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Developers And Fans React To Microsoft's Xbox Indie Reversal

community reaction

by Mike Futter on July 25, 2013 at 07:20 AM

22,088 Views

Right after we broke the story of Microsoft's reversal on the Xbox indie self-publishing policy, social media lit up. Developers and fans alike chimed in, off the cuff. Prepared statements are great (and we have a couple ourselves), but the raw reactions are important.

Before we get to that, we want to share two quotes from developers that had worked with Microsoft previously, but have since begun working with Sony for various reasons. Both Klei Entertainment and Just Add Water were presented at Sony's press conference, and the founders of both provided their reactions to the news about Microsoft's latest policy shift.

"That is good news indeed! I suppose the real test is in discoverability of the games on the dashboard."
- Jamie Cheng, Founder, Klei Entertainment (Don't Starve)

"This news, whilst awesome is a long way from being detailed. Personally I need to know the full details before we can commit to announcing Oddworld titles for the Xbox family."
- Stewart Gilray, Founder, Just Add Water (Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty)

"I think it's a step in the right direction but the devil is in the details. If the revenue share is 50/50, that's absolutely horrible and by far the worst split out there. If the SDK forces you to go through some abstraction layer like XNA to get to the hardware, that's also horrible and would be of no interest to me. Fingers crossed for a 70/30 split and a good SDK...otherwise I'll stick to everything else."
- Tommy Refenes, Team Meat co-founder (Super Meat Boy)

Now, onto the responses right after the announcement. What you'll see below is a small collection of immediate responses from people. These aren't reactions to a request for a quote. They are raw responses to exciting news.

Benjamin Cousins, Head of European Game Studios at DeNA

Brian Fargo, Founder, inXile Entertainment

Stephen Toulouse, Former Xbox LIVE Director of Enforcement

Abel Drew, Founder, An Indie Game Company

Grant Egglestone, Developer, Dubit Limited

Borut Pfeifer, Worked With 17-bit Studios on Skulls of the Shogun

We also kept an eye on the community reactions, and there were some insightful (and amusing) responses.

I think it's a smart move, but I share the sentiment that there appears to be no strong leadership there. All this does is reinforce the notion that pretty much everything about the XBO was half-assed, ill-advised, or just plain stupid from the get-go. That MS has no confidence in their set-top device.

Don't get me wrong, this is seemingly a very good thing--at least for indie devs.

But I have been left with the impression for some time now that while Microsoft themselves aren't really big on indie games, their fans downright hate them.

Ever since the XBO reveal, I have seen NOTHING positive from the XBO support community concerning indie games. Be it here, Facebook, or the comments sections of Kotaku, VGChartz, or IGN, one thing that was a common notion was that XBO supporters DO NOT CARE about indie games. And these are the attitudes I'm going to remember the most. It hardly matters what Microsoft does--from my point of view, their fans have made it very clear that they are unsupportive of the indie community, and the only thing Xbox fanboys want is shooters, shooters, shooters.

Comments

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by Companion Cube Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 08:00 AM

It was definitely a smart move. They should have always had those indie policies there, but making every console a SDK is genius. Now all three major consoles are open to indies, which is amazing.
by Eleventh Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 08:08 AM

I'm not getting the Xbox One, but I'm extremely happy Microsoft is really supporting indie titles now. The next generation is a bright future for indie developers.
by mujari Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 08:08 AM

Post responses from Jonathan Blow and Phil Fish please! :P
by The Duchess Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 08:10 AM

Great reactions. And while these are all good things, I have to agree with Lee Bradley's comment, that XBOX might not have strong, informed leadership. It was my first thought when the XBOX changed so many of their policies.
by megaswampman Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 08:14 AM

I really like what microsoft is doing, fixing their policies and such, but until i see on release day which has better reviews i'm sitting on the fence still. Also with Machinima reporting a kinect-less console in 2014 Microsoft is really listening. I want the XBone to succeed so i dont have to start over on a playstation
by Josh Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 08:18 AM

What is a Debug Machine?
by Robert Quirarte Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 08:19 AM

Now indie developers for Xbox One can have their cake and eat it too!
by Action Nerd Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 08:25 AM

Xbone 180! Seriously though, no one should be deprived of great indies good job Micro$oft.
by Sean K. Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 08:33 AM

Awesome. But I still don't want the prism spy cam to be a mandatory gimmick. I avoid getting a smartphone for the same reason, I don't like invasion of privacy. But I guess if I do eventually get an Xbox One, I could always plug the mic and put duct tape over the camera.
by TimSedai Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 08:42 AM

MS seems to be playing the role of that terrible ex we've all had who promises to change only to show their true colors once again after we take them back.
*Just felt like trolling a bit this morning! :)
*It's actually very good news for gamers I just happen to hate the Kinect.
by Mike Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 08:51 AM

I know this is good news, but I think I'm starting to lean more towards PS4. It feels like everything Microsoft has announced is changed within a couple of weeks. I personally was very excited about their original pitch and now they are sounding more and more like PS4, so why not go for the cheaper console at launch.

P.S. This is great news for indie developers regardless of my opinion.
by David L Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 08:54 AM

The unfortunate thing is that Microsoft started so heavy-handedly on the side of "corporate extreme". This is all just pandering after an intense and effective trouncing by Sony surrounding E3. Microsoft wanted to put the XBox in a place where gamers became consumers completely rather than treating us like the customers we are and all of this backpedaling will really just result in some form of reinstatement later on in the consoles life. It also means that the XBox One will become a penultimate stepping stone and the next console from them will most likely be %100 DRM and online checkin's and all that this new generation was supposed to be (*just* missed it!).

I'm just lamenting the days when a game was complete at release, stories were told entirely, and DLC wasn't on the disc when you bought it, just waiting to nickel-and-dime gamers to complete the "experience".
by Gantua Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 08:57 AM

Jeez even hate for MS when they make positive changes. People for the most part are stupid and assholes.
by Rival_M Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 08:58 AM

I think this shows a complete inability to listen. If they did listen, they wouldn't have made these giant flubs to begin with. The backtracking just demonstrates how desperate they are for customers - any customers. I wish I could be less cynical, but this company is coming unhinged. Ballmer should go.
by Navino Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 08:59 AM

2 more policy reversals and its and Xbox 720.
by Chris Mrkvicka Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 09:07 AM

Anyone know what Borut Pfeifer is referring to about Microsoft breaching their contract?
by TagThisTsTs Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 09:15 AM

It seems just like their other reversals, strings are attached. Just like how their is no online requirements for Xbox One except Forza 5 requires internet.
by RezidentHazard (Skeptical Inquirer) Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 09:18 AM

I think it's a smart move, but I share the sentiment that there appears to be no strong leadership there. All this does is reinforce the notion that pretty much everything about the XBO was half-assed, ill-advised, or just plain stupid from the get-go. That MS has no confidence in their set-top device.

Don't get me wrong, this is seemingly a very good thing--at least for indie devs.

But I have been left with the impression for some time now that while Microsoft themselves aren't really big on indie games, their fans downright hate them.

Ever since the XBO reveal, I have seen NOTHING positive from the XBO support community concerning indie games. Be it here, Facebook, or the comments sections of Kotaku, VGChartz, or IGN, one thing that was a common notion was that XBO supporters DO NOT CARE about indie games. And these are the attitudes I'm going to remember the most. It hardly matters what Microsoft does--from my point of view, their fans have made it very clear that they are unsupportive of the indie community, and the only thing Xbox fanboys want is shooters, shooters, shooters.
by Rcmdawg Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 09:30 AM

Good job Microsoft! Definitely a turn into the right direction! Still getting a PS4 but might consider this down the road.