Why is everyone so obsessed with Indie games?

[WojtekGee]

I can appreciate some indie games, but most of them are 2d or platform type games - thus can fuck off.

 

[Clinkster]

Indie games are great values for the innovative game play they provide.

Plus the whole big game companies being evil, etc etc

 

[SMOGZINN]

I know, I acknowledge this as well.

I'm just saying indie games aren't anything special. Some people treat it as if every indie game is good, or that the % of indie games that are good is higher than non-indie games. I don't think either is true.

The percent of indie games don't have to be higher when their cost is considerably lower. With things like the Humble Bundle, I can go though indie games faster then I change my underwear and not care. If a Humble Bundle has just one good indie game in it I've more then got my money's worth, and occasionally I find a game I really love.

 

[Dumac]

The percent of indie games don't have to be higher when their cost is considerably lower. With things like the Humble Bundle, I can go though indie games faster then I change my underwear and not care. If a Humble Bundle has just one good indie game in it I've more then got my money's worth, and occasionally I find a game I really love.

I used to think the same thing, but then I realized I was buying Indie bundles for $10 or whatever, and not playing any of the games included because really they were mostly watered down and boring. I'd load em up once, play for 20 minutes or so, close it and never go back.

I wasn't getting 10 hours out of that $10, which is something i try to reach.

I don't by bundles anymore, but I do by interesting indie games. I just bought Legend of Grimrock the other day.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I have yet to play an indie game that I enjoy. I played SPAZ for a little while but the mindless grind did nothing but give me headaches. There was nothing fun about leveling up. The game felt un-inspired to me. I also tried Toy Soldiers; a tower defense game where all turrets do the same thing and it practically doesn't matter which one you use. That felt pointless as well.

The scope of these games is just too shallow. Even with a $4 pricetag I feel like I'm wasting time and money.

This is me. I've tried some of these games and none of them kept my attention, yet every Fallout, Elderscrolls, Mass Effect, Crysis seems to make me play all the way through.

 

[coloumb]

I think it has a lot to do with the success of humble indie bundle program.

I'd say the indie game craze is about on par with apps you can obtain for your apple or google devices - low cost games which are simple to pick up and play...and bring back memories to some of us who use to play games on our Atari 2600's, C64's, Apple computer, etc..

 

[Arglebargle]

A lot of those games suck. A lot of them are just platformers with some rehashed gimmick thrown in. Some of them I feel like I played on newgrounds years ago.

Quality of a game is not based on whether you or I like it. Popularity contests, etc.

Some of them do well because they redo a style that has fallen out of big company favor, but still has good game play and niche fans.

 

[lord_emperor]

Because all the big companies are evil.

Greedy, at least.

 

[MustangSVT]

everyone isn't.

 

[J-Money]

It's not cool to like what's popular and big. It's cool to like random small things nobody has heard of. It makes people feel special.

It's the same as music. The people who like indie games probably don't like "popular" musicians and prefer random ones nobody has heard of.

 

[shortylickens]

cuz mainstream games cost too much and suck ass!!!

 

[Pray To Jesus]

Good indie games that I have personally played.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Legends of Grimrock

Minecraft

World of Goo

Amnesia

 

[thejunglegod]

No one is crazy about all Indie games, no one ever said that. Same is the case with non-indie games, no one ever says that they like every game that is non-indie.
There are some brilliant indie titles out there that will take up hours of your playing style and you wouldn't give a crap about its graphics. Minecraft is one big example.

 

[supremor]

I can appreciate some indie games, but most of them are 2d or platform type games - thus can fuck off.

I couldn't agree more personally. I've tried some of the most praised indie games out there (Limbo, Braid, Bastion, to name a few) and honestly I didn't care much for them. I guess it's also a matter of playstyle, a lot of these indie games simply don't appeal to me in the slightest but I guess if you like 2d and side scrolling then there's plenty of "gems" to be found.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I used to think the same thing, but then I realized I was buying Indie bundles for $10 or whatever, and not playing any of the games included because really they were mostly watered down and boring. I'd load em up once, play for 20 minutes or so, close it and never go back.

I wasn't getting 10 hours out of that $10, which is something i try to reach.

I don't by bundles anymore, but I do by interesting indie games. I just bought Legend of Grimrock the other day.

There's a difference between getting the humble bundles and getting random indie packs. Humble bundle seems to put some effort into having a good lineup; at least I haven't been disappointed for the price yet.

Also who are these mythical people that are saying all indie games are good?

 

[Dumac]

There's a difference between getting the humble bundles and getting random indie packs. Humble bundle seems to put some effort into having a good lineup; at least I haven't been disappointed for the price yet.

Also who are these mythical people that are saying all indie games are good?

I've bought a lot of the Humble Indie Bundles. Most of them were wastes of money for me. I have a lot of games I haven't played because they aren't interesting for more than a few minutes.

A lot of people say that indie games are the savior of gaming. As if they are somehow purer better, or more innovative that non-indie games.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I've bought a lot of the Humble Indie Bundles. Most of them were wastes of money for me. I have a lot of games I haven't played because they aren't interesting for more than a few minutes.

A lot of people say that indie games are the savior of gaming. As if they are somehow purer better, or more innovative that non-indie games.

You only need one game in each bundle for it to be really worth it; I've gotten every one for quite some time and always found at least one I liked.

They're talking about the good indie games, which generally in one way or another are something big studios aren't willing to bring to consumers and thus are seen as something coming in and saving. Please point out a person saying ALL indie games are such. Someone loosely saying indie games doesn't count.

 

[power_hour]

I get your point and I grew up playing the same boring POS games that would run horribly and I thought oh wow look it plays! Then I would run, grab my BMX bike (real shocks btw) and go for a ride. Those games did mostly suck but they were new and we had crap tech.

Forward a 100 years later, computers that NASA 30 years ago would drool over and yeah the Indie games are popular. Why? I think part of it is novelty to a simpler time, simple game design. Other part is sympathy for the small shop. And of course I think some of them are kinda neat - But if I see another Zombie shooter I will hurl. In other words the offerings are not great, not worth $50 but fun.

Expectations on a $10 game is easier to exceed than a $50 game. So their is some psychology at play.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Most of them are pretty shit to be honest. I agree some of them tend to have horrible visuals for no reason whatsoever. Almost hipster-like. There are a few gems though;

Amnesia (if you enjoy horror, check it out)
Trine games (great visuals and a fun platformer)
Bastion (Just fun to play)
Recatter (strangely addictive)
Legend of Grimrock

And of course the original Mount and Blade was indie (and they still are to some extent). Mount and Blade has the best mounted combat in the business.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

I think this counts as an indie title
Wing Commander Saga

Gameplay

 

[Pray To Jesus]

I think this counts as an indie title
Wing Commander Saga

Gameplay

OH god the dialog

"YOU KNOW what was loss

YOU KNOW how they die

YOU KNOW what to do

YOU KNOW I like blow

YOU KNOW how to dance

YOU KNOW I like pussy

YOU KNOW I meant cat"

 

[Dkcode]

People associate indie with tetris clones and side scrolling shooters with 8 bit graphics. It does not have to be this way. Indie does not have to mean cheap and cheerful.

There are independant studios out there that produce more elaborate games such as BIS with their ambitious Arma series and Tripwire Interactive with the Red Orchestra series.

Back in the mid 90's lots of the great studios were indie or they published their own stuff, Look Glass for example produced some quality games, pre EA Westwood studios, Illusion Softworks were a soft spot of mine with the Hidden & Dangerous series and the first Mafia, now they are owned by 2K Games under the 2K Czech guise minus the soul and ambition. There are many, many others you can add.

The thing that pleases most people about indie development is turning the vision into making the best game possible and dealing with the business stuff after, rather being all about the business and the game being the end result.

 

[gorcorps]

Greedy, at least.

It's not greedy to make money... it's life. If you don't like it you're free to move to a non capitalist nation where money doesn't run your life. I'll never understand the mindset of some people. It seems ANYBODY who makes more money than them are automatically "greedy".

 

[PrincessFrosty]

Because gaming over the last 6-7 years has become way more mainstream due to the popularity of the consoles, games are being built to have broad appeal in order to maximize profit, this tends to cause a drop in complexity, gameplay and replayability while increasing the amount of set pieces and hand holding.

Indy games tend to be created by gamers for gamers with less focus on making money and mass appeal, it means they often have more complex gameplay, tighter controls and generally focus on the things that hobbyist gamers appreciate more. The actual art in indy games tends to be bad simply due to lack of budget, often it results in them being deliberately retro themed in order to help mask that.

They've always been around, they're just booming right now because there's good selection of royalty based game engines and distribution platforms which makes development with no money possible.

 

[Lorne]

I think it has a lot to do with the success of humble indie bundle program.

I'd say the indie game craze is about on par with apps you can obtain for your apple or google devices - low cost games which are simple to pick up and play...and bring back memories to some of us who use to play games on our Atari 2600's, C64's, Apple computer, etc..

Agree.

This is me. I've tried some of these games and none of them kept my attention, yet every Fallout, Elderscrolls, Mass Effect, Crysis seems to make me play all the way through.

And yet those games board me.