The rise and popularity of the video games alternative has been growing over time, that's what Indie Game: The Movie talks aboutOver the years, the gaming community has become more widespread, and much of the content currently being played is independent due to the high quality of the games and their availability on the platform. SteamWhile major companies release a considerable number of games in less time, independents put greater attention to the originality of the plot, design, visuals, music, and more. And it's this obsessive dedication that Indie Game captures in its 103-minute runtime.
What is Indie Game: The Movie about?
The documentary premiered in 2012 and Canadian production narrates the daily life of four video game developers which are financed by themselves and all the sacrifice that such work entails. On the one hand, the creators of Super Meat Boy, Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes, months before releasing their game to the Xbox platform with the pressure on and time running out.
On the other hand, follows the creator of Fez, Phil Fish, literally betting his life on finishing the game without complications after five years of development. And finally, the creator of is shown Braid, Jonathan Blow, dealing with the reputation their video game has earned online. Each of the protagonists deals with their busy lives as best they can, demonstrating that creating indie video games is a difficult, painful path that almost never brings benefits or glory in the end.
Some controversies
One of the most relevant points that Indie Game: The Movie addresses is the overexploitation suffered by independent developers., who dedicate every second of their time to work, neglecting their physical and mental health. The protagonists don't eat well, don't sleep well, don't leave their homes, and constantly suffer from moments of depression and anxiety over completing video games in a limited amount of time. This reality check reveals to viewers that the creative process is anything but fun, and that the work required to make an indie video game is full-time and nonstop.
Another notable issue is the tense relationship between the protagonists and the major video game companies., since, in their desire for creative independence, indie developers shy away from the stable jobs offered by larger companies. At one point in the feature, McMillen and Refenes express their decision to go through the creation of their game alone rather than work on a massive, heartless project, even if it means dedicating their lives to it.
Everything suggests that the protagonists' passion for their work is greater than that of workers in another field, developing a dangerous addiction and dependence on their projects. A climactic moment in the film is Phil Fish's declaration that he will take his own life if he is unable to finish Fez someday..
Finally, one aspect that is emphasized in the documentary is the importance of the public supporting the game's development and purchasing it when it is released, as they have a significant influence on the game's development. Jonathan Blow mentions how much he was affected by reading user comments while interacting with his game and the misinterpretation they gave to Braid's story..
In the case of Fez, the players supported the idea from the beginning., but as time went on, they quickly forgot about the game's existence, leaving Fish in a state of uncertainty about the success of his creation. Developers win or lose in a market that depends almost entirely on the audience and their commitment to the idea they're being sold. Therefore, the constant anxiety of imminent failure in the gaming community complicates the overall picture.
The protagonists today
After the premiere of Indie Game: The Movie The protagonists continued to move forward with their own personal and professional projects. Phil Fish announced a sequel to Fez, but ended up canceling it due to differences with other developers. His last work was in 2017, as an animation designer for the Analogue Super NT console. Edmund McMillen continued developing video games such as The Binding of Isaac and The End Is Night, among others. His most recent work was the sequel, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth., and currently at Mewgenics, project that will be launched in 2024.
Tommy Refenes worked on a sequel to Super Meat Boy called Super Meat Boy Forever in 2021., and lately he has not registered for any more projects. Jonathan Blow launched the game The Witness in 2016 and is currently working on new programming languages. Each new achievement of the protagonists demonstrates that their passion for creation hasn't died down after the difficulties of their previous projects, extending the film's initial message: video games as a new method of human communication.
Image: Steam
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