Why Indie Games Are Important.
Why do we keep arguing about the definition of "indie games?"

A lot of us groan every time someone (including ourselves) tries to tackle the whole "what is an indie game" question. I've tackled it myself here, here, and ... here, with pictures! Today GB Games tries to define indie, responding to Wolfire's Definition. It's trickier than it looks, and no matter how much we discuss it, we never come to a clear definition.

What most of us involved do know is that the media usually gets it wrong. And the publishers get it even more wrong. This last is perhaps deliberate --- if "indie" ever truly becomes cool, then I'd bet some big publishers will embrace the oxymoron and create their own in-house "indie" titles.

But no matter how often we discuss it, the poor gamers (and many game developers) are still left scratching their heads in confusion.

So I really try not to be too bugged by the topic as we continue to debate the definition of indie games. I think it's a worthy topic. I think the discussion helps all of us - especially those new to the party - understand it better.

And maybe I'm a minority of one on this, but I think understanding it really does matter. I think indie gaming is important. Important enough to keep trying to understand it better.

Let's go beyond games for a second. Let's talk about the advent of widespread digital distribution of media. Art, music, books, and - yes, and games. On the surface, it's no big deal. I mean, the whole thing about online distribution is simply that artists and creators now have the technology and means to create and distribute their works to a worldwide audience directly, bypassing the big middleman industries that capitalized on old-school technological limitations. So what?

I mean, all Johannes Gutenberg did was bypass those legions of monks, too, right?

Now, even considering that the descendants of his little invention have been used to produce uncountable metric tons of crap - far more than anything most of us would consider worthy material - few people would argue that this wasn't one of the most important inventions since the wheel, sliced bread, and whatever invention was the neatest thing before there was sliced bread to compare cool new inventions to. And I really do feel that the era of internet distribution of digital media is comparable in its importance.

Power to the people, and all that. Booyah!

What about games? Are games important? That question warrants a whole 'nother post, and better minds than mine have taken their crack at answering this question. In recent years in particular, and especially among indie games, it's been demonstrated how video games have the ability to educate, provoke thought, satirize, bring people together, spark discussion, and even relieve pain. They've even become important marketing vehicles (to some gamers' chagrin). Personally, I feel it has been made clear in my mind that games are no less important than any other "entertainment" medium.

So... yeah. I think that, as goofy as it sounds and as tedious as the arguments get for those of us who have been having 'em for years, I think indie games are important enough to warrant continued discussion and debate. Even continued attempts at definition. There's something very interesting and potentially pretty important happening here. So keep 'em comin'!

And remember to have fun!

Labels: Indie Evangelism

- posted by The Rampant Coyote @ 7:09 AM (Permalink)