There’s been a hard shift in opinion when it comes to which console maker has the better independent relationships. Microsoft essentially kicked the downloadable craze off with its highly successful Xbox LIVE service, but since then, momentum has seemingly swung in Sony’s direction. However, the developers behind the upcoming XBLA-exclusive Max: The Curse of Brotherhood know that Microsoft still has a strong bond with the little guys.
Developer Press Play's lead designer Mikkel Thorsted recently spoke with Eurogamer about The Curse of Brotherhood, which is a spiritual successor to the 2010 Wii exclusive Max & the Magic Marker. Shedding the series’ casual tone, Thorsted is hoping a more mature audience will appreciate the game’s dark world.
"We're expecting our main audience will be 18 plus," Pedersen said. "We're dealing with, I hope and think, people who have retro love for platform games, Heart of Darkness, Limbo, Trine. There's a huge audience that's younger than that playing the Modern Warfare games, running around with guns, but this is more of a smart puzzle game."
While the development team plans to do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to building their image, but Press Play does expect some visibility help from Microsoft.
Why? Because the team, now owned by the creator of the Xbox, doesn’t really buy into all the talk of Sony being the beacon for smaller developers.
"It's something we have a hard time relating to," he said. "I think people are wrong if they don't think Microsoft is looking into that, and trying to do what they can to adjust to how the market is changing. Of course they are, and it's actually also visible if you look at XBLA – there are free-to-play games, and there are more and more updates. It's a huge organization, and they might be slow but they're definitely heading in the right direction."
With the always-online issues and its “gamers as bros” perception, Microsoft has some image management to do. Yet, when it comes to grabbing the best indie games, Press Play believes its owner is on the right track.
"I don't think Microsoft would have acquired us if they weren't interested in indies," Thorsted said. "I think everyone knows that they're important."
