The meaning of "indie" has changed

[Dr. Pezus]

Think about it.

Traditionally, "indie" stood for "independent" and so when a game was called "indie" it meant that the game was made by independent devs.
Now, on the other hand, "indie" means something else entirely. These days it's used for certain looks, art styles, certain qualities (or lack thereof). Think Valiant Hearts. Is it "indie" or not?

[Legend]

Yeah I think we should stop using the word indie. We have AAA and B games as far as quality, but we need the same as far as size/production value. AAA vs indie covers that, but in that situation it'd sound better to say AAA vs budget games.

[BasilZero]

Low Budget

Cheap

Flash Games

[Dr. Pezus]

Low Budget

Cheap

Flash Games

which one? So is valiant hearts indie despite not being made by an independent dev?

[BasilZero]

which one? So is valiant hearts indie despite not being made by an independent dev?

?

I'm just posting terms I've seen people use - I dont really use these terms lol.

Well maybe Low Budget since comparison to AAA games.

Never played Valiant Hearts - on my wishlist though for Steam !

Edit: Wat r u!? THE IDF!? INDIE DEFENSE FORCE :O!? lol jk

[Max King of the Wild]

Same with music man. Compare Daniel Johnsons Worried Shoes to Imagine Dragons and arcade Fire... One is indie yet two others are called indie

[Dr. Pezus]

?

I'm just posting terms I've seen people use - I dont really use these terms lol.

Well maybe Low Budget since comparison to AAA games.

Never played Valiant Hearts - on my wishlist though for Steam !

Edit: Wat r u!? THE IDF!? INDIE DEFENSE FORCE :O!? lol jk

Wut?!

I'm just asking lol

[Legend]

Also something to consider is that lots of indie devs love the word indie. I mean they'll literally get upset at people suggesting other words or saying their game isn't indie.

[the-pi-guy]

Also something to consider is that lots of indie devs love the word indie.

There's a certain charm to it, I think.
I mean as of late, it seems like more and more things are being put into the "AAA" and "indie" baskets with not much inbetween. 
So even though there are words in between, like sometimes they'll say "AA" or "B" games, they don't have the same charm, and increasingly don't seem to have the same familiarity that the term "indie" has had as of late.  I think a big part of that is because indie games have become pretty popular, such as Minecraft.  So the big games are 'seem' to be indie or AAA. 

I mean they'll literally get upset at people suggesting other words or saying their game isn't indie.

I can see it now.
"It's not really an indie game, you've got Microsoft backing you."
"What'd you just say to me?" *pulls out knife*
"OH GOSH!  I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING!"
"That's what I thought."