They say that 2011 was a big year in gaming. I say 2011 was a big year for marketing budgets in the gaming world. In between the Battlefield 3's and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's, there really wasn't that much innovation coming from the big studios. An endless barrage of samey shooters and "epic" sequels fill up the release schedule for the year gone by, and once again we turned to our indie developers to provide us something new.
It's sad that after a whole year of "blockbusters", there are only two games that stand out as being truly memorable for me. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was an excellent achievement for Nintendo, and living proof that motion-based gaming can work in a hardcore setting. The other was the excellent Portal 2; while it may have been a sequel, the new elements and extra length were more than enough to cement it into my memory.
When I think back to some of my favourite games of the year, indie titles such at TRAUMA, Gemini Rue and Bastion immediately spring to mind. Each was a unique take on a familiar genre, filled with colour, excitement, polish and most of all, love.
Indie studios make games because they love games. It's not necessarily a business as such, unlike the bigger studios who have to meet budgets, deadlines and need sales to prove their worth. It's no wonder why they often take a safe bet, rather than stepping out of their comfort zone and trying something new.
But I'm growing tired of brown and grey shooters. I'm tired of a never ending line of sequels, all filled with the exact same game type over and over again. I want lashing of colour, I want unique game play elements, I want memorable stories, and I want a game that will be remembered for months after completion, not days.
Help us indie developers, you're our only hope.
By Stephen Heller