2011 may well be remembered as the year that indie games stood shoulder-to-shoulder with AAA megahits. Over the past few months, we’ve seen Terraria standing proud alongside Skyrim in the Steam sales rankings, and the largest digital games storefront out there giving equal screen-time to tiny and huge releases alike. It’ll also be remembered as the year that tiny indie studios poured forth from the woodwork, bleeding us completely dry in 2 or 3 dollar measures, and we smiled all the way. If you’re going to freeze this winter, you may as well have something to play while you do it. Here’s the Steam indie discounts of the day:
Rumors of a Torchlight release on a console have been swirling for a long period of time. It looks as if Geoff’s initial observations about where Runic Games was taking the game are indeed true. And now, almost exactly a year after our first post on the matter, Torchlight will see the light of day on March 9th on the Xbox Live Arcade as part of Microsoft’s “House Party” promotion, which also includes the likes of Beyond Good and Evil HD and Bejeweled Blitz. Runic’s well-received action-RPG will be sold for 1200 MSP ($15) and has been revamped for a stronger console experience.
These upgrades include: the user interface has been “COMPLETELY overhauled from the ground up.” There are no more item slots, but simply a maximum number of items you can hold. Players can have a total of 8 mapped skills and — as Runic has admitted — “Most of us actually find it easier to use a variety of skills on the console vs. PC, oddly enough.” Furthermore, no skills have been removed but some have been altered to meet the demands of the console variation. Some goodies from Torchlight 2 have also been added to the XBLA version of Torchlight. Finally, there is confirmation that a PS3 version will not be in the works as Microsoft is publishing the game. Anyhow, a whole slew of updates and improvements to the game have been made and you can read all about it (and see a set of mouth-watering screenshots, I might add) on the official Torchlight website.
One thing’s for sure, I’m super excited to see how the game plays and — although I doubt I’ll have the time to play it again — the demo will be a good indicator of whether the Microsoft-published arcade version is indeed better than the original.
As with yesterday and the day before it, today Steam has kicked off a new round of amazing deals. While normally, each day there would be a bunch of AAA games with a single pack of indie games for $4.99, today Steam has decided to offer up a couple more indie games. Here’s what you can get:
Machinarium – $5.00
Torchlight – $5.00
Indie Clever Pack – $4.99
Inside the Clever pack comes Doc Clock: The Toasted Sandwich of Time, Eufloria, Iron Grip: Warlord, VVVVVV, and World of Goo all great games that, if bought seperately would ammount to $49.96, and they can be yours for a mere $4.99.
Also, for those that don’t recall, Machinarium was our game of the year for 2009. Something to keep in mind when ogling that tempting price point.
This past weekend, Steam and several other digital distributors had a variety of discounted offerings as most of PC publisher Paradox Interactive’s catalog had been put on sale. A few of these games were included in our latest Indie Game Sales feature, as during the vast majority of development they were considered to be independently funded–and as such fall under what we cover on DIYGamer.
In cases such as this, where a publisher’s name is tagged to a game we feel might fall under our admittedly amorphous coverage blanket, it’s simply our duty to exercise due diligence and figure out where the funding for the game came from. If we conclude the finances came from the developer itself, then we’re free to write on it. There’s still a ton of grey area and this certainly doesn’t explain or justify every game that’s been included/omitted from these pages, but it gives us a floor to walk on so to speak.
We’re a young and ambitious site, some of our golden rules are set and some are still evolving on the subject. In the end we’re human, and many times we’ll error on the side of inclusion if there’s no readily available information stating that the game has received funding outside of the developer’s pocket. If it’s found out at anytime that it proves to be otherwise, we’ll be the first to admit fault and correct our mistake–including full omission of the title in question if need be.
Let’s use developer The Behemoth as an example. Microsoft is considered the publisher of Castle Crashers while The Behemoth is listed as both the developer and publisher for their previous title Alien Hominid. For both games–and presumably their upcoming third effort BattleBlock Theater–the dev claims on their website “Our development is 100% self-funded with support from fans who support our cause!” with a link to their games and merchandise. Taking them at their word that indicates that Microsoft only puts funding toward the exposure of Crashers, not the development.
In that case, I consider the game to fall on the right side of our line. Some wouldn’t, and they’d be tough to argue against, but I don’t feel that if one game receives more marketing support than another it should be forced to give up its indie badge and gun.
It’s undeniable that indie games are as popular as they’ve ever been. More than ever before, the indie scene has been brought closer to the typical gamer’s foremost interests. This has been accomplished through all walks of effort and perseverance from more individuals than we may ever know our give credit to. It leads me to beg the question: Why should an indie game lose its tag when the mainstream shows interest in it?
A notable point of contention in what I’ve written above is that we still cover partially-funded games that come from developer’s who were previously indie/independent such as Runic Games (Torchlight), Frozenbyte (Trine) and ACE Team (Zeno Clash, Rock of Ages.) All three developers have been picked up by publishers to develop sequels (or in ACE’s case a completely new IP) of their successful independent predecessors. Must our coverage halt right then and there because of this? Honestly, the jury is still largely out on the point, but let me explain why I personally feel compelled to write on it for both myself and our readers.
We like these games, and we like the people who developed them. We’re interested in what they’re cooking up next. For me it comes back to questioning why we must stop following a developer’s path simply because a publisher has picked them up based on their past independent success. That success is what enabled them to make their next game one way or another, if they look to a publisher to relieve some of the stresses they had to deal with during independent release (outside of development of course) should we then turn a blind eye?
Obviously, if the developer is ever wholly absorbed by their respective publisher and ceases to be some form of individual entity then there’s simply no argument, it can’t and shouldn’t be posted here.
All that said, and there’s still hundreds if not thousands of individual cases that could be argued either for or against in this never ending debate. There isn’t a single authority who correctly and absolutely categorizes what is considered indie in the vast sea of games and projects out there. So instead we research facts and rely on what are gut says a lot of the time. Not an exact science, but no one has ever claimed it to be.
Again, this is just one man’s (still developing) opinion on a very, very complex subject.
Runic has rolled out a new update for Torchlight, available now for owners of the game on Steam.
The patch brings three bug fixes to the game, putting band-aids on an event queuing issue, invisible skeletons/varkolyn showing up and some crashes on specific video hardware.
The file is currently only available as an automatic download on Steam, should the manual download pop up we’ll post it.
From the change log:
Torchlight
Fix to event queuing issue in low FPS situations
Fix for some crashes on certain video hardware
Fix for invisible skeletons/varkolyn on certain video hardware
Here it is, the first of two semi-final match ups, with the second one coming tomorrow. While some of you may be thinking this is an easy win for Torchlight, I’ll merely mention that prior to the N vs. Torchlight battle, Shattered Horizon consistently got the most votes out of any match up. So don’t take it lightly.
Anyway, let’s get on with the usual stuff.
Up first we have Shattered Horizon, the independent multiplayer FPS that features stuff you’ve never experienced in any FPS prior, zero-G space combat. This is a game that is literally about space marines. There’s no up, no down, and the maps are more open than any other online FPS. Shattered Horizon is, without a doubt, one of the best shooter experiences out there.
Not to be counted out, however, is the ever venerable Torchlight, created by Runic Games of which was started by the creators of the original Diablo games. To say that Torchlight is the best action RPG since Diablo 2 is doing it little justice. This is a game that is so pure to its roots that it’s almost like going back in time to when the original Diablo was released, albeit with better graphics.
Only one can make it to the final. Cast your vote now!
Without a doubt, this is the largest match up to date. While games like Shattered Horizon, Dwarf Fortress, and Spelunky all have large communities, no two communities have been more active in this tournament than the Torchlight and N communities. In fact, it’s almost a shame that we have to watch this play out now instead of in the semi finals or the final. It’s equivalent — in the indie game world — to watching Spain take on Brazil in the World Cup quarter finals…
Well regardless, only one is going to make it through to the semi finals. Here are your competitors for today:
Up first we have N, the hugely popular flash game that has expanded onto consoles and handhelds over the years. N has a relatively simple concept, but one that provides enough challenge and addictive fun to easily make it a contestant for being one of the best flash games ever released.
Next up we have Torchlight. Once again, this has been one of the few action RPGs to be considered as good, if not better, than the original Diablo and almost on par with Diablo 2. Hailed by critics and gamers a like, Torchlight has become an independent phenomenon.
The choice may be hard to make, but only one game can continue. Cast your vote now!
UPDATE: There’s a lot of “serious” conversation going on in the comments, of which a few have asked or wondered similar things about why Torchlight is going up against N, or why this tournament is even occurring. Here’s the answers to those two popular questions:
1. Torchlight developers may not be independent anymore (they were bought by Perfect World), but when we first launched this tournament they were still independent. It wasn’t until after they had already won their first competition that news had come out that they’d been bought. Because of this, and the fact that they were an independent effort prior to being bought, we decided not to muck up the tournament and keep things going uninterrupted. In next year’s tournament, Torchlight/Runic Games will not be allowed to participate.
2. For those asking why we bothered with this tournament in the first place, we can only answer with two single words: for fun. This entire tournament is just for fun guys, relax. Gamers nominated every single game, they were randomly matched up, and now you guys are voting on the outcome so that a single developer can get this awesome rocket trophy. There’s nothing more to it than that. This isn’t the be all, end all of indie game tournaments. All you gotta do is pick your favorite. Easy-peasy.
Hope this clears some stuff up.
UPDATE 2… CONTROVERSY!
You guys are so sneaky. It has come to my attention that some people have found a loophole in our polls that allow for multiple votes per person for each browser. I don’t know who all is involved, and I don’t really care. It was my fault for not checking to make sure such things could happen. I apologize.
But in the end, this is a for fun tournament. There are no cash prizes, just a cool little trophy. Which means we don’t have to worry about disqualification, or other such means. Instead I’ve simply patched the loophole, and extended the match up by a day. There are still 4 days left in the tournament, which should be more than enough time to find a legit winner.
For our second tournament today, we have another two “indie heavyweights” in World of Goo vs. Torchlight.
First up we have World of Goo. If there is a more popular and beloved indie game out there then I certainly don’t know about it. World of Goo has garnered massive amounts of indie cred by introducing awesome “pay what you want” sales and, generally, just being a great game developed by two ex-EA employees.
Certainly not to be ignored, however, is Torchlight the indie action RPG that is constantly being hailed as the best action RPG to be released since Diablo 2 back in 1998. Torchlight garnered great reviews from critics and gamers alike. While the company might not “technically’ be indie anymore, Torchlight was still an amazing independent achievement.
So which of these two indie darlings will reach the quarter finals? Cast your vote now!
Indie Sales, for the people. As we’ve been forced to in the past (fortunately!), we must highlight the stand-out of the group: Sleep is Death, two copies, pay what you want (min. $1.75). This is a whole different kind of experience that is at least worth what you’re willing to contribute to give it a try, it’s not for everybody but give it a chance to sweep you away with the possibilities.
While far and away the best sale out there, SiD is not the only offering of Indie discounted goodness this weekend; oh no, not by a long shot. Oh and remember, if for whatever odd reason you haven’t come across and donated to The Humble Indie Bundle, it’s still on until midday tomorrow, Saturday May 15. The rest of the offerings from across the web:
Come to think of it Gratuitous Space Battles (along with its ‘Complete’ bundle), Flotilla, Armada 2526, Light of Altair and Evochron Legends and Renegades are all half-off with the promotion with other smaller discounts offered up as well, check out the full list here through the weekend.
Bob Came in Pieces is 50% off on Direct2Drive, bringing the ship rebuilder down to just $4.95 as the distributor’s Deal of the Week. The sale runs through May 21, check out Peter E’s review.
Both Steam and D2D are offering Torchlight for 50% off. Note that’s $10, not the $5 which the game has been discounted to before and probably will again.
Gamerizon’s puzzle game Quantz is 70% off on Steam, bringing the title down to just $3, you can check out my review if you wish.
Steam is offering The RailWorks Glasgow Airport Rail Link add-on at $10 off its standard $40 price (25% off), with those who have purchased the Class 380 add-on for the train sim title receiving a much better discount at nearly 75% off.
Mode 7′s (The guy’s working on the much anticipated Frozen Synapse) sword-fighting multiplayer title Determinance is $11 down for $17 on Impulse.
Pre-Order Discounts
Frictional Games’ upcoming survival horror Amnesia: The Dark Descent is being offered for 20% off on GamersGate for those who purchase before its release on August 15. The title will run $20 but can be had for both Mac and PC for just $16 prior to launch.
Other Offers
Impulse is offering up Quantum Flux Games’ Make Something Unreal Contest stand-out Prometheus for free, as in no munnies.
Vote for Your Favorite Indie Game!
We here at DIYgamer.com have started our very own bracket-styled tournament to find the best indie game, as voted on by you, the gamers. So head on over to our tournament page to vote on your favorite games!
But first, let’s update you on the most recent match up to have ended. It would appear that Love and effectively eliminated Adanaxis from moving onto the round of 16. Congratulations to Eskil and his incredibly creative MMO, Love.
OK, now onto today’s mega-match up I say mega-match up because the two games today are two of the biggest in the indie industry. It’s kind of a shame that they are competing against each other. Still though, the tournament must go on, so to say.
Up first, we have Cave Story, the brilliant exploratory platformer that has been the mainstay of indie gaming for years. This is typically, the indie game people refer to as a must-play for any platforming fan, and rightfully so. Cave Story is a great game, that’s both challenging and a lot of fun. There are few people who don’t like this game.
Up next, however, we have recent newcomer Torchlight. While not entirely innovative Torchlight has succeeded in being the best action RPG to have been released since Diablo 2 back in the mid 90′s. While it doesn’t feature any sort of online, like Diablo 2 did, the game was still lauded by gamers and critics alike, including our own review.
So which will it be? Famed platformer or famed action RPG? Only one can go to the next level!
This past weekend, Steam and several other digital distributors had a variety of discounted offerings as most of PC publisher Paradox Interactive’s catalog had been put on sale. A few of these games were included in our latest 
Let’s use developer The Behemoth as an example. Microsoft is considered the publisher of 
A notable point of contention in what I’ve written above is that we still cover partially-funded games that come from developer’s who were previously indie/independent such as Runic Games (
Runic has rolled out a new update for 
Indie Sales, for the people. As we’ve been forced to in the past (fortunately!), we must highlight the stand-out of the group: 
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