Indie Game: The Movie
Directed by: James Swirsky, Lisanne Pajot
Written by: James Swirsky, Lisanne Pajot
Starring: Edmund McMillen, Tommy Refenes, Phil Fish, Jonathan Blow
USA, 2012
With the documentary rooted as independent as its subjects, Indie Game: The Movie started as a Kickstarter project and went all the way to Sundance in 2012, with aspirations gripping the palms of Swirsky and Pajot’s hands. The film primarily follows two indie game projects, Super Meat Boy and Fez, as their creators struggle through video game development, from their highest highs to their lowest lows. In between their stories, time with Jonathan Blow of Braid is spent to emphasize how life after success isn’t always what its cracked up to be. Blow talks about being confused for months after Braid came out, because many people simply took the game for face value without appreciating the plot nuances articulated in painstaking detail by...
Directed by: James Swirsky, Lisanne Pajot
Written by: James Swirsky, Lisanne Pajot
Starring: Edmund McMillen, Tommy Refenes, Phil Fish, Jonathan Blow
USA, 2012
With the documentary rooted as independent as its subjects, Indie Game: The Movie started as a Kickstarter project and went all the way to Sundance in 2012, with aspirations gripping the palms of Swirsky and Pajot’s hands. The film primarily follows two indie game projects, Super Meat Boy and Fez, as their creators struggle through video game development, from their highest highs to their lowest lows. In between their stories, time with Jonathan Blow of Braid is spent to emphasize how life after success isn’t always what its cracked up to be. Blow talks about being confused for months after Braid came out, because many people simply took the game for face value without appreciating the plot nuances articulated in painstaking detail by...
- 2/1/2015
- by Christopher Clemente
- SoundOnSight
Glitches and bugs are an inescapable part of game development, but they usually get squashed with extreme prejudice. That's too bad, though: as this collection of images from "Fez" developer Renaud Bédard shows, glitches can sometimes be beautifully striking
"Fez"' legacy as an ornate, intricate, perspective-bending puzzle game has been somewhat (and unfortunately) overshadowed by its lead designer, Phil Fish. His prominent role in Indie Game: The Movie and his highly-public cancellation of "Fez 2" have hogged most of the discussion about the series.
Perhaps the most enduring brouhaha was Polytron's inability (or refusal, depending on who you ask) to patch a rare, game-breaking bug found in the Xbox Live Arcade port, shining a light on Microsoft's publishing policies that eventually led to some major reversals: Microsoft no longer charges developers to update Xbla games and have instituted the ID@Xbox program to encourage self-publishing on the Xbox One.
That's well and good,...
"Fez"' legacy as an ornate, intricate, perspective-bending puzzle game has been somewhat (and unfortunately) overshadowed by its lead designer, Phil Fish. His prominent role in Indie Game: The Movie and his highly-public cancellation of "Fez 2" have hogged most of the discussion about the series.
Perhaps the most enduring brouhaha was Polytron's inability (or refusal, depending on who you ask) to patch a rare, game-breaking bug found in the Xbox Live Arcade port, shining a light on Microsoft's publishing policies that eventually led to some major reversals: Microsoft no longer charges developers to update Xbla games and have instituted the ID@Xbox program to encourage self-publishing on the Xbox One.
That's well and good,...
- 9/25/2013
- by Joseph Leray
- MTV Multiplayer
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
When most people think of video game movies, they think of Super Mario Bros. They think of the sacrilege committed time and time again by Uwe Boll, such as Alone in the Dark and House of the Dead. In terms of narrative film, directors have unerringly failed when trying to convey the video game experience. Oddly enough, it seems to be documentarians, creating the likes of The King of Kong and this, Indie Game: The Movie, who best prod the heart and soul of the oft-maligned medium and capture what it really means to people.
If James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot’s doc is anything, it is passionate. The pair follow the skeleton-crew developers of three independent video games – Braid’s Jonathan Blow, Super Meat Boy’s Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes, and Fez’s Phil Fish – representing the apparent “past, present and future” of indie gaming (Braid is long-released,...
When most people think of video game movies, they think of Super Mario Bros. They think of the sacrilege committed time and time again by Uwe Boll, such as Alone in the Dark and House of the Dead. In terms of narrative film, directors have unerringly failed when trying to convey the video game experience. Oddly enough, it seems to be documentarians, creating the likes of The King of Kong and this, Indie Game: The Movie, who best prod the heart and soul of the oft-maligned medium and capture what it really means to people.
If James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot’s doc is anything, it is passionate. The pair follow the skeleton-crew developers of three independent video games – Braid’s Jonathan Blow, Super Meat Boy’s Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes, and Fez’s Phil Fish – representing the apparent “past, present and future” of indie gaming (Braid is long-released,...
- 6/19/2012
- by Shaun Munro
- Obsessed with Film
Minding the time in a nondescript cafe a few minutes away from the IFC Center, "Indie Game: The Movie” co-directors Lisanne Pajot and James Swirsky and composer/indie rocker Jim Guthrie share an easygoing parlance that showcases the spirit of effective collaboration. Of course, one of the notable ways to spot excellent craftsmanship is seeing something difficult made to look easy. “Indie Game: The Movie” manages that trick, and we fell in love with the film at Sundance, calling it “the most mature look at video games yet, and a fine documentary in its own right,” that served “as a powerful document for why games deserve consideration as a legitimate artform.” High praise for a documentary that was but a seed on Kickstarter almost two years ago.
“What we thought would take a year, probably six months,” says Swirsky, adding "Basically our thinking as, we own all the equipment, we...
“What we thought would take a year, probably six months,” says Swirsky, adding "Basically our thinking as, we own all the equipment, we...
- 6/12/2012
- by Mark Zhuravsky
- The Playlist
By Jeffrey Matulef
Award-winning documentary Indie Game: The Movie will be available to the public via digital distribution June 12, 2012 on iTunes, Steam and at IndieGameTheMovie.com, where you can also pre-order the Blu-ray and DVD. The movie will be $9.99, with 10% off ($8.99) for pre-orders on Steam.
Directed by James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot, Indie Game: The Movie follows the exploits of Fez creator Phil Fish, Team Meat's Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes, and Braid creator Johnathan Blow.
Filmed over the course of the last two years, the film covers the process leading up to and following Super Meat Boy's release, as well as Fish's legal and emotional struggles to complete Fez, a game he'd been working on for five years.
Having seen the film last month I can say that it's a fantastic piece of cinema that focuses on the human element behind games. While Indie Game: The Movie is about game creators,...
Award-winning documentary Indie Game: The Movie will be available to the public via digital distribution June 12, 2012 on iTunes, Steam and at IndieGameTheMovie.com, where you can also pre-order the Blu-ray and DVD. The movie will be $9.99, with 10% off ($8.99) for pre-orders on Steam.
Directed by James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot, Indie Game: The Movie follows the exploits of Fez creator Phil Fish, Team Meat's Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes, and Braid creator Johnathan Blow.
Filmed over the course of the last two years, the film covers the process leading up to and following Super Meat Boy's release, as well as Fish's legal and emotional struggles to complete Fez, a game he'd been working on for five years.
Having seen the film last month I can say that it's a fantastic piece of cinema that focuses on the human element behind games. While Indie Game: The Movie is about game creators,...
- 5/25/2012
- by MTV Video Games
- MTV Multiplayer
Plot: Charting the rise of independent video game design, this documentary follows the production of three indie games; the break-out hit .Braid. by Jonathan Blow, it.s potential successor .Super Meat Boy. by the underdog team of Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes, and the long-delayed .Fez. by Phil Fish. Review: As someone who truly doesn.t know a thing about modern gaming, I assumed Indie Game: The Movie wouldn.t be something I.d find terribly interesting. I missed it at Sundance, but...
- 5/25/2012
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Editor’s note: With Indie Game: The Movie opening up in Los Angeles today as it begins its theatrical run, we thought it only appropriate to re-run this Sundance review, originally posted on January 20. They say to truly be happy you should “do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,” but what does it mean to take something you love doing and try and make it your career? Or at least something you dedicate the majority of your time to? Those who are writers or make films or music usually get into it because they love reading/writing, movies and music, but there is a caveat to this idea that people do not always realize. Even if you are “pursuing your dreams,” at the end of the day, work is work. It may be more exciting and different than your average 9-5 cubicle life, it...
- 5/18/2012
- by Allison Loring
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Indie Game: The Movie Directed by: Lisanne Pajot and James Swirsky Starring: Phil Fish, Edmund McMillen, Jonathan Blow, Tommy Refenes From Hearts of Darkness to Lost in La Mancha to American Movie, we've seen some great behind-the-scenes documentaries about filmmaking over the years, some capturing the glory of success and others the agony of failure. The production of a feature film almost always makes for a compelling story because we get to watch creative professionals perform in a team environment while under pressure. And yet, despite the overabundance of these kinds of documentaries, up until now there have been very few documentaries covering the behind-the-scenes process of video game development. What gives? Part of the problem is that video games are giant team efforts where pretty much all of the talented people involved are unknown to the general public. However, the bigger complication is the fact that most major video...
- 5/14/2012
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
This year GameCity – the UK’s biggest indie games festival – will be running for a mammoth 7 days, from 20th-27th October. Now entering its 7th year, the GameCity team have already announced some of the attractions for this year’s festival with a full lineup to follow in the run-up to the Nottingham event, but here are 7 things I’d personally love to see (some more likely than others).
1. Charlie Brooker to Judge the GameCity Prize
The desire of festival fans to see self-proclaimed gamer Charlie Brooker sit on the GameCity Prize judging panel has been knocking round the Twittersphere since last year’s festival, and since this year’s judges are still closely under wraps it remains a tantalising possibility.
The jury for last year’s inaugural GameCity Prize was drawn from a broad spectrum of figures outside of the game industry itself – ranging from musician Nitin Sawhney to...
1. Charlie Brooker to Judge the GameCity Prize
The desire of festival fans to see self-proclaimed gamer Charlie Brooker sit on the GameCity Prize judging panel has been knocking round the Twittersphere since last year’s festival, and since this year’s judges are still closely under wraps it remains a tantalising possibility.
The jury for last year’s inaugural GameCity Prize was drawn from a broad spectrum of figures outside of the game industry itself – ranging from musician Nitin Sawhney to...
- 5/6/2012
- by Emma O Sullivan
- Obsessed with Film
Fez Extended Gameplay
In development since 2007. A critically-acclaimed multiple Igf winner. It was featured in Indie Game: The Movie. It's "a 2D platformer set in a 3D world," according to its creator, Phil Fish. No enemies, no bosses, no penalty for dying, just pure puzzle platforming action with the game's main character, Gomez. In terms of indie game development, Fez would seem to have a longer cycle to release than most, constantly teased and on the cusp of being available.
But on April 13th, Fez is coming to Xbla for 800 Ms points.
You can find out more about Fez on the Polytron Corporation site.
Related posts:
New Video Games For the Week Of 3/27: Slim Pickins?
Now You Can Brave the Apocalypse on Your PS3 As 'I Am Alive' Is Dated on Psn
--
Discuss this story in our Gaming forums! Follow @MTVGeek on Twitter and be sure to "like...
In development since 2007. A critically-acclaimed multiple Igf winner. It was featured in Indie Game: The Movie. It's "a 2D platformer set in a 3D world," according to its creator, Phil Fish. No enemies, no bosses, no penalty for dying, just pure puzzle platforming action with the game's main character, Gomez. In terms of indie game development, Fez would seem to have a longer cycle to release than most, constantly teased and on the cusp of being available.
But on April 13th, Fez is coming to Xbla for 800 Ms points.
You can find out more about Fez on the Polytron Corporation site.
Related posts:
New Video Games For the Week Of 3/27: Slim Pickins?
Now You Can Brave the Apocalypse on Your PS3 As 'I Am Alive' Is Dated on Psn
--
Discuss this story in our Gaming forums! Follow @MTVGeek on Twitter and be sure to "like...
- 3/29/2012
- by Charles Webb
- MTV Multiplayer
While younger generations have been criticized for only watching TV and playing video games, Indie Game: The Movie shows it's these young people who have grown up with these forms of entertainment who now aspire to make the very products that parents once warned would rot the mind. However, in the case of game designers Edmund McMillen, Tommy Refenes, Phil Fish and Jonathan Blow, their mind is far from rotten, and it's actually quite clear as they work hard everyday to craft the kind of video games they love. But just like films at Sundance, their games are crafted outside of the game studio system. Indie Game follows four different game designers at very different stages in their careers. Jonathan Blow has already tasted widespread success as his game Braid quickly became the best-selling Xbox Live Arcade game of all-time and received ridiculously good reviews. Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes...
- 1/30/2012
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
One of the films that jumped out early on at the festival was Indie Game: The Movie, a Kickstarter-funded documentary about independent video game developers. The struggle of these passionate young creative minds to imbue their games with real meaning and symbolism while balancing out the entertainment factor and gameplay is reminiscent of the struggle off all independent artists.
I was lucky enough to sit down with the dynamic duo, Lisanne Pajot and James Swirsky, responsible for bringing the story of these developers with creative filmmaking technique. They offer up some good advice for anyone planning to crowd fund, discuss the possibility of the movie becoming an HBO and how independent games are closer to in relation to independent film than you may have thought. Check out the interview below and my review here.
The Film Stage: Where did the idea to make a documentary about indie game developers come about?...
I was lucky enough to sit down with the dynamic duo, Lisanne Pajot and James Swirsky, responsible for bringing the story of these developers with creative filmmaking technique. They offer up some good advice for anyone planning to crowd fund, discuss the possibility of the movie becoming an HBO and how independent games are closer to in relation to independent film than you may have thought. Check out the interview below and my review here.
The Film Stage: Where did the idea to make a documentary about indie game developers come about?...
- 1/30/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Indie Game: The Movie is an amazing documentary that gives the audience an intimate look at the people driving the independent video game movement forward. It follows four individuals and their journey to achieving video game greatness by developing the games they want to make with no one telling them what they can and can't do. Let me introduce you to the individuals and games that the doc revolves around:
- Game designer Edmund McMillen and programmer Tommy Refenes and their work on the Xbox Live game Super Meat Boy, which follows the adventures of a skinless boy in search of his girlfriend, who is made of bandages.
- Developer Phil Fish and his game Fez, which is highly anticipated and has been four years in the making.
- And then there's Jonathan Blow, the creator of the indie game Braid, which is considered one of the highest-rated games of all time.
- Game designer Edmund McMillen and programmer Tommy Refenes and their work on the Xbox Live game Super Meat Boy, which follows the adventures of a skinless boy in search of his girlfriend, who is made of bandages.
- Developer Phil Fish and his game Fez, which is highly anticipated and has been four years in the making.
- And then there's Jonathan Blow, the creator of the indie game Braid, which is considered one of the highest-rated games of all time.
- 1/29/2012
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
The network teams up with producer Scott Rudin to make the documentary a half-hour show.
[Update at 8:13 Am: The creators of the doc have taken to the film's Facebook page to clarify that the half-hour series in development by Rudin and HBO is not, in fact, a comedy. They chalked its classification as such up to half-hour series development at HBO being traditionally associated with the network's line of comedies.]
While Indie Game: The Movie makes the rounds at Sundance, behind the scenes it gets picked up for a TV series. Not bad for a first-time indie feature about indie gaming. Based on its trailer and press materials, the James Swirsky and Lisanne Parjot-directed documentary Indie Game: The Movie doesn't necessarily seem like the easiest fit for pay-tv comedy, but that's the direction HBO and Rudin plan to go with the proposed adaptation. The documentary features Super Meat Boy developers Team Meat, as well as Phil Fish and Jonathan Blow, the guys behind Fez and Braid respectively, however there's no word on whether the upcoming series will have any involvement from them or even be based on their stories as presented in the doc.
Here's the synopsis for the documentary:
With the twenty-first century comes...
[Update at 8:13 Am: The creators of the doc have taken to the film's Facebook page to clarify that the half-hour series in development by Rudin and HBO is not, in fact, a comedy. They chalked its classification as such up to half-hour series development at HBO being traditionally associated with the network's line of comedies.]
While Indie Game: The Movie makes the rounds at Sundance, behind the scenes it gets picked up for a TV series. Not bad for a first-time indie feature about indie gaming. Based on its trailer and press materials, the James Swirsky and Lisanne Parjot-directed documentary Indie Game: The Movie doesn't necessarily seem like the easiest fit for pay-tv comedy, but that's the direction HBO and Rudin plan to go with the proposed adaptation. The documentary features Super Meat Boy developers Team Meat, as well as Phil Fish and Jonathan Blow, the guys behind Fez and Braid respectively, however there's no word on whether the upcoming series will have any involvement from them or even be based on their stories as presented in the doc.
Here's the synopsis for the documentary:
With the twenty-first century comes...
- 1/23/2012
- by Charles Webb
- MTV Multiplayer
Of all the artistic mediums, video games are perhaps the most misunderstood by the general populous. This is primarily due to the fact that it’s an art form still in its infancy, while also a powerful cultural phenomena. Similar to how Hollywood has monetized the film industry, large studios have done the same with games, dumping loads of cash into mass appeal experiences that while extremely polished, can sometimes feel heartlessly designed for a quick profit. But just as independent filmmakers passionate for their craft try to fill the mainstream entertainment void with unique personal stories, indie game developers are also creating provocative interactive media infused with their own special brand of quirkiness.
In Indie Game: The Movie first-time filmmaking duo Lisanne Pajot and James Swirsky document this new breed of struggling artists who refuse to compromise on their personalized creative visions. The filmmakers smartly intertwine three narrative threads...
In Indie Game: The Movie first-time filmmaking duo Lisanne Pajot and James Swirsky document this new breed of struggling artists who refuse to compromise on their personalized creative visions. The filmmakers smartly intertwine three narrative threads...
- 1/23/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Looking back on 2011, it might seem that the year was dominated by the flurry of big-name titles released in gaming’s traditional blockbuster season; November and December saw the release of Modern Warfare 3, Uncharted 3, Elder Scrolls: Skyrim and Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, while Batman: Arkham City sneaked out earlier in October.
The year also saw its fair share of high-quality, lovingly crafted independent releases: Super Meat Boy was finally released and is currently enjoying additional late-in-the-year exposure after its inclusion in the Christmas Humble Indie Bundle; Eric Chahi’s From Dust went on to sell over half a million copies after its release in the summer; Limbo received a wider multi-platform release and universal critical acclaim; and, of course, Minecraft exceeded anybody’s expectations and became the surprise smash hit of the year.
It’s always impossible to predict which indie games will be a success – or which will even...
The year also saw its fair share of high-quality, lovingly crafted independent releases: Super Meat Boy was finally released and is currently enjoying additional late-in-the-year exposure after its inclusion in the Christmas Humble Indie Bundle; Eric Chahi’s From Dust went on to sell over half a million copies after its release in the summer; Limbo received a wider multi-platform release and universal critical acclaim; and, of course, Minecraft exceeded anybody’s expectations and became the surprise smash hit of the year.
It’s always impossible to predict which indie games will be a success – or which will even...
- 1/5/2012
- by Emma O Sullivan
- Obsessed with Film
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