Do indie developers need a publisher, a route to market, or a promo platform once their games are out there?
In one way or another, all three and more are now catered for by various industry players - the last of the three the domain of indie movement Selfpubd and its newly launched Thumb Arcade venture.
Thumb Arcade bills itself as a web-based discovery tool for the best indie games across iOS and Android Windows Phone and BlackBerry support incoming with categories not confined to the usual 'puzzle' or 'action' definitions, but rather groups that fit set player profiles.
'Related content'
"You'll see that we've taken a unique approach to the browse categories, which are based on the seven 'game player' psyches," details Selfpubd founder Andy Rosic.
"It's an effort to help players discover related content that fits their 'profile'. Obviously we encourage looking everywhere, but if you like puzzle type games then browsing through 'Mastermind' is going to be a lot more satisfying than a more mundane 'puzzles' would be."
The platform, which is tooled up both for desktop and mobile browsers, is in Rosic's words - "actually 100 percent indie", with developers retaining control of their IP and Selfpubd itself taking "zero revenue from the developer's sales here".
The desktop version of Thumb Arcade
Clicking to download any games naturally takes the user to the corresponding app store, with Thumb Arcade relying on users identifying the site as a worthy first port of call.
Who needs publishers
Its debut comes almost two years after Selfpubd formally known as Who Needs Chillingo? - launched with the intent of uniting indie developers that had, until then, either been forced to go it alone, or sign up with a publisher.
"Selfpubd has built, and is building, a slate of tools for indie studios," Rosic told us back in November.
"Selfpubd disrupts the game publishing space, providing a service that breaks the mould and eliminates the perpetual conflict between indie developers and publishers.
"Our platform is a scalable product that will grow with the indie community by delivering tools that drive indies to succeed."
You can check out Thumb Arcade for yourself on the platform's website.
News
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.
Related Articles
Interview
Nov 30th, 2012
Selfpubd stamps out 'perpetual conflict' between indie devs and publishers, says founder Rosic
Top Stories
News
Jun 9th, 2024
PocketGamer.biz Podcast Week in Mobile Games E15 - Star Wars: Hunters finally launches, the West's MOBA problem, and Xbox handheld rumours
News
Jun 7th, 2024
Week in Views - The hunt for the new Star Wars game, Xbox goes handheld, and cats versus monsters…
News
Jun 7th, 2024
Week in Views - The hunt for the new Star Wars game, Xbox goes handheld, and cats versus monsters…
News
Jun 7th, 2024
Metacore's Teppo Soininen: “Anybody who has put a game into soft launch knows there’s still plenty of space for f*ck ups.”
Events
Tribeca Games Festival 2024 | North America | Jun 5th |
Steam Next Fest: June 2024 Edition | Jun 10th | |
GamesForum Hamburg 2024 | Europe | Jun 11th |
WN Conference Istanbul 2024 | Jun 11th | |
ESI London 2024 | Europe | Jun 13th |
DevGAMM Vilnius 2024 | Europe | Jun 14th |
Game Con Canada (GCC) 2024 | North America | Jun 14th |
Indie Dev Play 2024 | Europe | Jun 14th |