Art house games as a business venture

Mammoth

So I personally love art house games. However, I don't normally see them in commercial settings. What does everybody think about the earning potential of art house games on iphone and ipad?

old_kipper

What do you call art house games? I download a lot of apps that I seek out from all over, including sound and image art apps, but no many that you could call games. There are things like 'The Passage' which is very game like in graphics and control but it is not really a game with standard goals. I would be interested in hearing of others that you know of.

I know a developer who does what you might call art apps and he has shifted about 25,000 of one title but I am not sure at what price. Many of the art apps though are free and are more experiments than looking to earn from. A lot use open frame works as it is so graphics based, but there are a few people I know doing non standard things with GS as it is easy to use.

FYO here are a few you might not have come across but worth a look. Again, not all very game like.

Soundrop, Thicket, Loop, h.fbk , Airpaint, Dub Selector, Blindworld, PotoCabenga, Dropophone, Otoblock, RapMushi, Muybridgizer... the list goes on....

Hope you find them interesting

cheers kipper

and do let me know of interesting stuff....

quantumsheep

You could check out Limbo, and Braid as well. Today I die again is also lovely, and available on iphone.

I have an 'arthouse' game in my head. I just need to find the right artist. And work out all the variables and stuff for multiple endings.

It's a love story.

A bit different from the retro shooty stuff I know

QS

butterbean

Limbo and Braid are two of my FAVORITE indy games! Limbo is just fabulous... Just goes to show that music is not necessary in a very well thought out puzzler, platformer game.

Braid is just a painting come to life... gorgeous artwork.

Mammoth

I love Limbo and Braid. I have an art house game that is almost ready to publish. I don't tend to see these types of games on iOS devices.

From a developer's point of view it makes sense. I don't feel like forking over the dough to make an XBLA game, So ill just make one for iPad.

Thanks Old Kipper I will check out those games

jonmulcahy

do you have links for limbo or braid? i cant find them

Mammoth

http://www.braid-game.com/

ck

Hmmm. I have one I built as a desktop app with an Arts Council England grant last year. Very similar design to Limbo. Maybe it's time for an iOS release...