For some reason, (and they did have a reason) in the latest update to the XBOX360 dashboard, Indie Games were put into the Specialty Stores category, much to the chagrin of the Indie Games development community. According to the people behind the change, they thought that by listing Indie Games alongside Avatar items (also in the Specialty Stores), Indie Games would actually get more exposure versus when they were listed under “Games.”
Yeah, I don’t get it either.
Anyways, immediate torch & pitchfork type grassroots activities ensued and now Indie Games are Games once again. Thanks, XBOX Live team for such a fast response.
This situation reminds me of a problem I have been considering recently: whether or not I should list my upcoming game as an “Educational Game.” I suppose in the strictest sense, it is one, but on the other hand the combination of the words “educational” and “game” has somewhat of a negative connotation with the general audience of 360 gamers and probably beyond just that group as well.
One of the main goals of my project is to make a game that has educational value and entertainment value. Tricking players into learning stuff, if you will. If it is successful, design wise, then I don’t think people should judge it simply because I label it as educational, and the easiest way to avoid that would be to label it as something else, like an action game. Or a simulation.
Then again, maybe it does make more sense to simple call it what it is, allowing the people who are actually interested in learning the topic at hand to find my game more easily, and then letting their word of mouth carry the message that the game is fun in its own right as well.
Hmm. What would you do?
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