Browse
Category
DiscussionsUncategorized

What defines an indie game?

Closed
Turbanator

I posted this in Indie Game: The Movie discussion forums, but no one was interested!

To reiterate, I'm creating a visual novel, but using the Renpy engine, which has already been coded by people to make life easier to make a visual novel. Games like Katawa Shoujo, Analogue: A hate story, Magical Diary, and more were coded in it.

Hopefully, given enough time and effort, it'll make Steam in the far future.

Seeing Indie Game: The Movie made me realise that I'm not going to be doing any real programming like them, just calling functions and adding variables and so on.

Hence my question, they obviously created the games from scratch and became successful. Since I'm getting a head start via Renpy which removes most of the complex stuff, is the game I'm creating an indie game, or would it be considered something else to a lesser degree?

Opinions would be appreciated.

11 years ago*

Comment has been collapsed.

11 Comments
thegodoftitsandwine

Independent. Self published.

11 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.
tanim

Game made by a self-funded studio with no or little industry backing

11 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.
dooder

The developer publishes the game by itself.

11 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.
Laudes

If you game gets on Steam, I'll buy it. I love Analogue: A Hate Story, Hate Plus, and many other visual novels... I just wish there were more good ones on Steam. And no, don't recommend me any, I've already heard about all of 'em.

11 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.
TRUCKER

The definition defines them, "Independent video games (commonly referred to as indie games) are video games created by individuals or small teams generally without video game publisher financial support" Source: Wikipedia on Indie Games

11 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.
VictorRdS

As you see by the other answers yours is a Indie game, your studio (even if it is only you) is gonna do everything by yourself, marketing, promotion, development, using others engine changes nothing is just a tool, sames as notepad, gcc, Source SDK etc.

11 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.
pomgoe

I don't think visual novels are games – so no, it's not an indie game.

11 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.
UndyingZombie

Depends on the VN. Some have very little if any choice in what the characters do. In those I would agree with you. However a lot exist that have a ton of choices and paths you can take. ( Tons of endings and different storyline. ) Some even have RPG elements for battles, or other things. )

So like I said. Just depends on the VN.

11 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.
SeaGoblin

if you made a game by yourself... and get it on desura . your an indie

11 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Deleted

This comment was deleted 2 years ago.

11 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.
Monukai

from what you've provided, yes, you are making an indie game

11 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Closed 11 years ago by Turbanator.