Discoverability could be a problem for PC indie games in the future.

iOS and Android games have long dealt with the problem of discoverability - the App Store and the Google Play Store are filled to the brim with games - so many, that it's hard to find new stuff to buy and play. Hence, a lot of developers must rely on word of mouth or a big advertising budget to help the word out about their game, and why it is so unique versus the thousands of other games already present.

Even a year ago, there were usually no more than a handful of new games released every week on Steam. Now, a good five to ten games are released every week - still a far cry from the hundreds released on Apple's App Store, but Steam is starting to get crowded. And with Greenlight, even more games that would have never made it to Steam in the first place are getting places in the storefront.

Discoverability is not a big problem now, but for indie developers seeking to find their place on Steam, they better start revving up their marketing machines, because Steam will be just as crowded as Apple's App Store in the future.

And cutting through the cruft is going to yet another challenge for us, the consumers.

I HIGHLY doubt discoverability will become a problem for indie games in the future. Just look at Youtube for people like TotalBiscut who go out of their way to deliver news and (sort of) reviews for these indie games and give them exposure. Not only that there's also "famous" (very loosely said) people/gamers on YouTube who play the games, have fun, and with their huge fan base probably get more info on the game and buy it. An example I can think of off the top of my head is Cry of Fear; barely any marketing went into the game and it was among the very first games to go up on and for Greenlight.*

It's not yet released but it seems like it's getting there and with barely any marketing going for them that's pretty impressive. There may be some games that don't quite make the cut even though others really want them to but that's the gaming biz; some go big and some just go home with not much change in their gaming pants. Either way, discoverability I don't think will be a problem in the future for indie games, I feel like their gonna be fine and do pretty well in the coming future.

EDIT*: Oh and Chivalry also comes to mind.Chivalry, I don't think had much back up going for it in terms of marketing but look at how it's doing now.

There is already enough dependable coverage of indie games to eliminate that problem, for the most part. Even larger retail-oriented sites cover some indies, and they'll only devote more resources to them as the scene continues to thrive.

Someday there will be good sources we can turn to for phone games as well. Though Apple's design philosophy of "Let's make it impossible to discover anything good that we don't put in front of you" is not helping that along.

I HIGHLY doubt discoverability will become a problem for indie games in the future. Just look at Youtube for people like TotalBiscut who go out of their way to deliver news and (sort of) reviews for these indie games and give them exposure. Not only that there's also "famous" (very loosely said) people/gamers on YouTube who play the games, have fun, and with their huge fan base probably get more info on the game and buy it. An example I can think of off the top of my head is Cry of Fear; barely any marketing went into the game and it was among the very first games to go up on and for Greenlight.*

It's not yet released but it seems like it's getting there and with barely any marketing going for them that's pretty impressive. There may be some games that don't quite make the cut even though others really want them to but that's the gaming biz; some go big and some just go home with not much change in their gaming pants. Either way, discoverability I don't think will be a problem in the future for indie games, I feel like their gonna be fine and do pretty well in the coming future.

EDIT*: Oh and Chivalry also comes to mind.Chivalry, I don't think had much back up going for it in terms of marketing but look at how it's doing now.

Goyoshi12

Agree I personally think Indie Developers have it easier these days, Youtube an*Let's PLays* have had a huge impact on indie games, Developers of Amnesia have said many times they appreciate the coverage Youtube gave them, they made a decent profit due to videos of peoples reactions. That is what I like about Indie developers when they embrace their Word Of Mouth Audience like Map Editors or Mod Tools and provide that level of interaction, unlike alot of Big Named Publishers that just brush off most consumers and alot of the time take down videos of their product on youtube ? Insanity since alot of the time it's providing them basically free advertising.

The word (or phrase, rather) you're looking for is another video game crash.

Au contraire, I believe that indie games are more discoverable than ever before, mostly thanks to Steam and other digital distribution services.

The only problem with indie games in the future is that they may become too mainstream, so we may get loads of indie crap that get too much attention. One of the best examples of that is Hotline Miami, which is, IMO, a complete crap that got way too much attention.

You must remember that PC fans are a lot smarter about our game choices, if there are good games then we will find them. We aren't busy chest bumping our buddy over Madden.

>ios and android

Not gonna read. Call me when you're talking about real gaming platforms.

>ios and android

Not gonna read. Call me when you're talking about real gaming platforms.

GamerwillzPS

If you actually bothered to read a few sentences you'd see he's talking about the PC.

[QUOTE="Goyoshi12"]

I HIGHLY doubt discoverability will become a problem for indie games in the future. Just look at Youtube for people like TotalBiscut who go out of their way to deliver news and (sort of) reviews for these indie games and give them exposure. Not only that there's also "famous" (very loosely said) people/gamers on YouTube who play the games, have fun, and with their huge fan base probably get more info on the game and buy it. An example I can think of off the top of my head is Cry of Fear; barely any marketing went into the game and it was among the very first games to go up on and for Greenlight.*

It's not yet released but it seems like it's getting there and with barely any marketing going for them that's pretty impressive. There may be some games that don't quite make the cut even though others really want them to but that's the gaming biz; some go big and some just go home with not much change in their gaming pants. Either way, discoverability I don't think will be a problem in the future for indie games, I feel like their gonna be fine and do pretty well in the coming future.

EDIT*: Oh and Chivalry also comes to mind.Chivalry, I don't think had much back up going for it in terms of marketing but look at how it's doing now.

Blake135

Agree I personally think Indie Developers have it easier these days, Youtube an*Let's PLays* have had a huge impact on indie games, Developers of Amnesia have said many times they appreciate the coverage Youtube gave them, they made a decent profit due to videos of peoples reactions. That is what I like about Indie developers when they embrace their Word Of Mouth Audience like Map Editors or Mod Tools and provide that level of interaction, unlike alot of Big Named Publishers that just brush off most consumers and alot of the time take down videos of their product on youtube ? Insanity since alot of the time it's providing them basically free advertising.

Agreed with that statement.

Three games that I own right now (mostly two since I played those two a lot more than the third one but still techincally three) are Portal 2, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and Total War: Shogun 2 and the reason I purchased them were because of some YouTube videos (reviews and such) and "Let's PLays."

Not indie, true, but it still proves a point that social media websites like YouTube are good ways of getting exposure and selling you're product. And Amnesia is another perfect example, it's a very good game but also a very scary game which in the right minds and hands can creat things like reaction videos with people playing the game with face cams and getting freaked the fvck out. With those videos it has gotten tons of exposure and tons of purchases from those interested in this so called "scary game." So, yeah, don't worry about discoverability; with a site like YouTube and people like TotalBiscut I think indie games will be fine in the coming future for exposure.

I doubt it will ever get to be as big of a problem as with mobile apps. PCgaming community operates on word of mouth far more than any other and people actively search for their games through websites and communities. Steam will also never get to the ammount of releases mobile stores do.

But discoverability is of course a problem, but it's being countered by various innovatives. One of the best things about Kickstarter is just that. Same with Greenlight program and Indie bundles.

this is what happens when you make a platform that's stupidly easy to develop for and give it a 5 star rating system, you can't distinguish "good" games that are 7's with games that are 9's. since it's all very very close to 5 stars...savagetwinkie

That will only happen if/when someone releases the most powerful and simplified SDK ever. Why do you think App store and GP are overcrowded? Sure, there's a lot of potential buyers, but tempting as it is, no one would get into game development if developing for mobile platforms wasn't way easier. I mean, some basic knowledge of Java and XML (+ 50 bucks) and you're all set for becoming an Android "developer".

That will only happen if/when someone releases the most powerful and simplified SDK ever. Why do you think App store and GP are overcrowded? Sure, there's a lot of potential buyers, but tempting as it is, no one would get into game development if developing for mobile platforms wasn't way easier. I mean, some basic knowledge of Java and XML (+ 50 bucks) and you're all set for becoming an Android "developer".

this is what happens when you make a platform that's stupidly easy to develop for and give it a 5 star rating system, you can't distinguish "good" games that are 7's with games that are 9's. since it's all very very close to 5 stars...savagetwinkie

The most idiotic thing is that even most sites dedicated to reviewing mobile games use this system. The only two I know of that don't are pocket gamer and portable gaming region.

[QUOTE="GamerwillzPS"]

>ios and android

Not gonna read. Call me when you're talking about real gaming platforms.

Vari3ty

If you actually bothered to read a few sentences you'd see he's talking about the PC.

It's Gamerwillz, don't expect too much out of him.

[QUOTE="Vari3ty"]

[QUOTE="GamerwillzPS"]

>ios and android

Not gonna read. Call me when you're talking about real gaming platforms.

Ballroompirate

If you actually bothered to read a few sentences you'd see he's talking about the PC.

It's Gamerwillz, don't expect too much out of him.

:lol:

Yeah, it's really unfortunate for PC gaming to have so many games releasing all the time.