| Once the economic analysts and social pundits | | | | producers, provides a "top ten" list of |
| got over the shockwaves from the assault of | | | | current indie games and has a Soapbox forum |
| video gaming on our culture, they began to | | | | for comments, recommendations, gripes, etc. |
| look at the nuances of the industry. For | | | | from active gamers. Manifesto's game review |
| several years, there wasn't much product | | | | categories include some standards such as |
| variation to see outside of shooters, fantasy | | | | Adventure, Role Playing Games and Sim/Tycoon |
| role playing, and sports games. The Sims | | | | games. But there are also categories such as |
| brought some variety and expanded the player | | | | Schmup and Turn-based Strategy, categories |
| base to more mature "casual gamers," but for | | | | the major producers don't promote - and in |
| the most part gaming has been for the young. | | | | the case of Schmup, probably don't |
| That's beginning to change. Independent game | | | | understand. It's a term that seems to refer |
| developers who cater to a more dedicated | | | | generally to games that recreate the early |
| gaming community have functioned under the | | | | space-ship shoot-em-ups but with far cooler |
| radar, for the most part. They are beginning | | | | graphics and actual plots to them. Many of |
| to get the recognition they deserve and that, | | | | the games found on Manifesto follow |
| in turn, is expanding the number and | | | | mainstream game profiles such as war games |
| complexity of game genres that are finding | | | | and role playing wizardry, but they interject |
| their way to the marketplace. The big game | | | | some element of reality or human complexity |
| companies such as Electronic Arts and | | | | that isn't readily found in standard game |
| Nintendo continue to turn out sequels to | | | | fare. There's a sim game available on the |
| their big money-makers such as Madden's NFL | | | | site called Democracy. Not a concept that |
| Football and Zelda. Their sales remain huge, | | | | matches the testosterone-based video game |
| but as their audiences mature, the market is | | | | standard. By virtue of distribution channels |
| finding room for games that go beyond sports, | | | | such as Manifesto and Steam, indie developers |
| war and wizards. "Indie" games are developing | | | | have a shot at commercial exposure and |
| their own distribution channels. Valve, the | | | | hopefully, some commercial success. This foot |
| company that had a huge mainstream hit with | | | | in the door of an enormous commercial |
| Half Life, now distributes its games over its | | | | monolith has generated some outrageous |
| own online service, Steam. It sells directly | | | | creativity in expanding game genres into more |
| to the gamer, and provides the servers for | | | | original and complex formats. It's like good |
| their game users to play either singly or in | | | | new bands that blow past the record |
| multiplayer format via the Internet. Their | | | | companies, introduce themselves through |
| games come from an assortment of developers | | | | YouTube and MySpace and sell their CDs |
| and range from cartoon-noir mysteries to | | | | online. The indie game producers have created |
| empire building to more standard fare. Steam | | | | a market that allows for creativity and |
| provides an outlet for some independent games | | | | product honesty. |
| to reach a wider audience. Manifesto Games is | | | | |
| a website dedicated to the support, promotion | | | | Madison Lockwood is a customer relations |
| and distribution of independently produced | | | | associate, specializing in small business |
| video games. The site has game reviews, | | | | development, for Apollo Hosting. |
| provides a sales mechanism for the various | | | | |