Do you know what you're missing?
Some of the best computer games ever made are likely games you've never heard of. Created by individuals and small companies working in relative obscurity. They don't have million dollar budgets, some don't even have hundred dollar budgets. They don't have dedicated marketing departments, research analysts, sales teams, fancy offices, and cutting edge tools. They scrape together whatever tools they can, often discarded by the ultra rich game designers of big shiny game studios.
Making Miracles.
In spite of these deplorable working conditions, they create some of the most amazing games around. How do these game gems get created, and who are the miracle workers creating them. They're independent game designers. Sometimes called Indies for short. Working out of their bedrooms, garages, spare offices, and basements. They have a passion for what they do. They love games, they love the act of creation, and are relentlessly committed to their vision of what a game should be. They often build games they themselves would love to play. Simply because no one else will. These kind of games you won't find at the big box electronics store casting it's shadow over your end of town. These passionate Indies could care less what the marketing boys up on the 26th floor have to say about the latest game trends. Probably because their garages don't have 26 floors. They just know their love of games, and how much they enjoy playing.
Where do Indies come from?
Indie game developers come from all different areas. They're often former artists, programmers, or designers of some big name software companies. Maybe that quiet little programmer in that tiny corner cubicle dreams of being an Indie one day. Tired of the corporate rat race, and looking to express themselves creatively they become Indies. Some of been lucky enough to avoid the corporate avenue altogether and make a living doing what they love from the beginning. Regardless of their origins, they all have the passion and desire to create. To be able to put their name on something really great. They want to be recognized for their abilities and worth. But more than that, they want you to play their games, and have fun doing so.
Why are Indie games so good?
Indie games are good first and foremost, because they're fun. It's a game after all, and if it's not fun from the get go, then what's the point. They're also highly original, sometimes mainstream funny, sometimes just weird funny, sometimes morbid, sometimes creepy, and sometimes just downright gross. But, thats OK. Games should be a departure from the everyday. They should make you think in different, fantastic ways. So many big name games are just rehashed ideas done a thousand times before. Another sequel of the same old games from last year. Indie games are adventurous and risky. Indies take chances and devote their time to making something unique. So, take a look around, and try a few, till you discover the one that matches your own bizarre and fantastic interests.
About the author
Chris Campbell, is that quiet little programmer in the tiny corner cubicle harbouring dreams of an Indie life. He likes to surround himself with his gaming masterpiece and those of other Indies at his website http://www.SunAndGames.com
AP - President-elect Barack Obama on Saturday outlined his plan to create 2.5 million jobs in coming years to rebuild roads and bridges and modernize schools while developing alternative energy sources and more efficient cars.
AP - President-elect Barack Obama has moved with unusual speed to select officials for his administration, and senior Democratic officials say he intends to name Timothy Geithner as his treasury secretary as soon as Monday.
AP - Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said Saturday that he and others planning a humanitarian mission in Zimbabwe had been refused entry to the impoverished African country.
AP - Oprah wants her, and so do Letterman and Leno. Fresh from her political defeat, Sarah Palin is juggling offers to write books, appear in films and sit on dozens of interview couches at a rate that would be astonishing for most Hollywood stars, let alone a first-term governor.
AP - The Screen Actors Guild said Saturday it will ask its members to authorize a strike after its first contract talks in four months with Hollywood studios failed despite the help of a federal mediator.
AP - Astronauts up on the international space station faced the longest and hardest spacewalk of their mission Saturday, a seven-hour-plus excursion to wrap up repair work on a gummed-up joint.
AP - President George W. Bush, faced with a dwindling number of days in office, was using his final world summit to try to keep a virulent economic crisis from triggering a retreat into protectionism.
AP - Even in a global financial crisis, the world cannot afford to skimp on its obligations to Afghanistan, which wants to double the size of its army but will never be able to pay for it, Defense Secretary Robert Gates says.
AP - With two moves, the New York Knicks created salary space for a premier free agent and playing time for Stephon Marbury.
Reuters - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama said on Saturday that he was crafting an aggressive, two-year stimulus plan to revive the troubled economy, warning that swift action was needed to prevent a deep slump and a spiral of falling prices.
Reuters - Zimbabwe has barred former U.N. secretary general Kofi Annan, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and other prominent figures from visiting the country to assess the humanitarian crisis, the group said on Saturday.
Reuters - Citigroup Inc has begun talks with the U.S. government as its plummeting share price raises doubts about the bank's ability to survive, a person familiar with the matter said.
Reuters - MOGADISHU (Reuters) Islamist militants in Somalia took steps on Saturday to attack pirates behind the world's biggest hijack and rescue the captured Saudi Arabian supertanker, an Islamist spokesman said.
Reuters - Detroit automakers began work on turnaround plans demanded by Congress in return for $25 billion in aid as General Motors Corp said it would cut production more and give up two of its controversial corporate jets.
Reuters - The board of directors of embattled U.S. automaker General Motors Corp is considering "all options" including bankruptcy, according to a report on the Wall Street Journal's website late on Friday.
Reuters - U.S. stocks stormed higher in a late rally on Friday to cap another volatile week as investors welcomed reports that President-elect Barack Obama has chosen his point person to combat the U.S. economic crisis, instilling confidence about the administration's ability to take action.
AFP - The alleged Al-Qaeda mastermind of a 2006 transatlantic airplane bombing plot was killed in a US missile attack in northwest Pakistan early Saturday, officials said.
AFP - Former US president Jimmy Carter accused Zimbabwe's government Saturday of being "immune" to the hardships of its people as he and ex-UN chief Kofi Annan were denied entry on a humanitarian mission.
As a bit of a movie buff I recently discovered that the... Read More
Watching the evolution of sports games has been like watching a retarded... Read More
It has happened! Computer games have started to control my life on... Read More
There exists some ephemeral quality that separates gamers from the rest of... Read More
It's been about 5 years since we have seen a new video... Read More
Here are some general tips from an advanced player for all of... Read More
Aerial refueling from blimps might be easier than we think. Currently we... Read More
The period of the greatest portable console has finally arrived. Brace yourself... Read More
If you have an interest in playing PC games that were made... Read More
As I think most of gamers who play in shareware games know... Read More
I've recently been thinking about where video games could be going in... Read More
Since the Predator has inverted "V" shaped stabilizers these stabilizers should contain... Read More
It's not easy to be a hardcore gamer. It's hard. Wouldn't it... Read More
Casino Gambling Wherever You LikeAre you absolutely crazy about pocket pc gaming?... Read More
Using Underbelly Cone with Slots Facing Up On a Helicopter to Increase... Read More
Last week we started to get into the motivation of the gamer.... Read More
There is a common misconception that you have to take out a... Read More
Over the next 18 months the 3 giants of the Games Console... Read More
All gamers are awaiting the release of the Xbox 360 and the... Read More
At the recent E3 gaming Convention, Sony gave the world a first... Read More
Powering up hand held wireless devices in the field for Business Uses,... Read More
In the past I've never really paid much attention to security issues... Read More
Have you ever considered mind boggling statistics of a BINGO GAME?The bingo... Read More
The modern battlespace is changing in the real world and in the... Read More
A GeoBat small UAV might be the perfect platform for an enemy... Read More
A. FormationsIt's pretty much common sense to come up with a good... Read More
Remember the good old days of gaming, when there were only 5... Read More
If you are old enough to remember the early days of computer... Read More
If there were anything that could excite a Jeep enthusiast more than... Read More
You may not agree with the order in which they are in,... Read More
It's not a secret that table RPG games are not so popular... Read More
1. Platypus http://www.deprice.com/platypus.htmPlatypus is one of the most unique looking games ever... Read More
Using the Physical World as a Game Board: This is not a... Read More
The internet has proven to be an amazing delivery conduit for words,... Read More
It's a popularity contest.Solitaire is hip, cool, and way more popular than... Read More
Playvue.com Editor's Rating: 8.0StorylineDiner Dash brings us the story of Flo, an... Read More
There is no doubt about it, using computer games is a great... Read More
Defeating enemy UAV Swarms will be a challenge for our Net-Centric Blue... Read More
Miss the brainlessly simple and extremely addictive games from the 80s? Find... Read More
I'm fairly certain there are folks at Nintendo feeling some serious self-loathing... Read More
Fans of Genndy Tartakovsky's "Samurai Jack," which wrapped last year on the... Read More
We believe that we need to make the Smart Munitions even smarter... Read More
Superheroes battle monsters and space invaders in fast action games. Players take... Read More
Arguably Microsoft can attribute a great deal of its success to the... Read More
You got it! You can do just about any type of learning... Read More
BizTech 2.0 is an entrepreneur education program offering business assistance to students... Read More
Advertising is a necessary irritant in the world today. You can't drive... Read More
Since the Predator has inverted "V" shaped stabilizers these stabilizers should contain... Read More
This is the world of 21st century, the century of technologies. Every... Read More
Flying an MAV Through Rotating Fan Blades ? It maybe possible to... Read More
The modern battlespace is changing in the real world and in the... Read More
The Gizmondo combined media player, phone and gaming gadget went on sale... Read More
There is a common misconception that you have to take out a... Read More
There has been a great deal of discussion regarding the two most... Read More
Have you inherited your Dad's trading card collection - ie. pieces of... Read More
Here are some general tips from an advanced player for all of... Read More
In Gaming we deal between Simulation, Augmented Reality, Fantasy and Virtual Reality.... Read More
Using the Physical World as a Game Board: This is not a... Read More
Renting video games online has exploded in recent months! I for one... Read More
There is no doubt about it, using computer games is a great... Read More
It's been about 5 years since we have seen a new video... Read More
There exists some ephemeral quality that separates gamers from the rest of... Read More
One of the easiest ways to draw shoulder launched missiles at night... Read More
Casino Gambling Wherever You LikeAre you absolutely crazy about pocket pc gaming?... Read More
Do you know what you're missing?Some of the best computer games ever... Read More
Remember the good old days of gaming, when there were only 5... Read More
I've always liked to play SimCity since I was little. I used... Read More
Over the past year or so plenty of hype, mystery and controversy... Read More
Playvue.com Editor's Rating: 8.0StorylineDiner Dash brings us the story of Flo, an... Read More
As a bit of a movie buff I recently discovered that the... Read More
1. Platypus http://www.deprice.com/platypus.htmPlatypus is one of the most unique looking games ever... Read More
Last week we started to get into the motivation of the gamer.... Read More
All gamers are awaiting the release of the Xbox 360 and the... Read More
We know from studying aircraft like the F-8 Crusader, in which my... Read More
"Ban these evil games", "Videogame violence corrupting our nation's youth", "video games... Read More
Superheroes battle monsters and space invaders in fast action games. Players take... Read More
Arguably Microsoft can attribute a great deal of its success to the... Read More
In the last six months, the demise of sims has been pronounced... Read More
Play Games InsteadDo you like your full version pocket pc games free?... Read More
IntroductionIn this article you will learn how to get the most out... Read More
As graphics technology improves in leaps and bounds for the next pc... Read More
Fans of Genndy Tartakovsky's "Samurai Jack," which wrapped last year on the... Read More
Directional Thrusters can increase the maneuverability of just about any modern jet... Read More
At the recent E3 gaming Convention, Sony gave the world a first... Read More
Aerial refueling from blimps might be easier than we think. Currently we... Read More
Have you ever considered mind boggling statistics of a BINGO GAME?The bingo... Read More
Do you miss the good old 80's Amiga and Commodore games? You... Read More
A. FormationsIt's pretty much common sense to come up with a good... Read More
The period of the greatest portable console has finally arrived. Brace yourself... Read More
We believe that we need to make the Smart Munitions even smarter... Read More
It's not a secret that table RPG games are not so popular... Read More
You got it! You can do just about any type of learning... Read More
Admit It-You're Often BoredA pocket pc has about a million uses. But... Read More
BizTech 2.0 is an entrepreneur education program offering business assistance to students... Read More
Game Game |