With this week's new Xbox 360 dashboard update, Microsoft has reorganized its marketplace layout, giving indie games a dedicated shortcut within the existing Games tab.
This move could ease the woes of many Xbox Live Indie Game developers, who have oftenlamented the obscure placement of the Indie Games section on the Xbox 360 dashboard.
The independent publication Indie Game Magazine reports that Indie Games are now featured right alongside the Arcade and On Demand shortcuts, whereas previously the Indie section was buried within a sub-menu in a section titled Game Type.
Interestingly, Microsoft's official announcement of the recent update does not mention any changes to the marketplace, noting only that the patch is intended to increase performance and fix minor bugs.
So far, the U.S. is the only reported region to receive the new marketplace layout. Microsoft did not immediately respond when contacted by Gamasutra for more information.
Previously, Microsoft has declined to comment directly on the placement of the Indie Games section, but has instead encouraged indie developers to maintain consistent marketing campaigns for their titles, or organize promotions like the Indie Games Summer Uprising.
I hope so too. I am very close to walking out of XBLIG myself. The forums are pretty quiet and most of the top developers have moved on to iOS or Steam (the ones that were lucky to get on). Many of them seem to be doing better, just selling off of their own sites than the money they've made on the Indie service.
Fingers crossed that this change will make a difference.
This is such great news! Providing better visibility to indie development allows to approach people that wouldn't have looked there otherwise. It's a bit weird Microsoft did not comment on the change.
I was wondering what the heck happened to the indie games channel. I couldn't find it at all. I rarely buy any of those games but I do enjoy flipping through and looking at all the bizzare stuff.
Worthless. The new update is awful, players are forced to wade through tabs and advertising to find anything already, any promoted spot will just be lost in the noise.
Damn do I miss the very very first bladed dashboard :(
I do not like the fact that BING is the first on the menu and games is buried. You know that thing that makes you money?! Less is more. The UI is fine, the layout is bad. Less crap, more beef please.
Fingers crossed that this change will make a difference.
The bright side is your competition left your market :)
Indie Channel, finally back where it belongs.
Damn do I miss the very very first bladed dashboard :(