I wonder if the psychology of the Switch being a portable as well as a home console is helping these games sell more than other platforms (in addition to the current lack of massive competition, of course). People always scoff at indies being part of PS+ and Games with Gold because they bought their machines to play "AAA Games not indie crap". I've always been more comfortable with buying smaller / indie games on handhelds myself, and given the choice right now I'd always prefer to buy them on the Switch just because of the portability of it (and because I'm travelling more).
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The Flame in the Flood has its best debut on Switch - "Smashed expectations"
- Thread starter Jonneh3003
- Start date
Jawbreaker
Member
Ironically, these success stories would dwindle if that were to happen.
GhostTrick
Banned
You're aware that 170 games is a limited number ? Especially since you factor basically EVERYTHING ?
There's no excuse in saying the competition on Switch is far lower, with so many games skipping the platform.
The game looks like this ingame ? Never even heard of this title...lol all these Indie Switch success stories, its difficult to keep track.
I was contemplating getting it last night but reviews turned me off. Lack of a decent story mode and clunky menus put me off. I'm glad it's doing well though, it looked really interesting. I'm just not into roguelikes too much and already have a decent backlog on my Switch and PC.
Calm Mind
Member
Not for long if this keeps up.
Dark Cloud
Member
A side not Nintendo needs to upgrade their eshop. There is too many games on there is there is no way of knowing the full catalog. The eshop doesn't advertise games or have specific categories for people to browse.
This 'logic' is why all those third party games that released on Wii U sold so well, right?
Jaded Alyx
Member
I think you get categories if you go to Search, but yeh, you shouldn't have to go to search in the first place.
GhostTrick
Banned
Well, more indies will come for sure. Will it reach the same state as other platforms ? Maybe. But once it happens, competition will be bigger for sales attention.
That's a simple reasoning. A doesnt necessarily apply to B. First of all, Wii U problems were different. Second, some 3rd parties (like Shovel Knight) did sold better on Wii U than PS4 for exemple.
I think the Switch benefits - from an indie dev perspective - from effectively being like a Vita *combined* with a Vita TV, so buying for portability doesn't also preclude big-screen play. It's certainly appealing.
Dr. Zoidberg
Member
I find the lack of any kind of rating or review system on Switch to be a problem as well.
Pretty much. It's an UE4 game.
CharminUltra
Member
I love these success stories 
Jonneh3003
Banned
People buy what interests them. Most Wii U third party games were unappealing downgrades (with some exceptions obviously). I agree, limited choice doesn't have to mean people will buy anything. Heck, we're getting like a dozen eShop games every week. We buy what we want to buy.
Dark Cloud
Member
Yeah you shouldn't have to do that. You should go on there and hey there's a section for recommended games or there's a section for $19.99 games or less.
Nintendo knows how to do it they have it on previous systems.
Colonel Mustard
Banned
I THOUGHT IT WAS THAT CHUCK RAGAN!
Best voice in music.
Not including Tom Waits.
Hope Wulverblade is doing well too. It speaks volumes that TFitF didn't even break the top 20.
Skittzo0413
Member
I think it's exactly that, but not even necessarily on a psychological level. Rather, it could very well be down to very understandable hard time restrictions. People typically don't have as much time to game on a TV bound console as they do on a console that doesn't require the use of a TV.
When you have more time to game on a device, you will play your games more, beat them more quickly, and then want more games once you're done. That's how I've wound up with 25 Switch games in 7ish months.
Yes, gamesindustry.biz had a great article about it. On the other hand these record sales on Switch happen, despite a very limited installed base.
What if Switch keeps on growing, selling 10 times more than the 6/7 millions units out there so far?
There's a case to be made the switch is the ideal form factor to consume indie games. If it turns out to be a shared feeling, indies are in for a treat, and for a long time.
So if A doesn't necessarily apply to B, then why do you act like B applies to A? You can't have it apply only when you want it to support your own argument. At some point there will be many more titles and discovery will potentially be an issue and there will be a point in time when not every release will be a smashing success. That goes without saying, because any platform has that, so why does it matter for you to come into a thread and spout that off when we're seven months into the release of a new product and many indie developers/publishers are finding success?
So what you're saying is that Switch owners are buying these indie games that get released on the platform because it interests them?
Graphics Horse
Member
Spelunky HD doesn't use GameMaker.
Never thought I'd even think it, but as a person with only a limited amount of time to game, I almost miss the drip feed on WiiU!
Trying hard to finish up Mario + Rabbids and Metroid: SR before Mario hits, which is a challenge in and of itself. Much less when I have painfully strong urges to get all these great indies like Steamworld, Stardew, Golf Story, and now this...
Looks really cool and has peaked my interest. Now just almost hoping for a slower Jan/Feb for big releases so I can dive in to these other games (but of course even if I have Mario wrapped up I'll be hit with DOOM, Skyrim, Xenoblade, FE:W, and a few others around Christmas)
Trying hard to finish up Mario + Rabbids and Metroid: SR before Mario hits, which is a challenge in and of itself. Much less when I have painfully strong urges to get all these great indies like Steamworld, Stardew, Golf Story, and now this...
Looks really cool and has peaked my interest. Now just almost hoping for a slower Jan/Feb for big releases so I can dive in to these other games (but of course even if I have Mario wrapped up I'll be hit with DOOM, Skyrim, Xenoblade, FE:W, and a few others around Christmas)
LordOcidax
Member
Congrats. I saw the trailer of the game last night, looks fun. Maybe i buy the game today.
Jonneh3003
Banned
I think the Switch as a platform is more appealing for these smaller titles.
LordRaptor
Member
For people that frame the Switch in terms of "What do you prefer, portability or graphics?" the reality is that for most indies theres no 'sacrifice' to be made to have both.
OrbitalBeard
Member
As a multiplatform owner and someone who plays Switch almost exclusively on the television, I'll tell you why I buy every indie on Switch.
Sleep mode.
PS4 and XB1 have sleep modes and they're great.You're usually back into a game within 30 seconds or less. Edit - (This isn't entirely accurate, as I've since found out. It's more like 15 seconds or so on PS4 if you directly power down your system from the game itself, without exiting to the home menu first.) But due to Switch's hybrid nature, sleep mode has to be near instant or it loses its portable appeal. Because of this, I'm back into my game within 5-10 seconds. This is pretty huge for me. It makes playing for 5-10 minutes at a time effortless and I've finished many games on this system because of it. I enjoy long gaming sessions, but most of the time it's easier for me to just play for a few minutes at a time.
Most indies are perfect for bit-sized play and Switch is such a great fit for these games, even if you use the system mainly as a home console. If you use the device as a portable (or both), it's an absolute no-brainer.
Sleep mode.
PS4 and XB1 have sleep modes and they're great.
Most indies are perfect for bit-sized play and Switch is such a great fit for these games, even if you use the system mainly as a home console. If you use the device as a portable (or both), it's an absolute no-brainer.
It's a pretty cool game. Glad to see it finding success on Switch.
That looks sick. Another game to the wishlist.
#starvingboyz
Jawbreaker
Member
Wait, really? I need to check this game out now.
frankie_baby
Member
I hadnt even heard of it til it popped up on the eshop yesterday, dont think it even had a listing on the coming soon page before (why would any game not do also why is the eurpean coming soon page so much more used) but it looks great, if i wasnt skint I'd have bought it
BanjoLayleeYookaKazooie
Banned
Obviously. But if there are enough people buying these smaller games as these several and counting examples lead us to believe, then there's a userbase there that these smaller devs have little reason to ignore.
And of course you know that the userbase will also be rapidly increasing over the coming years. If I'm an indie dev, I would be kicking myself for not getting my game ported over sooner, not wondering what the system will be like in 2019/20/21. What Playtonic for example must be feeling for not getting Yooka-Laylee out before Mario eh? It should still sell well, but man they must be regretting not capitalising on the 3D platformer hype sooner.
Def. need to check this out - looks really cool.
The Main Event
Member
Never heard of the game. Dont even know if I saw it on the eShop. But it looks good! Wishlisted.
GhostTrick
Banned
There's a case to be made indeed. But there's also concrete datas. You'll notice most, if not all these success stories are about "launch/better than X platform" with very few instance of concrete numbers.
I never said that. I said the competition on Switch is smaller. It's true that Switch doesn't offer, yet, the same range of game as other platforms. It does indeed explain why some indies can make a better place for themselves. Now lack of competition being positive on Switch doesn't apply to lack of competition not doing shit for Wii U.
Also, you can also read my post: I'm answering to someone who's going on an ironical "but I thought Switch had no games" tirade, to prevent criticism, as if saying the competition on Switch is fairly limited was some sort of dumb statement.
Im with you.. >95% of my play time is on the TV. I adore the ability to pick up my pro controller, hit the Home button, and within seconds my TV has turned on, with the input automatically turned to the Switch, and with my game on the screen, ready to go.
GuitarAtomik
Member
Didn't even realize this was coming to Switch let alone released.
GI.biz just had a recent article explaining that it was the lack of competition compared to other marketplaces.
This is a great game and it's probably he first time I really want to double dip. The portable nature of the switch makes it more appealing than playing pc.
Also I technically got it for free on steam thanks to a sale and idlemaster, so I guess I could use some of my real money on this.
Also I technically got it for free on steam thanks to a sale and idlemaster, so I guess I could use some of my real money on this.
Toadthemushroom
Member
Reverse Tinkerbell Effect. The more people believe something, the less true it becomes. Like it's safe to drive recklessly because car accidents are uncommon, a belief that would lead to more car accidents.
Having said that, I'm not sure if this qualifies if the Switch user base continues to grow and support games as they release. Certainly there's only so much attention and money to go around, but hopefully as one person is sated for a while, another buys a Switch and wants to check out the recent releases...
Skittzo0413
Member
"Explaining"?
That was a reason that developers gave, sure. But it's silly to pretend the form factor has no bearing on this either. I mean, the Vita had (and has) enormous success with indies too, even years after launch. Most indies are just very well suited to handheld gaming.
superdeluxe
Member
Switch owners hungry
Jokes on them i already bought their releases on steam for a fraction of the price.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
I am super duper curious what the tail looks like compared to other platforms. I hope someone will go into that
Astral Dog
Member
Never heard of most of those games but to see thdse Switch successes
OrbitalBeard
Member
That's absolutely a big part of it.
However, I don't think it tells the whole story and I predict that while anecdotes of new indie releases that "smashed" expectations will become less common as time goes on, the eShop will continue to be an extremely healthy platform for independent studios and the majority of them will be pleased with their sales on the system.
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