Kongregate selling out?

I know that this is a "douche"y topic, but seriously. I understand that K (which is what I’ll refer to Kongregate as from now on.) has bills to pay, but didn’t K start off as a site to let independent developers show their skill off to the world? Look how much it’s changed lately. Most of the games on the site are Armor Games or Newgrounds or <insert>. I’m not saying that the site should stop making money, that’s sweet. But they way it’s turning out is that it’s going to end up being a new annoying game site.

I’ve thought about it, and I think there is still time for redemption. Maybe having a spotlight on a new INDEPENDENT developer’s game every month and letting people see it would help to maintain the non-mainstream appeal of this site. I like the community and the games here. I like wasting time on this site. I just don’t like the direction it’s heading. Keep the mainstream ad’s and bonuses and whatnot, but get rid of the pay-for mmorpg’s and add some indie content to the site.

Sorry for b*tching.

I think about ~90% of all games here are ‘Indie’.. Just ‘happens’ to be that the best games are usually not made by the amateurs. Also, when you see an Armorgames logo it doesn’t mean Armorgames created it, same for Newgrounds.. It just means they sponsored it.

Also, game developers also need money, that’s why they include EXTRAS not needing to beat the game but merely just OPTIONALLY helping you in games.

Armor Games or Newgrounds for the most part sponsor games, and those sponsorships are what allow many independent developers to make games. And honestly, I wouldn’t consider Armor Games or Newgrounds developed stuff as nonindependent: they certainly aren’t on the same level as Nintendo, Sony, Capcom, Rockstar, EA, or Square Enix, to name a few truly non-independent game companies.

Small independent developers have a very tough time competing with the amount of resources that Armor Games and Newgrounds can throw at game development. It makes sense that the most heavily promoted games on Kongregate would come from the biggest sponsors/developers. Why promote a game that doesn’t look very polished when you can promote something like Sonny 2 or Gemcraft Chapter Zero?

Also, game developers also need money, that’s why they include EXTRAS not needing to beat the game but merely just OPTIONALLY helping you in games.

I think he was talking about Kongregate placing emphasis on games where you pay for content. Like Twin Shot 2. It got a rating of somewhere VERY close to 3.00, but it was on the front page. Then it was on that scroll thing on the front page that shows all the badges and cards. Then Kongregate ran advertisements for it. The only other game that recieved this amount of attention was Kongai.

Armor games and Newgrounds realize Kongregate has a cleaner or more simple website along with a epic site which results in them trying to keep themselves in the spotlight over at a much high-par quality site.

really, there just doing cheap advertising.

And I like all the contests going on, they make it feel more alive. BUT, I love the idea of a Indy of the week or the month spotlight :D

I think the reason why there are more ArmorGames and Newground Games/Sponsorments is because Kongregate is a place where developers come together or upload a game and make revenue and money off of the games they have created. Kongregate doesn’t really create much games, because all they want is for Artists, Musicians, Developers, etc. to come and join so that they can make money, get feedback off their games and maybe even get sponsors. There are many more reasons as well.

Maybe an Amateur Game Contest ever week or month would be great and the prize could be like $100 in first, $75 in second, and $50 for the rest. I would like that, because then the Beginners would get more views and comments on their games, and get the spotlight, like you mentioned.

I have an idea… use all three sites.

?

Stop taking sides?

Kong doesn’t upload games to the site, the developers do. So if you’re upset that not enough “indie” developers aren’t adding content to the site, take it up with them.

Some things to note:

1) How do you define indie? Newgrounds and Armor Games are as indie as they come. They’re small, independent, private companies not owned by a larger entity.

2) Newgrounds does not create games; they only sponsor them.

3) Most of Armor Games’ employees were independent Flash game developers before they were hired. They now receive a salary to do what they love and create free games that people enjoy. What’s the problem here?

4) Even games uploaded by companies such as Adult Swim were likely created by independent contracting companies — some of them were even created by one or two people. The branding doesn’t always tell the full story about the human being(s) behind the code/art.

5) Are you possibly confusing indie with unpolished? Some of the best-looking and most professional games on the site were created by one or two people.

Originally posted by greg:

Some things to note:

4) Even games uploaded by companies such as Adult Swim were likely created by independent contracting companies — some of them were even created by one or two people. The branding doesn’t always tell the full story about the human being(s) behind the code/art.

Yeah, but AdultSwim games suck (don’t get me started on Bible Fight)

but didn’t K start off as a site to let independent developers show their skill off to the world? Look how much it’s changed lately.

As a amateur game developer who pretty much just develops games for fun not money, I say this is a very good thing. Big sponsorships (Like the Stride, and LfD2 ones) bring money to the site, WHICH kongregate shares with us “indie” developers. We’re getting a good piece of this pie ;)

Also, games made by Armorgames, or sponsored by newgrounds (I think newgrounds employees have actually made like 3 games over the years) on kongregate bring more people to the site, which play our (Small hobbyist developers games, and give us money). And as some have already pointed out, they are small indie companies themselves, and need all the help they can get.

Bottom line: More games and sponsorships isn’t kongregate selling out, it’s kongregate getting bigger (And richer) which is good for EVERYONE; the gamer, indie company, part time developer, hobbyist developer, and the company itself… Which has to make money to stay up.

Armorgames and Newgrounds may seem like the large companies in the Flash gaming world, but they’re really small, indie companies just like Kongregate. They’re supporting indie developers as much as Kong is. (well, almost as much)

Just look at TomFulp’s profile description on Newgrounds:
“Hi there! In case you didn’t know, I created newgrounds. No, it wasn’t made by some giant company – just some dumb kid.”

As for sponsors by larger companies like Stride, it’s helping developers. The current contest is a chance for a good developer to make some money, which is a big part of what I’ve always thought Kongregate was about. :)

look if kongregate is going bankrupt many players will pay to keep it on

Not sure if it’s been said, but if it has, let me re-say this. Kong has ALSO has games from sites like EA and such, who pay kong to promote their game A TON, even though most for the games suck. And sometimes in the games list, there will be a game on a different site that pays kong to put their game on there. The big problem is how certain companies will pay Kong to promote their game and put it in the spotlight when other games by non-pros are still unanimously liked better. But hey, don’t get me wrong, if it keeps Kong nice and afloat, they’re fine with me and many others.