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[PompiPompi]

I wonder, how many people out there have the dream of going Indie full time, but never quite make it?
I am develop games part time. I have a "real" job. Luckily this job is very dynamic so I work only part time(and full time) when I want.
However, the "big dream" is to go indie full time. And what stands between people and this dream is usually money. The natural way to achieve this dream seem to be to make money out of indie games, and this is what most indie developers might attempt to do?
I dunno, I guess I have two questions.
How likely is for an indie developer who tries to make game after game to make one game that will gain popularity.
How many Indie developers who want to go full time, never succed in achieving this dream?

It's just the thought that make me shiver that maybe I will forever make games and never have any "succussful" game?

I hope this topic isn't to vague.

[Glaiel-Gamer]

Releasing a game and "hoping" for it to be a hit rarely happens, you have to take initiative and promote yourself and your game. Go to GDC and such. Email press and 'high profile' indies and anyone else who you think could help you out.

[PompiPompi]

So basically what you are saying is that there are a few people who are in key positions that can make big difference? And only they count?
Either Journalists, people working for portals, or some indie developer which have a big audience?

[Superb Joe]

you're never going to make it big

[PompiPompi]

trolololol.
Nice trolling buddy.
And I ask you, please don't pollute my thread, but I know you can't resist...

[MattG]

 There is allways someone bigger until you are Ira Rennert.

[Evan Balster]

The starting point is to make a game you know is genuinely good.  Even just a prototype.  It can go a long way.

[moi]

take control of the means of distribution

[Manuel Magalhães]

take control of the means of distribution

why

[moi]

it's better to be a wolf than a sheep

[Manuel Magalhães]

it's better to be a wolf than a sheep

but it's even better to be a sheep with money.  Steam

[Nix]

Don't rely on Steam, though. Plan on not making it into Steam -- do your own marketing and sales, and then if Steam takes you on, it's all extra.

[Leroy Binks]

but it's even better to be a sheep with money.  Steam

And that's why little games stay little.  Take charge, take initiative, take control, or take a backseat.

[Manuel Magalhães]

Don't rely on Steam, though. Plan on not making it into Steam -- do your own marketing and sales, and then if Steam takes you on, it's all extra.

True, your own marketing and sales are most important, and it's not impossible to a small dev make money from a in-site buying route (see minecraft, VVVVVV at the beginning). Realing on getting to Steam is unwise, but if you get to it at the end and if you think the type of game you're building is suitable to it, go for it. I didn't meant a Steam-only solution with my first post.

but it's even better to be a sheep with money.  Steam

And that's why little games stay little.  Take charge, take initiative, take control, or take a backseat.

I just don't get it. Look at Terraria, do you think that as a "little game*"? Just because you're in shoulders of giants it doesn't mean you're going to give up your creative control. Sure you as a "sheep" have to abide the rules of Steam, the "wolf", but Steam is a great place to be selling games and by what I've reed Steam is a great place to developers too. Cthulhu Saves The World, for example, went to Steam and got a lot more sales on the "evil" Steam than on Xbox Live Indie Games, so I don't get all the hate on digital stores.
*by little game I assume "a game that didn't get much popularity"

[Leroy Binks]

I meant the same thing, hoping for Steam, depending on a sponsor, or resting on your laurels.  Sheep mentality. 

[BrianSlipBit]

Don't rely on Steam, though. Plan on not making it into Steam -- do your own marketing and sales, and then if Steam takes you on, it's all extra.

Agreed!

However, with Windows 8 and Microsoft's new App Store, I see things changing--in a big way.   Probably in a way that's not so favorable for Steam either.  However, it's too early for speculation like that, so I'll just say that I think there's hope on the horizon in the form of the Win8 App Store.

And yes, it will likely end up filled with shit just like every other "App Store", but at least it won't be like rolling the dice as to whether or not your app/game is accepted like with Steam.

P.S. Yes, it will likely require that you use DirectX, but who cares if your primary target is going to be the PC?

[brothers74]

steam not an assured thing... i recomend you get game out on website and give people the website so they can se it +send links of website url to people in high places...

[ஒழுக்கின்மை (Paul Eres)]

basically what everyone else said. promoting your game is at least as difficult as making it, and most indie devs don't really have the knowledge or inclination to do so, so they lose out financially do those who do have that knowledge and inclination. games that succeed are usually games that were promoted well, either by the developer or by someone else

i believe wolfire, an indie developer, has two people doing full time marketing. out of a team of six. that's like 1/3. you don't need to go to that extreme (a third of your time spent promoting the game, the other two-thirds making it) but it's a good rule of thumb. if, like me, you find yourself spending less than 1% of your time promoting the game and 99% working on the game, that's probably too little. some of the most successful indie devs have even recommended that 50% of your time be spent promoting your game, and 50% making it. i wouldn't really do that myself, since i don't find promoting games as fun as making them, but that is what a lot of the most successful ones recommend

[Uykered]

Think its better to spend more time on your game, and less time spamming people.

[Nix]

spamming != good marketing