If this article were written over a year ago, it would be about how indie games don't have what it takes to appeal to mass consumers and make serious cash. Now, however, the explosion of Minecraft -- the lego-like world creation game -- has schooled us on three important lessons that every major developer and publisher would be crazy to ignore, or risk losing out on millions of dollars.
1. Graphics Are Overrated -- With all the time and money spent on creating high-tech gaming engines and pretty landscapes, you would think that's what gamers care most about, but Minecraft has shown us that simply isn't so. Minecraft looks like a game made in the 90s, but has pulled in over 30 million in revenue for its then-lone developer and it hasn't even left the beta stage yet. It's not that graphics can't help a game, or be a strong selling point when technology is pushed to its limits, but at its core gamers are gamers, they're trying to play a video game not visit an art gallery, and for that reason gameplay will always be the biggest factor in a game's viral success.
2. Word of Mouth Still Sells -- Over seven million people have signed up to play Minecraft so far, and for the bulk of that (if not all of it) there was no advertising done at all save for a few posts by its developer sharing the game to a few people on some programmer forums. In the instance of good games "if you build it, they will come" couldn't be any more true, and the fact that Minecraft has been and continues to be playable throughout its development process could signal a new strategy for game developers and publishers. If Minecraft is making so much money just allowing people to play before it's officially released and lend a hand in the creation process with suggestions, then surely a major studio will pick up on this kind of financial gain and attempt to duplicate it.
3. Gamers Love Creative Freedom -- Earlier I mentioned that gamers are gamers to play games, not visit an art gallery, but that doesn't mean they're not creative. In fact, some of the most interesting minds you will ever meet are avid gamers, as they've immersed themselves in a realities and possibilities that far surpass everyday life. What Minecraft did is provide the first truly open-ended way for gamers to express this creativity, with a little challenge mixed in and the opportunity to do it with your friends. Minecraft isn't the first "sandbox" style game ever made, but it provided the level of freedom, exploration, community and fun to make it work on a massive scale. No matter what happens from this point on with Minecraft, future developers and publishers alike will be learning all about the dynamics behind the success of a humble game with extraordinary potential.
Author Resource:
David is an avid Minecraft player and gaming aficionado. When he's not helping people discover awesome games like Minecraft, he can be found writing about the upcoming Madden NFL 12 video game on his popular Madden 12 tips and news site.
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