We know that Rat Race probably put you off comedic video game projects based in working environments -- however, the recently released Xbox Live Indie Game, Office DisOrders, looks a little more sophisticated than Super-Ego Studios' impossibly unfunny work simulator. Well, the graphics aren't more sophisticated, we guess; but they've got this Dire Straights' "Money For Nothing" thing that's really working for us.
Update: The game's creator recently emailed us with surprising news about the game. Apparently, due to a trademark conflict, the game was pulled off the Marketplace, and renamed Office DisOrders. It should now be available under the new moniker.
Actually EA's the one who buys people and inevitably destroys their identity. Pretty much the only one they haven't done that to is Bioware (thank god), same can't be said for Pandemic.
They all do it. Microsoft destroyed FASA, ACES, Ensemble, and nearly Bungie. EA destroyed Pandemic, 2015, and others, and Activision destroys whatever doesn't shit money fast enough.
I love you Joystiq for actually being the only site that CONTINUALLY show off Xbox Live Indie games (not saying others don't). Us developers definitely appreciate it. ;)
i'd been wondering about that myself; i wonder how complicated it would be for Microsoft to implement an Achievement certification program for indie games? It wouldn't even have to be the stock 200G available to Arcade titles; even 50G might be a nice incentive for people to check out independent releases more frequently
@Mike: I agree, and 50G sounds about right and would certainly juice sales a bit.
But I guess the big problem is that indie games are not ESRB rated--if an indie developer wants to go through that process, that might be a good gatekeeper to decide which games deserve trophy certification, and which games are just out to make a quick buck off the trophy collectors.
They do use peer review for the Indie games though. They currently rate it on sexual content, violence, and gore, I think. I forget exactly what the terms of it are, but they could easily have it set up to make sure that there isn't just achievements for nothing.
Yeah, the developer worked on one of the sims games. I enjoyed the game too. I would advice playing the game but not watching the trailer as it spoils some of the story. I wrote a review on my website
($1).
