I’ve become a huge fan of indie games over the last few years. It seems that, from both my experience in the industry as well through the “big games” over the years, that personality slowly and surely gets taken out of a title. Independent developers don’t have the same restrictions put upon them that the bigger developers have (which in itself is quite weird don’t you think?) and because of that you start seeing a bunch of very personalised work come out.

I’m not going to say that ALL non-indie games lack personality, as there are still developers out there that do what they can to ensure what you’re playing feels like a little piece of the creator behind it. Tim Schafer managed to put a hell of a lot of personality in every game he’s released, while the sales weren’t exactly mindblowing for both Psychonauts and Brutal Legend, they both had a style that is severely lacking in most other titles.

Last year I was privileged enough to buy titles like Braid and Splosion Man; these were games that clearly were developed with a lot of love and no restrictions (other than tech ones). I would completely understand big publishers looking at these titles and wanting nothing to do with them. Where are the guns? Why would people want to go back to side scroller? Why are the main game mechanics things people aren’t used to?

But it was a small dip into an XBLA title last night that made me want to write this post, and it just so happens to be another title by the guys at Twisted Pixel that have lead me to these unrelenting thoughts of happiness. How is it that a games studio can pour so much love into a title while still look as though they had a ball doing so? There are live action moments which, I’m sure, have the dev team acting out ridiculous scenarios, a ukelele “stats screen” song by the same guy who brought us “Donuts, Go Nuts!’” and they even managed to insert the company itself into the storyline!

This is a company that loves making games, and it shows in everything they do. I hope to one day work in a studio like this, one that wants to entertain and take risks. It seems to be paying off for Twisted Pixel for now, and they even have merch, for people who fall in love with their crazy characters and worlds that they create, to help keep profit coming in.

I just wish they’d show some of the Twisted Pixel craziness in their game trailers, so instead of linking you to a trailer, I’ll instead link you to the game itself. PLEASE check this out as the industry needs more people (and companies) willing to show the world who they are.