It's been hinted at for months. It's been announced on both Evil Avatar Radio and In-Game Chat. So what exactly is the Indie Game Challenge?
Inspired by a recent interview with Manifesto Games founder Greg Costikyan, I realized that if indie games are ever to be a seriously accepted part of our industry the way independent releases are with music and movies, it needs to start with hardcore communities like Evil Avatar. It's with that in mind that we are beginning the Indie Game Challenge. Every month, one indie game will be chosen and presented to the community. We'll request that you check out the game and, if you enjoy it, please buy it and support indie developers. We'll have a thread to discuss the game all month, frequent reminders, and it will culminate in an interview with the developers behind the game, and, when possible, an appearance by those devs on Evil Avatar Radio.
In honor of Schmupreciation Month, our choice for the March 2007 Indie Game Challenge is:
These fun, easy-to-play shooters require only the mouse. Defend planets of varying size and vulnerability from alien invaders while levelling up both your ship and the planet's defenses. Over 60 levels each! Both games have demos available and each cost $19.99 for the full version. Please check out the demos and, if you like them, we strongly encourage you to purchase the full versions.
Please discuss Clash N Slash and the Indie Game Challenge here. There will be a couple reminders throughout the month.
EDIT: Also, to throw this out there, if anyone has ideas for future indie games they think should be represented as an indie game of the month, please feel free to send suggestions to evilavatarnews@gmail.com. I can't promise all will be a go, but I'll consider every one. This goes out to indie game devs as well.
I tired out the first game, it was pretty fun! You can get some crazy chain reactions going when you shoot the right barrels.
$19.99 seems like a little much for them though, if they cost that much together it would be a much more appealing deal to me.
EDIT: This Indie Game thing is a fun idea too. I know there are tons of awesome little games out there I've never heard of, so I'm looking forward to more of these features!
Glad to see the interest, Camel! I'm all for discussing the weaknesses of the game's as well -- that's what I was hoping these threads would be. Sort of a critical look at the good and the bad of each game, like we might see in a thread for retail releases.
Also, to throw this out there, if anyone has ideas for future indie games they think should be represented as an indie game of the month, please feel free to send suggestions to evilavatarnews@gmail.com. I can't promise all will be a go, but I'll consider every one. This goes out to indie game devs as well.
__________________
"Your revolution is dead and was born out of laziness."
-Max Bemis
Ill try these out once i get home from work. This is one hell of a cool idea Kef.
__________________
"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."
Douglas Adams
I'll try these out tomorrow, since I'm headed to bed right now, I just wanted to chime in quick and say that I'd buy many more indie games if they were less than $20. For $20 I can buy a full fledged DS game, or a six month old retail PC game. Most indie games are too expensive for what they are, imo. The only ones I've found that are mostly worth the price to me are Crimsonland and Armadillo Run. Even those could use some more levels/replay value.
I'll try these out tomorrow, since I'm headed to bed right now, I just wanted to chime in quick and say that I'd buy many more indie games if they were less than $20. For $20 I can buy a full fledged DS game, or a six month old retail PC game. Most indie games are too expensive for what they are, imo. The only ones I've found that are mostly worth the price to me are Crimsonland and Armadillo Run. Even those could use some more levels/replay value.
1. I'm wondering where you find DS games for $20. The only games priced around $20 where I live are the "bargain bin" titles.
2. This is just my opinion (it's almost identical to how I feel about indie record labels), but indie developers need that $20 more than the big names do. That's why I'm usually willing to spend more and get less, if they've got a good thing going.
Yeah, while I'm not going to knock anyone for not purchasing the chosen titles this month or any month, I've gotta say I don't get the complaints about pricing that much. There's a lot of nice, fun content to these games, well above and beyond what you're getting from, say, most XBLA games, so I don't understand why they should be expected to have such drastically lower pricing.
__________________
"Your revolution is dead and was born out of laziness."
-Max Bemis
Yeah, while I'm not going to knock anyone for not purchasing the chosen titles this month or any month, I've gotta say I don't get the complaints about pricing that much. There's a lot of nice, fun content to these games, well above and beyond what you're getting from, say, most XBLA games, so I don't understand why they should be expected to have such drastically lower pricing.
I think the pricing comments are very useful for an indie developer. Pricing your product is a key skill, and if they knew that a lot of people would by it if it was $5 cheaper, then thats something they should know.
Just starting work now, but when I get home I'll try these out. Luckily $20 is only £10 for me, it sounds heaps cheaper in pounds
I think the pricing comments are very useful for an indie developer. Pricing your product is a key skill, and if they knew that a lot of people would by it if it was $5 cheaper, then thats something they should know.
Just starting work now, but when I get home I'll try these out. Luckily $20 is only £10 for me, it sounds heaps cheaper in pounds
No doubt I agree with that, I just don't think people's expectations are in the right state of mind. Part of this experiment is to help people start taking indie games more seriously, and part of that includes accepting that they may very well be worth the cash, although that's certainly a game-to-game basis.
Also, damn you British and the strength of your currency!
__________________
"Your revolution is dead and was born out of laziness."
-Max Bemis
What a great initiative! Go Kefkataran and EvAv! What else can I say that hasn't been said by you: this is a great way to promote indie gaming, the last bastion of gaming where gamplay is what has to count.
And whilst I do agree that people should see indie games as being worth money, and ofttimes fullprice money, I also do think that pricerecomendations in these threads are a good thing. Imagine if Bethesda had asked their community...maybe we would have seen $0.50 (or more likely $1) horse armour, there'd be less complaining and many more sales.
And although I like the screenshots of this game and have yet to play the demo (which I shall, as maybe the game has much more to it and has massive replayability...but that kind of info is exactly what this thread is for, neh?), I can't see myself paying more than ten to fifteen bucks for a schmup like this. I don't care what XBLA games go for...I wouldn't pay more if it was on XBLA...for twenty bucks, I just won't buy it.
The name "Indie Game Challenge" doesn't quite seem to fit. It sounds like a competition or something, like every month we're making a game to meet a set of criteria or something. "Indie Game Presents" or something, but "Challenge" ... doesn't sound right to me.
How about:
Indie Playtime.
Independent Gaming.
Independent Thought.
Game Different.
Play Different.
Indy Play.
Evil Avatar's Evil Indy Games Galore Gaming Spectacular - Games for the Discerning Gamer.
/edit: Though I certainly don't think Challenge is bad. In the 'challenge people to play games they may not usually.'
Sorry to clutter the thread. I'm still at work. I'll play it soon!
__________________
You've read Jeffool's post, now read Jeffool: The Blog!
The name "Indie Game Challenge" doesn't quite seem to fit. It sounds like a competition or something, like every month we're making a game to meet a set of criteria or something. "Indie Game Presents" or something, but "Challenge" ... doesn't sound right to me.
It's actually a play off of the "Indie Book Challenge" from the Comic Geek Speak podcast. The challenge is to you readers/listeners to open yourself up to and discuss in-depth a new indie game each month.
Also, we're not changing the name at this point, so suggestions on that front are kind of a waste.
__________________
"Your revolution is dead and was born out of laziness."
-Max Bemis
So I like the idea.
Does Battle for Wesnoth count?
because that is an indie open source and free game.
And last time it was linked on EvAv someone said they didn't like having free games spammed to the front page as news and there was a big ugly thread about it.
That "regular feature" was dropped shortly thereafter.
Or is that regular feature different from this regular feature? how?
AFA name goes, "Indie Play" works better for me.
