Jeff; some good points, but I would argue that the game my tiny (3 man) company has been working on for the last 3+ years is a good example of indy innovation.
My background is in aviation so I know the power of simulations. I also happen to be a gamer. When I learned to speak Italian a few years back there was no good way to practice, the available tools suck. And I realized one day - as I was stalking someone in a lovingly crafted counterstrike map that looked like a French village - why not make a first person speaker? So I did. I paid for it myself and it took a long damn time, but we finished the first version of it.
An idea like this would never have gotten through a pitch meeting...too hard to do, too untraditional. But the response we are getting is phenomenal.
So, I see your point but I think you have to look at the clutter of small game companies with a poker/sodoku filter on. Then unusual projects will jump out at you.
Let me know if you want a free copy.
http://www.3dlanguage.net/
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Jeff; some good points, but I would argue that the game my tiny (3 man) company has been working on for the last 3+ years is a good example of indy innovation. My background is in aviation so I know the power of simulations. I also happen to be a gamer. When I learned to speak Italian a few years back there was no good way to practice, the available tools suck. And I realized one day - as I was stalking someone in a lovingly crafted counterstrike map that looked like a French village - why not make a first person speaker? So I did. I paid for it myself and it took a long damn time, but we finished the first version of it. An idea like this would never have gotten through a pitch meeting...too hard to do, too untraditional. But the response we are getting is phenomenal. So, I see your point but I think you have to look at the clutter of small game companies with a poker/sodoku filter on. Then unusual projects will jump out at you. Let me know if you want a free copy. http://www.3dlanguage.net/
There is something like this for Spanish called 3DLanguage...Indie studio, no killing, just order up the beer and tapas...