There are a lot of misconceptions on what it means to be “indie” in all artistic endeavors.  Particular to the Indie Game movement is the notion that all Indie Games are low-budget, artsy, cheap, and made by some man-child living in his parents’ basement.  The guys at Wolfire attempted to answer the question on what it means to be Indie.  I thought I’d toss my hat into the ring and give my definition.

An “Indie” is someone who dedicates himself to the integrity of his craft.

The reason anyone goes “indie” is to be independent – free from the constraints that may compromise his or her integrity.  Often when it comes to putting “food on the table” an artist will have to make compromises on the final product.  This is a necessary compromise, and the artist who “starves” for his or her craft is rightly lauded.  However, there is a difference between a necessary compromise and a compromise that destroys one’s integrity.  The true indie does not bend to that.

This is also why many independents do not wish to have publishers control their ideas, their intellectual property, or force them to publish an incomplete product that promises the world or is half-baked.  Part of the reason so many gamers are cynical about the game development scene is that they can feel the compromises that are being made just to make a quick buck.  And in the end, everyone feels cheapened by the experience.

It is also one of the reasons I highly respect Blizzard.  Blizzard will never compromise their integrity on a bad product.  Pretty much anything they make will sell.  But they have gone out of their way to destroy products containing dozens of man-years worth of labor and effort, simply because they do not believe it is a good product.  People may whine, get frustrated, or even get angry that the game they have been longing for is delayed or even canceled indefinitely, but the one thing I know for certain is that they had a good reason.  And for that, I can always put my trust in the quality of Blizzard’s games and uncompromising integrity.

An Indie will not even bow down to his own fans if it is the wrong thing to do.

And if that isn’t “independence”, I don’t know what is.