Selling Games: Need Some Advice!

[jcoleuk]

A lot of indie developers end up selling their games to very small markets, no-where enough people to make a decent living from. I've had an idea to change this situation, but I need some advice on how to implement it.

Mini Case Study:

Many of you may have heard of the game Darwinia developed by Introversion Software. This game did not sell too well at retail in the shops, but it sold much better online via Steam. A lot of the games industry as well as the majority of content distributors are moving towards the digital distribution model, music, films, and now games can be downloaded online.


My Idea:

My idea is to create a website where developers sell games that can be played over the internet using igLoader on a pay per play basis. So every time an end user plays a game they pay lets say 50p for arguments sake, and a large % of that goes to the developer. Larger games can be downloaded for a price set by the developers.

Each game will have its own leader board, and an awards system will be available for the games to utilise like Xbox Live albeit on a smaller scale. The entire website will centre around the community aspect of games as websites such as MySpace and YouTube have shown us this is immensely popular. The community aspect of the website will be its "killer app" so to speak and so that is being kept under wraps for now.

The website will be for end users only as I want to create an environment where people will congregate to play, buy and enjoy games developed solely by indies. Another website which is already under major development is being designed to aid game developers. (CodersTurf.com (http://www.codersturf.com))


Anyway...

I need some thoughts, ideas, comments, criticisms and any other replies about this idea. Thanks in advance.

[Applewood]

XBLA will be on desktops soon enough. It was presented to me as something that you can get on without an xbox (1 or 360) version, but I guess we'll see how that one develops.

If it does happen, I reckon it could just about be the biggest thing for indies in ages if not ever. Fingers crossed.

[terin]

It's time for another good idea, bad idea.

haha... I miss Animaniacs...

Ok, here's my opinion.

The arcade based model hasn't worked since the 80s. Really, it just doesn't work. Why not invent something new instead of trying to ressurect something outdated?

The hard part of any idea like this is simply attracting people. Simple as that. If you can attract a big audience you're probably better off just selling demos, unless you have a new idea (see above).

Xbox spent 2 billion dollars (that's how much it lost after all was said and done) to gain market share. How much are you willing to spend? You want a fraction of their size you'll still have to pay a fraction of the amount. The rest you can make up in blood and sweat.

Good luck anyway :) I want new good portals and outlets. I challenge if you have the savvy, skill, and raw determination to make a competitively large portal. Prove me wrong ;-)

-Joe

PS: Your mini case study sucks. That's more like a nano-glance of the corner of a very large tapestry.

[Indiepath]

You may not have to develop that "killer app", we're doing it for you.
The release of igLoader V2 is a pre-cursor to the impending launch of eXigo, a 'Pay per Play' solution built upon igLoader, iNet and PlayBucks technologies. eXigo will be unveiled in the summer of 2006 and promises to make the world of digital distribution a better place.

[jcoleuk]

Xbox spent 2 billion dollars (that's how much it lost after all was said and done) to gain market share.

Microsoft's tactics and market are very different, and I don't consider throwing money at a problem a viable way of making a profile.


PS: Your mini case study sucks. That's more like a nano-glance of the corner of a very large tapestry.

Time is money, it got the message across just fine.


@ Indiepath:

I replied to your PM. :)

[kay.altos]

My idea is to create a website where developers sell games that can be played over the internet using igLoader on a pay per play basis.

Doesn't RealArcade do the thing similar this?