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XBL Community Games relabeled Indie Games

Microsoft hopes name change, addition of user feedback ratings will help increase visibility for smaller game offerings.

The Xbox Live Community Games program offers Xbox 360 owners a catalog of more than 300 independently developed downloadable titles, but it has yet to produce a breakthrough hit. Microsoft is hoping to draw more attention to the oft-ignored corner of the Xbox Live Marketplace next month when it changes the program's name from Community Games to Indie Games.

Microsoft hopes a name change and user ratings will help titles like the Bad Dudes-style beat-'em-up/presidential parody Angry Barry stand out.

Microsoft hopes a name change and user ratings will help titles like the Bad Dudes-style beat-'em-up/presidential parody Angry Barry stand out.

Microsoft announced the changes as part of a news update to its XNA Creators Club page. The update also detailed the new 3.1 revision to the XNA Game Studio tools used to create Community Games.

"With your help," the news post told XNA developers, "hopefully this name change (along with other new features such as User Ratings!) will increase understanding and discoverability of your games!"

User ratings won't be the only new addition for XNA titles. XNA Game Studio 3.1 also lets creators use players' avatars in their games, add video playback, support for Xbox Live parties (group chats that exist across different games), and more. Developers can start submitting games using the 3.1 revision on July 23, and Xbox 360 owners should be able to try them out once the changes to the Indie Games section of Xbox Live Marketplace take effect this summer.

59 Comments

  • Autolycus

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 11:32 am GMT

    Isnt Castle Crashers and "Indie" game?

  • Autolycus

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 11:28 am GMT

    @shani_boy101
    Go back to your pathetic attempt at online gaming, called the PS3.

  • shani_boy101

    Posted Jun 14, 2009 12:59 am GMT

    what a stupid attempt to get more attention.

    "hey, i know! how about we change the name to trick people into believing its a new area!"
    'That's a great idea fred!" (group laughs like a bunch of slack-jawed yokels, aka Cletus)

  • Dbproguy

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 7:26 pm GMT

    I am thinking that a huge necessity for indie games is a storyline, especially when working with a console like Xbox 360 (as opposed to PC.) If you think about it, the best games always have a storyline. The mini-games and repetitive games may get some place several times but look at the very top of the list and they've all got story lines.

    As far as the renaming, I personally think indie games is a genre of games in itself, and community games doesn't appeal to as many people, because many people (and I can definitely see this assumption in many places) probably assume community games are games made by a couple of teenagers in their basement, and therefore they must lack quality. I'm not saying anyone here thinks that or has ever thought that but some of the developers out there definitely have some talent and shouldn't be ignored. Either way, we will all see the results of this change and we can then decide for ourselves if it really was worth it. I don't think a creative name is really needed here, simply to list a genre of games.

  • steven141

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 3:43 pm GMT

    I really don't see how this would change anything

  • SalarianChemist

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 2:32 pm GMT

    Microsoft needs to do a better job of "renaming" stuff.

    I don't understand how a company can come up with cool names like "Windows" and "Xbox," but then mess things up so badly with "Indie Games" for something else.

    I thought "Community" was a fine name that was appropriate for this type of game.

    And I agree with everyone here who says that these games would have a heck of a lot more value if there were Achievement points. The same thing goes for Xbox Original games.

    I mean, I already own most of those classic Xbox Original games, and they can be played on my Xbox 360 with the backward compatibility. So, why in the world would I want to buy those games again for such an inflated price. The only motive that I can think of would be to gain Achievement points, but the Xbox Originals don't have Achievement points for some dumb reason. I would gladly have paid the cost to download those games and play through games such as Halo and Fable if there would have been Achievmeent points to gather along the way.

    I think it would have been a smart idea for Microsoft to include Achievement points in these "community" type games. These games should have 100 Achievement points per game, in my opinion. I say that because they cost half of what an Xbox Live Arcade game costs -- only about $2.50 per game.

    By the way, I took the advice of some people online, and I gave the game known as Hangman's Revenge a try; it really is an incredibly fun game with cool and funny graphics!

  • Taegre

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 12:54 pm GMT

    gnrlstuart, sounds like you'd really like EZMuze+.

  • Bpg3D

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 12:19 pm GMT

    Hah, I never understood why would anyone be willing to pay for these games when they are all at the same level of free Flash based games you find on the web.

  • rezapoc

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 11:37 am GMT

    how about achievements for them so that they can compete with arcade games

  • buzznugget

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 11:23 am GMT

    Well I sure can't get enough of Remote Masseuse.

  • gnrlstuart

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 10:41 am GMT

    a hit = something quick, online, fun, and innovative. uno was a hit because it was quick, cheap, used cameras, and did something different.

  • jokers_anarchy

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 10:35 am GMT

    i dont think changing the name from community games to indie games is going to make any one want to buy them

  • pwnzord

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 10:20 am GMT

    For me it's the pricing. I look in this section all the time, but so far most of them look like absolute trash and the few (and I stress few) that don't look so bad are still way too many points to be paid.

    I'd rather keep my points and spend them on some games that actually have some decent design. Adding ratings and changing the title isn't going to do one thing for me.

  • okassar

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 9:48 am GMT

    That makes sense.

  • tommyc555 posted Jun 12, 2009 9:24 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    tommyc555

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 9:24 am GMT (hide)

    Solid Snake and Sonic the Hedgehog will destroy Xbox Live

  • Warlord_Irochi

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 9:18 am GMT

    @milosc

    Hmmm... fail

    We have Comunity games in Europe. Although most of em are quite mediocre lets remember that "Dishwasher" started as a comunity game.

  • console-deity

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 8:44 am GMT

    There are some really good games in the community games section but you do have to do a little digging, I personally download a few every now and then and I usually find one worth getting.

  • Hvac0120

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 8:38 am GMT

    its about time they added the user ratings

  • Dbproguy

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 8:24 am GMT

    So in conclusion, the true master pieces will be easier to find in the Community Games. I'm currently working with XNA, and I'm fairly positive we're able to add achievements to games, After reading some of the comments here I'm very obliged to make sure I add achievements.

  • SuperGogeta24

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 8:14 am GMT

    ...and plus the fact they are awful

  • mocano40

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 8:12 am GMT

    I like the one that is like a fish tank

  • milosc

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 8:07 am GMT

    XBL Community Games didn't catch on is because they are not available in europe...

  • blackace

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 8:02 am GMT

    I think this is a good idea, since XBLA games are games hand picked by Microsoft to be part of the XBLA games, while the Indie Games are approved to be viewed and demoed by XBL users. There are over 300 games, but from what I've seen, most of these aren't anywhere on XBox Live yet. I guess once the Indie Section is created, we'll finally be able to try some of these games. I don't think these games have Achievements, but I could be wrong.

  • Skudd78

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 7:54 am GMT

    Some of the games are fun, but some are pointless. I got the trial for Garrett the Slug and played it for a while, and it has some nice sound effects but games like Ocean Scenes shouldn't or isn't even considered a game. It's a stupid sideshow! But try Garrett the Slug, and you will see the Indie games can be fun.

  • Rottenwood

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 7:53 am GMT

    Finally. I'm all for supporting independent games, but we gotta be able to tell each other where the good ones are.

    Not sure about the name 'indie,' though. I used to be an annoying indie scenester and it's not a positive connotation. Reminds me of my days listening to really whiny rock records and sex in tiny Soho apartments with girls in Burberry scarves and bad Manic Panic dye jobs.

  • LordAndrew

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 7:46 am GMT

    That's just going to be confusing. Community Games aren't the only indie games on Xbox Live Marketplace.

  • SSC-Firestar

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 7:44 am GMT

    Now if we could only them to put in some kind of standards. There's some all right stuff in the community games, but most of it is only on a flash game level, and there's so much absolute garbage to wade through, it's no surprise most people are completely turned off by now. The ratings should be a step in the right direction at least.

  • ThAdEa82

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 7:44 am GMT

    You can call it "The Bestest Game EVAR!!1" section and it is still donkey doo

  • athenian29

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 7:30 am GMT

    Sweet. Now if only I had an Xbox 360, I could take advantage of this new development.

  • XT-inc

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 7:19 am GMT

    These games should be Free, 200 ms points for a game that feels like a minigame was ripped out of warioware, at least the game that inspired portal was 3D and really well thought out.

  • AnimeNewtype

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 6:15 am GMT

    I'll buy these games once they're free. I am not wasting money on a game that may end up being a 20-minute minigame I could play on a Flash website. Until then, I will continue to ignore the indie games.

  • Penalty_of_Hero

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 5:00 am GMT

    In a few month there will be much better games on Xbox Live CG (indie). When there will be a "must have" game, more people will check XBL Indie Games

  • datniccah187

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 4:20 am GMT

    I didn't even know there were that many community games you could play. They haven't done a really good job of marketing it. I'm sure the name change will help, i'll probally check out what they have their later today.

  • beerm_basic

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 3:51 am GMT

    bout time this happened as im sure theres gems amoung those community games but i dont know which ones.

  • LithuanianGamer

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 3:49 am GMT

    hurray xD

  • OneBadLT123

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 1:11 am GMT

    Yeah for the most part, the "indie" games just are not that good. I have not bought any yet, and I dont plan on it. Not a knock on the developers, just the games to me just are not worth my money.

  • SirSpoon84

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 12:14 am GMT

    glimpus is a tard, i think this is a nice move by microsoft

  • jemwilli

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 10:58 pm GMT

    The Xbox community games are for the most part abysmal (Read Controller Massagers and Pong rip-offs), but there are some true gems among the crap. Word Soup and Global Thermonuclear war are two that I purchased because they are great games at 400 points a piece.

  • jasonharris48

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 9:58 pm GMT

    @ glimpus
    You suck sir. There a re a lot good indie games out there how do you think Valve's Portal got created? BTW Indie rock rules!

  • glimpus posted Jun 11, 2009 9:20 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    glimpus

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 9:20 pm GMT (hide)

    Just like Indie music, these games suck.

  • chibi-acer

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 8:53 pm GMT

    What's with all the comment hate for indie developers? Why should their games be free?

    I can understand demanding better quality control or just better products, but sheesh. Independent developers need to make a living too.

  • Taegre

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 8:53 pm GMT

    I was thinking just last week that a ratings system would really help good community-made games shine. I already know I'm giving EZmuze+ a perfect score as soon as this feature is available.

  • Csalbertcs

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 8:49 pm GMT

    The massager game is awesome. I didn't buy it of course, I just downloaded the trial. It's basically the same.

    But the 360 controller is an amazing massager, especially with a lot of vibration feedback :p

  • Excedra

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 8:48 pm GMT

    yay

  • DBZelda7

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 7:49 pm GMT

    Either make these games free or add achievements.

    Otherwise, I'm never going to touch any of them.

  • blackie8

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 7:22 pm GMT

    omg yes this is awesome

  • moppy43

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 7:15 pm GMT

    @jake-lutze

    You're absolutely right. Some of the community games are worth it -- the only problem is, usually you're sifting through a lot of crap, just to end up downloading a few demos and getting the whole story that way.

    But it's nice to see that XBL is adding support to the (as of next month) indie games. Maybe then they'll gain more attention, and maybe we'll see a higher percentage of quality games.

  • SickM0R0N

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 7:07 pm GMT

    There are a few games in the Community Games area that have interested me, such as Angry Barry--but as max said t they are somewhat newgrounds games. Clover is another interesting title. However, it is probably hard for many to take it seriously when the top games are a massage game and a virtual fish tank.

  • jake-lutze

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 6:55 pm GMT

    @maxninjaman

    thats true, to an extent, but there are some quality games on the community games tab. Look around sometime.

  • mastodonfatguy

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 6:38 pm GMT

    O.o ... well.... ok then.. but what about the people who dont have xna? what do we get? arent we supposed to get that free game making thing they showed at... i think tokyo game show last year?... w/e its not a big deal

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