Critics argue that the misuse of the term 'indie' can harm truly independent projects by denying them opportunities for mainstream attention.
Some suggest a new categorization system for games: Independent (no publisher), Alternative (small budget with publisher), and Mainstream (big budget).
The categorization of 'Dave the Diver', developed by a subsidiary of a large game publisher, as an 'indie' game has sparked controversy.
The term 'indie', traditionally used to describe games developed by small, independent teams, is increasingly being used to describe a style of game rather than the environment in which it was created.
The gaming industry is currently grappling with the definition of 'indie' games, particularly in the context of The Game Awards. The term 'indie', traditionally used to describe games developed by small, independent teams, is increasingly being used to describe a style of game rather than the environment in which it was created. This shift in usage has sparked debates and controversies, especially with the categorization of games like 'Dave the Diver' as 'indie'.
'Dave the Diver' was developed by a subsidiary of Nexon, a large game publisher, which has led to questions about whether it should be considered 'indie'. Critics argue that the misuse of the term 'indie' can harm truly independent projects by denying them opportunities for mainstream attention. They contend that games developed by subsidiaries of large publishers should not be categorized as 'indie' as they do not face the same challenges as truly independent developers.
The controversy has highlighted the difficulty of defining award categories and the complexity of game genres. Some suggest that the definition of 'indie' needs to be redefined and propose a new categorization system: Independent (no publisher), Alternative (small budget with publisher), and Mainstream (big budget). This proposed system would allow truly independent developers to gain recognition and not have to compete with large corporations.
The debate over the term 'indie' is not just a linguistic one, but also a reflection of the changing dynamics of the gaming industry. As the industry continues to evolve, so too will the definitions and categories that help shape it.
The term, which traditionally referred to games developed by small, independent teams, is losing its meaning as it is increasingly used to describe a type of game rather than the environment in which it was made.
The author argues that misuse of the term 'indie' can harm truly independent projects by denying them opportunities for mainstream attention.
The author suggests that the definition of 'indie' needs to be redefined and proposes a new categorization system: Independent (no publisher), Alternative (small budget with publisher), and Mainstream (big budget).
The author argues that this would allow truly independent developers to gain recognition and not have to compete with large corporations.
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However, with Dave the Diver on the list of nominees, The Game Awards is signaling that any major corporation can produce a game with pixel art graphics to buy away that recognition.
I’m not surprised that The Game Awards has put games like Dave the Diver and Dredge on their list of nominations for the “Best Independent Game” award, but I am very, very disappointed.
Not that I typically ever agree with The Game Awards in the first place, but that’s a different matter entirely.