An introduction to Indie+

What is Indie+? It is an online convention and hangout for gamers. It’s made possible by Google+ Events and Google’s rather awesome Hangouts (also part of Google+).

Hangouts, if you’re not familiar with them, are super easy to use video chats that support many people at once. They represent a virtual table as much as they do free calls. In some ways they’re similar to Skype but are integrated into the wider social glue of Google+.

Indie+ is a convention that gamers can attend without leaving their homes.

For 2012, Indie+ will run from the 29th of October to 4th of November but has a heavy schedule of pre and postcon events as well.

• Indie+ games let gamers play new or favourite games over the internet. There are currently over 20 games available across all days.
• Indie+ panels let gamers listen to and chat with respected names from the industry.
• Gamers are also welcome to create their own ad hoc hangouts to discuss the con, gamers and guests.

The online convention is expecting a number of pretty high profile guests. Okay, it’s not unheard of for guests to miss meat space conventions, I imagine the fail rate for an online one is higher, but even if half the guests of honour show face it will be a good crowd.

Expected through the virtual doors are;

• WolfGang Baur, the Kobold-in-Chief of Kobold Publishing.
• Adam Koebel, a founding member of Sage Kobold Productions, and who is helping with Dungeon World.
• Sage Latorra, co-designer of Dungeon World and designer of Powers for Good.
• Dale C. McCoy Jr, President of Jon Brazaer Enterprises.
• Mark Reed, co-founder of Heroic Journey Publishing and managing the Mecha Combiners campaign.
• Steve Russel, the CEO of Rite Publishing, and managing the Kaidan Campaign project.
• Jeremy Smith of Dead Scarred Press who is managing the Ultimate Psionics campaign, an enhancement for the Pathfinder RPG.
• Daniel Solis, creator for many games and projects including the record breaking Do: Pilgrims of the Flying Temple.
• Owen Stephens, the Pathfinder RPG development manager at Super Genius Games.
• Bill Webb, President and CEO of Frog God Games.

Gamers already on Google+ can keep track of Indie+ via their own Google+ page. There’s also the main website at IndiePlus.org.