Indie Game: The Movie

A look at the video game industry and the people behind it.

Have you ever wondered about the development process behind your favourite video games or what inspired the creators to make it in the first place? Honestly I never did. I didn't play video games that much growing up or show much interest for that matter. But this documentary completely changed my perspective and helped me learn the video games industry by following three independent game makers and their journey's to success. In this article I will be discussing my opinions and what I learned. If you haven't seen it and are curious I would definitely give it a try or if you have seen it and have anything to add feel free to leave something in the comments.

What I liked

There is a lot about this movie to like. Getting a behind the scenes look was great, it like being let in on this big secret. It was very inspiring to see the development process and the creators level of commitment. I also found the parallels between the three game developers very interesting. For example Phil was very meticulous, often redoing his past work because it didn't look good enough to him. Tommy didn't have a social life and isolated himself. While Edmund was in a happy relationship and had a much better work-life balance compared to the other two. They each also talked about their past and present projects, with Tommy and Edmund even relating similarities between their game Super Meat Boy and their childhoods.

What I didn't like

Phil was practically obsessed with making his game Fez to the point where some might say it was unhealthy. I liked this because it showed how difficult working in the video game industry can be and the pressure people tend to put on themselves. But it's also concerning to watch him crack under pressure and dedicate all of his energy to this one aspect of his life. Phil's relationship with work was very toxic and nothing is more important than your personal wellbeing. Honestly I wish that would have been specified. I would have also liked to hear more about Tommy and Edmund and what led them to making a game together. Personally I think that this would have worked better as a short series as there would have been more time to explore such things.

What I learned

I learned three things from this documentary. First a lot of work, time, and dedication goes into making video games especially when you're an independent game developer. Second making your passion into a career is difficult but is worth it if you do it right. And third, not everyone has what it takes. The video game industry is not only competitive but intense.

Overall

Overall I thought this was a great movie, I give it a 7 out of 10. I would definitely recommend watching it.