Indie Game: The Movie

Name: Indie Game: The Movie
Genre: Documentary
Released: May 18, 2012
Duration: 94 min
Rating: 73

2012

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 132 Ratings

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Indie Game: The Movie

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Movie Details & Credits

BlinkWorks Media | Release Date: May 18, 2012 | Not Rated

Summary: After two years of painstaking work, designer Edmund McMillen and programmer Tommy Refenes await the release of their first major game for Xbox, Super Meat Boy—the adventures of a skinless boy in search of his girlfriend, who is made of bandages. At PAX, a major video-game expo, developer Phil Fish unveils his highly anticipated,After two years of painstaking work, designer Edmund McMillen and programmer Tommy Refenes await the release of their first major game for Xbox, Super Meat Boy—the adventures of a skinless boy in search of his girlfriend, who is made of bandages. At PAX, a major video-game expo, developer Phil Fish unveils his highly anticipated, four-years-in-the-making FEZ. Jonathan Blow considers beginning a new game after creating Braid, one of the highest-rated games of all time. First-time filmmaking duo Lisanne Pajot and James Swirsky capture the emotional journey of these meticulously obsessive artists who devote their lives to their interactive art. Four developers, three games, and one ultimate goal— to express oneself through a video game. (BlinkWorks Media)… Expand

Director: James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 94 min

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Critic Reviews

Nicolas Rapold

May 18, 2012

Along the way comes a bracing, honest confession about these interactive creations, voiced by one designer but no doubt applying to many more makers of all kinds: "I made it for myself." Read full review

Guy Dixon

May 25, 2012

Video-game developers: Geeks, nerds, socially adrift obsessives. Indie Game thankfully gets past such base introductions in a flash and graduates to far more engrossing levels – levels which open up into the real worlds of the best independent game developers working their craft. Read full review

Duane Byrge

May 14, 2012

Well-crafted and intelligent, this film is an illumination of the agony of creation – the self-doubt, the obsession, the life sacrifices – that are the core, not merely the side-effects of those define themselves through "art." Read full review

Rob Nelson

May 14, 2012

The picture scores big points by drawing a sharp distinction between corporate vidgame programmers and indies. Read full review

Brian Miller

May 15, 2012

An insightful new geek documentary, well directed by first-timers Lisanne Pajot and James Swirsky. Read full review

Nick Schager

May 14, 2012

Makes a compelling case for games as not only clever hand-eye coordination exercises, but also as manifestations of their creators' emotional and philosophical viewpoints. Read full review

Keith Uhlich

May 15, 2012

This is a movie about a subculture, made for that subculture; only hard-core Xboxers need apply. Read full review

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User Reviews

Mitchellsymes

Jan 1, 2013

I am a gamer Have been since I was 4/5 years old I have wanted to makes games most of my life this Movie shows how hard it is to be a indie game developer and how much time and work goes in to the games it also shows the life of these indie game developers and what it takes to get rid ofI am a gamer Have been since I was 4/5 years old I have wanted to makes games most of my life this Movie shows how hard it is to be a indie game developer and how much time and work goes in to the games it also shows the life of these indie game developers and what it takes to get rid of the bugs in the games it shows all the things they need to give up to make games and how they are just like us they smile at the reviews and laugh they are not just indie game developers they have family it shows that and friends and the music is great in the movie we get really close to what they are trying to put in to the games and how the games are some parts of their childhood… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

johndoe0

Jun 14, 2012

Seeing these designers, portrayed in such unfiltered manner, the building up tension, their fears and passions moved me to tears just nothing before in a long time. Aside from my personal view about how much this new media is underrated and misused, this movie brings to you what you canSeeing these designers, portrayed in such unfiltered manner, the building up tension, their fears and passions moved me to tears just nothing before in a long time. Aside from my personal view about how much this new media is underrated and misused, this movie brings to you what you can already feel from these "experiences", even more clearly. When i first saw the trailer i hoped this movie was good, but not as much it turned out! I cannot find any technical issue that may ruin the view. I guess this is what everybody following his dreams need to see, a true life and emotion injection!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

a7quantum

Jun 13, 2012

One of the best films... Definitely the best film about gaming industry! The story about not such popular genre of contemporary games - indie games- games made by a single person or a small group of people, seam to be simple, but truely as hardcore as landing on the Sun is! Must seen forOne of the best films... Definitely the best film about gaming industry! The story about not such popular genre of contemporary games - indie games- games made by a single person or a small group of people, seam to be simple, but truely as hardcore as landing on the Sun is! Must seen for geeks, gamers, nerds and youngsters for the last to see that nowadays games are not only CoD or Battlefield but something more personal and creative! Absolutely fascinating shortage! Thriller at its best also :) 10/10 ! Unremarkable experience!… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

thebluerider

Jul 17, 2012

One of the best documentaries I've ever seen. Even my Lady loved it despite the fact she doesn't enjoy playing games at all. This movie will make every watcher start to respect all those indie developers out there.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

StevenF

Feb 28, 2013

This is a true film, an honest insight into the trials and tribulations of independent video game developers and programmers, and this is truly for anyone who is at a crossroads in their life in regards to what they are doing, and if their ambition seems to be out of their reach.
It tellsThis is a true film, an honest insight into the trials and tribulations of independent video game developers and programmers, and this is truly for anyone who is at a crossroads in their life in regards to what they are doing, and if their ambition seems to be out of their reach.
It tells the story from the success, developmental hell and getting screwed by the suits of three different indie games and four different people.
Edmund and Tommy are working on Super Meat Boy, a highly anticipated game that they have worked on to get it released on Xbox Live. Tommy seems to be hard done by, but perhaps his views on the game about making it for himself and that he doesn't care about whether the critical response is positive or negative is a little too exaggerated, he is after all selling the game, but thats ok, because this shows the emotional impact of something that many wouldn't even give a second glance to, developing games.
No joke, these guys are mental messes, Phil Fish, who created Fez, tells the camera that if he doesn't get the game completed that he will kill himself, and he has that sort of look where we really don't know if he is telling the truth or not, the amount of abuse this man received was just ridiculous, simply because he was putting the up most into his brainchild.
We also take a look at Braid, created by Jon Blow, this guy is kind of a mixed bag of emotions, he comes off as a typical developer, but he seems very confident in criticising and debating with those who talk about his game, its maybe just good fan interaction or simply unprofessional behaviour.
We see the opening of the film also at the end, when Super Meat Boy doesn't appear when it was supposed to, and Tommy is perhaps the most central character, he seems to enjoy what he is doing but at the same time is just too hard on himself and what he believes his games are perceived as.
This is true and well-edited testament not just to video game developing, but to a dream or ambition as a whole, these guys sweat to the bitter end just to see their dream succeed, but when this happens they also hit themselves with the realisation that it can still fall flat on its face. Another thank you can be given to these men, they delve quite deep into their own private lives, their struggle with marriage, family and money..all to create that one thing that will change their lives forever, and why shouldn't they, an excellent underdog documentary that anyone could relate to and learn from.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Latimer

May 18, 2012

I am a gamer, and from that viewpoint, it was great to sit down and watch a story documenting and celebrating the creative work that is behind making the games I enjoy. The documentary focuses heavily on the struggle and eventual success of Braid (Jon Blow), Fez (Phil Fish), and Super MeatI am a gamer, and from that viewpoint, it was great to sit down and watch a story documenting and celebrating the creative work that is behind making the games I enjoy. The documentary focuses heavily on the struggle and eventual success of Braid (Jon Blow), Fez (Phil Fish), and Super Meat Boy (Edmund and Tommy). Familiarity with the games would greatly enhance the experience because the story is about the intimate yet sometimes overlooked communication that occurs from the developers to the player through them. All of the games are wonderful, so at the least it is motivation to try each of them.… Expand

6 of 6 users found this helpful60

Dubroc

Jul 16, 2012

Merece la pena descubrir que se esconde en el desarrollo de los pequeños juegos independientes que tan buenos y gratos momentos nos han dado como Super Meat Boy o Fez.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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