Games were originally developed on computer systems, as it was the only available method, but recently, after the development of smart phones, numerous independent developers have created games in that medium, with the success of games such as Doodlejump (5 milllion), Angry Birds (12 million) and the massive 100 million + selling Tetris. Mobile games can also be distributed through Freemium, meaning the app is free to download. The Angry Birds series has acheived over 1 billion downloads sold for free on Android devices.
Many independent videos make money, having become succesful on a free download, through the sale of merchandise. You can purchase things like Angry Birds stuffed toys, and other novelty products.
Independent computer games are also played on social networking site Facebook. Games such as Farmville and Mafia Wars have 10s of millions of users, and are free to use, yet have numerous pay-for add ons. Independent company Zynga helped generate 12% of Facebook's revenue in 2011.
Minecraft
Minecraft is one of the most successful independent computer games ever. It's format and download (originally) solely on the computer has made it successful worldwide.- It was created by Markus "The Notch" Persson, and his small company Mojang.
- It is a sandbox survival game, meaning that players can do what they want (sandbox) but still have to stay alive (to quote the BeeGees)
- It has since been launched on 4 different platforms
- PC
- IOS
- Android
- Xbox
- It has sold 8 million copies on PC
- The have been another 4 million sold across other formats
- It has never had publisher backing or commercial advertising
- It is attractive to its users as it can be played in many ways; survival, creative, adventure, as well as single or multi-player
