February Indie Game Round-up

[cyrus_zuo]

Available now through the main page on Game Tunnel or directly here:

http://www.gametunnel.com/html/secti...ticle-100.html

Another weak month...sadly...Greg and I chatted, trying to figure out what the best game out this year was, and it is slim pickings so far sadly. I believe that will change soon.

Anyway, this also happens to be article 100 on the website (to go along with 194 reviews). My calculations put it at well over 1000 pages of written material on indie games. (not including any news articles)

[Coyote]

Wooh! Congrats. Game Tunnel has really grown over the past couple of years, hasn't it?

I'm working on getting you something else to review this year... but it won't be anytime really soon.

[Chris Evans]

On a slightly unrelated note, how come the IGF Awards reactions article was canceled?

[terin]

Ah, I better get on you about Reviewing Supremacy then.

IGF Finalist, came out last week officially... how many copies do you need? :-)

-Joe

[Gmicek]

Ohh, ohh, we need one!

So yeah, i'll have Troy go through the proper channels, hehe.

[svero]

I love the idea of this article and check it out each month, but I do have one small gripe. You have to order the reviews the same for each game. Always MH, SR, etc... in the same order. Because otherwise I start reading the mini review thinking hamumu is writing it only to find that it's by seth etc.. That gets in the way of my appying the proper imaginary voices and biases in my head as the thing streams into my conciousness.

[PoV]

Bleah, that MK guy seems a little hyper this month.

[Dan MacDonald]

Geeze, ya he must have had too much sugar! Actually what he should do is make a little icon for each reviewer with his mad pixeling skills and then it would be clear who was talking...

[GBGames]

I agree. The reviewers should be in the same order.

I also think that the reviews should be mini, and roughly the same size for all of them. There were a few where MK wrote a LOT compared to what was expected (is it just me?), taking away the ability of me to quickly get a feel for the game, which I think is the point.

One other thing: could there be a generic description of the game? I see a screenshot, and then have to read a few lines of the review before finding out that it is a puzzle game. Gink in Trouble and Q'Bicles had a small description in the first line: "A clever and original puzzle with a unique theme." Ok, it's a puzzle game. "A fun game, very much in the vein of Icy Tower." Well if I know Icy Tower, I have an idea. Otherwise, it was hard to know what the game is.

A generic description under the screenshot would probably do wonders. This way the reviewer can concentrate on saying what he liked or disliked, rather than try to squeeze in a description as well. And of course, your readers will likely discover what the game actually is much quicker.

[Dingo Games]

The name itself, Laser Dolphin, is the sort of thing you'd hope would come out a design session involving Shigeru Miyamoto, Jeff Minter and a big bag of weed.

heh... I guess I'll take that as a compliment.

I'm currently working on big improvements on the game.. I'm sure the new version would have done much better. Hopefully I can get a full review of it after I have finished these updates.

I agree about having the reviewers always in the same order - everytime I've read the monthly round-up I think about this. Aside from that, great work Russell and reviewers, great column as always!

[cyrus_zuo]

I agree. The reviewers should be in the same order.

I also think that the reviews should be mini, and roughly the same size for all of them. There were a few where MK wrote a LOT compared to what was expected (is it just me?), taking away the ability of me to quickly get a feel for the game, which I think is the point.

One other thing: could there be a generic description of the game? I see a screenshot, and then have to read a few lines of the review before finding out that it is a puzzle game. Gink in Trouble and Q'Bicles had a small description in the first line: "A clever and original puzzle with a unique theme." Ok, it's a puzzle game. "A fun game, very much in the vein of Icy Tower." Well if I know Icy Tower, I have an idea. Otherwise, it was hard to know what the game is.

A generic description under the screenshot would probably do wonders. This way the reviewer can concentrate on saying what he liked or disliked, rather than try to squeeze in a description as well. And of course, your readers will likely discover what the game actually is much quicker.

1- Order - I like the icon idea...I actually change the order so nobody is always first...didn't want anyone thinking I was dubbing one reviewer better than the others...but I can set an order...maybe alphabetic? Also like the icon idea...

2- Size - Yeah I think we probably should revist how much space is used on each one, I've done some editing in the past, this time I've been too busy to consider it...that's more my fault than anyones

3- Description - Um...um...yes...I just need to figure out how to put that in there layout wise...only concern is the time it takes me...I've mentioned it before, but this is a major undertaking for me each month (not to mention the reviewers)...certainly when the site is redesigned that should be simple, in the short term let me see what I can do...

[cyrus_zuo]

On a slightly unrelated note, how come the IGF Awards reactions article was canceled?

B/c I agreed with the selections for the most part...and I was exhausted...I could have written an article talking about the games, but considering how few people were reading the IGF stuff, and how much energy I had at the show, I figured it was pretty sensible to can it.

[cyrus_zuo]

Wooh! Congrats. Game Tunnel has really grown over the past couple of years, hasn't it?

I'm working on getting you something else to review this year... but it won't be anytime really soon.

You are doing another game!?
Have to say that is one of the better pieces of news I've gotten today.

YEAH!!!

[cyrus_zuo]

Ah, I better get on you about Reviewing Supremacy then.

IGF Finalist, came out last week officially... how many copies do you need? :-)

-Joe

Um seriously ?

Drop me an email, would love to have the whole panel check it out in full, though from what I've seen the demo gives you a pretty good feel for the game. We have been getting a lot more full versions for the panel, for which I thank everyone!

[PoV]

Ha ha. Wow, I am the trouble maker, setting a new standard for 'way too big' roundups.

After sending that off I got thinking some might sound arogant. Seriously, if anyone has any criticism or feedback, especially "that was awful", go nuts, I want to hear it.

[JoshuaSmyth]

Twas good to get a bit of feedback on my game 'starcars'. Not awful, but not great... I'm working on some improvements for it also, including a level editor, which hopefully will be more of an incentive for people to buy the game, if anyone has any suggestions pop an email my way.

I also like the roundup and it makes for an interesting read every month, even if just to see what else is out there.