Slashdot Mirror
No Publisher Love For Darwinia
Next Generation has a conversation with the lead designer of the much lauded game Darwinia. From the article: "It sports astonishing graphics and original gameplay elements that weave their way around a decent story. Reviewers like it but, as is so often the case, publishers can't seem able to convince themselves it has anything other than niche market value. We spoke to Chris Delay about the frustrations and challenges of independence and originality..."
This game should be at least tried out, especially by retro fans even though it's not a retro game at all. It's very respectful of old games in its style.
It's a shocking indication of the state of the game industry that no publisher will pick this up. It is a superb game, exactly the type that people are clamouring for at games keynote speeches and such like.
Someone needs to fire all marketing departments across the whole industry. What chance does the industry have to mature and develop if chances like this get blankly refused every time.
Publishers pass on most of the creatie and unique titles in favor of "safe" ones. I've been on this side of the industry and it really begins to piss you off when you see great, innovative project after project get scrapped or turned away time and time again from publishers. It is so frustrating.
The next-gen 360 and PS3 aren't going to help matters either. The development costs and efforts are going to be big risk and no one is going to stray much from the center. This is a loss for all gamers everywhere.
I get bashed for saying it, but these two consoles need to fail and fail big. If they are massive successes the game industry is going to become even more fractured and broken. They are doing nothing but perpetuating the core problem of the industry, and amazingly making it worse.
I am hoping Nintendo can buck the trend, not out of fanboyism or love for Nintendo, because I would say the same of any company that was taking their stance in this new console war.
http://teasphere.wordpress.com - A little spot of tea
Publishers make their real money by putting down the cash for the development of a game. Darwinia is finished; this means they get less control over the game, and less money for their investment. Given the already overwhelming number of talented independent game makers wheeling and dealing for publishers, the people who work for publishers are interested in the next big hit, a financial blockbuster.
Darwinia isn't going to be a blockbuster. It's interesting, but it hasn't had the press scores and coverage that publishers leverage for their piece of shit "like metal gear with more buttons". The good news is that Darwinia can be self-published quite easily. They won't ever score the big contract with Wal-mart, but there's plenty of publishers who regret that once their stock languishes on the shelf.
I Browse at +4 Flamebait
Open Source Sysadmin
Maybe they haven't found distribution for their Windows version... but I got the Max OS X version of Darwinia two months ago from Ambrosia Software.
This sig intentionally left justified.
They stated that they did publish in the UK, but couldn't find a US publisher.
like Ambrosia. They have Darwinia listed. I think I will snub my nose at the "Big" publishers that lack the stones to give a game like this a shot. So my advice to all of you out there. Go to small shops like Ambrosia and others like them. Buy from them and show your support for creativity.
-- What's this '-r *' file doing here? -- Oh well, a simple 'rm' should do the trick.
Try some of those that are more 'indie friendly'. Garagegames, Mstrix games, Dreamcatcher, JoWood(well, maybe not them).
I think its a good idea to give a bit more love to the smaller publishers, be integral in their growth and see where that leads interms of financial success and noteriety....
"Death and poverty like me so much, they brought friends!" - Vash the Stampede, Trigun