Indie Game Publishing.

[gennss]

I go to business school, so I'm always very curious about the business aspects of indie gaming.

I see the shmup community has enough umph to maintain developers making indie games globally.

What retro system would you buy an indie game for? What genre would you prefer? What price point do you think would be fair?

I heard a lot complaints regarding only shmups coming out for dreamcast lately, but is it even worthwhile to make a platformer in the vein of rayman, super mario or sonic on that platform?

Example, the publishers for the wind water puzzle game for dreamcast have spoken out about poor sales on the product. But it seems there isn't a lot of interest for puzzle games amongst the retro dreamcast community. Such a game I think would have been better marketed on PC for casual gamers, a'la pop cap games.

Comments ideas thoughts?

[noiseredux]

GBA and Dreamcast are the two easiest to develop for from what I understand. Unless you're talking about current-gen, in which case I'd say go for XBox360...

[gennss]

GBA and Dreamcast are the two easiest to develop for from what I understand. Unless you're talking about current-gen, in which case I'd say go for XBox360...

I'm curious about the consumer view, not the developer view. What would you BUY.

[finerion]

Thats a toss up. I really do enjoy shmups so I don't have a problem with there being a wealth of indie titles on the DC. I would also love to see some solid action RPGs in the vein of the Zelda series for the Genesis or even Master System. The Atari homebrew community is probably the most active followed by the NES community but just about every console has some development going on.

I especially love indie cart games. There is nothing like the feel of a brand new cartridge in your hand.

But in answer to your question I would shell out good hard earned money for a game if:

1. It came in a case complete with instruction manual modelled after whatever was originally released for that console. (cardboard box, jewel case, clamshell, etc)

2. The developer shows plenty of videos, screenshots, or even demos of the game so I can get a good idea of what it is about.

3. It does something at least a little unique and innovative. Not really looking for Pac-man or Berzerk clones unless they are adding some unique or innovative element.

[noiseredux]

Personally I would buy a GBA game. I generally try to buy every GBA homebrew that is released on a cartridge. I love the idea of supporting developers who are devoted to keeping "dead" systems alive. (also bonus points if it's a Shmup!)

I think a lot of people feel the same about Dreamcast, which is why it still gets releases almost every year.

I suggested XBox Arcade, only because I think it's easier to get an indie game published as a downloadable title. But I personally wouldn't buy a downloadable game with the same fervor as I would a physical copy.

[aw93053]

I'm curious about the consumer view, not the developer view. What would you BUY.

-2D games in the style of Metroid, Castlevania, Mario, Sonic etc.
-High-quality vertical Shmups


What retro system would you buy an indie game for?

Dreamcast, Saturn - any of the 8 and 16 bit cartridge based consoles would be nice


What price point do you think would be fair?

Depends on the quality of the game, replay value, packaging(box, artwork, booklet, extras) and system. Cartridge-based games will be more expensive to manufacture. The independent publisher has to build up reputation with good titles before being able to charge a premium. Twenty dollars/euros would be a good starting point.

[dischord76]

I would be so damn excited if a snes game was released by an indie company. I almost don't even care what it is. Of course I'd prefer a dating sim

[jeffro11]

Make a new, GOOD Megadrive/SNES game and I will buy.

[renardqueenston]

i would buy a good game regardless on the platform - it ain't about the platform, it's about what you do with it :]

[GSZX1337]

While I don't care what platform an indie game is released on, but what I want to see is a game with HD hand drawn sprites. Like Braid, but prettier.