We've heard about indie development quite a bit when it comes to gaming. The PC has probably been the ultimate destination for same for some time going back as far as the days of shareware and game modding. Mobile devices are stuffed full of same, with indie gaming flooding iOS and Android development shops. Consoles, however, have only recently gotten in on the action, but are taking to it pretty rapidly. The new generation of consoles is set to offer up some major advantages for the indie developer, but the biggest winner here may be Nintendo and the Wii U.
Nintendo's Wii U has been out longer than any other system in the next generation, yet it's been comparatively stagnant in terms of overall games around. The lack of games available for the system has been less than positively received, but there has been plenty of stirring around the indie sector. While both Sony and Microsoft have been seen offering advantages to the indie developer, there are two major developments for Nintendo's indie crowd that may really help it get into the swim: Unity and the Nintendo Web Framework.
With Unity, developers get access to a complete software development kit to help power development and allow developers to get product out faster and onto the console more rapidly. The Nintendo Web Framework, meanwhile, allows for the use of HTML5 to develop for Web browsers, meaning that not only could gamers play the games in question via the Wii U's Web browser, but also via other HTML5-capable Web browsers, which means multiple platforms can come into play from one round of development. That's likely to prove appealing to developers, who can make a move to get games to the widest possible audience for the least amount of development overall, saving resources and allowing more development to take place in the same time, whether it's more titles overall, or more complex titles to be released.
Nintendo, meanwhile, has been working hard to blow the indie horn, so to speak, getting more developers interested in bringing games to the console and at the same time getting more users interested in playing said titles. There are some roadblocks involved, with Nintendo serving as a bit of a gatekeeper in the whole affair—in-game advertising isn't allowed, but add-on content and microtransactions are just fine at last report—but for the most part, the field is open, even if Nintendo suggests sticking to family-oriented games as that's one of Nintendo's biggest audiences, and thus the place in which gamers are most likely to do well. Most of the problems that have emerged so far have been largely mechanical in nature; Nintendo wants to be sure there are no “game-breaking bugs” or “things busting our system,” both perfectly reasonable concerns, and Nintendo advises “reaching out to us” in the event of gray areas.
There's something to be said for this approach, after all, and Nintendo really wants the system to be working. But this is just as much a help to Nintendo as it is the indie developer; Nintendo needs games. Badly. Its development process so far has been extremely slack, and not too many developers even seem interested in developing for the Wii U, a situation that might well spell the end of Nintendo's console ambitions. But Nintendo is actively courting the indie developer, and this is good news.
However, there's something that Nintendo really could do in terms of producing games: the company has a massive library of intellectual property, and a host of indie developers who'd love to do something with it. Why not start licensing some of it out? Okay, granted, not even Nintendo wants fifty zillion Mario games running around, but there are possibilities. Admittedly, Nintendo's engaged in a little of this cash-grab-esque behavior itself. “Dr. Mario,” anyone? “Mario is Missing”? But opening up the field a bit to lesser-used, lesser-known titles like “Ice Climbers” or the ROB platform might be what Nintendo could use. A limited number, specific authorized partners...these things could mean fresh life in the Nintendo infrastructure.
Only time will tell if Nintendo's move to better bring the indie developer into the fold is a good one or not, but one thing is clear: Nintendo needs some help, badly. Getting more developers in play...that's just good business in the long term. And it may well prove Nintendo's saving grace.
Android (operating system) Bethesda Bethesda Softworks Downloadable content Electronic Arts Electronic sports Facebook Fallout (series) Fallout 3 Fallout: New Vegas Gamer Games Google IOS Maryland Massively multiplayer online game Microsoft Microsoft Windows Mobile game Nintendo Oculus Rift PC game Personal computer PlayStation PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 Sony The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim United States Video game Video game console Virtual reality Wii Wii U World of Warcraft Xbox Xbox 360 Xbox Live Xbox One YouTube
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- October 2011
- September 2011
Featured Videos