latest releases, I definitely wanted everyone to know that you can contact me directly when you've got a release that you think would be a good fit for FilePlanet's spotlight. We reach 4-5 million users a month so I can get you some eyeballs. :)

If you've got an interesting project, hit me up: fargo@fileplanet.com. Looking forward to see what you've got!

-Dave 'Fargo' Kosak
FilePlanet.com Editor-in-Chief

This is great news for Indies, thanks for posting.

[TeeGee]

Indeed great news.

Non-casual indie games have it harder, as portals are not really interested in them, so every way of getting some serious exposure is a very good thing.

Thanks.

[cyrus_zuo]

Always appreciated your run-down of the IGF in the GameSpy newsletters and am really excited to see you doing this. It's great for indie games :).

[Vic Davis]

Hey just wanted to bump this thread so it gets some more views. Fargo was a big help to me when I contacted him about my new indie turn based strategy game. He got the demo up on Fileplanet and it was a real a big boost....over 3,000 downloads to date. Just wanted to let everybody know in case it might be of some benefit to another indie looking for some exposure

[bignobody]

I'll pipe in and say the experience was definitely worthwhile for me as well. Thanks Fargo!

[lennard]

Thanks for posting this - I sent him a note Wed. and he put me up on the site. Today he gave Real E$tate Empire a bump to the front page as an indie. spotlight game - very cool, made my weekend!

[mrkwang]

Anyway, how about make 'Indie Spotlight' menu at Fileplanet?

I tried to find 'Indie Games' in Fileplanet, but it's VERY HARD to find, unless it's in the main page. 1 small menu to include 'Indie Games' could be fine.

[MM47]

Hey!
My game Soldat got into the Indie Spotlight about 2-3 years ago. I wonder if that page is still there? If not add it again!

[Adrian Cummings]

Hey cheers Fargo, I've just written to you regards the release of our latest PC puzzle title.

Good to see somebody actively supporting true indies.

[Fargo]

This post turned out to be a big help to me -- we've definitely been able to feature some cool titles on FilePlanet from the IndieGamer boards. So yeah, keep sending them my way. I'm sorry that I can't prominently feature every game who contacts me (I try to highlight things that I think will jive with my audience), but I've been able to help a handful of you out which is a fun part of my job. :)

An Indie games dedicated subsection on FilePlanet would be terrific, if I had the manpower to maintain it. Any volunteers? ;) I'll try to get something like that up eventually though.

-Fargo

[mrkwang]

An Indie games dedicated subsection on FilePlanet would be terrific, if I had the manpower to maintain it. Any volunteers? ;) I'll try to get something like that up eventually though.

Not sure exactly what you need.

You need...

- Volunteer, who will work for Fileplanet Indie Spotlight subsection?

or

- Volunteer, who will recommend you good games, to pick Fileplanet Indie Spotlight?

And if you need somebody volunteer, is it really free charge volunteer, or kinda paid (even if little bit)?

If you don't mind, please let me (let us) know the detail. :)

[defanual]

Yeah, just echoing the sentiments of everyone else, great stuff and thanks for the extra 'exposure' opportunity!:D

[Skash]

Hey!
My game Soldat got into the Indie Spotlight about 2-3 years ago. I wonder if that page is still there? If not add it again!

Ah Soldat, good times indeed I hope it has another fast track to the top soon it was fun killing all my family members and just plain having fun.

Anyway I'm glad IGN is giving the Indies a go, as they said on that page, even though indies don't have the $$$ to make it big real fast through advertisements they can sure make a game that'll be in stories for the future generations.