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To Microsoft: How to Make XBOX Live Indie Games Better

xbligI remember in the beginning of January, Erik Brudvig of IGN wrote an article deeming XBOX Live Indie Games a “failed venture.” I didn’t agree. In fact, I was heated enough over the editorial to want to write a rebuttal. However, our own Peter Rambo beat me to it and probably did a much better job than I would have. Though there’s quite a bit in Rambo’s article that I agree with and even Erik’s had a valid point or two, my purpose in this article is not to challenge their arguments but rather to provide some ideas for Microsoft as to how to make the XBOX Live Indie Game platform better.

First off, let’s admit it. There’s quite a few holes in the system. Whether it be for the developers or gamers, we are all aware they exist. But personally, I love the XBLIG platform. Games such as Clover, I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES 1N IT!!!1, Soul, Your Doodles are Bugged, the entire Arkedo Series, and so on would not have been possible on consoles had it not been for the XBLIG platform. Sure, you may get the  useless app or unplayable game from time to time, but just as Rambo pointed out in his editorial:

“It’s easy to look at all the crap that’s released for the platform and be discouraged, but that’s just because everything ends up in the same place. There’s plenty of bad games on Kongregate and Newgrounds, but it’s a lot easier to find the good on those distribution platforms because the people running things act as curators, separating the good from the bad.”

But the question remains: what can Microsoft do to make it better? Here’s a few ideas. I’m sure most of them are debatable but exploring the possibilities won’t kill us!

1. Make XBLIG titles playable offline. Why I have to be logged into my LIVE account to play games that I’ve paid for and downloaded is beyond me. It’s easy to dismiss this problem by acknowledging that Microsoft wants full control over the platform (as my DIYgamer cohorts pointed out); perhaps the assurance that gamers will keep paying for the service is what makes this so… Whatever the case may be, when I pay for an app on my iPhone/iPod Touch, I can use everything but its online components if I wish to stay offline. Most of the games on the XBLIG don’t even have online capabilities. Some have leaderboards and a few have online play (like Creed Arena) but these components aren’t essential to most indie games anyway. If you wish to play a game on LIVE, log onto LIVE. If you purchase something, it becomes your property. Your ability to utilize a purchase should not be restricted.

2. Promote the XBLIG platform better. I know you’ve heard this a lot. This one is mainly for the developers, who have a rough time getting downloads as it is. Sure, there’s the trial or demo that comes equipped with almost all of the indie games but this is simply not enough. Yes, there are the top rated, top downloaded, new arrivals categories and even an IGN picks category, but what about all the hidden gems we don’t get to play? Why doesn’t Microsoft keep us informed as to what’s coming out in the near future? They do this with XBLA. I don’t think anyone wants to view XBLIG as a cheap cash-in for Microsoft, but they certainly make it seem so.

3. Achievements anybody? Well, there’s a problem with this suggestion right off the bat. Developers can abuse this capability… how will the flashlight apps and games such as Dont B Nervous Talking 2 Girls distribute their achievement points?… But again as simply put by my DIYgamer cohorts in our podcast, why not add an extra step in the review process for achievements? I’m thinking scaling it from 0 to 100 points should do the community well. (Maybe at intervals of 25?) In any case, this would be quite the incentive for gamers who are on LIVE but refuse to utilize the indie games platform.

4. Encourage better box art. I know this is kind of a weird one because it also draws on the developers to put in some extra effort. But I figure if you’re putting effort into creating a game, then its box art should be suitable. If you simply take a look here and see the comparison of the best and worst box art for games, you can see that most of the successful titles fall into the “best box art” category. Why is this? Because people judge a book by its cover. It’s the same when purchasing mainstream games as well: when the cover art looks enticing then gamers are much more inclined to purchase and play the game. Am I wrong?

The XBLIG platform is still young and who knows where we’ll be a year or two from now. It has spawned some excellent titles but also some atrocious failures. Microsoft can make many adjustments that can easily aid the service in becoming stronger and better. For some reason, it chooses not to. But hey, the first step is admitting to a problem. I hope they listen to our demands. Long live indie!

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Comments

  • Peter Rambo

    I didn’t know you had to be logged into Xbox Live to play the indie games. That is pretty dumb.

  • http://www.darkflowstudios.com BrianDFS

    I’m pretty sure there is little to no incentive for MS to promote XBLIG anymore than they already are. The 360′s sole reason for existence is for AAA retail games. Of course, XBLA does exist and targets the smaller “arcade” style games.

    With those two categories I see very little room left for another subset or game type portal. While that doesn’t necessarily mean I think there is *no* room left, I think it definitely makes it difficult to justify to MS how and why they should expend anymore time or energy promoting said portal.

    Also, I don’t think you can’t just sweep the garbage/trash apps and games under the rug like they’re not really a problem. :) In my opinion, they’re most definitely posing an “image” problem at the moment. And that image centers mostly around cheap and gimmicky games and apps. Granted most of the serious devs and community members know that’s not what XBLIG is really all about. But, it’s all about perception though, right?

  • Arsen Nazaryan

    Those are some pretty valid points you got there, BrianDFS. The problem about the “garbage” you’re talking about is nearly impossible to fix though since the platform is open enough for apps and programs of that nature to be developed and distributed. What bothers me most, however, is the willingness of people to purchase them (if that even exists in the first place. Although I remember the flashlight app was in the top downloaded category at some point). The image problem could easily be fixed, however. They just need to show off the best games more!

    I would think someone who doesn’t know what XBLIG is truly about simply doesn’t know about XBLIG. I’ve yet to read opinions from anybody who hasn’t played at least a decent indie game on XBLIG and instead purchased apps. Either way, though, you can’t just remove these apps/games because it’s an open platform for people to explore, just as the App Store. Some games on the App Store are complete BS, but they have the right to exist.

  • http://www.darkflowstudios.com BrianDFS

    It’s not quite a 1-to-1 comparison to the App Store though. Why? Because the App Store doesn’t have to compete with AAA *and* XBLA style (i.e. big money) applications, whereas XBLIG does. I agree that in an ideal world you can’t (shouldn’t) filter the garbage games/apps out of the service. But, I think a case can still be made that something should/could be done since XBLIG is already working with a disadvantage.

    I agree, most people I know of who’ve played some of the better titles from XBLIG have nothing but good things to say. But when I recently asked around in my close circle of about 10 gaming friends (who aren’t devs), which of them knew of the XBLIG channel — not a single one of them knew about it. That’s most definitely a problem. One in which you and I and all the rest of the XBLIG community already know about.

    However, that simply brings us back to square one, which is discussing how and why MS should do anymore to promote the service. It’s a good and valid discussion for sure. I just don’t know that it’s going to lead anywhere fruitful either now or possibly forever.

    If you assume that any given gamer (customer) only has X number of $$ (gamer points) to spend anywhere he/she wants on the Xbox Live Marketplace, it’s possible we may be faced with an issue of a tapped out consumer and general over saturation. Of course this is pure speculation on my part.

    As I’ve said before, the life-blood of the console are the AAA and XBLA games. Even with major MS promotion, it’s not like XBLIG would suddenly explode to the point that the channel could single-handedly support MS and the 360. Right? Considering that, I see no reason for MS to really go beyond their current methods of promotion for the channel.

    To be clear, I’m not saying the channel shouldn’t be there. I think it mostly definitely should be. I just think it’s going to need to fight and claw for every bit of respect that it can.

    And yes, things like Achievements and Leaderboards would be a huge help and they are both things I think MS should go ahead and find a way to do. But with those two things, also pose major challenges. To the point that the system may no longer be able to remain “open”. Honestly, that’s a topic probably best left for another discussion. :)

  • Jim Perry

    Since XBLIG games are not certified like regular XBLA games a check has to be done when the game is started. A game can be (and has been) removed from the service so a connection is required. It’s basically a security issue. I would bet a majority of 360 owners has a constant connection anyway.

    With regard to achievements, an MS person has stated that they would like to get them in there but achievements are reserved for games and since XGLIG has non-games in the catalog, there’s currently no way to offer achievements.

  • superflat

    In my experience, the single most helpful thing would be to improve the star rating system. Two things specifically: top-rated games should eventually be moved to an “all-stars” or “greatest hits” section, and removed from the general listing. As best I can tell it’s near impossible for new games to dethrone some of the older “five star” games. Not exactly sure how Microsoft is doing it, but I see the same few games every time I sort by rating.

    Second, they should add more categories to the ratings — not just graphics/gameplay etc., but we should be able to see how many people have rated it and what other games those people liked, including XBLA and commercial releases — this would be not unlike the Amazon.com marketplace.

    I don’t think Microsoft is willing to promote indie games any more than they do, because the Live layout severely restricts the amount of advertising they can accomplish on their service. However, they might consider using successful indie games in promotions, bundling them with more expensive titles as pre-order incentives or whatnot — I imagine that could greatly aid small developers and significantly boost sales.

  • http://2g1g.thepodkast.com/2010/03/02-pandoras-xbox/ #02 – Pandora’s Xbox « 2 Girls 1 Game

    [...] and Lead & Gold: Gangs of the Wild West. As well as a great discussion sparked by an article on DIYGamer.com on what the Xbox Indie Platform can do to improve [...]

  • F $$$

    I agree completely on the offline part. I share an internet connection with my PC which my family also uses, so i cant be logged in all the time just so I can play “Baby Maker Extreme” every once in a while. Please Xbox, if you read this… please make indie games playable offline.