By Paul Robert Scott
A couple of months ago I got involved in a somewhat heated debate with a chap at the local pub. I’m ashamed to say it even got a little out of hand and (in an inebriated state) I may have said some things that I am not all too proud of. I may have even wagged my finger in his general direction once or twice.
A couple of months ago I got involved in a somewhat heated debate with a chap at the local pub. I’m ashamed to say it even got a little out of hand and (in an inebriated state) I may have said some things that I am not all too proud of. I may have even wagged my finger in his general direction once or twice.
It all began during a discussion on independently produced games, in which I mentioned that it was heart-warming to see so many indie projects getting the attention of the press in recent years.
With the likes of The Novelist, Kerbal Space Program and Journey all picking up their own string of devout followers it seems like there are a growing number of gamers out there who are more than happy to appreciate something other than the typical FPS or action release by the more well-known mainstream developers. My friend’s argument on the other hand was that, while indie titles can provide an interesting distraction from time to time, they have neither the gameplay-depth or story-length to ever compare playing through a much more mainstream title. It is by all means a valid point. After all, the vast majority of indie games are relatively short affairs in terms of gameplay and certainly don’t match up with the Hollywood-inspired cinematics now being produced by the next-gen consoles. Such is the virtue of being a part of a multi-billion dollar industry.
However it is precisely the lack of million dollar budgets which makes the indie market so very important. With so much money on the line Studios the likes of Ubisoft, Rockstar Games, Electronic Arts and other such big name developers all stick to a steady pattern of very similar titles with a familiar assortment of characters - with an occasional brand new IP a couple of times every generation or so.
With the likes of The Novelist, Kerbal Space Program and Journey all picking up their own string of devout followers it seems like there are a growing number of gamers out there who are more than happy to appreciate something other than the typical FPS or action release by the more well-known mainstream developers. My friend’s argument on the other hand was that, while indie titles can provide an interesting distraction from time to time, they have neither the gameplay-depth or story-length to ever compare playing through a much more mainstream title. It is by all means a valid point. After all, the vast majority of indie games are relatively short affairs in terms of gameplay and certainly don’t match up with the Hollywood-inspired cinematics now being produced by the next-gen consoles. Such is the virtue of being a part of a multi-billion dollar industry.
However it is precisely the lack of million dollar budgets which makes the indie market so very important. With so much money on the line Studios the likes of Ubisoft, Rockstar Games, Electronic Arts and other such big name developers all stick to a steady pattern of very similar titles with a familiar assortment of characters - with an occasional brand new IP a couple of times every generation or so.
One only need look at Call of Duty to see that much of what what is released in stores nowadays are concepts that have been repeated time and time again. These days, gaming is primarily about business, and a businessman will always go with the concept surest to make a profit rather than a newer, more imaginative and riskier one. In layman's terms, they play it very 'safe' so to speak. An indie developer on the other hand is not restrained by such simple-minded thinking. They aren’t concerned with matters of demographics or the more currently trendy genres. Instead, these much smaller teams involved will often just simply let their imaginations run wild and free. The mentality involved is one comparable to that of gaming's earlier industry; when no one truly knew what kind of game the consumer would gravitate towards and every idea was at least worth a try once. Indie gaming is a callback to these more adventurous times.
Many times this inventiveness in the indie market will pump out some truly innovative and iconic ideas, which may even circulate their way into the sights of their more corporate cousins. The Portal series is a prime example of this as it was originally based on a largely unknown indie title called Narbacular Drop released in 2005. Another important aspect is that indie games are so much more connected with the art involved in game development than the majority of mainstream titles. Gaming is still an art form, you know. Now more than ever in fact.
Many times this inventiveness in the indie market will pump out some truly innovative and iconic ideas, which may even circulate their way into the sights of their more corporate cousins. The Portal series is a prime example of this as it was originally based on a largely unknown indie title called Narbacular Drop released in 2005. Another important aspect is that indie games are so much more connected with the art involved in game development than the majority of mainstream titles. Gaming is still an art form, you know. Now more than ever in fact.
While the larger studios generally aim for greater and grittier realism with their graphical style and main campaign, indie developers instead focus on forging unique scenery with a beautiful array of sound-bytes and music that mingle together to create an experience that can be so much more profound and thought-provoking than anything the mass market could devise. Indie games needn’t make the player feel like an unstoppable killing machine or racing superstar when there is so much more to choose from. I have to admit that the narrative of certain Indie titles are so engrossing that you feel more a part of the story than even an Oculus Rift could accomplish. Sadly however, except in the cases of a lucky few, indie games will never be big business. You’ll never see them in mass-marketing campaigns or witness gamers lining up for midnight releases, but these games do occasionally give us a few surprises. No-one could have guessed that a game like Minecraft could have swept the world bu storm in the huge way it has, yet through its very simple concept it has become a household name. Other indie games may have far fewer followers but are no less enjoyable.
Through these titles we are reminded that a video game's world truly can place us just about anywhere we can imagine, involving us in a way which no other can (as well as in real life, through Kickstarter campaigns and such); and, if nothing else, indie game development helps prove to the mainstream players that graphics are by far not the most vital part of a great gaming experience.
Through these titles we are reminded that a video game's world truly can place us just about anywhere we can imagine, involving us in a way which no other can (as well as in real life, through Kickstarter campaigns and such); and, if nothing else, indie game development helps prove to the mainstream players that graphics are by far not the most vital part of a great gaming experience.
So, how important is indie game development?
Here at IWG we believe that indie gaming is an important counterbalance to more mainstream titles, and the very existence of indie games helps to maintain a strong sense of diversity within the industry as a whole.
However, we have been wrong before. Here's your chance to have your say. Come find us on Twitter or on our Facebook page and let us know what you think about the importance of indie gaming!
However, we have been wrong before. Here's your chance to have your say. Come find us on Twitter or on our Facebook page and let us know what you think about the importance of indie gaming!
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