An Update by Any Other Name by Game Tunnel

Rumors - News - Remarks by Russell Carroll

An Update by Any Other Name (April 30, 2005)

One of the best aspects of indie games is the dedication that the developers have to their games. While store-bought games may have patches that come out to take advantage of new video card abilities or to fix unanticipated problems that affect specific system configurations, Indie games release patches that often make the game much better than it initially was or that expand the game experience.

For example the most recent patch for Gish includes a level editor. Adding a level editor is something that is a great thing for indie games in my mind. Many other great indie games, like Mutant Storm, have made level editors available after the game's release, which allows fans to participate in increasing the number of levels available. Often those levels will find their way back into the game, such as in Break Ball Gold, which includes mostly fan-created levels in the game's most current demo.

One of my favorites is an update to 3D Airstrike that adds two-player co-operative play to the game. I've always enjoyed being able to play with friends so taking a game from one-player to two-player really adds to the game.

Speaking of game play changes, Fashion Cents has redefined its game play with its content updates. The game has had multiple free updates released that for the most part increase the variety of objects in the game, but that is not the only thing. Additional music tracks have been included, and the addition of full-length dresses changes the strategies employed in the game.

Hamsterball is one of several games to add more levels to the game through an update (in addition to adding multi-player party and versus modes), though depending on the game type, extra levels are often seen as a premium that can be sold on their own as content packs.

Another way of updating the game is to release the game as an entirely new version. Orbz, for example, was released with online play as the only available play type. However, after a luke-warm reception, Orbz 2.0 was soon released, adding a set of single-player levels to the offering.

While there are many different ways that indie games are and have been improved, the interesting thing to me has been the consistency with which they have been improved. This can at times lead to struggles in reviewing a game because many of the games are much better a year after they come out than they are when they are initially released. For the gamer however, the updates show the developer's dedication to the game. Indie developers, for the most part, are not just responsive to fixing the occasional bug in the game, they also go out of their way to make the game experience better over time.

Unfortunately it is quite common for players to be unaware of the exciting changes that are made to the games. Some of that can be because of the phraseology used. Some games receive patches, others have updates to new versions. Some have free content packs, while others may change the game name when a major overhaul is done (see Orbz 2, Juno Nemesis Remix and Dark Archon Invasion...among others). For the gamer it can be hard to determine what is being done when all of the terms are used somewhat interchangeably and some of them have somewhat negative connotations (patch for example). Further clouding the picture are a host of games that seem to update their version number only as a device to continue to re-list the game on many download websites across the internet.

In doing research on the subject, I was surprised at how few developers explain what changes were made in their newest patch or don't keep a public change log. While it may be that some people will believe the game to be less professional by the inclusion of such information, I am of the opinion that showing a commitment to the game and improving the game over time is something that people like to see. Certainly in my mind, taking a great game and making it even better with additional game play and content is icing on the cake and another reason indie games are so enjoyable to play and be involved with.

News & Rumors

Universal Boxing Manager is one of many games looking at some updates in the future, though I have a feeling if it is completed the way the developer hopes, it will lead to a sequel of the game. The rumbling has been that the game will go 3D with 3D fights to go along with the pre-rendered boxers. Certainly something to watch for from Winter Wolves who puts out more great sports games than anyone else.
RocketBowl is the most recent of the indie games to add extra content to the game at no cost to the user. The new content includes new courses, new tournaments and new characters. The courses also put a bit of a twist on the original game. It is available from the Large Animal Games website.
Speaking of additional content, there have been some rumors of Super DX-Ball expansion packs. I would expect that, as is typical of games of the arkanoid genre, the packs will come at a price (though notably SDB already provided a set of 15 expansion levels free to everyone as a cool thank-you from the developer). In any event, if the level packs in the current game are any indicator of what the new ones will be like, getting the expansion packs will be well worth the cost.
Another interesting 'patch' that I have played (at least an early version) is the next patch for Gish. The new 'patch' adds a new 4-player mode to the mix in the versus section. This turns some of the events, such as football into two on two team events, and other events, such as sumo fighting into larger free-for-all melees. Gish was the winner of our GOTY last year, but it is fun to see that the developers are continuing to improve this already great game.
With election time coming up in the UK, two new political games were recently released. First up is Positech's Democracy. Democracy is a globally friendly political game that is focused on 10 countries simultaneously instead of just one. It is utterly immense in its attempt in recreating what it is like to run for President as well as run the country. Prime Minister Forever (British Version) takes its page from the developer's fabulous President Forever: 2004. As the British elections come closer you'll probably hear more about this game, and if you enjoy politics at all you should check it out.

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By: Russell Carroll
Posted: Saturday April 30, 2005