The reason we're taking this trip is that Todd quit his job as a game designer at 5th Cell and is going to work with Derek Detweiler at Gopherwood Studios, where he will be CFO, game designer, programmer, artist, vice-president of customer service, receptionist, and third-string dog washer. He is, as those in the game industry say, "going indie".
"Going indie" for most game developers is similar becoming a monk. It is a calling followed by those devoutly dedicated to making games because they love them. There is no need for independent game developers to take the vows of poverty and chastity - those are implied. Independent developers tend to have the opposite of the vow of silence; they yap all-to-much about what they think and what they're doing, trying to shout above all the others straining for attention and money. This is not my brother's nature, but he may have to change to keep the faith.
What does "indie" mean anyway? "Indie" is shorthand for independent developer, beyond that it is tough to find a widely agreed upon definition. In my broadest attempt, it is an individual or team involved in developing games that is not owned or subsidized by a major game publisher (like Activision, EA, or Ubisoft) nor a platform provider (Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, or Apple). Are Valve and Zynga indie? Not to me, but they could be seen as one to some. I feel it's mostly about young people going on their own to make games they are excited about. Some of the most interesting, and successful games in the last few years have been made by "indie" groups, including Angry Birds, Minecraft, and Dwarf Fortress.
Anyway, I am looking forward to the trip. I am tremendously proud that Todd is taking this huge step and following his dreams. He's compared it to jumping off a bridge, and I understand why. There is no guarantee of success, but my brother took the leap anyway because it's what he had to do. I feel honored that I can usher him across the country to his new life.
Well, I feel that now. We'll see what happens at 2:30 on the second day.
-Scott-
"Going indie" for most game developers is similar becoming a monk. It is a calling followed by those devoutly dedicated to making games because they love them. There is no need for independent game developers to take the vows of poverty and chastity - those are implied. Independent developers tend to have the opposite of the vow of silence; they yap all-to-much about what they think and what they're doing, trying to shout above all the others straining for attention and money. This is not my brother's nature, but he may have to change to keep the faith.
What does "indie" mean anyway? "Indie" is shorthand for independent developer, beyond that it is tough to find a widely agreed upon definition. In my broadest attempt, it is an individual or team involved in developing games that is not owned or subsidized by a major game publisher (like Activision, EA, or Ubisoft) nor a platform provider (Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, or Apple). Are Valve and Zynga indie? Not to me, but they could be seen as one to some. I feel it's mostly about young people going on their own to make games they are excited about. Some of the most interesting, and successful games in the last few years have been made by "indie" groups, including Angry Birds, Minecraft, and Dwarf Fortress.
Anyway, I am looking forward to the trip. I am tremendously proud that Todd is taking this huge step and following his dreams. He's compared it to jumping off a bridge, and I understand why. There is no guarantee of success, but my brother took the leap anyway because it's what he had to do. I feel honored that I can usher him across the country to his new life.
Well, I feel that now. We'll see what happens at 2:30 on the second day.
-Scott-
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