Besides my love for movies, gaming has always been quite an important part to me when it comes to entertainment. Even though I still am interested in it I’ll have to admit that I don’t play as much as I used to. There was a time in which I religiously bought Edge magazine and read it back to back. I knew which games would be worth checking out and which ones I was going to purchase. Times have changed though as the number of unplayed games in my collection is way too high to actually consider buying new ones. When I can decide between gaming of watching a movie I usually pick the latter and if I game it probably is more on my mobile than on my console.
The past few year various game related documentaries were released. Some were about arcade games like The King of Kong, The King of Arcades en 100 Yen: The Japanese Arcade Experience. Documentaries like Atari: Game Over en Indie Game: The Movie. GameLoading: Rise of the Indies can now be added to that.
Where Indie Game: The Movie focussed on three specific developers who were about to release their games, the field of view for this movie is much wider. It has interviews with various developers, but it also takes a look at how a younger generation is motivated to develop instead of only passively consume things. It touches upon women within the scene, how hard it is to stand out once you’ve made your game and it also shows a competition in which developers have to program a game during a train journey. Because of all these subjects (and more) you might think it lacks focus, but the enthusiasm in which it is all presented makes it work.
It shows how varied the available indie games are and that they can be about anything, including depression, monotonous work or something abstract. Various developers talk about it, including Rami Ismail of the Dutch Vlambeer, Lucas Pope (Papers, Please), Richard Hofmeier (Cart Life) and Davey Wreden (The Stanley Parable). With that it captures their passion and motivation and that makes you want to be part of it too.
Is you can get past GameLoading’s “lack of focus” it offers a nice overview of the indie gaming scene and is a nice starting point to get yourself acquianted. The fact that the producers of this movie finish the credits with video of various games and there titles give the viewer enough reason to immediately install Steam on their PC’s and download a couple of them. I know I did and bought The Stanley Parable, which is hilarious.
Interesting post, Nostra. I started gaming after following the old ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ mantra. My then boyfriend would spend hours on his Xbox so, one day, I picked up a controller and had a go.
I don’t play as much as I used to, but I really enjoyed RP games, especially Skyrim, Fable and Assassin’s Creed. As with films, they transport you to another totally immersive world.
I’m not that big on RP games myself, although I have enjoyed Assassin’s Creed and Mass Effect. More into racing, action and platformers myself. They are indeed another world you can lose yourself in for a while. Always definitely feel that way in the Grand Theft Auto and Saint’s Row games.
Very interested in seeing this. I’m a big gamer and I have always had a mixed relationship with the modern indie scene. But there is so much I don’t know about it. This could be a cool window.
Than this one definitely is one to check out as it will show you both weird and interesting things which might grow your curiosity to check it out.