Manifesto Games
Encyclopedia
Manifesto Games was an ecommerce
retailer of downloadable computer games, specializing in independently developed games
aimed at hardcore gamers.
It was founded in October 2005 by Greg Costikyan
and Dr. Johnny L. Wilson, former editor of Computer Gaming World
, and is based in New York City
.
The company was announced September 29, 2005.
Costikyan was the company's CEO while Wilson was Executive Vice President for Community and Content. On June 23, 2009, Costikyan announced that Manifesto was closing its doors, citing the 2008-2009 economic downturn, a lack of venture capital, and problems successfully marketing the company as a destination for independent games.
According to Manifesto Games' manifesto,
the company aims to avoid the narrowness of conventional retail channels by selling a large number of games (taking advantage of The Long Tail
), and allow developers to experiment technically and artistically. An example of Manifesto Games' willingness to take risks is its support of Super Columbine Massacre RPG!
.
The Manifesto Games website was originally designed in ironic imitation of the Soviet Union
in its early years; some of its content still reflects this choice.
. In September 2007, Manifesto Games created a new game review website, Play This Thing.
A team of reviewers including Greg Costikyan
and Emily Short
post one review per day at the website, covering independent, alternative reality and 'big urban' games, interactive fiction, and mods. Most of the games reviewed have no relation to Manifesto Games. The site carries reviews of non-computer games on "Tabletop Tuesdays".
Electronic commerce
Electronic commerce, commonly known as e-commerce, eCommerce or e-comm, refers to the buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks. However, the term may refer to more than just buying and selling products online...
retailer of downloadable computer games, specializing in independently developed games
Independent video game development
Independent video game development is the process of creating video games without the financial support of a video game publisher. While large firms can create independent games, they are usually designed by an individual or a small team of as many as ten people, depending on the complexity of the...
aimed at hardcore gamers.
It was founded in October 2005 by Greg Costikyan
Greg Costikyan
Greg Costikyan, sometimes known under the pseudonym "Designer X" , is an American game designer and science fiction writer.Costikyan's career spans nearly all extant genres of gaming, including hex-based wargames, role-playing games, boardgames, card games, computer games, online games and mobile...
and Dr. Johnny L. Wilson, former editor of Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World was a computer game magazine founded in 1981 by Russell Sipe as a bimonthly publication. Early issues were typically 40-50 pages in length, written in a newsletter style, including submissions by game designers such as Joel Billings , Dan Bunten , and Chris Crawford...
, and is based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
The company was announced September 29, 2005.
Costikyan was the company's CEO while Wilson was Executive Vice President for Community and Content. On June 23, 2009, Costikyan announced that Manifesto was closing its doors, citing the 2008-2009 economic downturn, a lack of venture capital, and problems successfully marketing the company as a destination for independent games.
According to Manifesto Games' manifesto,
the company aims to avoid the narrowness of conventional retail channels by selling a large number of games (taking advantage of The Long Tail
The Long Tail
The Long Tail or long tail refers to the statistical property that a larger share of population rests within the tail of a probability distribution than observed under a 'normal' or Gaussian distribution...
), and allow developers to experiment technically and artistically. An example of Manifesto Games' willingness to take risks is its support of Super Columbine Massacre RPG!
Super Columbine Massacre RPG!
Super Columbine Massacre RPG!, abbreviated SCMRPG!, is a role-playing video game created by Danny Ledonne and released in April 2005. The game recreates the 1999 Columbine High School shootings near Littleton, Colorado...
.
The Manifesto Games website was originally designed in ironic imitation of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in its early years; some of its content still reflects this choice.
Play This Thing
Initially, Manifesto Games also provided reviews of indie games, including games it does not sell, and discussion forumsInternet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
. In September 2007, Manifesto Games created a new game review website, Play This Thing.
A team of reviewers including Greg Costikyan
Greg Costikyan
Greg Costikyan, sometimes known under the pseudonym "Designer X" , is an American game designer and science fiction writer.Costikyan's career spans nearly all extant genres of gaming, including hex-based wargames, role-playing games, boardgames, card games, computer games, online games and mobile...
and Emily Short
Emily Short
Emily Short is the pseudonym of an interactive fiction writer, perhaps best known for her debut game Galatea and her use of psychologically complex NPCs, or non-player game characters...
post one review per day at the website, covering independent, alternative reality and 'big urban' games, interactive fiction, and mods. Most of the games reviewed have no relation to Manifesto Games. The site carries reviews of non-computer games on "Tabletop Tuesdays".