Opportunities
If you can build a good game, and expand & polish it after the jam, there are many opportunities:
If you can build a good game, and expand & polish it after the jam, there are many opportunities:
- Vortex 2008 - The Game Competition is happening once again in Toronto. More than likely they'll be looking for independent game submissions. They'll definitely be looking for pitches from teams. The potential is amazing.
- Just discovered: 10 Indie and Student Game Competitions. They list some competitions I fail to mention here, and they provide MUCH better detail. Thank Indie Games for the heads up.
- Gamma - a 1-night only games-are-indeed-art celebration complete with live music & drink. It may be the only hip videogame related event ever, and was partly the inspiration behind the TOJam Arcade. They will want submissions, and the exposure is fantastic. Takes place at the same time as The Montreal International Game Summit, so start making plans.
- Adult Swim will pay you to build your crazy pitch. Have you visited Time Waster 3000? It's nuts. From their site: "We want weird, funny, fast-paced, stupid, thought-provoking, twitchy, epic, ironic or violent - whatever you can think up. The only pitches we don't want are kiddy and unoriginal."
- Jay is Games showcases great free games, no matter how small. They have great taste, and a lot of readers. Every 6 months, they hold a game making contest. Not only is the exposure incredible, but the prize money has become seriously dangerous.
- The iPhone Developer Program. You'll be able to upload & SELL whatever IPhone game you're capable of making. Added bonus - you keep 70% of the price!
- "Xbox Live Community Games" allows you to upload & distribute your indie XNA game to anyone that owns an XBOX 360. While you can't currently sell your game, if you attract players, I'm sure it will lead to something. Regular X-Box Live Arcade (XBLA) just released N+, by Toronto's own metanet software. They worked their asses off and got this released - so could you. Note: you need asses.
- Taken directly from Media Molecule's Website "Media Molecule was founded by a small troupe of Lionhead veterans who, bolstered by their work together on cult indie game Rag Doll Kung-Fu, decided they could see a great way to make innovative, creative games for the 'next generation' of game consoles - all the while staying small and true to that 'family' vibe you only get when working in a small, talented team." Thanks partially to an indie game, these guys are about to release the greatest PS3 game ever made.
- Steam (Valve's digital distribution system) just released indie game AudioSurf. Even stranger - It's selling! This could be you.
- The grand old dame of indepedent games - the IGF, always accepts independent game submissions. Incredibly, most IGF winners these days get their game published! The IGF bills itself as "the Sundance" of indepedent gaming. Based on this year's event, where they somewhat overshadowed the main Game Developer Conference, that's not far from the truth. The only drawback is the inevitable backlash, and the increased IGF competition in 2009.
- Penny Arcade just created greenhouse games, with the intention of featuring overlooked indie titles. PAX (the Penny Arcade Expo) is featuring independent games this year.
- Indiecade is actively promoting indie games via a travelling arcade.
- Instant Action & GarageGames. They need games for their amazing new pipeline. Where or where will it come from? Who or who will provide it? GarageGames has one of the best royalty rates going.
- GameTap Indies wants your game. They just re-released the famous indie game Mr. Robot for free (now powered by advertising).
- Kongregate is like "YouTube" for games, only you get paid based on how many people play your Flash game. If have serious skills, their premium program will pay you to develop a unique game. From the site: "If you've got an interesting take on an old genre, you've already sparked my interest. Or if you've got a whole new genre. If you've got a concept that's so unconventional and amusing that I laugh just reading the title, you'll have sparked my interest." They even let you keep the IP!
- Mochiads is an easy way to monetize your flash games with online ads. The more people that play your game, the more money you make. As an added bonus, piracy now works in your favour.
- Armor Games is looking "for Fun Flash Games. If your game is new, original, creative and addictive we will sponsor it." "Typically prices range from $1,500 to $7,000 (But we are willing to pay more for higher quality games)." And... "the developer keep all of the rights to his/her work."
- ArcadeTown will pay you to distribute your flash game. I so wish I knew Flash.
- The Playstation Network (PSN) features Everyday Shooter, by Toronto genius and TOJam #1 crazy Jonathan Mak. Q-Games is doing well releasing exclusive, small, high-res games (PixelJunk Racers, PixelJunk Monsters). Next up... Echochrome. Perhaps you can get in on this action.