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[ggx2ac]

There's a lot more at the link: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-10-04-the-nintendo-switch-indie-gold-rush

I wanted to post parts of the article that wasn't about Shovel Knight and more about indies and competition in general.

____

With major AAA publishers taking a cautious approach to the console, and with Nintendo spacing out its AAA titles throughout the year, there's been a big opportunity for smaller developers - especially since Switch sales have (so far) surprised even the most optimistic of analysts.

Jaakko Maaniemi from developer 10tons, talks about the indieapocalypse and the gold rush cycle:

"Those who are quick to the market reap outsize rewards. The window of opportunity is always limited though, as competition always flocks to any market where good profit is being made. And the competition is massive in volume these days, due to greatly improved game making tools and every platform holder having embraced indies, making distribution equally easy. The indieapocalypse, if you will.

"Every indie out there who has paid any attention is aware of both the indieapocalypse and the new storefront gold rush cycle. It can lead only to exactly one thing; more competition being acutely sensitive about time to market, and doing everything they can to be one of the actors benefiting from the brief period of low competition. Which in turn leads to the platform holder being the decisive factor in how quickly the gold rush period ends.

Indie developer and former PlayStation indie boss Shahid Ahmad talks about Nindies, launch cycles and saturation:

"Nintendo has done well to court independent developers. The messaging isn't always perfect, with 'Nindies' implying a kind of ownership that is dissonant. That said, developers love them - I certainly do - and Nintendo has some really great people who just get it.

"There's always going to be a window of opportunity for anyone competent launching a game early in the life of a device; it's high demand, low supply. Few mainstream consoles have had the foresight to capture the imagination of independent developers out of the gate though, I can only think of the PS4 and the Switch as examples of this phenomenon. This works because the big publishers are hesitant to commit when they don't know how well the device will sell, and the addressable market, no matter how good the numbers, is unlikely to provide a healthy ROI for the bigger publishers. This is when a platform often provides incentives to share some risk.

...

"I do wish some people would drop the scare stories though. This isn't rocket science. The market gets tougher as the quality of software improves from both small and large developers as the addressable market also increases. So what? Saturation will be an issue, but that's hardly a surprise.

"The whole point of easy access for a developer to a platform's digital store is not to guarantee sales, but to give them a shot, where once upon a time they didn't have that shot, at all. I do wish some of the doom-mongers would remember that."

Tom Tomaszewski of Crunching Koalas warns against the rush due to shovelware and unpolished games being unfair for Switch owners:

"Some developers and publishers are releasing very unpolished builds - just look at the number of patches released on the eShop in recent weeks - or very un-complex titles that require a relatively small amount of work to be ported to Switch. I know that 18 titles were released this week, but how many of these have a true chance of succeeding? I think just a handful.

"It's still not to late, but you can't release just about anything - there aren't many shooters or puzzle games. And if you're an indie bringing a game that's already on the market, on a different platform, definitely add some new content for the Switch; it'd make your marketing much easier, and maybe even the nice folks at Nintendo will help with your visibility.

We hope the eShop improves as much as these developers are hoping:

As for the future, the studios we spoke to expect Nintendo to update the eShop to introduce categorisation and improve discoverability. Some also anticipate a change in how they manage sales and promotions going forward.

There's so much more in the article, so check the link.

 

[FelipeMGM]

the Indiepocalypse is a very real thing devs have been talking about for awhile, and it does affect every platform in some form already. And yeah, the Switch is the place to be right now even having a lot of games every week already, sales are great for most of them. I know devs that were working on XB1 ports that put that on hold a bit to work on getting a Switch version faster

Nintendo has the advantage of knowing this early still, and should work on their eShop presentation and curation of content asap

 

[vareon]

eShop categorisation need to come fast.

 

[Toadthemushroom]

Last week 19 games hit the eShop. We know Golf Story has topped many an eShop chart, selling more copies in a week than SteamWorld Dig 2 managed in two, and Picross S is charting high too.

But this piece also mentions more sales info emerged on the games which flew under the radar for most, and they are still selling higher than expected:

10tons with Sparkle 2 and Ant Workshop with Binaries - both games that arrived on Switch last week - were pleased with their opening sales. And you don't have to look far to find other examples.

There's also a quote from a developer which suggests that lower-key titles are still outselling other platforms combined - as we've seen before with the likes of Death Squared and Oceanhorns. These aren't big hitting indie games like Rocket League, SteamWorld Dig 2 or Stardew Valley, but they are finding audiences on Switch.

 

[Toadthemushroom]

eShop categorisation need to come fast.

It already exists via the Search function - you can filter games by a lot more variables. I do think there should be an extra tab or so on the left pane menu though.

I think News is how Nintendo plans to curate the eShop. That's why Switch users can currently follow channels and Like/Dislike news articles - my guess is that this information will be used in the future to tailor news stories to Switch owners and help them discover games they might like.

 

[Kouriozan]

Some publisher said, back in May, that now (well back then) was the time to release indies before it's too late.
Mario is coming and there is so much more game that discoverability is going to suffer a lot, launching a successful game with minimal marketing is going to be harder, I hope Nintendo will react quickly.

 

[James Scott]

I had noted that so many games on one day was a bad idea.
But people still found success surprisingly. Hope releases slow down so devs will have more attention.

 

[Spukc]

Ģreat now nintendo needs to understand how to do sales.

Same as psn and xbox

 

[Vic]

Last week 19 games hit the eShop. We know Golf Story has topped many an eShop chart, selling more copies in a week than SteamWorld Dig 2 managed in two, and Picross S is charting high too.

But this piece also mentions more sales info emerged on the games which flew under the radar for most, and they are still selling higher than expected:

That was the most surprising bit of the article.

 

[schuelma]

If I was an indie and had a game basically ready, I'd probably hold off until early 2018, when barring an unexpected Nintendo 1st party announcement it looks like there will be some room.

 

[ggx2ac]

I had noted that so many games on one day was a bad idea.
But people still found success surprisingly. Hope releases slow down so devs will have more attention.

That probably won't happen, one dev in the article mentioned how Xbox One gets about 30 games per month from his count and that he thinks Switch has already exceeded that and will be getting closer to PS4 levels of amount of new game releases per month.

 

[JonnyDBrit]

This quote was raised in the Shovel Knight thread, but I think is particularly important:

"Shovel Knight, which was almost 3 years old when the Switch launched, sold more units out of the gate than any other platform," says Yacht Club's David D'Angelo.

"I believe many developers right now are experiencing the same phenomenon. At the moment, games definitely stand out when they launch and consumers are excited to purchase, but at this rate there will be an over-abundance of games. We hope Nintendo updates the eShop to make it easier to highlight and find new and old titles."

So even one of the most prominent devs to benefit from the initial rush has concerns about the ease of finding new titles in future, and the ability of others to replicate the same success. If Nintendo wants to be the console on which indie darlings shine, they will need to address this concern.

 

[get2sammyb]

Yeah, this is fascinating, isn't it? It's like there's been this surge of interest and everyone's fighting for a piece of the pie before it fizzles out and becomes over-crowded.

I wonder if the same thing will happen when the PS5 and Xbox Two come out, and I wonder if indie developers will be even more prepared for their arrival, scrambling to get their games out as quickly as possible.

Really interesting stuff.

 

[Hexa]

Yeah, this is fascinating, isn't it? It's like there's been this surge of interest and everyone's fighting for a piece of the pie before it fizzles out and becomes over-crowded.

I wonder if the same thing will happen when the PS5 and Xbox Two come out, and I wonder if indie developers will be even more prepared for their arrival, scrambling to get their games out as quickly as possible.

Really interesting stuff.

They'll probably have BC and stronger third party support out of the gate so I would not expect that.

 

[ArtHands]

If I was an indie and had a game basically ready, I'd probably hold off until early 2018, when barring an unexpected Nintendo 1st party announcement it looks like there will be some room.

If you are an indie, you wont have the luxury to choose to release your game so many months later if it is already ready now

 

[Shaanyboi]

Hopefully it doesn't become a glut of shoveled new releases every week to the point where you can't even follow, let alone discover the good stuff.

 

[Danneee]

So, good third party games do sell on Nintendo hardware. Who would have known

I’m sure even a lot of last gen ports would sell like hot cakes if they price them correctly ($20-30) because people just love portable hardware.
I’m starting to lean toward buying anything interesting on Switch instead of PS4 games I hyped for.

 

[Maximo]

eShop categorisation need to come fast.

Seeing as its Nintendo im not expecting much, but yes they really need to update the store.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Hopefully it doesn't become a glut of shoveled new releases every week to the point where you can't even follow, let alone discover the good stuff.

This will mainly be up to Nintendo. I know some on GAF scoff at the idea of strict curation from the platform holders, but I hope Nintendo continues doing so with Switch. There have been a handful of shovelware releases on the eShop, but for the most part, the store is filled with quality titles. This system never needs a developer like RCMADIAX publishing software on it.

 

[Mbolibombo]

Last week 19 games hit the eShop. We know Golf Story has topped many an eShop chart, selling more copies in a week than SteamWorld Dig 2 managed in two

Where does this come from?

 

[ggx2ac]

Where does this come from?

People looking at eShop charts. The eShop chart updates fortnightly, Golf Story came out within the same fortnight as Steamworld Dig 2 and was charting higher than it on the eShop.

 

[redcrayon]

Blaster Master Zero seems to have done well too.

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/10/blaster_master_zero_gets_another_load_of_free_dlc

 

[Zedark]

People looking at eShop charts. The eShop chart updates fortnightly, Golf Story came out within the same fortnight as Steamworld Dig 2 and was charting higher than it on the eShop.

Doesn't the chart update every couple of hours and show the top 15 for the last fortnight?

 

[Mbolibombo]

People looking at eShop charts. The eShop chart updates fortnightly, Golf Story came out within the same fortnight as Steamworld Dig 2 and was charting higher than it on the eShop.

But it's a weekly chart is it not? As in it updates every night but ranks the last 7 days. That's what I read at least.


Steamworld Dig 2 has topped the chart ever since it was launched in my region.

 

[atr0cious]

Niddhogg still not on the switch in some form is the biggest flub ever.

 

[ggx2ac]

Doesn't the chart update every couple of hours and show the top 15 for the last fortnight?

I meant that. It's a fortnightly chart and updates every couple of hours.

But it's a weekly chart is it not? As in it updates every night but ranks the last 7 days. That's what I read at least.


Steamworld Dig 2 has topped the chart ever since it was launched in my region.

Read the fine print at the bottom of the charts in the eShop.

 

[Android18a]

Having bought Kamiko, Sonic Mania, Thimbleweed Park and Golf Story so far I'm really happy with the indie output on Switch - hoping to get Stardew Valley and Steamworld Dig 2 soon too.

It would be nice if we could put the indie games in a folder though or something because my games bar is getting quite long.

 

[orioto]

I asked a friend who released a game there and devs choose the date but as they try to avoid the big games they all end choosing the same one

 

[AdropOFvenom]

I just think a lot of this phenomenon is just how well Indie games work on a Portable platform. They're generally more bite sized experiences that actually kinda look even better on a 6 inch screen then they would on someone's 60 inch 4K television, since there's usually no graphical sacrifice necessary to make it run on Switch, they're also (generally) priced at a point where people might spontaneously rebuy a game they might already have on another platform just for the added portability.

I don't buy the "get yours before its too overcrowded" thing...it's already too overcrowded. Navigating the eShop is a mess already if you're not in the best sellers or recent releases list. Im not sure how many games are on Switch at this point, but it's certainly well over a hundred games. You're not beating anyone to the market anymore and they still seem to be selling really well. Maybe that worked for Bomberman or something but thats surely not still the case. Good games that are reasonably priced will sell though.

I know for these types of games, I'll be buying them on the Switch going forward because that's how I want to play those games.

 

[Zedark]

Having bought Kamiko, Sonic Mania, Thimbleweed Park and Golf Story so far I'm really happy with the indie output on Switch - hoping to get Stardew Valley and Steamworld Dig 2 soon too.

It would be nice if we could put the indie games in a folder though or something because my games bar is getting quite long.

Once you've passed a certain number of games (I think 12?), the system pushes games into an archive display that can only be accessed after having more than 12 games. It basically archives any least recently played game for you.

 

[Mbolibombo]

I meant that. It's a fortnightly chart and updates every couple of hours.

Read the fine print at the bottom of the charts in the eShop.

Honestly, fortnight was a completely new word to me. Always thought it was a weekly based chart. The more you know :> Thanks.

 

[cw_sasuke]

If I was an indie and had a game basically ready, I'd probably hold off until early 2018, when barring an unexpected Nintendo 1st party announcement it looks like there will be some room.

You... And dozen other indie devs would have the same idea though.

Better to focus on delivering a quality game instead of hoping to get some magic release date that will help the game perform. Games like Golf Story are performing well because they look good and people are enjoying them first and foremost.

People will always talk about good games and there will always be competition. Even now games are competing all the other 100 titles avaliable on Switch or whatever dozen are being released in a week.

 

[ggx2ac]

I just think a lot of this phenomenon is just how well Indie games work on a Portable platform. They're generally more bite sized experiences that actually kinda look even better on a 6 inch screen then they would on someone's 60 inch 4K television, since there's usually no graphical sacrifice necessary to make it run on Switch, they're also (generally) priced at a point where people might spontaneously rebuy a game they might already have on another platform just for the added portability.

I don't buy the "get yours before its too overcrowded" thing...it's already too overcrowded. Navigating the eShop is a mess already if you're not in the best sellers or recent releases list. Im not sure how many games are on Switch at this point, but it's certainly well over a hundred games. You're not beating anyone to the market anymore and they still seem to be selling really well. Maybe that worked for Bomberman or something but thats surely not still the case. Good games that are reasonably priced will sell though.

The indies are trying to get in fast before it gets more competitive due to AAA titles moreso than other indie games.

Indie games are cheap, AAA games are more expensive. Some people could buy two indie games in a week but in another only able to buy one AAA game and nothing else.

Indie games can't compete well against AAA games because AAA games have the advantage of marketing which gives AAA games more exposure to the userbase.

That's why indie games are trying to get in now because the majority of them can't compete against AAA games with regards to marketing and exposure.

 

[Phoenixus]

Ģreat now nintendo needs to understand how to do sales.

Same as psn and xbox

If you mean Nintendo's own games, agreed. Indies and third parties decide on when their games go on sale though.

 

[AdropOFvenom]

The indies are trying to get in fast before it gets more competitive due to AAA titles moreso than other indie games.

Indie games are cheap, AAA games are more expensive. Some people could buy two indie games in a week but in another only able to buy one AAA game and nothing else.

Indie games can't compete well against AAA games because AAA games have the advantage of marketing which gives AAA games more exposure to the userbase.

That's why indie games are trying to get in now because the majority of them can't compete against AAA games with regards to marketing and exposure.

Call me skeptical that there will be the "AAA" rush still.

Sure, we'll get sporadic titles that are extremely downscaled in order to get running on Switch occasionally, like the Doom port. And certainly not same date release with any other version of the game. But then, it's a matter of priorities for the consumer, do you want to wait maybe a year to play a lesser looking version of the game in favor of portable? And at the price point that AAA developers charge, buying both seems less viable. That's less of a choice for Indie games where there's still graphical parity and with recent sales on Switch, more likely to be same day releases going forward.

But I don't think a dozen or so of those AAA ports is really going to impact the Indie market much.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Call me skeptical that there will be the "AAA" rush still.

Sure, we'll get sporadic titles that are extremely downscaled in order to get running on Switch occasionally, like the Doom port. And certainly not same date release with any other version of the game. But then, it's a matter of priorities for the consumer, do you want to wait maybe a year to play a lesser looking version of the game in favor of portable? And at the price point that AAA developers charge, buying both seems less viable. That's less of a choice for Indie games where there's still graphical parity and with recent sales on Switch, more likely to be same day releases going forward.

But I don't think a dozen or so of those AAA ports is really going to impact the Indie market much.

It's not just AAA titles from third parties. AAA releases from Nintendo will have a big impact.

 

[Shahadan]

I don't give 6 months before we hear a big publisher say "we're not putting this game on switch because only nintendo and indie games sell there"

 

[jariw]

Last week 19 games hit the eShop. We know Golf Story has topped many an eShop chart, selling more copies in a week than SteamWorld Dig 2 managed in two, and Picross S is charting high too.

Many eShop charts? More than UK and US?

 

[ScientificPizza]

I had noted that so many games on one day was a bad idea.
But people still found success surprisingly. Hope releases slow down so devs will have more attention.

It’d be a lot better if the eShop was constantly updating and not like one time a week. Even if it only meant a day or two it would still give some games a chance to breathe

 

[Mediking]

What can I say? I like supporting good games. Doesn't matter if you're Indie or not. If you look good and have positive word of mouth... I'm there.

 

[jariw]

It’d be a lot better if the eShop was constantly updating and not like one time a week. Even if it only meant a day or two it would still give some games a chance to breathe

It already does. This week, "Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime" released on a Tuesday.

 

[Jonneh3003]

Who's buying Yono next week? It looks so jolly.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

It’d be a lot better if the eShop was constantly updating and not like one time a week. Even if it only meant a day or two it would still give some games a chance to breathe

Pretty sure new games are releasing on at least three different days this week.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Who's buying Yono next week? It looks so jolly.

I'll wait for some impressions, but it looks really good.

 

[MatrixMan.EXE]

I don't believe we've reached global saturation yet. Relatively speaking the Switch still has a "small" selection of games, so there's less risk of titles being drowned out as it's much easier to keep tabs on what's coming. There is a lot less competition so it makes sense for Indies to go in hard and fast.

The only negative is that I have limited time and money, yet I can name at least 5 more indie games on Switch that I really want.

 

[jariw]

Niddhogg still not on the switch in some form is the biggest flub ever.

YoYo Games are still working on getting Game Maker 2 support for the Switch.

 

[AColdDay]

Breaks my heart that cosmic star heroine isn't a part of this success. That game would have done so well.

 

[Chauzu]

Who's buying Yono next week? It looks so jolly.

tbh that elephant is just too cute to resist.

 

[Cuningas de Häme]

I asked a friend who released a game there and devs choose the date but as they try to avoid the big games they all end choosing the same one

Yeah, someone in the article said that also. They want to avoid the end of the year rush so they created their own busy time. Great minds think alike etc...

I think that the reason you always see News section when you wake up the Switch is that Nintendo wants you to visit there every day. You get highlights, upcoming/new releases and such there.

I think that it is a neat method for info delivers, better than ads in the Eshop or elsewhere.

They need better categories and sorting though.

 

[atr0cious]

YoYo Games are still working on getting Game Maker 2 support for the Switch.

I thought the niddhoggs were made with a custom engine? I remember the dev saying something similar when asked about online net code for the first one. Either way, it's a big missed opportunity, and i need it.