GDC 2001: Q&A with Indie Games Festival founder Alex Dunne

Since 1998, the Independent Games Festival has served to highlight the otherwise unsung members of the game development community. Traditionally, however, the annual awards ceremony has only seen entries from PC developers--no independent console developers have ever entered a game into the contest. The reason for this is simple, most console manufacturers have very stringent licensing requirements, not to mention stiff fees. This makes it nearly impossible for most independent teams to acquire the tools and legal clearance to make its projects fly. Recent developments in the console scene, however, are making the idea of independent console games more of an attainable reality.

At the Game Developers Conference this year in San Jose, we caught up with the Indie Games Festival founder, Alex Dunne, who spoke about the future of independent console development.

GameSpot: Would you say that it is still much more difficult for would-be console developers to release a game through independent channels?

Alex Dunne: Yeah, definitely. Console developers are usually hand-picked by the console makers, while [IGF entrants] typically develop for the platform whose tools is easiest for them to get their hands on, which is the PC. The game's you'll see [in the IGF] are all for the PC.

GS: Technically, though, is it legal for an independent console developer to enter its games in the IGF? And if so, has it ever happened?

AD: It never has, though I would love for it to happen someday. I'd love to see the console manufacturers open themselves up to more independent development--it would expose the consoles to more ideas, designs, and diversity. I could see [console manufacturers'] reasons, though, for making their selection of titles exclusive. But I also feel that they're missing out on tremendous opportunities.

GS: Do you think recent developments on the console scene, like Microsoft's Incubator Project, for instance, could bode well for the future of indie console gaming?

AD: Yeah, certainly. I really hope Microsoft's lead in this area--specifically, opening up the option of Xbox development to just about anybody who wants to get into it--will make Sony and Nintendo think twice about their current policies.

GS: Do you have any messages for console manufacturers, regarding these sorts of policies?

AD: Well, it's really up to them. I hope that the IGF really opens their eyes as to what's available from independent developers. The games [in the festival] are going to be coming out for the PC, though, and once they're out, there's a chance they'll be picked up and ported to consoles, eventually. That actually happened with a game called Resurrection (Now known as Ooga Booga two years ago, which won Best Game Design, and was subsequently picked up by Sega.

GS: Well, Alex, good luck with the rest of the festival, and thanks for talking with us.

AD: Great, thank you.

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