Maybe it'll hit the Humble Bundle next time around.
Maybe it'll hit the Humble Bundle next time around.
There are a lot of really good indie games out there, but most people are only aware of the famous ones, or the ones they get exposed to via stuff like the HIB or high-visibility steam sales.
If you enjoyed the HIB games I suggest you keep digging as there are many, many games out there at the same level as the average of the game in the 4 bundles.
Gaming is a market where you as an indie have to hit the jackpot or you have to somehow face your competition, which are multi billion corporations like EA and Activison, and beat them at their game.
From all the indie gamedevs I only know 2 that really made it (in the sense that they created a sustainable business): Jeff Vogel with his RPGs and the guy from "Gratuitous Space Battles". (I'm not yet sure about the Minecraft guy.)
All the other success stories are like a burning sheet of paper. They burn bright but they burn fast. And then there are the other 99.99% of indie gamedevs who will never succeed in any sense with their games. Not because their games are bad - but because the market they compete in is a slaughterhouse.
I'm not sure what your definition of success is (so Minecraft is not good enough for you?) but I know many - just look around - indie developers that are making a good living and growing their business out of selling good games and being reasonably clever about business, they're nothing like a burning sheet of paper. They may not all have made 3 million bucks - a handful obviously have and that's great -, but they're able to live doing what they love. I'm not saying it's easy, it takes a lot of talent, passion and endurance.
And I don't think you should try to beat EA at their own game. You should be playing a different game. The simple fact that you're not EA could be one of your best cards.