Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, many computer programs and games were developed by individuals working from their own homes. This led to the coining of the term “bedroom programmer”.
Even famous titles like Tetris, Minecraft, and RollerCoaster Tycoon were all initially developed by individuals before later hiring additional programmers to help out.
As time passed, developing video games has become a much more laborious, complex, and time-consuming undertaking. Graphics have become much more intricate, physical movements have become much more realistic, and online multiplayer modes have made the games themselves much bigger.
This means that major titles can now usually only be built by companies with huge resources, large and diverse teams, and existing relationships with publishers and distributors.
Despite this, some indie programmers are still managing to produce titles that are popular among gamers. Here’s how they manage to compete.
The Type of Game Matters
The types of games that you develop will decide whether you succeed or not. Attempting to create soccer video games to rival AAA titles from major publishers like EA Sports is going to be a near-impossible challenge. Similarly, you will find it difficult to compete with brands like PokerStars Casino who offer real money video slot games and other casino classics, due to their strong market position and huge resources.
Instead, you should focus on unique games that bring something new that gamers can’t directly compare to other games on the market. This was what made Angry Birds a success when it was released in 2009.
More recent examples include “Papers, Please”, a game where you play an immigration officer who must review the passports and visas of visitors to your country, accepting, rejecting and detaining people based on your intuition. Hitting targets earns you your pay, while accidentally letting a hostile person into your country will earn you a fine. Despite being a game about an otherwise boring subject, the game has been incredibly well-received, scoring 85 from Metacritic and 8/10 from Gamespot.
Focus on Quality
Indie games need to rely heavily on word of mouth and positive reviews to gain any traction. A poorly-put-together game will damage the reputation of the title, making it difficult to sell, even if you fix the bugs later on.
More importantly, it’ll damage your own reputation, meaning many gamers may be reluctant to try another one of your releases, especially if you want to be paid upfront for it.
Even professionally-developed games have suffered this fate. Driv3r for PlayStation 2 was rushed to market to meet commercial deadlines. In doing so, the developers had left in many bugs that rendered the game unplayable, causing huge reputation damage to a franchise that had previously challenged the dominance of Grand Theft Auto.
Similarly, Tennis World Tour has suffered from poor sales due to hugely negative reviews that described it as “the worst tennis game…ever” and a “complete mess”.
Consider the Platform
Mobile games are by far the most popular format for casual gamers. If the title you are developing is likely to appeal to this demographic, then you will need to consider at least developing a mobile version of the game.
Releasing it on platforms like Steam can also be useful, as you’ll attract a wider audience, but mobile is likely to be the most important.
Consider Monetisation
Many of the most popular games released today are free-to-play. This means that players can download and play the game for free, but then usually have to pay for in-game items. While this is a popular option, many gamers don’t like it.
Instead, you may be able to target a niche segment of the market that is willing to pay a small fee upfront in exchange for an unadulterated gaming experience that’s free of ads and microtransactions. Mini Metro, which is available for Android and iOS, is a good example. For little more than $1, you get a high-quality, fun game based on a unique idea.
This has also been the idea behind Apple Arcade, which has been a hit among gamers and developers alike.
While developing your own games as an independent programmer is much more difficult today than it was in the ’80s, with a bit of planning and creativity, you can still make a success of your work.
