Sony drops PlayStation Vita price to $199, confirms Fez and other indie games are on the way

Sony drops PlayStation Vita price to $199

It’s not just PS4 news from Sony at its Gamescom keynote today, the company has also just confirmed a big bit of PlayStation Vita news: it’s dropping the MSRP to $199. That price goes into effect tomorrow. Sony also says that it’s dropping the cost of the memory cards for the device, although it’s not offering specific prices for those just yet. What’s more, the company has also confirmed that a slate of indie games are heading to the handheld console this year, including Fez, which will also be making its way to the PlayStation 4 — again, further specifics will have to wait, but we’ll bring you those as soon as we know them.

Update: Specifics on the memory card price drops have been provided. The 4GB unit is falling from $19.99 to $14.99; the 8GB from $29.99 to $19.99; the 16GB from $59.99 to $39.99; and the 32GB from $99.99 to $79.99.

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Source: PlayStation Blog

Amazon launches indie game portal to promote the little guys

Amazon launches indie game portal

Amazon feels for indie devs. So much so, that it’s set up a standalone Indie Game storefront on its site specifically to highlight these gaming gems that might otherwise get overlooked. The new portal, designed to “increase discoverability,” will feature select games for Mac, PC and the browser, but Amazon’s not just leaving it at that. To properly promote this new storefront launch, it’s tossing in some limited time promos to entice gamers to click and explore the catalog. From today until July 23rd, Amazon customers can purchase Indie Bundles containing up to 10 games for $10, as well as receive download codes, good for three pre-selected games, with every purchase (available until July 17th). The company’s also throwing its considerable weight around in the publicity department, with a weekly spotlight Q&A feature aimed at shedding some light on developers and a Gamer’s Choice award; a distinction that nets a game prominent storefront promotion. Feel like rewarding innovation, creativity, your penchant for slack-jawed amusement and the little guy? Yeah, us too. So check out the source and vote with your dollars.

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Source: Amazon, (1)

PBS mini-documentary explores indie game creation, shows what they do that majors can’t (video)

PBS minidocumentary explores indie game creation, shows what they do that majors can't video

The indie game world has undergone a metamorphosis over the past few years, transforming from an often overlooked niche into as much a staple of the game industry as once-every-year blockbusters like the Call of Duty series. It’s that fast-rising side of gaming that PBS’ Off Book has explored in a succinct documentary. As both developers and game journalists explain, the small and more flexible nature of indie teams lets them delve into game concepts, art and sound that major developers typically avoid — you probably wouldn’t get Bastion, Fez or Super Meat Boy out of a company focused mostly on hitting its quarterly revenue targets. Crowdfunding and internet distribution methods like Steam and Xbox Live Arcade have similarly removed many of the barriers that either kept these games from commercial success or forced uncomfortable deals with large publishers in the past. Accordingly, the indie sphere that PBS sees in 2012 is less about trying to become the next Activision or EA and more about experimentation and personal expression. If you’ve ever wanted an elegant summary of what makes Spelunky feel so special, the whole Off Book episode awaits after the break.

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PBS mini-documentary explores indie game creation, shows what they do that majors can’t (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 03:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Valve launches Steam Greenlight to pick cream of indie game crop

Valve launches Steam Greenlight to pick cream of indie game crop for its store

Steam has developed a reputation as a haven for indie games like Super Meat Boy, so it’s only fitting that store owner Valve has just launched a section to welcome more of those games into its tent. Greenlight lets small developers submit titles and have gamers vote as to whether or not the candidates should get space on Steam’s virtual shelf. Pickier players don’t have to see every game in contention; they can filter the list down to specific game types and platforms, and collections can narrow the selection to categories hand-picked by fans or publishers. No games have cleared Greenlight just yet, but it won’t be long before the logjam becomes a flood — between this and general apps, Steam is about to get a lot more crowded.

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Valve launches Steam Greenlight to pick cream of indie game crop originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 22:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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