Article: Microsoft Treats Independent Developers Very Badly.

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Bigboi500

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#1 Bigboi500
Member since 2007 • 35550 Posts

The hits just keep coming for Microsoft. This IGN article shows a growing number of independent developers who don't have nice things to say about the company, and how both Sony and Nintendo are making it easier for developers to work with them, while Microsoft is doing just the opposite.

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MirkoS77

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#2 MirkoS77
Member since 2011 • 17966 Posts
It'd almost be enjoyable watching a trainwreck in slow motion if it wasn't so sad. I really liked MS this last gen and thought they offered many positives to gaming, but regardless I can't support them if all these negative rumors turn out to be true, no matter the affinity I hold (held) towards them. One thing's for sure if these rumors come to pass: I'll get far more entertainment at seeing the uproar and MS' pathetic justifications for it more than the best game in the world can offer. The latter half of this year is going to be very, very interesting.
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SolidTy

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#3 SolidTy
Member since 2005 • 49991 Posts

I've been hearing a lot about this the last year or years, it's a shame. They started out as Indie's best friends, but the creative visionaries are no longer leading the division.

The suits are seemingly running the Xbrand into the ground.

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nintendoboy16

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#4 nintendoboy16
Member since 2007 • 42195 Posts
Guess it's safe to judge that EVERY first party alienates third parties (be it major companies or indies) now. I mean Nintendo was guilty of it during the NES/SNES/N64 era and Shinji Mikami was not happy with Sony for a time
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CarnageHeart

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#5 CarnageHeart
Member since 2002 • 18316 Posts

Yeah, I've been reading complaints like that for a while now. Its insane. MS popularized indie games on consoles and that their fanbase is still very receptive to such games (Minecraft on the X360 has sold 6,000,000 copies in a year's time) so alienating indies literally leaves money on the table.

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Cyberdot

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#6 Cyberdot
Member since 2013 • 3928 Posts

I've been hearing negative things about Microsoft lately, and I'm not surprised.

The rumours about the next Xbox doesn't sound appealing either. They have ruined Windows with the latest OS. What else will they fvck up next?

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The_Last_Ride

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#7 The_Last_Ride
Member since 2004 • 76371 Posts
yeah it's pretty bad, they require 50k to be in the arcade/indie program. The game also has to go through a long process of getting certified. And it's not always the game gets approved aswell
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ReddestSkies

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#8 ReddestSkies
Member since 2005 • 4087 Posts

Not surprised. Look at the Games for Windows Live fiasco. Look at the Xbox 360 "games on demand" thing. Microsoft is absolutely awful at everything that involves digital distribution, and doesn't seem to care.

Digital distribution, indie games, etc. are going to be very important next generation, and Sony is going to steamroll MS in that department.

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#9 Rattlesnake_8
Member since 2004 • 18452 Posts
It'd almost be enjoyable watching a trainwreck in slow motion if it wasn't so sad. I really liked MS this last gen and thought they offered many positives to gaming, but regardless I can't support them if all these negative rumors turn out to be true, no matter the affinity I hold (held) towards them. One thing's for sure if these rumors come to pass: I'll get far more entertainment at seeing the uproar and MS' pathetic justifications for it more than the best game in the world can offer. The latter half of this year is going to be very, very interesting. MirkoS77
Agreed.
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GreatExarch

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#10 GreatExarch
Member since 2013 • 25 Posts
Do any of the console publishers go out of their way to promote indie game development? I can't see what would be in it for them. More indie exposure just takes publicity away from first party titles on a console. Anyway, indies are doing reasonably well without too much help from the console makers.
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Grammaton-Cleric

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#11 Grammaton-Cleric
Member since 2002 • 7515 Posts

It is a shame that MS is making so many mistakes because overall, I have favored their systems during the last two console cycles and yet there is this perpetual and increasingly loud rumble of rumor and disgruntlement that looks to be coalescing into a serious misstep for a company that should know better.

I'm still waiting to see what this new console actually entails but MS is really getting slammed in the press these days. The New XB reveal is either going to be a heaping of crow served steaming and in large feathery quantities or it is going to be a confirmation of all of these terrible rumors.

Also, Retro City Rampage should have never been priced at 15 dollars. On that note MS did him a favor because 10 dollars is the absolute max that mediocre bit of retro-revival is worth.  

 

 

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c_rakestraw

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#12 c_rakestraw  Moderator
Member since 2007 • 14627 Posts

There's been outcry about Microsoft's treatment of indie developers for a while now. Not surprised.

Do any of the console publishers go out of their way to promote indie game development? I can't see what would be in it for them. More indie exposure just takes publicity away from first party titles on a console. Anyway, indies are doing reasonably well without too much help from the console makers.GreatExarch

Sony's been reaching out to them a lot. Reports from the indies say Sony was actively meeting with them during GDC. Heck, they already have a reserved pub-fund for indie developers to use to help get their games finished. It's how games like The Unfished Swan and Guacamelee got onto the PS3.

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jsmoke03

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#13 jsmoke03
Member since 2004 • 13719 Posts

thats wack considering that most got their start and their success with ms. i think the criticisms could be remedied easily by ms if they choose to. i don't think its a big deal at all since most developers will still go to where the money is. if one company doesn't make them money, they will go to where it did....and ms seems to sell a whole lot more indie games than any other console

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ReddestSkies

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#15 ReddestSkies
Member since 2005 • 4087 Posts

Do any of the console publishers go out of their way to promote indie game development? I can't see what would be in it for them. More indie exposure just takes publicity away from first party titles on a console. Anyway, indies are doing reasonably well without too much help from the console makers.GreatExarch

There are many advantages for a console maker to promote indie games. The main one, I think, is that indie gaming is exclusively distributed online, and helps gamers develop the habit of using digital distribution, which is infinitely better for developers/publishers than being dependant on Gamestop and having to pay distribution fees

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Vari3ty

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#16 Vari3ty
Member since 2009 • 11111 Posts

Can't say I'm surprised. Microsoft is focused more on other entertainment rather than games for the next Xbox, and it wouldn't surprise me if they neglected indie developers in the process. 

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Archangel3371

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#17 Archangel3371
Member since 2004 • 46818 Posts
It's a real shame to see Microsoft enveloped by all this negativity lately because I've really enjoyed what they've brought to the table these past two gens. I sure hope they can turn things around beginning with their next console unveiling.
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#18 The_Last_Ride
Member since 2004 • 76371 Posts
i think finally someone has spoken out, and it was about time
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#19 Grammaton-Cleric
Member since 2002 • 7515 Posts

[QUOTE="Grammaton-Cleric"]

It is a shame that MS is making so many mistakes because overall, I have favored their systems during the last two console cycles and yet there is this perpetual and increasingly loud rumble of rumor and disgruntlement that looks to be coalescing into a serious misstep for a company that should know better.

I'm still waiting to see what this new console actually entails but MS is really getting slammed in the press these days. The New XB reveal is either going to be a heaping of crow served steaming and in large feathery quantities or it is going to be a confirmation of all of these terrible rumors.

Also, Retro City Rampage should have never been priced at 15 dollars. On that note MS did him a favor because 10 dollars is the absolute max that mediocre bit of retro-revival is worth.  

 

 

dvader654

I got it free of Plus and I am not sure its worth that. :P

I downloaded it from PS+ as well and I doubt it'll get much attention from me.

I played the demo when it first landed and came away indifferent.

No way in hell it should have been priced at fifteen bucks.

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UpInFlames

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#20 UpInFlames
Member since 2004 • 13301 Posts

Microsoft never treated indie developers "good", it's just that at the time they were the only ones doing anything with the indie scene (on consoles). This is nothing new. Indie developers (like Introversion, Jonathan Blow, Team Meat) have been talking about this sort of thing for years, I guess nobody was listening back when it wasn't fashionable to hate Microsoft and Xbox Live was the s***.

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hiphops_savior

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#21 hiphops_savior
Member since 2007 • 8535 Posts
Geez, did those guys ever heard of Yamauchi-san's debacle with the n64?
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#22 lamprey263
Member since 2006 • 45423 Posts
I think the biggest complaint has to be with the cost of game updates, it's been a consistent complaint from various publishers.