Unless you live in a major city, you probably haven’t had a chance to see Indie Game: The Movie yet. Thanks to the Hot Docs Live! project, which broadcast two documentaries live from the recent Toronto festival, I was finally able to see this Winnipeg-made film.
After watching it last Thursday in Regina, I can say this is a film that not just gamers should see, but even those who may not have any connection to video games.
The great thing about Indie Game is that it was made for an audience much larger than just gamers. The film starts off by giving the background on what indie games are, the current state of the gaming industry and the rise of downloadable games. It will probably be remedial for hardcore gamers, but it’s necessary to explain such things to a general audience. Remember, it’s a documentary, so it’s meant to inform.
I think the reason why so many people have connected with the film, be they gamers or not, is its very human story. Filmmakers James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot have done an excellent job of telling us who these people are and why they do what they do. Their stories of success, defeat and sometimes mild paranoia are something anyone can relate to.
Phil Fish, who works on the game Fez, is constantly stressing about his legal troubles throughout the film. At some points you wonder if he really is going to snap. Meanwhile, Super Meat Boy programmer Tommy Refenes seems to go through some serious bouts of depression during his game’s development.
Moments like these are painful to watch, but they end up making the successes of these game developers all the more powerful.
For many people who don’t play video games, their perception of the industry usually bounces back and forth between the innocence of Super Mario Brothers, and the violence of Grand Theft Auto. What Indie Game does is show the audience there’s so much more to the industry than a few pop culture icons, and that real people go through some very hard times to make video games.
So whether you’re a gamer or just enjoy a good documentary, take advantage of any opportunity you get to see Indie Game: The Movie. The film is still making the festival rounds at the moment, but is scheduled for release on DVD and digital download sometime this year. You can check for updates on that through the film’s official website.
Follow Mark Melnychuk on Twitter @Melnychuk86
mmelnychuk@leaderpost.com
