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Microsoft defends 'speciality' classification of indie games

"We wanted to give XBLIG that full marketplace experience"

Microsoft has dismissed concerns that the redesigned Xbox 360 interface marginalises indie games.

A number of independent developers fear that XBLIG titles being relocated to 'Speciality Shops' and barred from showing up in Marketplace searches will limit their exposure to consumers.

"Microsoft continues to support the efforts of independent game developers," the company said in a statement.

"The intent of the Speciality Shops section was to provide access to marketplaces that focus on a specific type of content, with unique ways of sorting through that content.

"We wanted to give Xbox Live Indie Games that full marketplace experience and felt this was the best place to do it, alongside other popular channels like the Avatar Marketplace.

"In fact, since the launch of Avatars, Xbox Live members have made more than 290 million customisations to their Avatar's clothing, so we expect many people to regularly visit the Speciality Shops section."

The company also pointed to the option to browse indie titles by various best-selling charts, as well as the expansion of these lists from 20 to 50 titles.

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Alec Meer

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A 10-year veteran of scribbling about video games, Alec primarily writes for Rock, Paper, Shotgun, but given any opportunity he will escape his keyboard and mouse ghetto to write about any and all formats.

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