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[gunswordfist]

Okay, it seems to me that once someone makes a popular game, most people think of them as just 'so and so that made [insert game name here]', like they expected them to never make another type of game, be a one trick pony or something. People act so shocked when a developer makes a game that's so different from their last one. So how does one go about countering being labelled as 'That guy who made that fluffy platformer.' or 'The one dude who did that murder simulator.'?

[Nix]

Okay, it seems to me that once someone makes a popular game, most people think of them as just 'so and so that made [insert game name here]', like they expected them to never make another type of game, be a one trick pony or something. People act so shocked when a developer makes a game that's so different from their last one. So how does one go about countering being labelled as 'That guy who made that fluffy platformer.' or 'The one dude who did that murder simulator.'?

Make more than just that "fluffy platformer." If you only have the one game under your belt, then being labeled as the creator of that game seems perfectly fine with me. If you don't want that, then make more games and eventually you will be "the guy who made a bunch of games, including but not limited to, that fluffy platformer."

[increpare]

Release games anonymously, or under different names/identities.  

But, eh, I say "fuck it, no point wasting time being a vain bastard"

[LemonScented]

That's a problem I would like to have. To have that problem would mean that

(A) I've actually finished and released an indie game, and
(B) It's been successful enough that people know the name of the game, and the name of the person who created it.

I don't gots either of those things going for me right now, and I'd be happy if I did.

[ஒழுக்கின்மை (Paul Eres)]

Make more than just that "fluffy platformer." If you only have the one game under your belt, then being labeled as the creator of that game seems perfectly fine with me. If you don't want that, then make more games and eventually you will be "the guy who made a bunch of games, including but not limited to, that fluffy platformer."

doesn't necessarily work. for instance, i've made a tower defense game, adventure games, a top-down shooter, dungeon crawlers, a maze game, rpgs, strategy games, joke games, "art games", and am working on a zeldalike, but people still tend to judge me on the games of mine they've played. for instance, saturated dreamers is nonviolent, so people who only heard of me through that game assume i'm some type of nonviolence evangelist and are surprised to see that i've made games with explosions and killing too.

but like increpare said, i don't really see why one should be concerned with this. it's just natural for people to judge a whole by the parts of it they've seen. this is well-studied in psychology. this is why first impressions matter so much. it's sometimes called the attributive fallacy.

[Vinnie]

Just don't care

[gunswordfist]

Okay, it seems to me that once someone makes a popular game, most people think of them as just 'so and so that made [insert game name here]', like they expected them to never make another type of game, be a one trick pony or something. People act so shocked when a developer makes a game that's so different from their last one. So how does one go about countering being labelled as 'That guy who made that fluffy platformer.' or 'The one dude who did that murder simulator.'?

Make more than just that "fluffy platformer." If you only have the one game under your belt, then being labeled as the creator of that game seems perfectly fine with me. If you don't want that, then make more games and eventually you will be "the guy who made a bunch of games, including but not limited to, that fluffy platformer."

Well yeah but even then you can still end up being called 'the maker of Cereal Friends'

[Chromanoid]

it may influence your success especially in the indie scene but you may use a company name/brand for your games. this is something you can switch.

[moi]

being labeled

fucking ideas, how do they even work anyway?

[ANtY]

I just don't see the problem

[Nix]

I agree with others in that I don't see why it really matters. I imagine that you would tend to be labeled by your best or most popular game, in which case being associated with a good game doesn't sound like such a bad thing.

[Evan Balster]

I think there are almost invariably common threads between the games a given developer makes.  If anything, a developer will become known for those.  For instance, Matt Thorson likes to make challenge-based games which are often platformers, because he likes them.  My friend Beau (Teknogames) makes colorful multiplayer action games because those are what he likes to play.

Some threads are more tenuous than others, though.

[SaturnineGames]

If people think of you as "the person who made X", it's far better than if they don't think of you at all. Don't worry about it and go with the flow. It's really a good thing.

If you make more good games, eventually you'll be "the person who made X and Y", then "that guy who makes good games."

Also, if you did a good enough job at a game that people know you for it, it can lead to career opportunities.

[namre]

I agree with what the others have said. YOu can't really do anything about it. UNless, that is, you create an even more successful game than the last one that is different enough.

[Conker534]

I wouldn't care if my game was labeled good, or bad. Because, If it was labeled, people would be talking about it, therefor it would be getting traffic. 

[Kren]

I really doubt it matters, if people lable your games doesn't mean that it is bad or not, for example you can make only plataformers but thats not bad, you can also make tons of games in different playing style and thats not bad too! It all depends on you, some people might not know about you and your games until the 3rd or 20th game you make, and if they like it they will seek your old games and play them, which is good! you should focus more on making good games than in being labeled :3

[Mipe]

Being indie means being independent of PhatProfitTM corporations dictating HOW and WHEN you develop your games. And yes, half of us here are sellouts. 

[mcc]

Okay, it seems to me that once someone makes a popular game, most people think of them as just 'so and so that made [insert game name here]', like they expected them to never make another type of game, be a one trick pony or something. People act so shocked when a developer makes a game that's so different from their last one. So how does one go about countering being labelled as 'That guy who made that fluffy platformer.' or 'The one dude who did that murder simulator.'?

Crap I think if people remember you at all, that means you did something right.

[Kate]

What about the idea that it's good to specialise? Let's say you make one awesome TD game (tweaks the genre, is fun to play, an all-round hit), then you're known as the guy who made that TD game for a while. It's not a biggie. But Then if you make TEN awesome TD games, all varied but equally brilliant, people will be saying "oh it's the newest game from that guy so-and-so" meaning that it's you rather than a specific title that people are recognising. 
What's wrong with being reliably good at something, and recognised for that?

[jwk5]

Okay, it seems to me that once someone makes a popular game, most people think of them as just 'so and so that made [insert game name here]', like they expected them to never make another type of game, be a one trick pony or something. People act so shocked when a developer makes a game that's so different from their last one. So how does one go about countering being labelled as 'That guy who made that fluffy platformer.' or 'The one dude who did that murder simulator.'?

Easy, you just make that game of another type you wanted to make. People being shocked by it is not necessarily a bad thing it just means you are keeping them on their toes. If you do a good job at creating the game then I am pretty sure it won't be "shock" so much as "pleasantly surprised".