Quote:

why tell everyone you are an indie developer? Don't say anything, but make the impression you are a company



To be clear, a popular definition of Indie in the US is a individual OR COMPANY that doesn't receive deveopment funds from publishing houses or other mainstream gaming venues. It doesn't mean that it is a bunch of individuals. What I'm trying to say is that you can (and should!) have a company and be Indie. Heck, for all their money, ID is still considered Indie!!

In the US, being an Indie can actually be a benefit. It carries a rebelious air to it that a lot of gamers appreciate. The problem lies not in the indie image but the indie budget. Consider that a non-indie game company would not think twice about 5k USD for gamespot. Heck, a non-indie game company would have an advertising budget that is on par with all of our development budgets combined!

In your case Leo, since Latvia doesn't have strong (if any) game development, there is no distincition between Indie and Non-Indie gaming... in the absence of mainstream, they are the same! I think there is nothing wrong with stating that you are Indie and being proud of it and IMO this attitude will not cost you any sales at all.

But you are correct that a poor website is losing you money and that sometimes it's preferable to present yourself as a company and not an individual. But I would keep the Indie label and not try to present yourself as something you are not (like we see all the time with the "I'm going to make a game to compete with Blizzard" threads).

Oldschooli, if you have not incorporated as a company, you should right away. Setting up an LLC is very easy, very inexpensive, and will make it easier for people to invest in you and take you seriously. Same thing for the website. No matter which advertising venue you go for, eventually they will end up on your site and if it isn't easy and attractive, then you will lose 9 out of 10 sales.


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