I was just playing a film. The film? Max Payne 2. A very nice film - you even get to act in it - kill all the bad guys before the film continues with the story...

I dont want this to be a review of Max Payne. But I couldnt, as an indie developer, not comment about how amazing that game, and others are. Although people moan about how soulless the big game publishers are, the "system" still manages to create games which have incredible attention to detail. All those millions must be good for something after all... I make it a point to check out the competition and to learn from them. But in this case there is no competition - Max Payne (and all the others) are on a completely different universe to the one we indies inhabit.

People complain about linear story lines in video games. I dont see what the problem is: Max Payne is great because it is linear - it's a great story so why let people ruin it. Non-linearity does not always add depth unless it's a strategy game. In FPS linearity is needed to get depth - it allows the game to add depth and detail which complement the story.

The point of all this is that although some (most?) indies complain about the big publishers and the existing system - that same system is creating awesome games with an incredible level of polish, steadily improving physics, and all the beautiful eyecandy you can lay your eyes on.

Where does that leave us indie-developers? Picking the crumbs that fall of the table making puzzle games in an increasingly crowded market...

grimly yours,
grim

PS
Since I started playing Max Payne 2 I've become the best of buddies with the MP5. Very nice piece of work - and like a true friend always there to get me out of trouble ;)

Indie and mainstream really aren't that different. For every Max Payne 2 there are dozens of tired, cliched "me too" titles that make you wonder why they even bothered. Just as for every great, original shareware game (insert your choice here) there are a hundred Tetris clones and Puzzle Bobble rip offs.

I agree that there is nothing wrong with a good, linear game. I know it's not fashionable and cool at the moment for designers to be creating a linear game. But I like them. And so do millions of other people.

And I agree with Knau about indie and mainstream being no different really. Of course there are still a lot of not very good indie titles out there. Not for much longer, though, I reckon...

The size, scope and quality of indie games is only going to improve. Breakout clone makers beware...

there's nothing wrong with a linear game, except in my experience, linear games don't have as much replay value as a non-linear games.

my experience with a linear game and a non-linear game:
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max payne 2 (linear) - got it a 2 weeks ago, finished the first difficulty level in 3 days, finished the next 2 difficulty levels with alternative ending 5 days later, uninstalled haven't touch it since.

Deux Ex (non-linear) - got it a years ago, still in my harddrive, starting my 4th new game this time with different choices in the path I choose.

did someone say King's Quest 6?
the first quest where you could finish in two ways (both good, one less satisfactory).

if youre a good writer, you can let the player choose between several paths - but make sure he will like each of its endings.

I played KQ6 again just to see the other ending.