Category: Hot Topics

The leap of faith

I have jumped off the edge of the mountain. Over the weekend I made a deal with United Minds Games to publish their upcoming game Space Renegades: The Series. The deal includes me doing the same things that I do for marketing any game but as a publisher the game will eventually have a recognized name behind it. Names and brands go a long way with consumers. Normally they don’t like to buy things made by a company that they don’t know.

The other great thing about this if Space Renegades becomes popular I can created a boxed version and get the game into retail outlets.

So it is really going to be an interesting ride from here on out. I’ve wanted to publish games for years and now I’m finally here. It took me a while to learn the ropes and gain the knowledge that I needed so now it’s all a wait and see process.

My goal isn’t to grow at a fast rate. College is my first priority so I have to see how that goes and how much I can handle before it becomes too much. 🙁

Get ready for Phantom!

Yes it’s back! Finally! And this time it’s with a vengeance!

Seriously this company can have this service released. Now that they’ve dropped the actual Phantom unit and gone with just the service avaiable on Winodws XP and Vista.

The reason why this is good for indie developers is that there is random coding that you have to insert in your game to get it to work with Phantom. If your game runs on Windows it can run on Phantom!

Check it all out at www.phantom.net

Now hopefully they can get their act together and release something before they go bankrupt… Expect the lapboard to be release in October, if they miss that date well they’re definitely dead.

Xbox Live = YouTube?

Note: Before reading this article please read Microsoft’s XNA Press Release URL http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/aug06/08-13XNAGameStudioPR.mspx entitled “Microsoft Invites the World to Create Its Own Xbox 360 Console Games for the First Time.”

Eventually this will be the world of games. Of course the major players, EA, Activision, etc. can and will survive in this changing environment, but this is the future. A time when players can alter pre-made games using their PC and then uploading it onto Xbox Live. Users rate the quality of the game so obviously you don’t want to make just a clone. Alter the physics settings, add in new 3D models, etc. BAM! You’ve got a working FPS, Racing, or sports game!

Now the foundamental gameplay wouldn’t change using the template. The template would just be the key to unlocking the door of how to 100% make your own games. Every now and then when a new gamelay mechanic comes along, Microsoft would buy the rights from the developer/hobbyist and add it to the Xbox Live developer’s template program collection.

If you can imagine this, then you can imagine what will become a reality very shortly. Whomever is able to break down this wall between players and content providers, will be rolling in the money.

Nintendo has stated that they are supporting indie developers with the Wii. Nintendo will release its online service called WiiConnect24. Sony is putting their money also on a system like Xbox Live. I’d bet that at least one of these companies has something to challenge what could become an industry dominated by Microsoft.

I was an Xbox basher all the way through its lifetime, but the 360 is another story. I’d definitely love to try out XNA. I saw the GDC 06 interface design and lets say that I won’t touch the program until they give it a game designer’s touch, instead of a programmers. Hopefully the final product will be very easy to use…

E3’s revamping – Is it IGF’s time?

IGF = Independent Gaming Festival

It’s a contest held every year at GDC

GDC = Game Developer’s Conference

The problem with the IGF is that they claim to be all for the indie-developer, but in fact all the rewards go to games that re-invent the wheel in the best way. Am I complaining about creativity – Hell no!

What I am complaining about is the fact that this festival only awards innovation. Not all independent games are innovative, but that doesn’t make them any less better then the ones that are.

From here it seems like the IGF is in the bed with commercial game studios. The IGF finds the creative games and the commercial game studios bid for the rights to this game and within a couple years copy the game mechanics for their own games. It appears that IGF doesn’t want to give coverage of indie-games that could compete with commercial games on any level.

Bottom line is the IGF should either change its name or add additional categories that award the kick-ass non-innovative games! E3 changed its format to better suit the industry at large and now it’s time for the Independent Games Festival to do the same.

For those interested in what categories the IGF currently has they are (excluding Mod & Student based games):

  • Technical Achievement: Scores will be based on the technical mastery and innovation demonstrated by each Entered Game’s game engine and code base.
  • Excellence in Visual Art: Scores will be based on the innovation, quality, and impressiveness of each Entered Game’s appearance and visual effects.
  • Excellence in Audio: Scores will be based on the innovation, quality, and impressiveness of each Entered Game’s music and sound effects.
  • Innovation Award: Scores will be based on the overall innovation and skillfulness demonstrated by each Entered Game’s video game design.
  • Best Web Browser Game: This category is open ONLY to those Entered Games that Sponsor determines qualify as Web Browser Games (defined below). Scores will be based on the overall innovation, quality, impressiveness, and enjoyability of each Web Browser Game. A
    Web Browser Game: is an Entered Game that must be playable within Internet Explorer 6.0 and Mozilla 1.0 browsers using either the Flash, Java, Shockwave, or Virtools plug-ins.
  • Audience Award: Public voters will download demonstrations of the games and vote for their favorite – the game with the most votes will win the award. Entered Games must have a playable public demo when asked by the Nominating Committee (likely to be around January 2007) to be considered for this category, but do not need to submit a public demo with initial entry..
  • Seumas McNally Grand Prize: This Category is open to all Entered Games. Scores will be based on the overall innovation, quality, impressiveness, and enjoyability of each Entered Game.

    • The Future is Now

    While I love to ponder what the future maybe bring, there are certain times when I have to remember I live in the present. This time Phil Harrison (Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s executive VP of development) said in Wired Magazine “I’d be amazed if the PlayStation 4 has a physical disc drive.” While this is probably true, why is it that these people always chop off their heads? How can you sell Blue-Ray or the PS3 when one of the VPs is going out and talking about the PS4 and how Sony’s technology is already obsolete!?

    Now I understand that companies have to think about the future, but  I’m tired of companies filling our heads with speculation! Let me enjoy the present, it’s the only time that I can live.

    America’s VideoGame Expo

    PR: With the recently announced changes to the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Lunar Tide Communications, Inc., is pleased to offer America’s VideoGame Expo (VGXPO) as an alternative venue where the game industry can communicate directly with their target audience – the consumer. Publishers and developers searching for additional locations to show off their products can look to VGXPO as a perfect opportunity to put the hottest games in the hands of gamers at a reasonable cost.

    “VGXPO organizers and its advisory board members lament that the videogame industry has matured past the need for a mega-event such as E3,” said Ed Fleming, Director of the VGXPO. “However, we see this as a transformation-catalyst for the industry – what the industry needs now is something that can be used to showcase products, promote game makers and celebrate the rich history of the industry directly with consumers.”

    “We believe that America’s VideoGame Expo offers a new kind of value proposition and is an opportunity to do more with marketing dollars. We looked at other industries for inspiration – the shows with the most impact and longest lasting power are consumer-focused direct marketing events,” stated Fleming. “Be it the International Auto Shows, Comic-Con, TGS, or localized events such as hobby shows or home and garden conventions; these are huge events that have survived for decades and run the gamut of industry players. Direct marketing at events such as these are a proven return-on-investment.”

    “As the professional organization that recognizes excellence in games among its members, the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences supports the efforts of America’s VideoGame Expo to create a venue that promotes interactive entertainment directly to consumers,” stated Joseph Olin, President, AIAS. “Providing game players an opportunity to see and experience the widest range of games possible benefits all of us who love great games”

    “It seems we’ve come full circle… I started making games over 20 years ago, back then the ONLY kind of expo was for gamers. I have very fond memories of being shoulder deep in gamers all eager to be the first to try a new game. The energy and excitement they generate fuels the passion that makes game development so fun,” said David Perry, CEO of GameConsultants.com.

    Unlike any other event, VGXPO is a gaming festival that celebrates the positive impact that videogames have on American culture. When a gamer comes to VGXPO he will have the opportunity not just to play & buy the latest games (and the retro classics) but also have the opportunity to meet the people responsible for their creation.

    “For NVIDIA consumer-oriented game shows represent an important part of our marketing strategy,” explained Bill Rehbock, Director of World Wide Publisher Relations and Consumer Awareness at NVIDIA. “Consumer events such as VGXPO are a great fit with our strategy, and will become more and more important for the industry as a whole.”

    “It’s time for a show that’s about games and the people who play them, and not just a giant party where everyone’s showing off their best pre-rendered video and earning kudos for best booth babes,” offered game industry veteran Bill Kunkel. “It’s time for an event where the smallest developers are considered just as important as the big publishers, and both groups get to show their wares directly to consumers and receive direct feedback from those same consumers. In short, it’s time for a show like VGXPO.”

    VGXPO is scheduled to take place from October 27-29, 2006 at the Valley Forge Convention Center, outside of Philadelphia, PA. For tickets or exhibiting options be sure to visit on the web at www.VGXPO.com

    —————

    Sucessful? For some reason I don’t think so… Maybe it’s because the 2005 exhibitor list is much longer then the 2006 list. The good thing is that it’s cheap. But I don’t think developers are going to ditch E3 for this, not this year at least. Maybe in 2007 if E3 flops.

    The good thing is that since it takes place in October any game for the Holiday release will be almost completed so you’ll be playing a solid demo.