Dishwasher dev defends Xbox Community Games

by Richard Mitchell { Jul 16th 2009 at 2:45PM }

After Clover developer Binary Tweed made its disappointment in the game's sales clear, it laid a portion of the blame at the feet of Microsoft and its Community Games platform (soon to be renamed Indie Games). James Silva -- head of Dishwasher developer Ska Studios -- has posted something of a rebuttal on his company's blog. His comments aren't directed expressly toward Binary Tweed, but rather toward any developer that thinks the service is an instant goldmine.

Silva points out that, even with its faults, Community Games has many advantages over a Windows release, namely visibility, easy payment processing and piracy protection. Addressing complaints that Microsoft doesn't do enough to market Community Games, Silva notes that many games simply won't fly on the Xbox 360, as there are already better versions available for the platform. Paraphrasing Silva, putting a tower defense game on Community Games is "a step down" from other strategy titles available. Meanwhile, all the music generators and ridiculous massage applications really have no competition from Xbox 360 retail titles, allowing them to address an untapped market.

Of course, none of that matters if a Community Game lacks the most important factor: fun. Silva encourages developers to "make better games," saying, "All of this blaming nonsense just hurts everyone, and tragically generates more blogroll buzz than any yay-XNA articles do."

Tags: community-games, indie-games, james-silva, microsoft, ska-studios, xbox-live

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

NeilNaS @ Jul 16th 2009 2:48PM

Really? Make a better game and it will sell..

I think their onto something.

lippenhoffer @ Jul 16th 2009 3:03PM

they're

Gamer4Life @ Jul 16th 2009 3:14PM

Not only is Dishwasher Dead Samurai a great game the developer makes a great point, make the game fun or people wont buy it (now Binary Tweed come back when you have a fun game).

Neorev @ Jul 16th 2009 3:31PM

Dishwasher = FUN
Clover = BORING

13Yards2Victory @ Jul 16th 2009 3:30PM

That binary tweed guy complains so much about his crappy games

joeybeast @ Jul 16th 2009 4:34PM

Fantalk segment!!!! please!!!

cuteSAVAGE @ Jul 16th 2009 5:57PM

Says the one community dev who's pet project was picked up and payed for by Microsoft...

Devise @ Jul 16th 2009 7:17PM

He's released 2 community games as well.

cuteSAVAGE @ Jul 16th 2009 7:49PM

I know. He can also afford to have them fail seeing as he is rolling in the dough considering his Commun... er, Arcade game sold surprisingly well. He's the last person that should be commenting on community games as he will always be the exception to the rule.

tomatoGG @ Jul 16th 2009 9:12PM

Why is he an exception to the rule? Microsoft did not hire him to write Dishwasher. He made the game on his own using the same tools that are available to everyone else. If not for developers like him showing Microsoft the quality of games that indie developers can actually create on the XNA platform and that they can be successful commercially, Microsoft would not have committed time, money and effort on community games. He of all ppl should have a right to comment on community games because of his contributions. It is up to ppl to agree or disagree with his views but not his right to comment. Some ppl should stop being jealous of other ppl's talent and success.