No Man is an Island..

The Great Games Experiment (see the end of this column if you don't know what that is) got me thinking about how some Indies approach game development. Instead of going out there and finding some creative types to handle areas that they might have shortcomings in, they try to do everything on their own. For well rounded developers this may be a good idea, but for those with a weakness in areas like art and interface design it only leads to a lackluster overall presentation. And while graphics shouldn't be the measuring stick of any project's worth, decent game design alone isn't enough to get the attention wanted or even deserved.

So it is pretty obvious to me that these kinds of developers shouldn't be afraid to shop around for some much needed help. Chances are there are artists out there that are just as hungry as they are to be a part of something grand. So don't be afraid to look around at places like the Indie Gamer Forums and elsewhere. If you can find individuals capable of sharing your vision and enhancing it, then chances are you'll create something beautiful.

You'd think all of this would go without saying, but that really isn't the case. Take a look at the number of indie titles that lack real polish because somebody wants to do all the work or someobody doesn't know how to find someone willing to help out. For every Richard Carlson (Digital Eel in case you don't know) out there, there's a Phosphorus (someone else from Digital Eel, in case you didn't know that either) creating art that enhances and improves the overall feel of the games being created.

Now we move on to this week's indie game picks. There's a good mix of fun and interesting stuff to check out - from word games to kungfu role-playing. Let's get to it right now!

Breaking News

Mystery Studios has taken a classic game genre and given it a little oomph with Breaking News . Breaking News uses a simple word search gameplay mechanic coated with the veneer of busting out news stories as quickly as possible. It's familiar gameplay but the whole backdrop of trying to build a news network is quite fun. The game offers over 150 levels in three different game modes, unlockable visual styles and a whole lot more. The full version of the game is available for purchase and a playable demo is also available to give you a taste.

Ghost Hunters

With the new season of Ghost Hunters kicking off on Sci-Fi Channel this week, I thought it appropriate to mention an interesting adventure style game called Ghost Hunters: The Haunting of Majesty Manor (no relation to the show BTW). The game is billed as a hidden-object point-and-click adventure game that blends in some macabre, mystery and a tale of a "supposed" spectral taunting. Your job as a paranormal investigator is to figure out whether the haunting is genuine or a hoax within 15 days.