IndieTrials now live

Yesterday I launched my new review website IndieTrials.com. The website was set up to review the games released on Xbox Live Indie Games (XBLIG) but specifically reviews the trial experience offered by the game.

On XBLIG all games must provide a trial mode. In this mode you'll usually offer a cut down version of the full game, lock off some features or add restrictions as to what the player can do. Not only that but you're limited to 8 minutes, at the end of that time you're prompted to purchase the game or exit.

The trial experience is more important than the actual quality of the full game. In the full game you can expect the player to spend a little longer getting to grips with the game but in the trial you have limited time and need to make an immediate impression.

Some trials try to push the 'buy me' option too far, having an icon displayed on every screen, constant reminders that you're playing a cut down version or other indicators. Personally I think this puts off some players, and the best trials are those which are simply fun and keep you playing for the full 8 minutes. At that point the player is more likely to buy your game as they've maxed out the trial time and still want to play more.

The site has launched with 4 reviews and I will be adding a few more each day for the next few weeks but will likely settle into a pattern of adding 1 per day, and maybe more if I get time.

Please follow, like and subscribe:

http://twitter.com/indietrials
http://www.facebook.com/pages/IndieTrials/142472025781132
http://youtube.com/indietrials

http://indietrials.com

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