Kicking Off Independence
Product: Texas Independent Game Festival
This weekend marked the first annual Texas Independent Game Festival in Austin, Texas. Independent game development studios and independent garage projects alike rubbed elbows over the two day convention filled with panels from successful independent developers sharing their knowledge and experience. Quite a few well known names in the industry such as Warren Spector and Greg Costiyan made it out to inspire those who are just getting started and those who have possibly had enough of the mainstream distribution chains as well.
So what qualifies as an Independent? Well, obviously going back to the roots of game development when visionaries literally sat in their garages and made games for the fun of it; the same applies here. Like anything else, though, independent development also encompasses the larger studios who are creating their own content without the aid of a publisher. Now, where the lines start to get fuzzy for some are the budget differences between the obvious garage start-ups and established studios. Most indies seemed fine with the distinction that they aren't production and marketing driven. Now obviously between the two, when you compare budgets, the purists don’t always see having established large scale offices and publishing connections as truly independent. What this all means is that people are getting together to make games for the fun of it again.
How does the independent movement affect you as a consumer? First off, I can say it in five words: choices, choices, and more choices. There is a turning in the tide. First, a real quick history lesson on gaming retail. Video games nearly died out completely in the 80’s due to a total and absolute lack of quality and an inundation of product. People were tired of paying for absolute crap, and the only way they knew it was crap was to buy it and find out the hard way. Nintendo came along and said you can’t make a game for our system unless we approve it. You now have a benchmark, at least of a playable game. This led us into today’s model that game development is funded by producers and distributors. They are only going to risk paying for and marketing a game they know or hope is going to sell. They're also not about to give up their hold on the standard retail chains of distribution to a game that may compete with them. Independent game development cannot compete financially with current distributors. We hear a lot about how all of the games feel and look the same, and this is because of this rut we have created.
Well how do you get out of the rut? This is one thing independent gaming is addressing. They are making the games they want to play, and hopefully so will others. We also have beautiful distribution chains on the Internet to assist us. People can actually try things in demo long before they purchase the product. There are going to be some bad games; that is inevitable. But already we have seen some great independent games that have gained great notoriety. Imagine if more projects had some viable and reliable distribution chains besides the ones currently held in a chokehold by big business distribution. One of the keys, as well, is training the general public that not all of the great games in the world are purchased in pretty boxes from their local retailer. In all, there are great things happening in gaming for everyone due to the efforts of independent gaming. This conference is one of many independent gatherings held around the country and the world. Seek out independent developers, and promote the good ones. Just the same as wearing the t-shirt of your favorite local band, purchase games that you find fun. Look to Game Vortex to continue to find great gaming whereever it may be found and bring it directly to you.
-WUMPUSJAGGER, GameVortex Communications AKA Bryon Lloyd
Related Links: Texas Independent Games Festival
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