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E3 '07: Indie games get a shot

Underground development scene crashes the Barker Hangar party with a handful of alternative gaming options.

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--Despite the latest generation of consoles offering more horsepower for games and more ways to control them than ever before, the industry is still dominated by first-person shooters, licensed properties, and franchised sequels. Whatever one thinks of the upcoming lineups from the major publishers unveiled at this year's E3 Media and Business Summit, there was one booth at the Barker Hangar where visitors could count on every game shown to bring something new to the mix.

The Indie Games Showcase booth, a collaborative effort between international independent games festival IndieCade and the International Game Developers Association, takes up more space than those for some big-name publishers like Ubisoft, Activision, and Take-Two Interactive. The booth houses a number of games that stand out from the crowd, from the surreal Night Journey to the physics-based platformer N. Information about all the games on display is available at IndieCade's official Web site.

IndieCade founder Stephanie Barish took a few minutes to answer some quick questions from GameSpot about independent game development and its role at the new E3.

GameSpot: It looks like just about everyone else here is a member of the show's organizer, the Entertainment Software Association. How'd you get into E3?

Stephanie Barish: We were invited by the ESA to come, and they actually sponsored our booth because they really wanted to show everybody else here that there were other options, and just have people see things that were a little bit different.

GS: With so few companies coming this year, there's a concern that smaller, out-of-the-way games from independent developers that might have been displayed in Kentia Hall last year wouldn't get a chance at E3. Is this enough of a foothold for independent games at the show?

SB: That's a really good question. I think that this is a different kind of foothold. I don't think we could represent everybody that was in Kentia Hall. And I think the ESA purposely wanted it to just be their members representing themselves. So in terms of representing Kentia Hall, no. In terms of representing what the indie games scene is like, I think it's a really good starting point.

GS: One thing about the old E3 is that independent developers could come to the show and do business with publishers as well as the press. The indie games in the booth are getting exposure to the media, but is there as much going on with them on the business end of things?

SB: Well a lot of these games are by independent developers, like one person. These are people that wouldn't even have gotten into Kentia Hall, so yeah, this is great visibility for them... We're getting a ton of attention for the gamemakers. And also the ESA wanted to support our efforts for this independent games festival, and that will be a good place for the people who would have done business at Kentia Hall... A couple of them are now coming out. Sony just announced Everyday Shooter on the PlayStation 3, N is coming out on the DS, somebody else is working on a deal with Xbox Live Arcade. All these guys are making deals. They're all different situations because they're all individuals.

GS: What are some of your favorites here?

SB: It's hard to know; it depends on my mood. I had a dream about Night Journey last night, which is an incredible game done by game designer Tracy Fullerton and media artist Bill Viola. He's an incredible video artist and it's kind of a dreamy, zen-like game and it's really unusual, interesting, and exploratory. I love Everyday Shooter. One guy did everything on that game. And Cloud's been a favorite for a very long time.

33 Comments

  • gautham

    Posted Oct 12, 2007 7:46 pm GMT

    It's nice to see indie developers and big-name corporations such as Sony existing with each other, and even benefitting each other. Good to know that there is still room for those independent developers out there

  • mikec62

    Posted Aug 30, 2007 4:14 am GMT

    I reckon not only next gen HD games will be the future but defiantly indie game developers selling their game on steam or given it away as freeware . and the new Microsoft xna game studio will help people make games for Xbox live marketplace

  • Unholyone123

    Posted Jul 16, 2007 12:13 pm GMT

    See, this is how indie developers should do it...by drawing attention to yourself with proper business like behaviour. If more indie developers would conduct themselves like this instead of whining and crying about how the industry isn't fair, then maybe more of them would be taken seriously.

  • easteast

    Posted Jul 16, 2007 11:20 am GMT

    '07 and '08 are great years for Indie developers...

  • nintendo_fan675

    Posted Jul 15, 2007 10:59 am GMT

    Doesn't seem like the thing that will make me go wow

  • gozalo

    Posted Jul 15, 2007 9:38 am GMT

    Pretty cool.

  • mumblesh

    Posted Jul 15, 2007 6:50 am GMT

    errrrm, he said 'incredible' twice? hey Neuro... you said it more times! Indie games need more publicity. The mainstream has become rather stagnant. Bring back things like the Net-Yaroze I say, and encourage bedroom coding again!

  • Dreski83

    Posted Jul 15, 2007 1:13 am GMT

    exposure... such an intimidating word, but very good in some cases. in the entertainment world, everyone deserves some sort of chance to strut their stuff... look at crap like American Idol

  • c_rake Site moderator

    Posted Jul 14, 2007 3:45 pm GMT

    That's very cool!

  • neuromancer123

    Posted Jul 14, 2007 10:45 am GMT

    incredible incredible incredible incredible... sb gets -5 for saying incredible so much.. buy a thesaurus and spend some time with incredible man.

  • Morrowindeler

    Posted Jul 14, 2007 10:35 am GMT

    I Ruve Indie Gamesh.

  • msudude211

    Posted Jul 14, 2007 7:36 am GMT

    That's cool that Indie dev.'s are getting a chance at E3.

  • magicmo

    Posted Jul 14, 2007 6:51 am GMT

    Not bad, but I would get bored with it very quickly.

  • shinian

    Posted Jul 14, 2007 4:47 am GMT

    RaiKageRyu: Exactly my thought.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Jul 14, 2007 1:07 am GMT

    Everyday shooter looked very Rez like.

  • Pete5506

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 9:52 pm GMT

    cool, I gess

  • asmodeus_z

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 8:19 pm GMT

    Hope MS will introduce some indie games on XBL - This is definitely good publicity for both parties - Aegis Wing is a good start (even though its done by Ms interns)

  • icytower

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 7:31 pm GMT

    Indy games are good or bad, never seam to be in the middle, but they will always belong in the world.

  • edubuccaneer Site moderator

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 6:57 pm GMT

    As long as they keep the frozen lemonade cold, indies will always have a space in the Kentia Halls of our hearts. Yes, I am corny.

  • jesus_knight

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 6:38 pm GMT

    theyve been doing a good job so far

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 4:28 pm GMT

    Yay for Indy games.

  • prostar343

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 3:59 pm GMT

    This is a good start on allowing small development houses to get their games out. But its only a start, and hopefully more help will be given for the games to have a shot at retail.

  • DouglasBuffone

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 3:21 pm GMT

    Indies are doing well right now and I really like it

  • psyconius

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 2:56 pm GMT

    Eh.. I want more info on Night Journey :/ So far all I can find is a artsy portfolio page talking about the concept.. no details on availability :/

  • Adam_the_Nerd

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 2:49 pm GMT

    The thing I like about independent game developers, is that they don't have the creative restraints that big developers do. So they're free to make games as wild as they want; games that follow their dreams and flow with creativity. These are the games that I like looking at. They have all the effort and hard work of big ticket games, but they can sometimes be better!

  • KorJax

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 2:45 pm GMT

    N on the DS? WOW! Thats like one of the more legendary classic freeware games out, it's awsome the game is getting some comerical recognition

  • DJGeki

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 2:39 pm GMT

    This levels nothing! There won't be a 'level' playing field on the consoles until someone has an Internet based 'store' where mostly-complete, fully-tested games are available, and those games come from anyone, anywhere in the world. Think Xbox Live Arcade + a free section of Indie games, or game demos where the player can buy a full version without paying a $99.00/yr fee for them. (i.e., screw XNA since it doesn't allow everyone to download your newly produced game). BTW, if you want to support indie developers, go buy their games!! Check out www.goatstore.com for some on the Dreamcast scene that have been released commercially (Feet of Fury, Maquipai, Cool Herders).

  • The_Mad_Nutter

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 2:35 pm GMT

    Always good to add some variety into the mix. Also good to hear that the indie developers will be getting their games out to a wide audience on xbla, ds and ps3.

  • playstation_wii

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 2:23 pm GMT

    This definitely levels out the playing field.

  • Shishio817

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 2:18 pm GMT

    Pretty cool, some of these games are actually okay/fun.

  • Bansheesdie

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 2:07 pm GMT

    This should happen more, Indie developers should get more publicity.

  • rokkuman09

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 2:01 pm GMT

    Cool, some Indy games are pretty good, hope to see more on XBL.

  • vampiredust99

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 1:48 pm GMT

    Cool. Good to see some of the smaller guys standing tall.

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