The allure of the indie game
Despite their lofty budgets and visual splendour, many so-called AAA games just fail to deliver on their promises of greatness so perhaps that's why less-hyped games from independent publishers are starting to find favour among gamers.
That's certainly how it's been in Game Junkie towers lately, as I've played just as much of two indie games, Machinarium and Xbox Live Arcade game Limbo, this past week than I have of the big-budget games sitting on my computer desk at home.
Despite their small teams and even smaller budgets when compared with the resources on offer to game makers such as Guerrilla, Bungie and Epic, games such as Machinarium and Limbo ooze charm, character and inventive game play that is often missing from many games from big-name publishers.
Machinarium, a point-and-click PC game, was developed over three years using Abode Flash and word is that it had a marketing budget of just $1000. The game was originally planned for Xbox Live Arcade but Microsoft turned it down, so the game's makers approached Sony. It is planned for release on PlayStation Network as well.
Limbo is a 2D side scroller that has such a unique and haunting visual style that you can't help but be sucked in by its charms. The game tells the story of a small boy who has to navigate a Hell-like world full of traps and pitfalls in an effort to find his sister. What is most striking about Limbo, though, is that it is coloured in black and white and has very limited sound. It's quite eerie playing a game where all you hear are footprints and the odd sound.
Both games have garnered praise at independent game festivals and from big name gaming websites, and if you like puzzle-based games that will test your grey matter, I can highly recommend both these titles, but what less-hyped games can you recommend?
Today, I'd like to get your recommendations for those gems of games that perhaps not many people know about and you just feel that more people need to play and experience.
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So Limbo is actually good? I'll probably check it out when it hits the marketplace. Theres been a bit of a glut of "artsy" indie platformers lately so I am approaching the title with some trepidation.
My favourite indie developers currently are Twisted Pixel, creators of The Maw and the masterpiece: 'Splosion Man. Their games are just so fun and full of personality, which is hard to find these days. Their new title "Comic Jumper" is expected to release around August-September and I cant wait! It looks like a lot of fun.
I found a list the other day of some great arty indie games. http://www.bitmob.com/articles/10-artsy-fartsy-games-for-people-who-like-artsy-fartsy-things (Not sure if links work on Stuff, if not, type "james derosa bitmob arty games" into google and select the third link down.)
I agree that little games can sometimes be more fun Gerard. I've been spending a lot of time on Plants v Zombies on my ipod, which only cost me $4 from the Apple Apps store. I've put some serious time into it and it really showed me how much the 'little' games can rock! I would much rather play this than a rubbish big budget game like Iron Man 2 or Lost Planet 2 or any other over budgeted ill conceived nonsense. I'm currently looking into finding an RPG for my ipod now.
XBLA keeps throwing up wee gems. I've got tonnes of value out of Defense Grid (for those that like tower defense), Greed Corp. (simple but surprisingly in-depth strategy game) and Castle Crashers (just plain silly and fun).
What exactly do footprints sound like? ;-)
Machinarium is also available on the Mac through Steam. A brilliant, enchanting game. Worth every cent.
I guess the easy comparision would be Indy films vs commercial blockbusters. There's enough room in the market for both to survive, but to get the big bucks you need the investment for the blockbusters.
Don't have a PS3, but Puzzle-Quest 1 and 2 XBL are top notch. For the PC, Uplink (although Introvision isn't exactly Indy anymore), Toribash (turnbased MMA simulation) and World of Goo.
I never got into it, but I think Dwarf Fortress epitomises Indy development. ASCII graphics, but it's the most stupidly hardcore simulation of angry, violent Dwarfs in the wilderness fending off demons, animals and each other. Made by one guy too.
I have always loved Mount & Blade (PC only). I purchased it when it was still in it's beta phases for $20 - worth every single cent. Awesome mass combat - a huge amount of mod's available for it (from fantasy settings to the US civil war) and will run on pretty much any PC from the last 5 years. Still (IMHO) the best mounted combat of any game I have played.
I would for Microsoft to allow the XNA network in Australasia. NZ is allowed to develop indie games for the XNA network but we can't access it. This would open up a great channel for Indie game makers to develop titles and get them out there to a local audience.
There are over 200 titles currently available and to any rock band players, there is the Rock band network which has close to 500 songs ranging from well known to the never hear of 'em.
XNA!!!!!
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Indeed, It's all about gameplay. Flashy graphics don't mean a lot when you feel like throwing your controller in frustration due to poor design. Castlecrashers on XBL is pretty good.