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pokoko on 11 May 2013
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Chris Hu said:
pokoko said:

It's crazy how defensive people get over this. It's like they stick their fingers in their ears and squeeze their eyes closed.

We've seen tons of documentation on that which suggests that the Microsoft of right now has fallen behind Sony in terms of how they treat indie developers.  Now, understand, that's the PS4/Vita Sony and the Xbox 360 Microsoft.  There is nothing get defensive about at this point.  After the 720 is revealed, Microsoft might also reveal that they've revamped their processes and methods, just as Sony and Nintendo have.  In fact, that's what I expect.

For the present, however, there really is no doubt that Microsoft is behind the curve in this particular area.  It's possible that they're keeping everything under wraps for now, including improved protocol for working with smaller developers, but that's beside the point.  For the moment, most indie developers feel that Sony is easier to deal with.  Really, just deal with it.  It's not the end of the world.

That still doesn't explain why there are way more indepented games on XBL then there are on PS3 and Nintendo consoles not to metion that one of the most successful recent independent games on the PC is also the best selling game of all time on XBL.   On top of that the 360 also had the first two hugely succesful indepentent games on home consoles this gen with Braid and Castle Crashers.  My point still stands for the most part MS doesn't treat indepented developers horrible and the ones that are complaining are upset because there is so much competition on XBL.

I'm not sure why you're using games from years ago when what we're talking about is NOW.  No one disputes that Microsoft beat both Sony and Nintendo to the punch at the start of this generation with regards to indie developers.  Both Sony and Nintendo clearly underestimated the demand for smaller downloadable titles and reacted poorly at first.  They got beat.  But we're not talking about THEN, we're talking about NOW.

We're talking about the crazy Machinarium situation, which made no sense, and the Retro City Rampage situation, and the Team Meat situation, and the Rob Carmel situation.  We're talking about the developer of Braid--a game you mentioned as being a major success on the 360--and his dislike of dealing with Microsoft.  You're saying he's mad about not being able to compete?  You think Rob Carmel, developer of one of the most well-known indie games of forever, is mad about not being able to compete?

I get the impression that you'll find an excuse to dismiss anyone who steps up and says something negative about their experience with Microsoft.  Never mind that, unlike most of us on the forums, these people actually have been through this for real.  These people know what they're talking about and everyone I've mentioned has been successful.

In all honesty, I've been very surprised at all the rationalizations.  I fully expected most Microsoft fans to say that Microsoft needs to step up and match what Sony and Nintendo are doing, or that they have no doubt that Microsoft will answer the bell.  I did not expect claims that all these developers were lying, especially not someone as respect in Xbox circles as Cliff Bleszinski.