Penny Arcade and Hothead Games Announce The Greenhouse

[Andy Chalk]

Penny Arcade and Hothead Games Announce The Greenhouse

Penny Arcade [http://hotheadgames.com/]have unveiled Greenhouse, a new distribution platform dedicated to supporting independent game developers around the world.

Part of the newly-formed Greenhouse Interactive, the Greenhouse digital distribution system will feature a "careful selection" of games that may otherwise have trouble finding an audience in the crowded marketplace. The company has opened offices in Vancouver, British Columbia, the home of Hothouse Games.

"There are so many great games out there that you don't hear about. They're too niche or too risky in terms of gameplay for the top publishers to be comfortable with distributing," said Penny Arcade's Robert Khoo. "We want the Greenhouse to be an alternative for these developers."

Greenhouse Interactive currently has a beta website up at Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One [http://www.playgreenhouse.com], another co-venture between Penny Arcade and Hothead Games. Developers interested in learning more about the system are invited to contact Greenhouse Business Development Manager Gregan Dunn (gdunn at playgreenhouse.com) for more information.

"Digital distribution opens so many doors for independent game development, arguably just like the VCR and DVD players did for indie films," said Vlad Ceraldi, president of Hothead Games. "We believe in the Greenhouse as an opportunity to support other indie developers and complement the platforms and services currently out there, ensuring that the environment for such development firmly takes root and continues to grow."


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[Melaisis]

There are an awful lot of 'indie' platforms springing up nowadays. Usually I stick to sites which have the 'Best Of...' from independent gaming festivals and the like (universities etcetera) but now there's so many of them about; its really difficult to remember them all without having a needlessly cluttered Bookmarks section on my browser, heh. At least Greenhouse has a huge selling point; thanks to Penny Arcade's upcoming title.

 

[aegis7]

First, I'm kind of excited by this. The Penny Arcade crew has been pretty good with everything they've set up: their webiste, PAX and Child's Play all seem to be relative successes. Well, as far as my totally uninformed self can perceive, PAX and their site are both resounding successes, and Child's Play was also a success. Hopefully this isn't over-extending them. Fortunately, their comics seem to have indicated that they've given up the time drain of World of Warcraft.

On a strictly silly note of question to ask... "'indie' platforms" is that the right terminology?