Wowzers!!!!! [indie-games rock!!]

[Leper]

Ok guys, I need to get this out right now. It's been building up for my time passing through here, and if I dont let it out I'm just gonna blow...

You guys rock!!! OMFG!! I have been searching high and low for indie-games becuse I hate over-produced, over-complex bullcrap that is on the market. I'm a working Man, and I dont have time to sit and put 40-60 hours into a game. I only like games I can spend 10-30 minutes playing (at most an hour) and thats it! I miss the good ole days of SNES and the like!

So here's my story..

I first found out about these kind of games when I stumbled into Real Arcade. I am currently a member of Real Arcade and I purchased Platypus, Cosmic Bugs, Richochet, Wik and the fable of souls, Zuma Deluxe, and so on.

After a while though, I started to really find that Real ARcade just didnt have enough games. So then not understanding the lingo that these are called "indie-games" I would search for words like "free-ware" and "share-ware"

See the whole problem with some free-ware and share-ware games is that some can really fry your computer. Its just that some have SpyWare and what-not so you have to be careful. That doesn't stop me from downloading whatever I can get my hands on! I regularly clean my registry and always check for Adware.

The biggest problem I've found with share-ware games is that they clog up the registry more often than others. This goes with apps too. So if you guys make un-installers be careful about that!


Well, I just feel like A KID IN A CANDY STORE because I have found the hugest cache of indie-games on the planet all in ONE SITE.

Do you guys understand that I have searched high and low for indie-games? I mean, I've been to sooo many sites. This one has the most.

So I find it funny when you guys talk about marketing your games.

I think the best thing to do is get the word out and have players come to THIS site! They could find tons of stuff!

Just some tips:

Good sites to promote your games are: IGN, Myspace, Yahoo Games, and Real Arcade. - I'm sure you already know, but how come I havent seen any of you guys's cool games anywhere? I've only seen a handful of the sweet games here on the net!!! :)

Thanks alot for reading this overly long post.


PS: I have been an INDIE-GAME TREASURE HUNTER for 5 YEARS and I JUST FOUND THIS SITE!! THe problem was I didnt know the term "indie-game" and always searched "shareware" and "freeware" - Also, I never thought to go "indie-game developer forums" and jeeze if I would have known that would have worked!! hahaha! I found sooooooooo many games here! More than any other site out there! All in your forum posts!! Can you believe it? It took me 5 years to find it? Jeeze!

[Robert Cummings]

I love you. I need you to buy all my games :)

[Sirrus]

In all honesty, he makes a good point.

This site wouldn't be a bad place to do some sort of listing system at least. I know we discussed in the past some sort of portal solution, but even something less complex would serve a purpose - what better name than IndieGamer.com ?

[Leper]

Man I seriously love all the games I found here. Seriously.. I cant wait to try out the wildsnake software. They got toons of games I never heard of!!!

Its amazing.. You guys have tons of games here, and nobody knows about em!

If only marketing was cheap and easy, right?

Its not the quality of the game that makes it very popular, its the pricetag on its marketing campaign. Quality of course, is required for any game to go Gold.

Here's an example:

Goldminer is a popular game on the net. Its crap compared to some of the games here that nobody heard of, yet everyone is stuck playing crappy goldminer.

[Didier]

Its amazing.. You guys have tons of games here, and nobody knows about em!

I'm not so sure about that.
Indie Games are everywhere on the net!

If you go to google and do a search for "games", the first thing that shows up are sites containing (mostly) indie games.

The #1 in the listing is Yahoo Games (http://games.yahoo.com/) and 80% of games on their site are made by indies.

Didier

[Leper]

I'm not so sure about that.
Indie Games are everywhere on the net!

If you go to google and do a search for "games", the first thing that shows up are sites containing (mostly) indie games.

The #1 in the listing is Yahoo Games (http://games.yahoo.com/) and 80% of games on their site are made by indies.

Didier

I've been on yahoo games, and although they have a ton of indie games on there, most of them are the same as real arcade and its harder to find the jewels which are all over here.

[Reactor]

I just wanted to say I love your enthusiasm, Leper :) I hope you enjoy what you find on this site.

[lakibuk]

You got me curious. What are the jewels that you found here that are not on Realarcade & Co ?

[Andy]

Man I seriously love all the games I found here. Seriously.. I cant wait to try out the wildsnake software. They got toons of games I never heard of!!!

Why to advertise if Leper has already came here and found the best developer between us guys? :D

Saying seriously starting post has amount of reasonable points in general. But this is not so easy as you think Leper. Some of us are trying our best to implement your ideas in a life. And you've already let us know what are our results so far. ;-)

[Leper]

You got me curious. What are the jewels that you found here that are not on Realarcade & Co ?

I'll tell you what: See I've been reading a lot of posts on these boards, and clicking on signature links. I have viewed a lot of sites, and am pleasantly surprised with the screenshots. Now I have a ton of games I'm going to try out when I get home, and I'm very excited about it. The thing is, a lot of these games look more appealing then ones even featured on Realarcade & co.

[Savant]

What are the jewels that you found here that are not on Realarcade & Co ?
Dr.Germ for one. :P Real doesn't want it. The Dr has been shunned...

[Mike Boeh]

A download site is coming... It just takes time because it isn't the primary focus for Steve or I. Steve's web programmer is working on it now :-)

PS: Thanks for buying our games, Leper!

[Jack Norton]

What!? You even ask which are! of course are the Winter Wolves sport simulations! :D
Or also cliffsky strategy games!

Seriously though if you just do a search in google with "mac games" or "pc games" you find a lot of our sites... ;)

[Indiepath.T]

Dr.Germ for one. :P Real doesn't want it. The Dr has been shunned...

Let me guess, they decided that this is the type of game that thier customers would not choose; but they don't give the customer a choice in the matter.

[Leper]

Let me guess, they decided that this is the type of game that thier customers would not choose; but they don't give the customer a choice in the matter.

Amen to that. They are probably thinking about dollars and dollars only. Can't blame them though.

I know there's no real clear and cut way to get your games out there. I just want you guys to know that by just looking at your screenshots that I know for a fact there are a pool of gamers willing to atleast download your demos. And that's the most important part.

So as long as you keep doing what you're doing, I'm sure eventually you'll get to the point to where a distributor cashes in. Just don't give up!

[Abscissa]

Glad to see the enthusiasm :). I don't have anything out myself at the moment, but I feel the exact same way about indie games in general - as a gamer, it's a complete goldmine in a world filled with $50 (soon to be $60) pieces of crap. As soon as I can afford to start spending money on games again, I'll probably end up spending far more on indie titles than the mainstream stuff.

BTW, If you haven't come across it yet, I highly recommend gametunnel.com for finding good indie games. Especially their monthly round-ups.

[Bmc]

check out gish

[Anlino]

Leper - Check out Gametunnel.com (http://www.gametunnel.com) - more indiegames than you ever could dream about!

[baegsi]

If it's not been mentioned already: http://tigsource.com/, great source to get info's about indie games

[electronicStar]

Well, I just feel like A KID IN A CANDY STORE because I have found the hugest cache of indie-games on the planet all in ONE SITE.

Well this site is more for devellopers to discuss things. If you want a game cache, try TIG source (http://www.tigsource.com/)

[Leper]

TIG source is very nice, thanks.

[revve]

This site wouldn't be a bad place to do some sort of listing system at least. I know we discussed in the past some sort of portal solution, but even something less complex would serve a purpose - what better name than IndieGamer.com ?

This is actually something I'm working on in the NEW IMPROVED IndieWiki (currently www.indiewiki.net - the .org is coming soon). Developer profiles, games lists, categories, reviews, links to reviews, screenshots, demos, etc, etc. The best part is, when the basics are setup, developers will easily be able to modify their own content when they finish a new game or find a new review.

[ninjasamurai]

You guys rock!!! OMFG!!

I wish you had been around the day of theMost Games Suck (http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?t=3397) thread.

[sparkyboy]

Hi Matt,
Just got to re-iterate what the other guys have been saying.It really is nice to see someone with so much enthusiasm about independent games! :cool:

I have been listening to your music and have to say it's pretty darn good!! :)
One thing you might like to know, is that quite a few of the people on here do still work or have worked in the video retail sector.How cool is that? :cool:

Anyway, good luck with your endeavours.Offering your services in return for credit on a game is, I'm sure, very welcome amongst strugglng indies on a very tight budget! Kudos for that Matt.

When I eventually get my life sorted and my butt into gear, I for one will certainly require the services of your good self! (That is if you are still around at that time! ;) )


All the best


Mark.

[BantamCityGames]

we need more lepers in this world :D

[Anthony Flack]

Well isn't that nice?

Leper, you've already bought my game, hope you liked it.

[Leper]

Dude what caught my eye on platypus first was that it was a "Reflexive" game. But what made me download it was everything was made out of clay?? So I actually just found out that YOU made the Platypus and not Reflexive! I'm really happy I found this site :)

Thanks for making a fun game, I cant wait until your next one is done! Only thing was I had like 20 lives or somethin when I beat it lol (I think its too easy) but it still very very fun. BESIDES: I like easy games :P