Valve has introduced a new service called Greenlight today, which Valve has created to allow their community of gamers to decide which games should get released on Steam, Valve’s games network.
In a similar vein to the popular Kickstarter crowdfunding website, Greenlight empowers the gaming community to have a direct say in the games that make it to the Steam platform. Within Greenlight, game developers will submit their games using videos, screenshots, and text. After submission, users of Steam will then be able to vote on the games they would most like to see make the jump from concept to release.
Community-Driven Game Selection
Valve explains: “The prime difference is the size of the team that gets to decide what gets released. For many stores, there is a team that reviews entries and decides what gets past the gates. We’re approaching this from a different angle: The community should be deciding what gets released. After all, it’s the community that will ultimately be the ones deciding which release they spend their money on.”
This approach marks a significant shift from traditional game publishing methods. Typically, a small group of decision-makers within a company would determine which games are worthy of release. By contrast, Greenlight democratizes this process, giving the power to the players themselves. This not only ensures that the games which reach the market have a built-in audience but also encourages developers to engage more closely with their potential customers from the early stages of development.
Benefits for Indie Developers
The new Greenlight community tool created by Valve will be officially launching in August and should provide a great source of interest for indie game developers. Indie developers often face significant challenges in getting their games noticed in a crowded market. Greenlight offers them a platform to showcase their work directly to a large and engaged audience without needing to go through traditional publishing channels.
For example, a small indie developer working on a unique puzzle game can upload a demo, screenshots, and a compelling video to Greenlight. If the game resonates with the community, it can quickly gain traction and votes, increasing its chances of being released on Steam. This direct feedback loop can also provide valuable insights for developers, allowing them to tweak and improve their games based on community input before the official release.
Moreover, Greenlight can serve as a testing ground for innovative and experimental game concepts that might not fit the mold of mainstream titles. Developers can gauge interest and viability without significant upfront investment, reducing financial risk and fostering creativity within the gaming industry.
In addition to benefiting developers, Greenlight also enriches the gaming experience for players. Gamers can discover and support niche titles that align with their interests, contributing to a more diverse and vibrant gaming ecosystem. The sense of community involvement and ownership can also enhance player engagement and loyalty.
Overall, Valve’s Greenlight initiative represents a forward-thinking approach to game publishing, leveraging the collective wisdom and preferences of the gaming community. By breaking down traditional barriers and fostering a more inclusive and interactive selection process, Greenlight has the potential to reshape the landscape of digital game distribution.
Source: TNW : Steam Greenlight
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