That trailer is for Flippfly's game, Race The Sun, a title currently sitting at an 81 metacritic score, thats done-so without yet being greenlit on Steam, in spite of being on the list for over a year now. But the game is struggling with sales in its first month, and it's something developer Aaron San Filippo says, when talking about not getting your release on a big platform, is, "asking for trouble."
But I don't think indies are screwed without Steam. I think they can do just fine without it. I do think, however, that it's no different then everything else PC gaming related, where PC=Steam for most people... Except for where almost an equal amount of people are anti-Steam because they're anti-DRM. You hear it all the time when Steam is brought up.
One of the biggest thing I think can go wrong though, is lack of exposure.
It's a tricky situation, though, because -to be real honest about it- I wouldn't have known about this game had it not been for this article (and the few others I'm seeing on the side of that, but I guess I missed those), but probably would have been much more able to see it on Steam, where a lot of games, indie or not, get advertised pretty avidly. If they just had more exposure, it'd really help them.
Maybe I don't haunt the right circles and I just haven't seen where they've put themselves out there more. I don't know. All I do see is that I'm just becoming interested in it today, and its interest built on the ass end of hearing about how disappointing their sales have been in the games first month.
So, even though I'm not signed on completely to the idea that a game needs Steam to make it big in the world, I'm still going to head over to their Greenlight page after this post and vote. Not so much because I'd like to play it (because I would, but I could just buy it directly from them, to further prove my point), but because they should get more exposure, and this is a great way to get it. Please join me in doing so.
It could also possibly a help them to look into selling on Amazon. Since Amazon's sudden turn to promoting indie games this past spring, I think they've done some good to get them out there a little more for human consumption. It may not as good as Steam, but it's certainly something more. But I also don't know all that much about the ins and outs to Amazon's indie dealings, so that could be a hurdle too.
Theres also a platform like Desura, though I'm even more in the dark about how they work, then I am about Amazon's innards.
And theres also alway Humble Bundles.
All of that said, and as a connected side-note, I think its pretty shitty that the game got rejected by Indiecade because "the endless runner genre fits iOS and Android better."
What.The.Fuck.
I mean, this is Indiecades message/mission statement:
We here at IndieCade are dedicated to the discovery, development and recognition of independent artists and developers from around the world. Our mission is to encourage, promote and cultivate innovation and artistry in interactive media and to champion those efforts. The organization of a series of local and international events celebrating the best and forefront of indie games is our way to show our commitment to the industry, to the community, and the players. The IndieCade Festival. It's a Celebration. Come join us.
Isn't it going against that message, by denying any independently made game that proves itself to have at least some general worth?
As an example to what I mean: This game is of some worth, it seems great, and has the reviews to prove it. Where a game like.. I don't know.. A trash game on about prank calling or impregnating woman or whatever (I had one in my head, I can see the "cover" in my head, but the name escapes me.. This isn't it, but probably says it all.), like you'd see on XBL's indie section, wouldn't -shouldn't- be given that sort of time on a festival level.
So what that its genre is better suited for iOS and Android games? Is it on those platforms yet, or at least on those platforms in some exclusive manner? No, its not; a comment from Flippfly on the games trailer says that they'll look into those platforms if they get enough PC sales. And even so, what the hell? Your going to bust up your message because of a platform, instead of trying to embrace all platforms?
If its such a celebration, and we should come join, then why are what seems like great indie games, being excluded from the party? Something just seems very wrong about this. Like digital racism.
Either way, even though I've not played the game (yet), nor do I know anyone behind the making of it, I wish Flippfly tons of luck and urge them to keep pushing forward to the future. The game looks great (I really love the minimalist style to it), and it doesn't seem to be flying too close to the sun on the gameplay.
Flippfly deserves some success on this one, go buy the game, or at least take the time to give them a Greenlight vote.
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