GameTap's New Indie Games Label, IGF Award

nz17 writes "Gamasutra is carrying the story about GameTap's new indie games program. 'By enlisting in the program, GameTap assumes non-exclusive responsibility for the digital distribution of each selected game. In addition to being promoted alongside GameTap titles, GameTap Indies will be showcased in a special Independent Games content area within the service.' GameTap also plans to give out its own award at the Independent Games Festival to three recipients. These selected three will receive $5000 — $10000 for a non-exclusive five-year distribution contract through the GameTap service."

Money for Independent Game Makers == Good

[GetSource]

Seems to me that any money for independent game makers is good.

What's particularly interesting to me about this is that they're offering a "non-exclusive" distribution deal.

Perhaps this is similar to what they're doing with Sam & Max [telltalegames.com]?

Re:

[cliffski]

possibly, but a 'five year deal' on what terms? a ten thousand dollar advance might sound a lot to someone who makes games as a hobby, but to serious independent developers, it's pocketchange, especially when talking about five year deals.
Sadly i can't find any information on the details on this at their website. anyone know more?

Re:

[earnest murderer]

Well, it's not really an "Award" as much as it is offering a developer a contract.

Just like this isn't as much an announcement as it is a PR stunt.

Re:Money for Independent Game Makers == Good

[usrusr]

nonexclusive distribution should be the norm for all IP. The world would a better place by a very noticable margin.

Re:Money for Independent Game Makers == Good

[Dachannien]

I think both Sam & Max and Uru Live were specially negotiated deals. Gametap gets their producers' names in the credits and such. There's another episodic game they're producing whose name I can't remember.

Most likely, what they're talking about here is similar to how a lot of indie games get released on multiple online stores, each of which slaps its own DRM on the front to let you try the game for an hour or so. In this case, instead of getting an hour to try a game and then having to buy it, the game would be available to play as much as you want as long as you're subscribing to Gametap.

In any case, much as it's fun to bash behemoth media megacorps like Time Warner (Gametap's parent), I'm glad that Gametap is giving these games a chance to shine.

GT Label

[Aladrin]

It's funny, I was just thinking a couple months ago that it would be neat if I managed to make a nice game (pipe dream?) and that GameTap could be a nice way to earn money from it, if I could convince them that they wanted small titles.

Not that this is entirely from nowhere, as Sam & Max is from a small company and GT is getting it as it is released.

Anyhow, it's nice to see that they are doing this.

Pipe Dream

[tepples]

I was just thinking a couple months ago that it would be neat if I managed to make a nice game (pipe dream?)

Didn't Lucasarts make pipe dream [wikipedia.org]?

Re:

[Aladrin]

Sorry, I meant the project is probably a pipe dream. Not the name of the game. (A pipe dream is a project that is unrealistic or unlikely to be completed.)