http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/26241/Gamasutras_Best_Of_2009_Top_10_Indie_Games.php This may sound like a negative post (cause it is) + Im not critising the ppl that made these games in fact good on them for getting their games out there, but I saw this today + was left scratching my head, Is it just me but if these are the best 10 of the year then indie games basically suck 10. Enviro-Bear 2000: Operation: Hibernation // perhaps the best one on the list 9. Meat Boy // unoriginal platformer 8. Cogs // I didnt try 7. AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!!: A Reckless Disregard For Gravity // unoriginal tunnel shooter 6. Journey to the Center of the Earth // looks like another platformer 5. RunMan: Race Around the World // unorignal platformer, original look though 4. Star Guard // welcome to 25 years ago 3. Canabalt // lame + unoriginal 2. VVVVVV // didnt try, though looks to be another platformer 1. Machinarium // looks good (the best of the lot) but had shallow gameplay Where are all the original ideas? True originality is just a part of the product but u would thing being indie u were more able to take a chance with something new

Like what, You have a masterplan yourself? I don't recall true originality in concepts since maybe Tetris!

It's a joke post, right? Right?

>>Like what, You have a masterplan yourself?

:) no Im not saying I can do better or anything, I was just shocked with the standard of these choices

>>I don't recall true originality in concepts since maybe Tetris!
true, though when ~half of these games are basically platformers, youve gotta wonder about wheres the originality in the indie community if these are the best of the year

a game consists of two main things
A/ concept,originality
B/ packaging,presentation

ok for indie games #B is gonna be handicapped due to lack time/money but that means #A becomes even more important.
look at these 10 games, none do both well + only a couple perform well in either category

Im not knocking anyone who worked on these games but honestly

http://vacuumflowers.com/star_guard/star_guard.html
watch the video (whilst I do like it, esp the sounds due to being an aracde junkie as a kid)

but honestly if u were marking it it would be
2/10 originality
1/10 presentation
if this is the 4th best indie game of the year then theres no hope :)

Quote:
a game consists of two main things
A/ concept,originality
B/ packaging,presentation

And here I thought challenge and immersion were important elements in game design.

I admit the selection is a bit weak.

I like this project btw. I dont think the gamasutra top 5 really represents the creativity of indie games.

Portal was pretty original. That's an Indie game with a original idea making it to the big time. That's nice to see originality rewarded I agree.

Quote: Original post by zedz
true, though when ~half of these games are basically platformers, youve gotta wonder about wheres the originality in the indie community if these are the best of the year

May I ask what you have against platformers? I enjoy platformers, even if unoriginal, if the game play is fun or a challenge.

Quote: And here I thought challenge and immersion were important elements in game design.

they come under #A/ concept, as well as fun etc i.e. what the game is about

Quote: I like this project btw. I dont think the gamasutra top 5 really represents the creativity of indie games

http://experimentalgameplay.com/blog/category/games/
yes that site seems reasonably good from a quick browse, a bit hard to see. It would be nice if they had a couple of screenshots from each game + a bit more of a description

Quote: Portal was pretty original. That's an Indie game with a original idea making it to the big time. That's nice to see originality rewarded I agree.

Ive heard good things about it as well as braid et al (though havent played them).
Conversely u have worthwhile games that are lacking in originality but are presented well eg geometry wars

Part of the reason for my post is Im looking for an idea to make a new game, so was browsing the net looking for inspiration

a couple of ideas Ive been mulling over
A/ create your own car + then race them around a track
B/ alien syndrome clone but with decent lighting

Canabalt over AAAAAAAAh and Enviro Bear? The whole strategy of the game was jump when behind an obstacle or at the edge of a building except when a window is below you on the next jump, otherwise do nothing.

Although your point against AAAAAAAAAAAAh seems weird, I don't remember there being any shooting at all, it was all about hugging/kissing/tagging buildings, in addition to flipping off/thumbs upping people, and landing, I've never played a game like it

EDIT: I just realized I played Star Guard too, but it was pretty forgettable, I'd rather see a game like push in it's place, also I realized the copyright and release dates for Meat Boy all say 2008, so they didn't even check the years on the games they picked.

[Edited by - eedok on December 19, 2009 1:14:25 PM]

Quote: they come under #A/ concept, as well as fun etc i.e. what the game is about

You do realize that your entire rant places originality above immersion and challenge, and that you in fact use originality as your single metric to judge those ten games in that category, right?