Amazon Opens Indie Games Dept, But Only For The US
Well this seems rather fantastic, unless in my doe-eyed naivety I've missed how it is instead sinister and terrible. Amazon US have launched an Indie Games channel. They say,
"The Amazon Indie Games Store helps independent game developers reach more customers, and helps customers learn about more creative games and the people and processes behind building those games."
Which is great - if you're in North America.
Accompanying this launch are a bundle of bundles, with 100% of the sales going to the developers. There's a Double Fine bundle in there, a Cavern Of Fire pack containing Galaxy On Fire 2, Little Inferno, The Cave, Sol Survivor and Strike Suit Zero, and lots of other selections. That latter pack costs only $10, the same for the seemingly unofficial Double Fine collection. Ten bucks!
All the BIT.TRIP games are in there, for $5 each at the moment, or all four for 10. But it's not all bundles. Think of a indie game of note and chances are you'll find it on there. Hotline Miami is currently $5, Don't Starve is selling for $12, and the mighty McPixel is $2.50. Oh, and FTL for $5.
You also get a copy of Huntsman: The Orphanage, Dynasty Of Duck, and The Curse Of Nordic Cove if you buy anything at all before the 10th.
The catch (that everyone else seems to have missed) - this is currently for US customers only. Try to buy from outside there, and it'll refuse. Even if you're just buying a download code for a different store. Hopefully we'll see other nations' stores catching up soon, although history tends to suggest it's a very slow process for Amazon.
