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The console-based indie scene is getting to the point where I'm considering buying a PS3 or Xbox 360 to get in on the action. I have a Wii, but beyond Cave Story, World of Goo, the Bit.Trip series, the coming La-Mulana release, and a few others, it's not really a thriving platform in my opinion. What are y'all's opinion on the other consoles? I know Xbox 360 has the indie game channel or store or whatever, and I see some really cool current games for PS3 like Joe Danger and upcoming releases like Journey. I haven't really paid much attention to the console scene since I never thought I'd want to buy another, but the games are starting to entice me.

So, what are your thoughts or recommendations? Sorry if this is a foolish question; I'm just not up to date on this topic.

It depends if you mean "get into" as a developer or as a player.  I would think that with XNA, the XBOX360 is fairly simple to develop and publish games for.

As a player, all three systems have their merits.  The 360 has Castle Crashers and the XNA games, the PS3 has the thatgamecompany games, and the Wii has Cave Story and will soon have La Mulana, as you have noted.

In principle, by allowing anyone to develop and publish games for the console, the 360 is the only one of the major consoles that embodies the "indie spirit" whatsoever. For whatever that's worth.

In practice, the XBLA and XBL Indie Games together still have way more quality indie (or indie-esque) content than WiiWare (Cave Story and La Mulana aside).

Since I don't have one, I can't speak for the PS3.

Recently (http://www.indiegames.com/blog/2010/06/why_the_eufloria_developers_ch.html) PSN seems to have caught up quite a bit with XBLA/XLIG, maybe even surpassed it in terms of indie-friendliness.

Sorry to be so blunt, but I think buying a console just for indie games is a waste of money at this point in gaming history, and I'm speaking as someone who owns all three current-gen consoles.

I don't see how it's a bad thing. It's not like he's only going to play indie games on it. But a lot of indie games on a console seems like a sweeter deal, at least to me.

I'd say xbox has more indie game titles, but less quality (at least on xblig vs. psn or xbla)?? I dunno. I'd probably choose the ps3 because not only does it have lots of decent indie games, it is also a blu-ray player.

joe

Yeah, the PS3 seems to be on fire lately with indie game partnerships. But nothing is really pure indie as much as the Xbox Live Indie section...there's just a lot of crap to wade through.

But man, was Miner Dig Deep so much fun. That alone redeems anything bad on XBLIG.

xbox360 has the largest number of indie games, a huge variety of them, especially with the xblig, but there are a few indie exclusives for the other consoles that you may not want to miss out on (like flower / flow / journey for psn and cave story / la mulana remakes for wiiware). i just own an xbox360.

and generally i find xblig games pretty good -- everyone says there's a ton of bad games for it, but i haven't yet played a bad game on it. of course i only buy games on it after having them recommended to me, so that's a bit of a filter. but i've played about 20-30 xblig games and all are quite good. it's mainly graphically where they're subpar.

I don't think the Xbox's quantity is a good argument- you want quality. Like everyone else said, decide which games you want to play more. I don't buy many games off the store but I have fl0w and it's really nice.

[Fanboyism]
You can also use your PS3 to play Blurays and upscale DVDs. Remember, DVDs are almost like VHS now. If you network is right you can play music and video from your PC on your PS3, making it a great central media machine. Also, with all the external hardrives and payed online and crap you have to pay for, PS3s are cheaper. Also RROD. It's true that the slim no longer gets RROD- but that's because they've replaced it with a small, green blinker. Plus, if you want to play good mainstream games, Wii is not an option and Xbox really doesn't compare to Playstation. Xbox motion thingy is inferior to the PS3's, and PS3 is the only console to support 3D right now.
[/Fanboyism]

What the fuck is this?

lolwtfbbq

I third the sentiment gunmaggot and Pierog have expressed.

Also, the Wii has lots of good games, it's just that no one buys them.

I don't understand why you are confused. We have fanboy rants all the time, he was simply nice enough to mark it as such.

for me, quantity *is* important. quantity means variety. i wouldn't want to play only 3 indie games, no matter how good they were. that's sort of like saying 'just decide on the 3 best books, and read them over and over'. it doesn't quite work that way. the feeling of quality suffers without variety too, repetition can reduce how valuable something is.

 :shrug2: I'm sorry it's obligatory. Honestly I'd think that the PC has almost every indie game you'd possibly want.

ya -- the pc has the best selection but far from every indie game i'd possibly want. weapon of choice and 1up shmup (both xblig games) are really good and not available on pc for instance.

I bought the PS3 and have to say I feel like I made the right choice. My downloads include flOw, Flower, Joe Danger, PixelJunk Shooter, and Noby Noby Boy. I also just learned that Braid is on PSN, which I thought was an XBLA exclusive for some reason. And with titles like Journey and Eufloria on their way, I have lots to look forward to. :handthumbsupR: :-* :handthumbsupL:

But no Fez  :beg:

I agree with Paul about quantity. I, too, only own an xbox, and while the PS3 has some really, really, REALLY awesome-looking games, it's just not enough to make me put down the money for another system. (I don't have a good-enough TV to justify having a blu-ray player.) I've bought a ton of Indie Games (XBLIG), and they've all been pretty great! Some are actually pretty surprising.

I really hate when someone just blurts out all the good shit about their console and then complains about other consoles. It's rude, if someone chose a console and they're happy with it. It's rather hard to sway their mind. And by the way, half your argument is based on opinion.

[On-topic]: I actually haven't checked out the XBLIG section of the Marketplace, I gotta go do that. :D

But if you want quality and the quantity of indie games, just stick to the PC (or Mac). You're going to be paying about $200 - 400 just for indie games which you will have to buy as well.

I'd only get a console if you actually want to play console games.

360.