How many indie (downloadable) game do you own? [Archive] - Indiegamer Developer Discussion Boards

Raptisoft

07-13-2005, 04:25 AM

My list is too long to post here... but I've been buying more casual games than regular games lately. Know why? I bought a few casual games last year... then this spring I bought a couple AAA titles.

Let me just say this about AAA titles:

1. 30 second wait before the game even starts LOADING to view the company logo and tagline ("We Make Games!") of every company involved in the project.

2. No "Try and Buy" so they get away with making a horrendous interface. I love losing complete control of my cursor and computer during load sequences. :P I love having to go into a manual to find out that F10 brings up the menu.

3. Crashola! Because Indies get such fast feedback, most (most!) Indie games are relatively stable. AAA titles... no way. I crashed more times with the 3 AAA games I bought in the last two months than in Indie games I've bought for the last couple years.

4. No way to quickly get in and out of game. Say you want to play a quick something while doing a "rebuild all." Pop up a casual game, play a few minutes, go back. Or, bring up an AAA title... swap in the CD. Watch the 30-40 seconds of logos. Now endure the 1-2 minutes of loading. Now go through the smoothly scrolling transition menus (10-20 seconds). And boom, you're ready to start the game. Ready to quit? Find the save feature. Click "exit" on the menu. Click through "are you sure?" Now go back to main menu. Now click "exit" there. Now click are you sure again. Now go through a shutdown process that's almost as slow as the load process. Holy cow!

papillon

07-13-2005, 04:30 AM

Me *personally* (as opposed to decisions and games shared with other half), Fate. Pow Pow's Great Adventure. Might have bought Alien Flux eventually but the price at the time was a bit high and I managed to win a free copy instead. :)

... most casual games just aren't interesting enough for me to feel compelled to buy them, bored housewife or no. I have particular tastes. As the ONE person who loved AF's control scheme and has no interest in Ultratron, I think I just don't fit in with the market :)

(Chuzzle is *awfully* shiny though. Must... resist... virtual crack...)

Abscissa

07-13-2005, 05:23 AM

Ditto on Raptisoft's AAA game comments. But I'll add that most AAA games just aren't as fun as the indie ones anyway. And the recent story-driven-gameplay obsession really kills replayability. And on point #4 you forgot the unskippable "cinematic" intros, in addition to all that other stuff ;). And then there's the Tecmo games with a 10+ second legal notice before the company logos even start. Arrgghh!!

That said, I haven't been buying nearly as many indie games as I really want to (Low on money, so I haven't been able to get the few AAA I actually am interested in either). These are the ones I have bought (In no order):

Gish
Orbz
Paradoxion

The ones I still plan to get once I get some extra money are (in no order):

Cactus Bruce and the Corporate Monkeys
Big Kahuna Reef (I can't believe I actually got hooked on a match-3 game :D )
Professor Fizzwizzle
BreakQuest
Super DX-Ball
Hyperballoid
Pop-Pop
Hamsterball
Alien Shooter
Platypus
DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold
Jets'n'Guns
Dr. Lunatic Supreme With Cheese

kerchen

07-13-2005, 05:38 AM

Recent purchases:
Astral Masters
Fate

In total, I've probably bought about eight or nine over the past few years. I probably would have bought a few Popcap games but the free web versions are sufficient to satisfy my urges. :)

Raptisoft

07-13-2005, 06:19 AM

Hey Papillion, buy Chuzzle and I'll give you a free Hamsterball. :)

Anthony Flack

07-13-2005, 06:23 AM

I've bought... none! But I've been given a few. There have been some that I would have bought, except... more games for my PC? I'm supposed to be working! And the reality is that even games I really like, I'll end up playing for 20 minutes and then forgetting about forever and ever.

Besides which, I generally prefer old console games, which are also much cheaper.

papillon

07-13-2005, 07:21 AM

(Actually my other half bought Hamsterball a long time ago..... and then swore at it a lot. This was pre 2.0, there have probably been many changes since then, I think he's forgotten about it by now. I didn't count it on the list because it wasn't MY purchase.)

I'm too poor for anything right now. Ask me when/if I ever get this RPG done :)

Coyote

07-13-2005, 07:25 AM

Ricochet Lost Worlds
Orbz
Bejewelled (bought it for my wife)
Pretty Good Solitaire (also bought it for my wife)
Galactic Civilizations
Outpost Kaloki
Mythic Blades

So that's seven. Not including my own. :)

Codemattic

07-13-2005, 07:42 AM

Twisted (by Rays Maze guy)
BattleGirl
Sentinels of Ceth
Bumbler
DeadEnd3D (http://www.kfunigraz.ac.at/imawww/thaller/wolfgang/deadend3d-intro.html)
SpaceTripper
Mutant Storm
Bugatron
Puppytron
others I cant think of at the moment.

Professor Fizzwizzle is my probable next purchase.

terin

07-13-2005, 07:53 AM

Strangely enough I have never actually purchased an indie game.

I OWN probably about 50 but they are "donated" to me to help with marketing :)

-Joe

Hiro_Antagonist

07-13-2005, 09:44 AM

Astral Tournament
Astral Masters

There are others I would have bought, (mostly the strategy-ish games) but I got free copies here and there from beta testing and what-not. Although I lost many of my games when my system wiped recently. I'm not sure how to even get some of them back. Oh, the pitfalls of online distribution!

And I've been bordering on the edge of buying Fate for a long time now. One of these days I'm sure I'll cave in and do it.

-Hiro_Antagonist

vjvj

07-13-2005, 09:58 AM

Democracy
Outpost Kaloki
Uplink
Gish
Meridian 59
Almost all of Hamumu's games :)
Would have bought Glace if it wasn't free

Been meaning to pick up Hamsterball and Chromadrome as well, just haven't had time to play them as much as I'd like.

Raptisoft

07-13-2005, 10:44 AM

Actually my other half bought Hamsterball a long time ago..... and then swore at it a lot.

2.0 has somewhat better balance. But he might as well wait until November to download, because we'll have the "Shockwave 3" levels as a free upgrade for people who bought it off our site.

Mickey Crocker

07-13-2005, 11:21 AM

Dweep
Avernum 1
Avernum 2
Avernum 3

(Odd choice eh?) I'm mostly an old school hardcore gamer compared to a casual gamer. The only reason I purchased Dweep was for my girlfriend, so that we could have a game that we could play together. Other then that, I'm only for retro (mostly rpg) gaming.

Travis Dorschel

07-13-2005, 11:37 AM

Crimsonland
Wik
Bookworm Deluxe (as a gift)

Personally I would love to see more "hardcore" action style casual games like Crimsonland / Alien Shooter. I don't have time to play AAA titles anymore, but I still like the action. Guess I need to get off my butt and do it myself!

Rainer Deyke

07-13-2005, 01:25 PM

Enchantasy
All six Commander Keen games
King of Dragon Pass (received as gift)
Starscape
Neophyte: The Journey Begins (The game is free, but I bought the T-shirt.)

ErikH2000

07-13-2005, 02:09 PM

In chronological order of when I got them:

Dinner with Moriarty
Dweep
Tileworld (freeware)
Rocknor's Bad Day
Aargon 2 Deluxe
RocketMania Deluxe
Fish Fillets (freeware)
Avernum 1 - 3
Oasis

My wife got a few:

Snood
Ricochet: Lost Worlds
Bejeweled 2

The interesting thing about Ricochet: I thought she wouldn't go for it because it wasn't cute and cartooney. But she really liked the "industrial" graphic style, which surprised me.

Any future shareware game purchases will have to wait until I get tired of Oasis. What a nifty little timekiller that is!

-Erik

Reactor

07-13-2005, 09:44 PM

I don't own any, but I may purchase Mount and Blade today. That game is seriously addictive!

arcadetown

07-13-2005, 10:16 PM

Sealab 2021
Trial Bike

Pretty short list, may have picked up some others like ClashNSlash if didn't already get full versions when ran em. My last AAA purchase was Doom 3, little on store shelves look interesting anymore.

mj32

07-13-2005, 11:59 PM

Platypus
Jets N Guns

With probably Gish being the next thing I would consider buying!

Last AAA I bought was HalfLife2 via Steam, the only game for a long time i actualy felt involved with :)

JoshuaSmyth

07-14-2005, 02:04 AM

Teenage Lawnmower
Orbz

Some games have come very close (platapus, dweep) but I have always resisted. If I had more money I'd definately buy more.

MikeM

07-14-2005, 02:53 AM

I haven't been into the shareware scene until recently, so only two:

strategy 3 dark legions (http://www.mascot.hu/)
titan assault (http://www.goldbolt.com/)

svero

07-14-2005, 03:04 AM

I have a whole bunch. A few of these were donated to me for one reason or another but many i bought

teenage lawn mower
pretty much all of hamumu's stuff
heavy weapon
zuma
strange adventures in infinite space
crimsonland
ultratron/puppytron
alien flux
dudester
drod : journey to the rooted hold
digipool
superstar chefs
snood
jewel quest
mahjongg quest

...and no doubt a number of games I've forgotten to mention...

BUT! What I find really really interesting looking through this list (other than the fact that clearly way too many of you are still only potential Aargon customers) is that there are a number of good games listed here that I'd never heard of. Same in the cream of the crop indies thread. And Im someone who really follows online/downloadable games closely and knows a lot about the industry. Just imagine how unknown these games are to the average typical consumer. It just goes to show how lacking in exposure much of our stuff is and how getting the word out is soooo important.

Nexic

07-14-2005, 07:51 AM

Feeding Frenzy
Platypus
Crimsonland
Alien Shooter
Alien Sky
Astrobatics
Iggle Pop
Jets N Guns
Jewel Quest
Riccochet Extreme
Demonstar (all versions)
Everything by Spiderweb Software

I would have bought Froggy Castle, but I completed it before the demo time was up.

Thinking about buying Democracy too.

Dock

09-08-2005, 04:27 PM

I've only bought two: Gish (which I love, but I hate the way I can't pick any level to play once completing it) and Hamsterball (which is awesome, amazing presentation).

I also got Puzzle Monkey for my GF, she really loves it, and so do I. I never thought Sokoban could be implemented so solidly!

AtmaVegeta

09-09-2005, 09:07 AM

Haven't bought any yet. (Was close to buying Democracy and Leaderz and possible Platypus (my wife liked playing 2 player), but haven't yet).

I have:
Battles of Norghan (Beta Tested)

WaveRider

09-09-2005, 11:48 AM

Can't keep track. My wife buys a new one almost every day.

Pyabo

09-09-2005, 12:47 PM

The that come immediately to mind:

Exile
Geneforge
Crimsonland
Platypus
Marble Blast
D.R.O.D. - Journey to Rooted Hold (most recent)

baegsi

09-09-2005, 11:03 PM

Samurai (klear.com)
all Sean'o Conners games (slay etc.)
Rocket Bowl

DFG

09-09-2005, 11:22 PM

For my wife:

Bejeweled
Feeding Frenzy
Zuma

For me:

Platypus
Jets N' Guns
Chicken Invaders 2 (not a good purchase, but it was business afterall)
Crimsonland

I feel like I am missing a couple...

...is Valve indie?

Midnight Synergy

09-10-2005, 05:16 AM

My downloadable game purchases:

Alien Flux
Best Friends
Break Quest
Fitznik
Hopmon
Jets'n'Guns
Lost Idols
Mage Bros
Mutant Storm
Platypus
Space Tripper
Star Monkey

It's been ages since I bought a new AAA game (No, wait, I bought - and loved - Tron 2.0 eighteen months ago). Most of my other purchases are bargain bin games and the odd thing for my N64/Gamecube.

James C. Smith

09-10-2005, 07:03 AM

0 out of 12 :(

KtuluOrion

09-12-2005, 06:55 AM

TV Station Manager
Universal Boxing Manager
Smugglers 2

Anatoly

09-14-2005, 04:16 AM

Platypus - that made me buy shareware!!!
Ragdoll masters
MDickie's Wrecked
Dungeon Scroll

AlexN

09-14-2005, 07:22 AM

I have purchased more than 10 indie games so far. My current favorite is Fable of soul.

Michael Flad

09-14-2005, 07:34 AM

Break Quest
Crimson Land
Diner Dash
Fiber Twig 2
Hamsterball
Jets n Guns
Mah Jong Quest
Pizza Frenzy
Shapo Gold
Warblade
Wik

Geom

09-14-2005, 09:24 PM

Nobody else here bought Bridge It? That game is awesome

Mine:
All the Sean O' Connor games (favorites are Mother of All Battles, Slay, & Conquest)
Bridge It!

Geom

Indiepath.T

09-15-2005, 05:00 AM

Hey Geom you should buy GEOM.

Tim.

Geom

09-15-2005, 07:03 AM

Ha! Eh, puzzle games are not usually my cup of tea.

Geom

Black Hydra

09-16-2005, 02:52 PM

Only two that I actually own:

Cactus Bruce and the Corporate Monkeys - A perfect testament to the importance of having an appealing style. Note that style is different than graphical quality.

Breakquest - One of the coolest arkanoids I'd ever played. On top of that the background music is enough to just leave the game running when your not playing.

There were several games I came close to buying but due to reasons that were independant of the game (low on funds, not enough time, ect.) I didn't actually buy. Such as:

Ricochet (played through an hour and forty minutes straight after downloading)
Platypus - another testament to the importance of style. Which took a pretty simple and ordinary game concept and through music and graphics made it several times more interesting.
Wik - an eye boggling game, just didn't have the funds when my time limit ran out.
Gish - Stylish and cool but I like games that only require moderate effort for me to beat (I'm probably much closer to a casual gamer than you guys on that one!)

jeb_

09-17-2005, 10:08 AM

I've only bought one so far:

Dark Archon Invasion

I really wanted to buy "Pax Solaris", but since I live in Sweden the VAT rate is 25%, and $25 felt a little too expensive for that game.

Coyote

09-19-2005, 08:13 AM

That I've purchased in the last 3 years (I picked up a few in the mid-90's during the shareware hayday) - I think six total. A couple were gifts.

The ones I purchased were:

* Bejewelled
* Pretty Good Solitaire
* Ricochete: Lost Worlds
* Orbz

The first two I got for my wife. And she plays them quite regularly, so I think I did a good job :)

Anatoly

09-20-2005, 05:55 PM

Oh, and I forgot "Marble Blaster"! I've bought it in a box!

Daniel_C

09-23-2005, 01:03 AM

4. No way to quickly get in and out of game. Say you want to play a quick something while doing a "rebuild all." Pop up a casual game, play a few minutes, go back. Or, bring up an AAA title... swap in the CD. Watch the 30-40 seconds of logos. Now endure the 1-2 minutes of loading. Now go through the smoothly scrolling transition menus (10-20 seconds). And boom, you're ready to start the game. Ready to quit? Find the save feature. Click "exit" on the menu. Click through "are you sure?" Now go back to main menu. Now click "exit" there. Now click are you sure again. Now go through a shutdown process that's almost as slow as the load process. Holy cow!

hehe youve got a point there. It is a mission to play games these days.

I havent any at the moment. just been so busy that new games haven't featured heavily in my schedule mostly for the reason above. I do however play slime forest a japanese learing rpg.
http://lrnj.com/

I hate loading so I hooked up my old snes to my tv card and use that for quick gaming releif within seconds I can just bust out a few laps around rainbow road using DK.Jr and I'm all good back to work within seconds.
My problem with loading is that they go about sticking 5GB of files on my already obese HD which takes the best part of half an hour then ask me to insert the play DVD. Now why the hell should I do that!!?? Why don't you just play from the damn dvd then?? That makes me so mad.

*ahem* but yeah if games like bustamove are avaliable on indie ill buy it.

Thog

09-30-2005, 02:46 PM

1) Strange Adventures in Infinite Space

2) N. Yes, it's free, but I would pay $20 for this in an instant. Absolutely Precious!

But I have more to see...

VladR

10-02-2005, 07:45 AM

Air Strike 1
Air Strike 2
AstroAvenger
Astrobatics
BeetleJu
BeTrapped
Brave Dwarves 2
Bud Redhead
Dino And Aliens
Fate
Gold Miner
Space Tripper
Star Monkey
StarScape
TankOBox
Zuma

Just yesterday, after reading a thread on RPGs, where a game "Fate" was mentioned, I downloaded it and had to buy it. It`s awesome RPG.
Now that`s a word-of-mouth marketing (not that it needs it).

Every year I buy around 4-5 indie games (2 for me since I don`t have a time for a AAA game anymore and 3 for wife&kids that I obviously play too). This year I bought most of them, around 7.