Source: Gamasutra
[Have independent games finally "come of age"? Venture Arctic
creator and indie veteran Andy Schatz looks at the recent history of
the scene to examine why this decade is "defined by the rise of the
casual game and the subsequent birth of the modern indie game."]
We always knew "indie" meant something. But no one could ever define what it was.
With the success of high-wattage Independent Games Festival winners,
the divorce of the casual gaming market from the indie gaming market,
and the continued commoditization of free-to-play flash games, the
beast has finally emerged from the mud. It has become clear what indie
games are.
How has indie games distribution evolved, and how has it shaped the
content and helped to finally define what indie means as a genre of
game? Let's discuss.
The 80s were defined by the golden age of computer games, the rise of
the console, and the apex of the arcade. The 90s will probably be
remembered best for the move to 3D. And it is becoming clear that the
2000s are defined by the rise of the casual game and the subsequent
birth of the modern indie game.
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Posted
Mar 01 2009, 11:11 AM
by
Mathew Anderson