Indie Games

An Indie Game or Independent Video Game (if you aren't into slang abbreviations) are video games created and distributed by small game development teams or individuals separate from an large scale video game publisher. Indie Games are often characterized by small development teams and low budgets. Games that categorize themselves as Indie range in quality, game-style, aesthetics and success.

Overview

Unlike many other genres, there are no specific requirements, play styles or story-lines essential to classifying a game as an Indie Game. While many do share similar characteristics, the only requirement for being classified as an Indie Game is an independent development structure. This line can however, be blurred. Take for example, the popular Indie Game, "Super Meat Boy," which was developed my a small team of two but worked closely with Microsoft to launch the game exclusively on Xbox Live.

Indie Games are often able to exist outside of traditional genre norms and often rely on innovative gameplay or story elements in order to separate them from the masses. Many, but certainly not all, Indie Game titles incorporate a retro aesthetic and are designed as platformers. This may be a marketing device to create nostalgia, but could also be attributed to development costs. It is much easier for a small development team to create a 2d platformer than a high-end 3d First-Person Shooter.

History of Genre

Indie Games are a relatively new genre. While technically, independently developed games have been created since game development began, Indie game: The Movie states that 2008 was when the genre finally took off. In 2012, the independently funded documentary Indie Game: The Movie was produced that followed the development of several Indie Games and arguably brought the Indie Game movement much closer to mainstream gaming culture.

What constitutes an Indie Game is often a measure of scale. Modern AAA titles often have over 100 specialized experts developing various components the game. However, the 1989 game "Sim CIty" had only 20 contributors . By today's standards, "Sim City" could be classified as an Indie Game, while it was not in 1989. People also often debate if success negates a games 'Indie-ness.' Does signing with a publishing/distributing game company after your game has been developed mean the game can no longer be classified as Indie?

The explosion of Indie Games in recent years is due largely in part to the growth of online and mobile gaming. With more consumers flocking to 'casual' games and the ability for other gamers to access games from their laptop, console or mobile device means the market is constantly growing. Large development companies are not able to keep up with the demand for games giving Indie developers plenty of market share for their own titles. Unlike large development companies, Indie developers are not often boxed into creating sequals of already existing games, but are able to innovate creating new and exciting games.

Creation

Without the financial backing of a large game publisher, many Indie Games rely on crowd funding in order to support the process of creating their game. This could mean going to sites like Kickstarter or Indiegogo asking for donations alongside previously released titles.

Prominent Examples

Braid

Braid is a platformer, known for its unique graphic style and creative use of time. The player must manipulate the flow of time to solve puzzles throughout each level. As the levels increase in difficulty, time behaves differently. A player must master all types of time variation in order to reach the end of the game. Braid, created in 2008, received substantial critical acclaim, including winning IGN's award for best puzzle game .