Realities of the Indie Marketplace – Part 2

Key Principle

How has the indie marketplace changed in the last 4 years?  What games are proving successful over others?  Indie veteran Jason Rohrer is here to tell us.

Key Verse

Luke 19:13
So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

Homework

• Watch The Shape of Financial Success Before and After the Indiepocalypse

Discussion Questions

1. Can you name a one-hit wonder in games: where the first game was very successful but follow ups were not?
2. One hit wonders are common in music, how do you think games are similar or different?
3. Jason made 13 games without making any money.  Granted, many of these were art games that inspired other developers, but even so.  Are you prepared to put in that kind of long haul effort?  Why?
4. One Hour One Life made $600k.  How does that strike you?
5. How has games journalism changed in the past 5 years?
6. What about your game is good for steaming?  What isn’t?
7. Do you agree with his conclusion of “Consumable” vs. “Infinite Unique Situation Generators?”
8. What % of your game is “Consumable” vs. “Infinite Unique Situation Generator?”  Can you change your game to be more of an “Infinite Unique Situation Generator?”