2010-NOV-17 Update: What follow is the first draft of the proposal, please read the final draft here.

(This is a repost of a thread I started based off another, more popular, thread. Please take part in the discussion and share your views.)

Here's my proposition to change the face of XBLIG for the better, without requiring the failing the low quality games:

Google, Digg, Reddit, Amazon all have no problems dealing with an overabundance of low quality websites, stories, and books. Likewise, XBLIG shouldn't have a problem dealing with low quality games. There are many ways to do this, but here's my proposition:

XBLIG NOW:

• new releases (overall) (default) = the old face to XBLIG
• top rated (overall)
• best sellers (recent)

Problems: The best sellers and top rated lists change very little, and degrade in value to the returning gamer quickly. The new releases list is the worst quality due to laws of averages. It contains all recent games instead of all recent quality games. Plus, it changes too rapidly to offer any significant value to the average XBLIG developer. A game drops off the new releases list in a matter of days, compared to XBLA's new release list which lasts two months (back when it was capped at the top 20).

PROPOSED XBLIG FACELIFT:

I propose a few more lists and changes:

• top releases (default) = recent games rated >= 3.5; the new "new releases" list; the new face to XBLIG
• top ratios (overall) = best converting games; a different quality games list
• unrated (overall) = unrated (yet unjudged) games, ensures no title is missed, prepares the gamer for potential of low quality titles
• all releases (overall) = the old "new releases" list; no longer as default; ensures no title is missed
• top rated (overall) = same as before
• best sellers (recent) = same as before

Pros: It hides the unproven "new releases" in the non-default "all releases" list, as well as in the "unrated" list. Every game gets its chance to get into the more prominent and default "top releases" list. The face of XBLIG, the default list, is greatly improved and stays relevant. It also ends the desire to fail low quality games, and puts that argument to rest.

The point of this proposal is for a solution to better the face of XBLIG (easily) without the need to censor the low quality titles (something which is hard to do). Other platforms have done this, why not XBLIG?

I would love to know your thoughts on this. Please participate in the forum discussion here.

More Xona.com Links:

• The 1st Annual "Who's An Indie Gamer?" Poll Survey
• Independent Shmups Fight For Justice! (by Dejobaan Games! Great back and forth shmup interview)
• Mark Rein's Apology w/ Great Indie Advice
• Top 50 Xbox Forum Communities in XBLIG
• Indie Inspiration
• Great Indie Game Developer Advice
• Multidirectional XNA Games Control Tip

External Links:

• Xona Games: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, RSS, and more.
• Xbox LIVE Indie Games* (forums)

*Xbox LIVE Indie Games formerly known as Xbox LIVE Community Games.

About the Author: I am Matthew Doucette of Xona Games, an award-winning, indie game studio I run with my twin brother. We make intense retro games. Our company, our games, and our engine technology have all won prestigious awards and received worldwide press. Our games have ranked from #1 in Canada to #1 in Japan, as well as become #1 best sellers in multiple countries. Read about our story and our blog.