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Indie (independent) game developers have been getting more and more attention lately and without doubt the attention is well deserved. The computer gaming industry would be well served if all of us showed a bit more support for the indie game development scene. And here is why.

In an age when derivative gameplay is the norm, when marginally useful expansion packs are an accepted way of getting ever more money from the consumer, the indie game development scene is truly a breath of fresh air.

Over the last decade the established game developers and publishers have been less and less willing to rock the boat as far as experimentation and innovation is concerned. It is understandable, in a business where a company can be made or broken based on a single game, gambling on the unknown and the untested does not make the most sound business sense. However at the same time, this very lack of innovation and unwillingness to experiment is driving away the very people who the companies depend on – the consumers.

Innovation however is not dead, while the big companies are busy protecting their reputation and their bottom line, the indie game developers are hard at work producing interesting, immersive and innovative products that are simply a delight to use. These developers also have a reputation to protect and the bottom line is arguably even more important for them since they rely on the proceeds of their games for their livelihood (not just for the dividends). The difference is that the indie developers make the games not only for profit, but more importantly for the pleasure of producing something interesting and worthwhile and financial concerns never get in the way of that objective.

It is true that as far as innovative gameplay goes, many indie games far surpass their commercial counterparts and you would think we would be paying a premium for this. Nothing could be further from the truth. While some commercial games are priced not far from the hundred dollar mark, some excellent indie games can be had for as little as ten and usually not more than 25 dollars. So, not only are indie game developers innovating, they are also providing real value for money to the consumers of their games.

If none of this resonates with you, then think of this. Year by year the big gaming companies are consolidating more and more, with bigger companies buying up smaller ones to form massive corporations. This smacks very much of monopoly and yes there are still many large gaming corporations, so the M-word does not really apply, but what about in 10 years, 20? Having a vibrant indie gaming scene will not only provide some healthy competition for the big boys, but will also force them to remain vigilant to the mood of the consumer which can only result in better games and more aggressive pricing on their part. For us, the consumers, this is a win-win situation. We get cheaper games as well as a greater variety and who knows, maybe the big game publishers will take a page out of the indie book and produce an innovative game once in a while and that is certainly something to look forward to.

So, next time you’re bored and looking for a new game to play, rather then heading to the store and getting your hands on the latest commercial title, consider going online and looking for a new indie game. You are not only likely to save money and discover some gameplay you never even dreamed about, but you will also be supporting the scene that is keeping the big boys honest.

Alan Skorkin is a software developer, open source enthusiast, blogger, voracious reader and avid gamer. For examples of the best games that the indie scene has to offer visit Top Indie Games You Wouldn

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