It's inclusions like Gearbox in events like this that make "indie" a completely meaningless term these days. Gearbox, formerly owned by Embracer and now currently owned by Take 2, even has it's...
It's inclusions like Gearbox in events like this that make "indie" a completely meaningless term these days. Gearbox, formerly owned by Embracer and now currently owned by Take 2, even has it's own publishing branch... it's hard to be any further away from indie in my opinion.
The event isn't named "indie games", though. That seems nuanced enough to include Gearbox.
The event isn't named "indie games", though.
French indie studio Evil Empire, which has spent the last five years working on expansions for roguelike sensation Dead Cells, prides itself on being a "triple I" developer: independent, but still big enough to make "world-class" games. Evil Empire likes the label so much, in fact, that it's spent the past few months organizing a new showcase with some other indie superstars, including the developers of Slay the Spire, Darkest Dungeon, Vampire Survivors, and Terraria. The Triple-I Initiative will be streaming on April 10 and will show off more than 30 games.
When the term "Triple I" came about I believe that the I's meant indie, so to me the event name stands for The Indie Indie Indie Initiative. Considering that and the short write up putting heavy...
When the term "Triple I" came about I believe that the I's meant indie, so to me the event name stands for The Indie Indie Indie Initiative. Considering that and the short write up putting heavy emphasis on indie developers and not being a "AAA" showcase I believe it's entirely reasonable for someone to assume an event called The Triple I Initiative would be about completely about indie games.
I think most people tend to see games as either AAA or indie, even though that's not accurate at all. I think we need to actually start using a logical labelling system. The gap between Rockstar...
I think most people tend to see games as either AAA or indie, even though that's not accurate at all.
I think we need to actually start using a logical labelling system. The gap between Rockstar Games and Techland is massive, but the gap between Techland and a small studio of 10 friends is also massive.
I’m not sure how useful that distinction would be for the kind of discussion that normally takes place. Techland may not be an “indie” studio, but they aren’t really making “indie games” either....
I’m not sure how useful that distinction would be for the kind of discussion that normally takes place. Techland may not be an “indie” studio, but they aren’t really making “indie games” either. Colloquially I take the word indie to refer more to the degree of creativity vs. polish. AAA games favor polish, while indies favor creativity. Even though it is a very imperfect and subjective rubric it seems that people have some sort of intuitive understanding of it.
I would say no. Even as more people were brought on it was still largely done with the vision of one person. I don’t think that a Microsoft-owned Minecraft would have ever come up with the idea of...
I would say no. Even as more people were brought on it was still largely done with the vision of one person. I don’t think that a Microsoft-owned Minecraft would have ever come up with the idea of giving it an ending.
Electronic Arts predates the concept of indies… sort of. But if I were to put a line in the sand I would say it was sometime around the time Trip Hawkins left. Their swing from “developers are rockstars” to “we own you, developers” was a very sharp one indeed.
Ah yes, noted indie studio Gearbox Software, among others.
Sarcasm aside, I’m hoping to see some cool stuff come out of this event :P
It's inclusions like Gearbox in events like this that make "indie" a completely meaningless term these days. Gearbox, formerly owned by Embracer and now currently owned by Take 2, even has it's own publishing branch... it's hard to be any further away from indie in my opinion.
The event isn't named "indie games", though.
That seems nuanced enough to include Gearbox.
When the term "Triple I" came about I believe that the I's meant indie, so to me the event name stands for The Indie Indie Indie Initiative. Considering that and the short write up putting heavy emphasis on indie developers and not being a "AAA" showcase I believe it's entirely reasonable for someone to assume an event called The Triple I Initiative would be about completely about indie games.
I think most people tend to see games as either AAA or indie, even though that's not accurate at all.
I think we need to actually start using a logical labelling system. The gap between Rockstar Games and Techland is massive, but the gap between Techland and a small studio of 10 friends is also massive.
Maybe we start using the AA label more?
I’m not sure how useful that distinction would be for the kind of discussion that normally takes place. Techland may not be an “indie” studio, but they aren’t really making “indie games” either. Colloquially I take the word indie to refer more to the degree of creativity vs. polish. AAA games favor polish, while indies favor creativity. Even though it is a very imperfect and subjective rubric it seems that people have some sort of intuitive understanding of it.
Minecraft was indie many moons ago, was there a time before the buyout when it was no longer indie? What about the old Electronic Arts?
I would say no. Even as more people were brought on it was still largely done with the vision of one person. I don’t think that a Microsoft-owned Minecraft would have ever come up with the idea of giving it an ending.
Electronic Arts predates the concept of indies… sort of. But if I were to put a line in the sand I would say it was sometime around the time Trip Hawkins left. Their swing from “developers are rockstars” to “we own you, developers” was a very sharp one indeed.
To be fair, though, the deal with Take Two did not include Gearbox's publishing arm.