Note: This is the first in a series of articles I'll be writing about games made by small independent game studios, as well as hobbyists making games in their free time. I'm going to focus on what these teams can do that the big guys haven't/can't, and as many are in development I generally haven't played them, so I apologize for the lack of gameplay descriptions.

New technology in the field of game development is lowering the barrier for entry for small groups of developers to go out and make the games they've been dreaming of. Case in point: Sigma X Studios, a team consisting of only four developers that's looking to to make the next great online RPG, in the vein of Diablo. The studio's first game is currently titled Apprentice, and after only 6 months of development it appears to be coming along rather nicely, thanks to the help of the Unreal Development Kit.

On of the great characteristics of independent game studios is their willingness to try new things. In that regard, Apprentice has two features going for it that set it apart from other games in development: the wide variety of platforms available to play on, and its price. Because the game is being developed with the Unreal Development Kit, the team plans to make the game available for the PC, iOS, and eventually Android platforms. To take advantage of this, the team plans to have players create accounts on its servers, and let them log in and play with their same characters on any of the available platforms. This creates a seamless experience where players can use whichever platform is the most convenient. 

While I'm impressed by the ability to play the same game on my PC as on my phone while waiting on the train, I'm sure many more will be impressed by the price the team plans on charging for their product: whatever the player wants to pay. This is a concept that has been tried before, with the Humble Indie Bundle, the charity event that let players buy games like World of Goo for whatever price they felt appropriate. However, this is the first time that I've seen a game this ambitious try this price system while aiming to be profitable.

For those interested in the project, the team has a website where more information can be found. Additionally, a game like this could always use talented developers, so if you've got writing, art, programming, or music ability I'm sure they would love your help.