Penny Arcade launches Greenhouse - bit-tech.net Forums

CardJoe · 3rd Apr 2008, 08:15

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/04...s_greenhouse/1

The Penny Arcade team has announced it will soon be launching Greenhouse, an online distribution platform for indie games.

Fod · 3rd Apr 2008, 08:56

didn't steam start as a distribution platform for indie games?
which leads to my second question: why not just use steam?

UncertainGod · 3rd Apr 2008, 09:44

I don't see the need for a steam competitor for small indie games when Steam has been making itself far more available to the little guy of late.

Rexxie · 3rd Apr 2008, 09:49

I think another platform is sort of a waste. I do appreciate the efforts to make indie games available, but I feel Steam has already covered this to a certain extent. I'm sure they are working on improving Steam to make it even more open.

iwog · 3rd Apr 2008, 11:09

*puts economist hat on*
But increased competition will lead to reduced prices and seeing as it will be the indie developer with the market power not the customer or distribution system it will result in a reduced rate of commission charged if (and its a big if) both distribution systems are of an equal size. There is also further economic modeling to suggest that increased competition increases the size of the market and therefore there will be more consumers and more developers.
*takes hat off*

badders · 3rd Apr 2008, 11:28

True, but if both offered similar commission deals right now, wouldn't you go with steam? It's a much larger established userbase, and good indie games can be really well represented and end up successful. Take Audiosurf for example. It had rave reviews, sure, but would it have had as many if it wasn't on a distribution system that was already installed on a large userbase?

Jordan Wise · 3rd Apr 2008, 19:52

waste of time, steam is more than good enough at everything and is good to indie games already

Cthippo · 3rd Apr 2008, 20:55

Competition is good, and I think the Penny Arcade guys are in a great position to push for a better marketplace. If they can encourage developers to be more multi-platform (IE linux and mac compatible) then this is a good thing.

DXR_13KE · 3rd Apr 2008, 23:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cthippo

Competition is good, and I think the Penny Arcade guys are in a great position to push for a better marketplace. If they can encourage developers to be more multi-platform (IE linux and mac compatible) then this is a good thing.

i agree.

completemadness · 5th Apr 2008, 23:51

Its getting a bit annoying having to run all these digital distribution programs, Doesn't Supreme commander come with one? and i believe there are a few others

I sort of wish people would all just use steam so we only have to deal with one resource hog, but on the other hand, steam is hardly amazing (overpriced games, buggy, slow, windows only, only supports IE)

3rd Apr 2008, 08:15	#1
CardJoe Player Character bit-tech Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,940	Penny Arcade launches Greenhouse http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/04...s_greenhouse/1 The Penny Arcade team has announced it will soon be launching Greenhouse, an online distribution platform for indie games. __________________ this is joe's non-bit-tech blog

3rd Apr 2008, 08:56	#2
Fod what is the cheesecake? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: London Posts: 4,902	didn't steam start as a distribution platform for indie games? which leads to my second question: why not just use steam? __________________ "Sesame Street is brought to you by the letters P, W, N, the number 3, and the letter D." I'm a pretentious git with a camera. ISPs want to spy on you. Join the fight against phorm XBL/PSN/Steam ID: FodT

3rd Apr 2008, 09:44	#3
UncertainGod Still Alive Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 1,142	I don't see the need for a steam competitor for small indie games when Steam has been making itself far more available to the little guy of late. __________________ Twitter Tumblr Blog Last.fm "What role do you want to play, I'm just a click away night or day"

3rd Apr 2008, 09:49	#4
Rexxie Multimodder Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Norway Posts: 197	I think another platform is sort of a waste. I do appreciate the efforts to make indie games available, but I feel Steam has already covered this to a certain extent. I'm sure they are working on improving Steam to make it even more open. __________________ - Rexxie Sanity is a full time job.

3rd Apr 2008, 11:09	#5
iwog Linux cursed Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: IoW, UK Posts: 708	puts economist hat on But increased competition will lead to reduced prices and seeing as it will be the indie developer with the market power not the customer or distribution system it will result in a reduced rate of commission charged if (and its a big if) both distribution systems are of an equal size. There is also further economic modeling to suggest that increased competition increases the size of the market and therefore there will be more consumers and more developers. takes hat off __________________ Welcome to bit-tech, watch out for thread drift Things can only get better

3rd Apr 2008, 19:52	#7
Jordan Wise Baby called to see the boss... Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Newcastle Uni Posts: 597	waste of time, steam is more than good enough at everything and is good to indie games already __________________ Favourite Max Payne quote: "He was trying to buy sand for his hour glass, and I wasn't selling any" Steam ID:jordanwise

3rd Apr 2008, 20:55	#8
Cthippo Can't mod my way out of a paper bag Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 4,458	Competition is good, and I think the Penny Arcade guys are in a great position to push for a better marketplace. If they can encourage developers to be more multi-platform (IE linux and mac compatible) then this is a good thing. __________________ Notice: If we see you flaming we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate measures - The Bit-Tech Fire Brigade.

5th Apr 2008, 23:51	#10
completemadness Hypermodder Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 887	Its getting a bit annoying having to run all these digital distribution programs, Doesn't Supreme commander come with one? and i believe there are a few others I sort of wish people would all just use steam so we only have to deal with one resource hog, but on the other hand, steam is hardly amazing (overpriced games, buggy, slow, windows only, only supports IE)