Article: Microsoft Treats Independent Developers Very Badly.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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.  

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.

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

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

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. 

[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.

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***.