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At least Microsoft is trying to improve conditions. Would like to see what Indie games are created with these new conditions.
It took me 30 minutes to find the indie section on the new dashboard. Not cool Microsoft, not fucking cool.
Not going to make a difference when they've buried them even further in the marketplace and still won't give them any good forefront marketing, that people will see.
1000 Chuck Norris WoW adds does not equal an add for Cthulhu Saves the World...
1000 Chuck Norris WoW adds does not equal an add for Cthulhu Saves the World...
Sweet! I hope this leads to some kick-ass indie RPG's.
My only gripe with the new Dash is that I can't seem to find a way to sort indie games by genre. The rest of the new Dash I like, and the Kinect voice integration works exceptionally well.
My only gripe with the new Dash is that I can't seem to find a way to sort indie games by genre. The rest of the new Dash I like, and the Kinect voice integration works exceptionally well.
I'm confused. It's as if MS can't make up its mind as to whether or it wants to get rid of Indie Games.
@boomingechoes
that's true, irrelevant ads are annoying.
Now if microsoft let us somewhat customise what we see in the ad section e.g an ad for indie games etc, it wouldn't be such a problem.
that's true, irrelevant ads are annoying.
Now if microsoft let us somewhat customise what we see in the ad section e.g an ad for indie games etc, it wouldn't be such a problem.
What the first comment-tater said! I had my XBL account hacked recently and they froze my live account till they get it fixed (6 weeks screw you MS!) and now I can't play my Minecraft rip off Total Miner : Forge. That felt like a shameless plug.
Grim are you surprised they haven't canned indie games because you think the indie games are rubbish or because MS is rubbish?
Also is your name still grim???
Grim are you surprised they haven't canned indie games because you think the indie games are rubbish or because MS is rubbish?
Also is your name still grim???
Microsoft isn't giving XBLIG the love it should, because there are ten mediocre games for every one worthwhile game. The quality generally isn't high because Microsoft won't support the service, which means the the consumer base is too small.
TL;DR - it's a clusterfuck.
TL;DR - it's a clusterfuck.
Oh Xbox, you're so cute trying to backtrack!
God knows why there was a size cap to begin with.
Also, monopoly money is still a stupid idea. Its not like there is some sort of internet exchange rate and as a result you're real dollars don't exactly equal Microsoft points. I hope that too gets fixed with the next console.
God knows why there was a size cap to begin with.
Also, monopoly money is still a stupid idea. Its not like there is some sort of internet exchange rate and as a result you're real dollars don't exactly equal Microsoft points. I hope that too gets fixed with the next console.
Snaileb sighting!
Also, I find Indie Games through Kinect voice search now. Nuff sayd': the interface sucks.
Also, I find Indie Games through Kinect voice search now. Nuff sayd': the interface sucks.
Microsoft is in a weird conundrum.
They want to have a closed, regulated environment in which all content has a minimum threshold of quality, yet they need to open up to independent development in order to compete with more open platforms like Android.
On a side note, I'm slowly starting to dislike the new dashboard.
I really liked it at first, but then I started noticing a few things that clash with the Metro philosophy of design that annoy me.
First, you can't customize tiles, not even the home tile. That's supposed to be one of their big selling points.
Second, too many God-damn ads. Not only is there always one on the bottom right corner (that one's not so bad), but the big tile in every section is actually for ads, too? I somehow didn't notice this at first, probably because all the ads at the beginning were about the new dashboard.
I've never been a big consumer of Indie Games on Xbox, and it's mainly because it's very hard to 1) find them, and 2) sort out the good ones and the bad ones. And the new dash doesn't help.
They want to have a closed, regulated environment in which all content has a minimum threshold of quality, yet they need to open up to independent development in order to compete with more open platforms like Android.
On a side note, I'm slowly starting to dislike the new dashboard.
I really liked it at first, but then I started noticing a few things that clash with the Metro philosophy of design that annoy me.
First, you can't customize tiles, not even the home tile. That's supposed to be one of their big selling points.
Second, too many God-damn ads. Not only is there always one on the bottom right corner (that one's not so bad), but the big tile in every section is actually for ads, too? I somehow didn't notice this at first, probably because all the ads at the beginning were about the new dashboard.
I've never been a big consumer of Indie Games on Xbox, and it's mainly because it's very hard to 1) find them, and 2) sort out the good ones and the bad ones. And the new dash doesn't help.
At first glance I liked the latest UI, but the more I play with it the more I'm disappointed.
It's sleek and responsive, but it's way harder than it should be to jump into (or even just view) parties, the new Netflix sucks (though that's not MS' fault), you can't sort your games by Games on Demand anymore (they're lumped in with Arcade), etc. The only positive feature is the new Bing search, which is quick and easy. But again, you have to already know what you're looking for in order for it to be useful...
It's sleek and responsive, but it's way harder than it should be to jump into (or even just view) parties, the new Netflix sucks (though that's not MS' fault), you can't sort your games by Games on Demand anymore (they're lumped in with Arcade), etc. The only positive feature is the new Bing search, which is quick and easy. But again, you have to already know what you're looking for in order for it to be useful...
I love the indie section these are the games I recommend I soul also like recommendations:
The Deep Cave
Pixel
Breath of Death VII
Cthulhu Saves The World
Escape Goat
Groove
Fluid
Whakman
The Deep Cave
Pixel
Breath of Death VII
Cthulhu Saves The World
Escape Goat
Groove
Fluid
Whakman
I like the new Dashboard. Plus, the "ads" are really just in the lower corners. That big one on the Home slide is for things directly related to Xbox. Not Chuck Norris WoW ads.
And, Microsoft pulled some really, really, incredibly smart marketing moves with the Dash: 1) Indie Games may stop you from buying something from Games on Demand. Solution? Hide them. 2) Making Kinect somewhat worth the $150.
Plus, the Metro look is used on Windows Phone 7's, Windows 8 Tablets, and Xbox. It's unified, smart, and modern. Love it or hate it, it's here to stay.
And, Microsoft pulled some really, really, incredibly smart marketing moves with the Dash: 1) Indie Games may stop you from buying something from Games on Demand. Solution? Hide them. 2) Making Kinect somewhat worth the $150.
Plus, the Metro look is used on Windows Phone 7's, Windows 8 Tablets, and Xbox. It's unified, smart, and modern. Love it or hate it, it's here to stay.
@Jordan:
The quality has nothing to do with MS support. The quality is low because the barrier for entry is low. It's a double edged sword. There are curated services like Steam where your proposal will be rejected outright if it's not good enough. That can be too much for someone that simply wants to test the waters of game development. However, with a service like XBLIG, you'll see tons of games that amount to little more than someone trying out sample code.
The quality has nothing to do with MS support. The quality is low because the barrier for entry is low. It's a double edged sword. There are curated services like Steam where your proposal will be rejected outright if it's not good enough. That can be too much for someone that simply wants to test the waters of game development. However, with a service like XBLIG, you'll see tons of games that amount to little more than someone trying out sample code.
@Jordan:
The quality has nothing to do with MS support. The quality is low because the barrier for entry is low. It's a double edged sword. There are curated services like Steam where your proposal will be rejected outright if it's not good enough. That can be too much for someone that simply wants to test the waters of game development. However, with a service like XBLIG, you'll see tons of games that amount to little more than someone trying out sample code.
The quality has nothing to do with MS support. The quality is low because the barrier for entry is low. It's a double edged sword. There are curated services like Steam where your proposal will be rejected outright if it's not good enough. That can be too much for someone that simply wants to test the waters of game development. However, with a service like XBLIG, you'll see tons of games that amount to little more than someone trying out sample code.
perhaps they're hiding the minecraft-esque games for when they drop minecraft, (with a big bloody ad I bet) onto XBL.
@amtalx - you're absolutely right that a lack of rejection has an impact, but to say that support from Microsoft has "nothing" to do with quality is hyperbolic.
It's a mix of both. Otherwise, we would have more exceptional games to show for it, and you can't get those without sales (that come from visibility, of which more needs to come from Microsoft).
It's a mix of both. Otherwise, we would have more exceptional games to show for it, and you can't get those without sales (that come from visibility, of which more needs to come from Microsoft).
I think calling it a clusterfuck is a pretty horrible thing to say. XBLIG isn't about the consumer; it's about the developers. It remains to this day the simplest and most accessible route to console development for budding game developers. It's not supposed to be a replacement for XBLA; it's just a fun place to experiment, create games and gain practical console development experience on actual retail hardware. I think it's great that MS was willing to open up their hardware the way they have; certainly more so than anyone else has.
That said, I do agree that the new dashboard is terrible and it makes finding games in general quite a chore.
That said, I do agree that the new dashboard is terrible and it makes finding games in general quite a chore.
Wait, Indie games can't be played offline?
Well, there goes any chance of me ever buying a single one.
Well, there goes any chance of me ever buying a single one.
I don't see why an indie developer would waste their time with XBLIG, or even XLBA, until they've done Steam and PC first.
maybe lower the ceiling on XBLA Games, or maybe let Indie games get promoted to an Xbox live Arcade game through a User-rated system. Give out avatar items to promote voting on indie games, or adding some weekly indie spotlight? It'd help filter through the muck.
@Snaileb: I still hope you at least own Minecraft. How can you not? Amazing game. Lightyears beyond the XBL Indie clones.
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