When you watch the credits roll on a Mat Dickie game you'll come to one of two conclusions:

This fellow has an ego the size of the Titanic..

or

This fellow is one of the hardest working independent developers in the business..

Why? Because, as you watch the credits roll you'll notice only one name listed: Mat Dickie . But seeing that name over and over again , I tend to think the latter statement rather than the former; maybe because I enjoy the games he makes and find the comments on his web site and in his light interaction with the press inspiring. It's hard to knock a guy that can pump out four games a year and makes a good enough living on his craft to continue his dreams.

And his games are certainly different from the thousands of "match three" clones being released every day all over the world. Mat Dickie's games aren't the most visually stunning games you'll see on the market but they certainly deliver some interesting narratives, often hide secret messages about life's big questions (like the futility of war and the consequences of extreme violence) and provide action that is fun and engaging. From the back stage battles of Wrestling Encore to the bloody battles of survival in Hard Time , Mat Dickie's games don't tip toe around their subject matter.

But what is truly surprising is how many of his peers don't respect his work at all. And that truly is a shame because Mat Dickie is a great example of what being an indie game developmer is all about - having the freedom to do what you want without having to answer to anyone other than your fans..

• MDickie.com
• GameTunnel
• SourceForge
• ManifestoGames

Thanks for reading this first issue of The Indies. Catch it again in a fortnight. Send your questions or comments to jamesbfudge@gmail.com - James Fudge

The Indies art provided by Dorothy Martell, used with permission.