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Indie Game: The Movie

  • 2012
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
22K
YOUR RATING
Indie Game: The Movie (2012)
A documentary that follows the journeys of indie game developers as they create games and release those works, and themselves, to the world.
Play trailer2:47
2 Videos
11 Photos
DocumentaryDrama

A documentary that follows the journeys of indie game developers as they create games and release those works, and themselves, to the world.A documentary that follows the journeys of indie game developers as they create games and release those works, and themselves, to the world.A documentary that follows the journeys of indie game developers as they create games and release those works, and themselves, to the world.

  • Directors
    • Lisanne Pajot
    • James Swirsky
  • Stars
    • Jonathan Blow
    • Brandon Boyer
    • Renaud Bédard
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    22K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Lisanne Pajot
      • James Swirsky
    • Stars
      • Jonathan Blow
      • Brandon Boyer
      • Renaud Bédard
    • 31User reviews
    • 50Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 6 nominations total

    Videos2

    Theatrical Version
    Trailer 2:47
    Theatrical Version
    Indie Game: The Movie
    Trailer 2:47
    Indie Game: The Movie
    Indie Game: The Movie
    Trailer 2:47
    Indie Game: The Movie

    Photos10

    View Poster
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    + 7
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    Top cast16

    Edit
    Jonathan Blow
    • Self
    Brandon Boyer
    • Self
    Renaud Bédard
    • Self
    Anthony Carboni
    • Self
    Ron Carmel
    • Self
    Chris Dahlen
    • Self
    Phil Fish
    Phil Fish
    • Self
    Gus Mastrapa
    • Self
    Danielle McMillen
    • Self
    Edmund McMillen
    • Self
    Jamie Refenes
    • Self
    Kim Refenes
    • Self
    Tommy Refenes
    • Self
    Ken Schachter
    • Self
    Jamin Warren
    • Self
    Joe Drilling
    • PAX East Attendee
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Lisanne Pajot
      • James Swirsky
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews31

    7.621.5K
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    Featured reviews

    8vithiet

    Very interesting look at the world of indie game development

    Very interesting look at the world of indie game development, following 4 developers with extremely different personalities but with the same passion for making awesome games.
    8duncansmith121

    A fantastic film that shows the human spirit and the drive for success

    For many people, there is never a second thought going in to how a game is developed; they will never stop to think how it materialised into the finished piece of absorbing, slice of entertainment that they hold in their hand (or download manager!). This film helps to put human faces and personalities on to the development process, and offers a truly unique look into the pressure and personal sacrifices that can often be found for a new (or experienced) indie developer.

    Make no mistake, this film will be interesting to you even if you are not much of an indie games fan yourself and you would rather stick with the shiny, big-budget productions such as Halo and Call of Duty. It might however, even go so far as to change your mind and give the underdogs a shot when looking for a new game. As this film shows, these somewhat socially-hermitted developers (due to their passion for perfection) go to extreme lengths to provide a thoroughly engrossing and enjoyable experience for you, the user. You will see them eat, breathe and live for their games, with the possibility of failure truly emphasised when they are asked what they might do if their game is a failure.

    The film focuses on two major story lines, the development of two eagerly awaited indie games that are being developed by only a couple of highly-focused people for each game. You will begin to learn why they chose the hard-life they now live, how it has affected their social, emotional, physical and financial lives and you will most-likely develop a respect for these guys that you wouldn't necessarily associate with a game developer. Watching the stories unfold will leave you longing to know what is going to happen next, if they can overcome the problems they face; but mostly, if they are satisfied with the life they have chosen.

    While the film could have benefited with perhaps waiting a little longer to allow for all of the stories to unfold fully, this is one of the best documentaries (and the first of its kind of this subject I have seen) released in the last few years, and I would urge anyone to watch it regardless of how much the behind-the-scenes of the indie game industry interests you.

    Oh and of course, you should go and buy the games featured in this film because they are just as good as the developers describe them. You can check out the websites of the associated games and their developers to check out the progress they have made since the film was released, it will likely be of some interest to you after watching this!
    9korn-32204

    Beautiful wackos

    The filmmakers focused on four of the most eccentric, pretentious, controversial indie developers they could find -- three of whom were essentially starving themselves while working on their games. It makes for an entertaining film, but it doesn't really represent indie development. That being said: I watched the film 5 times. 9 stars.
    7joebloggscity

    A voyeuristic look at the travails of the Indie game developer's world

    I don't know how to react to this intriguing and engrossing documentary. We are voyeurs into the lives of a few Indie game computer programmers who produce and distribute their products alone, as against the vast corporation produced games we are more familiar with.

    There are three different projects examined here in the run up to their release of their creations, and it's a rough and at times uncomfortable viewing. Their road to release is really quite hellish.

    Very basic low budget filming puts the onus on the conversations with these programmers. In truth, of the four programmers it's hard to believe you'd wish to have a drink with three out of the four of them and in any case the other one is so busy he'd likely pass you up. Yet you still seem to empathise with them and the key of this documentary is how you do hang out to the end wishing them to succeed.

    As said, at times you will feel uncomfortable watching these guys. They've all admitted to practically cutting themselves off from normality and having social lives, and it shows. One is married and that marriage seems to make him the most grounded something that becomes clearer as the film moves on when you compare him to the rest.

    I'll state that I don't play computer games at all and have not done so for donkeys years, bar Angry Birds. So really the twee type of games these gamers are making appeals to me as I'm not familiar with the modern gaming market. I don't fully understand their world and maybe I never will, but I did like their products and maybe that's why I wanted the best for them.

    However, I still admired these guys through their travails and stresses. The documentary doesn't build them as heroic but they are winners in my eyes no matter their quirks, and as viewers we are given a very broad overview of them to form our opinions.

    Enjoyable and engrossing. I'd say it's worth a watch.
    929PixelStudios

    Indie Filmmakers lvl 60

    Lisanne Pajot and James Swirsky knocked this out of the park. It is a film that follows three indie games at different parts of their development that have a story worth telling.

    Indie Game: The Movie so well crafted that my wife (non-gamer, non-geek, but appreciates movies) enjoyed and was interested. The pacing and storytelling invokes a wide range of emotions. The artistic choices of cinematic style are spot on and consistent throughout the film.

    The fact that it was mainly done by two people... puts me further in awe.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Much is made in the movie of the protracted development of Fez (2012). The game did eventually get released on April 13, 2012. It received critical praise and is considered a commercial success.
    • Goofs
      When Tommy is mailing Microsoft, he's using a PC, but the full-screen pictures of the email client are of Apple Mail.
    • Quotes

      Edmund McMillen: My whole career has been me, trying to find new ways to communicate with people, because I desperately want to communicate with people, but I don't want the messy interaction of having to make friends and talk to people, because I probably don't like them.

    • Crazy credits
      Various game play video from other independent games not covered in the main movie are shown during the credits.
    • Connections
      Features Braid (2008)

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    FAQ15

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 15, 2012 (Taiwan)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Независимая игра: Кино
    • Production company
      • BlinkWorks Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • CA$100,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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