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IndieDB has just launched, what does this mean for ModDB and how do the sites differ.

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For those that haven't seen the news (A MUST READ), we have just launched IndieDB a site dedicated to covering indie games. With this launch comes a bucketload of changes which I will run through now. Once we gauge the reaction from this news, it is possible that these changes will be ported onto ModDB along with IndieDB's new design (but red of course!).

New Design

IndieDB features a familiar design, but with rounded corners, streamlined header, cleaner footer and plenty more tweaks such as less images to speed up loading times.

Launch homepage

Smarter Platform Selection

Whilst modding is primarily limited to PC games due to consoles and mobiles being closed platforms, indie games are being made for iPhone, Android, PS3, Xbox360, Wii, Flash etc. To cater to these developers and gamers, we have revamped our platform system so you can choose which platforms you want shown in the menu dropdown. By default all content from all platforms is shown, however you can easily select a platform and view only related news and games.

Search Suggest

Search on ModDB / IndieDB isn't great... we know that and are working on it. One MAJOR improvement that IndieDB now features is search suggest. Don't believe us? Start typing the name of your favorite indie-game into the search box top right corner on IndieDB. We have a feeling you will like this feature.


Login by Email or Username

You can now login to any DesuraNET site using your email or username.

Speed Improvements

Whilst this is a backend change, we have recently upgraded our database server, fine-tuned our profiling and overhauled the sessions system to minimize the load on our machines. This should mean faster load times for you and greater scalability in the long run.


Better Spam Filtering

We have 0 spam tolerance and will 100% erase any members that spam. Despite this, spammers have been abusing the PM system and jobs board. We have just put in additional restrictions to make this very difficult for them.

Helpful 404

The 404 page has a shiny new design and comes with a very handy search box (with suggest). Never get lost again!


Less Ads

IndieDB only displays one ad per page (no header ad) and that ad disappears if there is no ad to show (0 ads per page!). Forums and videos are now 100% ad free also.

Network Integration

Did you know your login on ModDB works on IndieDB and Desura also? All sites in DesuraNET share the same backend, so you don't need to re-join or re-add content. If your content isn't shown on IndieDB and you want it displayed, just ask and we shall assist.


Shout-out

While ModDB has been supporting indie developers for a long time, IndieDB is a first for us and we eagerly look forward to working with indie game developers on all platforms be it PC, mobile or console. IndieDB is far from being the first indie site on the web, so I wanted to quickly shout out to some of our favorites. We look forward to supporting indie games and working with you (and many other game sites also, email us).


As always, developers and gamers we want to hear from you so we can make this the ultimate place for you to interact, promote your games and make friends. So let us know your thoughts, and check out the official launch post for much more detail. Game on developers!

Post comment Comments
Torabi
Torabi

Amazing stuff! Great to see an entire site dedicated to indies.

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radutanasie
radutanasie

I like the style. Though, it's gonna be a bit hard using 3 different things ... Moddb, Desura and Indiedb

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INtense! Author
INtense!

They share the same backend so you don't need to. Remember ModDB isn't changing, so if you like ModDB stick with it and content posted on IndieDB will continue to be shown on it. Also Desura is a distribution platform for released games and mods. It is more about "playing" while IndieDB and ModDB are more about "developing" and interaction between developers and fans.

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Dr.Worm
Dr.Worm

Thank you that answered my concern lol keep up the work INtense!

I secretly have a man crush on you well I did until just now

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Micah
Micah

Small suggestion, I only browsed a little bit through.

But adding a "engine" filter would be nice. Maybe it's just me, but I enjoy browsing by what engine is being used just to see the type of stuff that's being made with that engine.

It's just fun to see the competition for same engines being used.

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taesiri
taesiri

Interesting !

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Pxtl
Pxtl

Long-missing feature, and with the flood of indie developers using MODDB to promote their games, segregating them is a good move. Not that I'm complaining, I love reading about indies as much as I do about mods... but they don't need to be intertwingled.

I'm left wondering about things that muddle the line - when does a game move from being a mod to being an indie game? The Spring engine is particularly befuddling, since it functions more as a modding-platform-without-a-base-game than it does as an engine... but it's also hard to call the games for Spring mods (even if it does do so, internally).

Is the distinction primarily going to be commercial vs. hobbyist/OSS? Or standalone vs. mod? Or free (and not ad-supported) vs. pay? Or free (incl. ad-supported) vs pay?

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Micah
Micah

I'm pretty sure they classify Indie as games without Publishers/Investors. There are indie games out there that sell for money (making it commercial), but they don't have a publisher supporting them with money to pay staff and use for advertisement and etc.

At least that was my understanding.

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INtense! Author
INtense!

We are pretty loose on our definition. Essentially anything that isn't made by a AAA studio, i.e. Blizzard, EA, Epic etc. So if you are self funded and don't have a big studio behind you - most likely we will allow you to list on IndieDB

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Reapazor
Reapazor

Any way to switch from being listed as a company on ModDB to being listed on IndieDB instead without nuking all our data?

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Smoth
Smoth

segregation is bad, we are going to be marginalized. People want mods for their current games not to bother learning new ones. Such is the face of lazy gamers these days.

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cW#Ravenblood

Really amazing work!
Moddb should look like this!

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LoudCore
LoudCore

About Time it launched! Very nice! Much better than the Beta look.

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Crystan
Crystan

Nice! I realy like the new features and the improved design. :)

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AlekZanDer
AlekZanDer

YAY! Great updates.

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RogerRamjet
RogerRamjet

I like the new design and idea of separating the two types, plus the integration. Now to dump those really, really, annoying adds with the sound I have to turn off all of the time. I clicked on the ordinary adds many times over the years, but I refuse to click on sound adds out of principle. I like to listen to what I want on the PC, not what someone else wants me to hear. I do understand it is a revenue stream and they are needed, but lines do need to be drawn sometime. Thanks for reading my dribble and not deleting me. lol...

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INtense! Author
INtense!

Ads should never have *automatically* initiated sound, report them and we will get them removed.

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Martini-562
Martini-562

Whilst I like the idea, I'm a bit afraid that some of the publicity indie games are getting might be lost this way seeing as it gets covered on another site now, or did I miss the point entirely?

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leebarguss
leebarguss

Content from IndieDB will also be shown on ModDB, so everything's easily trackable through ModDB.
Not sure it's the same visa versa, though?

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Jike
Jike

Hey, really awesome. Though I will have problems paying attention to both :/

Just a side question: How far is Desura and when can we expect it to be released? If I'm correct there hasn't been any news on this in a while...

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INtense! Author
INtense!

Desura is about a month off the next stage. It is a massive undertaking and we are working as fast as possible! IndieDB was one step in the right direction.

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leebarguss
leebarguss

Great :) Amazing updates :)
Won't you be losing a lot of money through having less advertisments? Or will you make up for it through the 2 separate websites?

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INtense! Author
INtense!

We are hoping to soon be selling games on Desura and earning money by providing a great service rather than relying on ads.

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Silverfisk
Silverfisk

This is so awesome!
I LOVE the new design! :D

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justgoaway
justgoaway

The Indie games will be moved fore this new site? I think that I will miss them here...

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Сибирь
Сибирь

All the indie games will still be retained on ModDB. ModDB isn't changing. IndieDB basically filters all the indie stuff from ModDB to give it its own home :)

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freredarme
freredarme

Awesome, good work !

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Fxor
Fxor

Most excellent!

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cupogoodness
cupogoodness

Love it. Thanks for the shout as well Scott! - Erik, DIYGamer

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Scurvy_Lobster
Scurvy_Lobster

This site is great! Thanks!

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Shish
Shish

Why are your load averages added together? The 1, 5, and 15 minute averages are 3 different ways to look at a single set of data, not multiple different things happening at once; it makes it look like the load was about 9, when it was actually just three independent readings saying "3"...

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Noktis
Noktis

Great

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MrMattWebb
MrMattWebb

this is really great! im loving the improvements, but now I cant decide whether to browse the site as desura, indie, or mod. :/ :D

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dbest
dbest

Great news. Nice to see some of the improvements.

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Milch
Milch

Great update!
Only thing that seems a bit odd is there is no icon on moddb for indiedb.

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Nilghai
Nilghai

this is great stuff! good work !

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DOLBYdigital
DOLBYdigital

Another great idea from ModDb!
Love all your sites and look forward to poking around this one too :)
Finally, I've always enjoyed the site design of ModDb and Desura so its good to see a consistent and sweet design for indiedb. Keep up the great work guys.

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manatree
manatree

So far, so good.

Keep it up, loving your work.

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seriema
seriema

Damn you for stealing my idea! :) Kudos for being one of us trying to help indies! :D And doing such a kick *** job on it!

See you down the road.
/IndieGamesPortal.com

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DonBre
DonBre

Pure Awesomeness

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