On special occasions, an indie game comes along that truly deserves attention and respect, but very rarely does it sell as much as it deserves. Limbo has shattered expectations, not only be being an art-style game that's actually good, but also by selling more than three copies.
The number of copies cold is actually closer to 300,000, which is excellent for a downloadable indie game that's as weird and demented as Limbo is. The game most definitely deserves it, having earned one of only two 10/10 reviews I've ever given in my life. It's truly a spectacular little title.
Every now and then, the game buying public gives me a little faith. Now is one of those moments.
Limbo's Carlsen On Making Players Your Worst Enemy And Your Best Friend [Gamasutra]
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Contest:
9:20 AM on 08.20.2010 | 
But isn't that better selling than Braid? And in just a few weeks, too!
wow.
I'm sure they probably only made about 800,000 or so of that 4.5 million, but that's still impressive.
then when i played the game literally on little big planet i found it kind sad that you can literally get the feel out of the game or at least most of it from little big planet user created level.
yet when the game comes out for psn or PC I will buy it hopefully with no regrets.
@Indiana Jones, Turbophoenix
It is true that many indie games have lots of artisms and little to no gameplay, but Limbo is one of the very rare exceptions delivering both meaning AND gameplay. I wonder if you liked Braid - If you did, you'll love this one.
I'm pretty sure that XBL Marketplace takes 40% of the revenue and leaving 60% to the developers of a successful game. Sometimes they'll take more if they put some advertising muscle behind the game.
In any case, Limbo are now pretty damn well off.
Game definitely stumped me near the end and atleast one puzzle I pretty much got through it on a fluke. Though I know that last achievement would drive me nuts. One sit through? 5 deaths or less? Arrgghhh
If not GOTY, at least best Arcade title of the year.
"Eh, looks boring. Not real big on pretentious games. I'll stick with better platformers."
Protip: You are an idiot.
What makes limbo so great is subtile such as great eire sound design, and awesome grusome kills.
"Eh, looks boring. Not real big on pretentious games. I'll stick with better platformers."
what a pretentious comment.
mrandydixon is correct, I should know...I'm an idiot myself.
You just blew my mind.
That's only contingent on what Microsoft is willing to reward the publisher. They are indie so I'm sure their contract isn't the same as Capcom's, they were also promoted during Xbox's giant "Summer of Arcade" (or whatever it was called) so I'm sure Microsoft rewarded them less for pushing them under that banner.
If they make 40% (1.8 Million) or above then I'm insanely impressed at Microsoft's generosity.
For all the shit that MS takes for being the 800lb gorilla, they are very straight forward with their developer programs. I've been dealing with them for the last five or so years and they don't take the "We're gong to fuck you because you're small" route. Considering that Playdead got a great deal of promotion from MS, their margin is probably around 40-50%.
@Genius:
Playdead probably went with XBLA arcade because they have a advertising and promotion structure that's very friendly for developers that don't have the resources to do it themselves. PSN doesn't have anything like that. It was wise of them to use XBLA to get the saliva flowing so Libmo will practically sell itself when (if) it hits PSN
Not that i wouldn't want to wish them the best sales ever. Limbo is great!
If they released it on both consoles it would be ammo for both sides of the console war.
"my version is on one disc"
"my version has better grass"
"my version is approved by god"
You get the picture.
Congrats to Limbo, concrete style video games are coming back & proves "if you build it well, they will come"