Tag Archives: indie games

02.05.08
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More presentation links

I spoke again at TWU for a game development project class. This is an info dump update of links to sites and games I mentioned.

Step one: my link-dump from last year’s presentation. Clicky here for a big long list.

Things that I learned about more recently that aren’t in that older post:

Dwarf Fortress is an extreme example of how indie games have the freedom to completely abandon the expectations of mainstream industry games. Text-based, cryptic controls, micromanagement sim & roguelike insanity.  (Of course, he also isn’t asking anyone to pay for the game.)

Cactus! This guy is nuts, often in a good way. Check out “Clean Asia!”, the IGF award nominee, to make your eyes bleed, or Psychonomium for a weird exercise in experimental and/or insane game-based storytelling.

Bit Blot are the makers of Aquaria, a game which despite being done in true indie fashion is also very polished and professionally made. Pick up the demo for a good taste of the more polished, commercial end of the indie spectrum.

Novel Concept’s new tower defense game, Flash Element Tower Defense 2, is a prime example of the Tower Defense genre that has sprung up in the Flash games scene. You may also want to check out Desktop Tower Defense, created by one of Novel Concept’s partners (and probably the most popular Flash game of 2007 – in fact one mainstream games blogger listed it as one of his Top 10 games of 2007 overall.) Also, hey, I just realized there’s now a Multiplayer DTD on Novel Concept’s Flash portal, The Casual Collective!

Something else I didn’t give much mention but which the class should probably look into: the IGF’s Student Showcase. I just gave the entrance rules a quick skim, and I think you should be eligible even though you’re selling the game afterwards. Take a look yourself at the submission site here. Your game needs to be at least at beta status (ie. feature-complete) before submission, but once it is this is a potential way to gain extra visibility above and beyond normal indie publishing / marketing routes.

And to close things off with a bang, the game which was described as possibly the most indie ever for being a game no publisher would ever touch: Barkley, Shut Up And Jam: Gaiden. Be sure to click the links to see the DX9 / DX10 comparison. (Made using RPGMaker, which I really ought to have mentioned alongside AGS and GameMaker.)

11.13.07
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Wanted: Indie Game Developers

Want to get started in independent game development? Live in the Fraser Valley somewhere near Abbotsford? First Shot Games is looking for people who would like to make it actually exist in more than just my imagination!

I’m looking for collaborators to help make the indie dream come true. My own skill set is mixed and I’m essentially looking for people I can work together with in an interdisciplinary way – in other words, I’m not picky about whether you’re a programmer, sound artist, 2D artist, modeler, level designer, game designer, etc. What I’m really looking for is to create an environment where we can all learn something from each other and work as a group to come up with well-designed and polished small-scale games.

I’m not recruiting to hire, because this isn’t yet a funded company. This isn’t a day job. I’m looking for people willing to get together and potentially work in their spare time or part-time to try and get an indie game development company off the ground for either a share of future profits or as a partnership.

I do have a plan for a marketable educational game, targeted at high school science departments, to get things off the ground. I just can’t stand working solo and get squirrelly when there’s no one around to bounce ideas off of and collaborate with. (Otherwise I’d gladly be off in my little corner pushing out this game idea I have and keeping the revenue for myself.)

If this sounds interesting to you and you live in the area, fire me an email (josh # thoughtlost . org) and we can meet up for coffee!

10.17.07
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References for my TWU “Digital Games as Communication” Presentation

This post is a collection of links to stuff that I mentioned during my visit at Kevin Schut’s class on Digital Games as Communication. The talk was, roughly, on creative process in the mainstream game industry vs that in independent development, plus a look at what the indie game scene is shaping into today (or at least the parts I’ve found out about so far).  If there’s anything I mentioned that you can’t find here or via Google, or if you have any other questions, drop a comment here or email me at: josh at the domain thoughtlost dot org.  (Does that even fool spambots anymore? I have no idea.)

Linkfest begins after the break.

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