The Rise of Indie Games

Great, now I have a blog...great, now all the rants in my head have a chance (however slight) of making it into the virtual public. Well, here's the first because it's something that I am adamant about.

To be fair, it took a singular event to push my desire to write this over the brink to action: playing Blueberry Garden (http://eriksvedang.wordpress.com/blueberrygarden/). Blueberry Garden is a game, made by Erik Svedang, that took the Seumas McNally Grand Prize at this year's Independent Game Festival. If you have never played an indie game before, it's probably nothing like anything you have experienced before. If you have played an indie game before, chances are still pretty good that it's nothing like anything you have experienced before.But first, let's examine the term 'indie game'. "Indie" is shortform for independent. What this esentially boils down to is a production that is produced by a small, non-mainstream, low-budget company/organization. There are indie movies, indie games, indie music, etc. Any work of media can be considered 'indie'. Indie movie studios are well-known for often producing odd and thoughtful works. This typically holds true to any form of indie media, games included. When you are not constrained by the standards and goals of a large, mainstream company, creativity finally gets some priority. Of course, there are tons of exceptions...there are some AAA blockbuster titles that do break the mold and produce something special. There are also many indie titles that are just as unoriginal and mindless as their hollywood counterparts.Now that that's out of the way, back to Blueberry Garden. Take a look at a screenshot: 

(Image courtesy of eriksvedang.wordpress.com)


Scott, this is in 2d...and looks like a cartoon. Ya, you're darn right. Small indie-games are often done in 2d...it costs less, takes a lot less time, and often allows for more expression. In this case, the hand-drawn graphics only add to the simple, yet beautiful effect. That's what's so great about this game (and some other indie titles): simple yet elegant. You don't need high-poly 3d models and cutscenes to make a point. The gameplay is quite simple: You are in a beautiful gardenesque world, but someone left the faucet running. So, the objective is essentially to continually reach higher ground and escape the rising water. The experience, however, is much deeper. It is a simultaneously relaxing yet intriguing feeling. There isn't much in the way of danger (save the rising water), the music is relaxing, and there's this curious world to be explored. Most of my time was torn between trying to explore every inch and figure out what each item in the world is for, and trying to reach higher ground to escape the water. In short, the experience can be explained as such: PLAY IT! The game is available on Steam, for the paltry sum of $5. There is also a demo available, but it will limit your experience, and for only 5 dollars....well, come on.

This is what the world needs more of. Not more blueberry gardens exactly, but more games, movies, etc. that aren't afraid to actually CREATE things, going against the mantras of our bigger brothers (such as Hollywood). Explosions may entertain, sex may sell, but thoughts have a right to be heard in our media as well. It's not their right, it's not just my desire, it's our necessity.