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[MMaRsu]

Yet.. the game isnt an indie game at all.

Nexon is literally the biggest one of the biggest south korean publishers, if not the biggest.

How on earth did this even happen?

 

[Krappadizzle]

One of the few indie games I wish I had the extra dosh for. It unfortunately released right in the middle of some games I had been really looking forward to. Game looks great though, and it's one I'll pick up in the future. Glad it's received so well.

 

[poodaddy]

One of the few indie games I wish I had the extra dosh for. It unfortunately released right in the middle of some games I had been really looking forward to. Game looks great though, and it's one I'll pick up in the future.

It's not an indie game, thus the thread.

 

[kanjobazooie]

Ori got nominated for independent award too.

Edit: I know Moon Studios is independent, but Ori is funded and owned by MS.

 

[Krappadizzle]

It's not an indie game, thus the thread.

Hmm. Could have fooled me. Was it essentially an Indie-dev made game and then gobbled and published at the end? That's how I would interpret the general consensus.

 

[Kadve]

Like music sadly "Indie" has become a genre nowadays. Nothing more.

Hmm. Could have fooled me. Was it essentially an Indie-dev made game and then gobbled and published at the end? That's how I would interpret the general consensus.

Nope

In May 2022, Nexon announced the launch of Mintrocket, a sub-brand and division of Nexon that specializes on games "focusing on the essence of fun".[34] Its first game, Dave the Diver, was a commercial hit, selling one million copies within ten days of launc

 

[poodaddy]

It's developed by a subsidiary of the largest publisher in South Korea. As to when they became a subsidiary or always were, I'm not aware.

 

[MMaRsu]

Hmm. Could have fooled me. Was it essentially an Indie-dev made game and then gobbled and published at the end? That's how I would interpret the general consensus.

No

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Didn't Journey a Sony published game win Indie Game of the Year at the old VGA?

It's the same thing here.

 

[poodaddy]

Just researched it, and no, they were never an indie developer. They are a specific separate arm of Nexon. Not indie in any capacity whatsoever.

 

[StereoVsn]

yeah, this is a dev studio of Nexon, they weren’t an indie that were published by them and then acquired.

IMO, that should disqualify them. What’s next, SE’s Octopath II team also qualifies?

 

[Deerock71]

I'VE BEEN HAD!!!

 

[Burger]

Maybe it's 'games that feel like they are Indies like have pixels and chiptunes and stuff'

 

[midnightAI]

Didn't Journey a Sony published game win Indie Game of the Year at the old VGA?

It's the same thing here.

Nah, ThatGameCompany wasn't owned by Sony

 

[AJUMP23]

I need to check this game out

 

[kruis]

Ori got nominated for independent award too.

The Ori games were published by Microsoft, but the developers (Moon Studios) are not part of MS Game Studios, they're actual indie developers.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Nah, ThatGameCompany wasn't owned by Sony

Huh, guess you're right. I thought they were owned by Sony for a brief period of time, but it seems they just received funding from them and some extra help through Sony xdev.

 

[kanjobazooie]

The Ori games were published by Microsoft, but the developers (Moon Studios) are not part of MS Game Studios, they're actual indie developers.

Yeah, but Ori was funded and owned by MS. The game itself isn’t independent.

 

[nial]

It's always like that. Crazy how these media outlets get confused in shit like this, Dave the Diver winning over an actual indie game would be a disgrace.

 

[kruis]

Yeah, but Ori was funded and owned by MS. The game itself isn’t an independent project.

Funding doesn't matter. There have been god knows how many indie games published that were partially or completely funded by larger publishers. Doesn't make a studio less indie.

 

[kanjobazooie]

Funding doesn't matter. There have been god knows how many indie games published that were partially or completely funded by larger publishers. Doesn't make a studio less indie.

I suppose you’re technically right.

But I personally feel it’s not fair to nominate a game funded by a leading publisher alongside ones that didn’t receive that kind of monetary support. (talking about indy awards specifically)

 

[Mowcno]

The developers themselves saying they are not an indie studio. A studio created by a massive publisher.

Geoff what are you doing.

 

[nial]

Funding doesn't matter. There have been god knows how many indie games published that were partially or completely funded by larger publishers. Doesn't make a studio less indie.

Microsoft literally owns the IP.

 

[justiceiro]

Did the game cost less than $40? If so, I see no problem. I do have a problem with "indie" games that cost $60 dollars, though.

Be cheap for me and I will be lenient with you.

 

[SmokedMeat]

If your game’s published by a big publisher, you’re not an “indie”.

 

[MMaRsu]

I mean to me it just looks sus as fuck and makes me think Nexon shoveled some coins Geoff's way

 

[nial]

If your game’s published by a big publisher, you’re not an “indie”.

edit: sorry, nothing

 

[nial]

Like music sadly "Indie" has become a genre nowadays.

Holy shit this, I hate it.

 

[skit_data]

Seems pretty crazy Lies of P wasn't nominated in this category but this was.

They really need to set up some kind of rules around this if this is the outcome.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Half joking, but its spot as nominee for indie game of the year should be taken by BG3. And thinking about it a little more it's kinda disheartening seeing Chained Echoes, Pizza Tower and Bomb Rush getting snubbed due to gaming media not doing their research properly.

 

[Mobilemofo]

Insert mild shock.gif here. (Patrick Stewart)

 

[mdkirby]

and dredge is published by team17. I loved dredge tho, so it'd get my vote. Very memorable and enjoyable.

 

[mdkirby]

Really, it should be just renamed to 'Bite Sized Games' award, or something similar, because that's really what they mean these days.

 

[Roberts]

Cocoon will anyway or maybe SoS but I really like Dredge, too. Sorry, I don’t really have much to say on the subject.

 

[MiguelItUp]

Yeah, I haven't touched the game yet, but it always annoyed me when I saw people toting about how it was an indie and the devs deserve everyone's attention and money when the devs are Nexon, lmao.

 

[Three]

Funding doesn't matter. There have been god knows how many indie games published that were partially or completely funded by larger publishers. Doesn't make a studio less indie.

"Independent" refers to them releasing a game being independent from a publisher. If they have a publisher funding the game they are "dependent" on the publisher.

 

[Poplin]

for some reason retro has now been renamed "indie" which is kind of absurd. A lot of exampels like ori and dredge are independent games published by a major publisher. Dave the Diver is developed by a major publisher. its in no way independent. absolutely ridiculous.

 

[rofif]

Seems pretty crazy Lies of P wasn't nominated in this category but this was.

They really need to set up some kind of rules around this if this is the outcome.

Need pixels

 

[Rhazkul]

"Indie" = 2D, roguelite elements, "wholesome", retro graphics, artsy fartsy, pseudo-intellectual, weird

It's basically a genre now and doesn't really mean it's developed by indie studios. One example: there's that EA game "Lost in Random" that gives huges indie vibes, but it's published by EA...so...

 

[SlimeGooGoo]

If you identify as an indie game, it's enough

My game my rules

Are you assuming my game's genre?

 

[SlimeGooGoo]

Half joking, but its spot as nominee for indie game of the year should be taken by BG3. And thinking about it a little more it's kinda disheartening seeing Chained Echoes, Pizza Tower and Bomb Rush getting snubbed due to gaming media not doing their research properly.

That hot blonde is a man, btw

You're welcome

 

[Sakura]

Indie just means like low budget game or something these days. Its usage has been entirely diluted.

 

[BouncyFrag]

It’s graphics are indie af.

 

[SpiceRacz]

As long as Sea of Stars doesn't win, who gives a shit.

 

[Pegasus Actual]

If the game director doesn't have pink/purple hair and isn't in a throuple with at least one Kotaku writer, then it ain't indie.

 

[Robb]

Yeah that’s very unfair to the other nominees and a very strange mistake. Should be disqualified.

 

[Party McHardy]

Developer situation aside, I played the demo for 10 mins today and couldn’t understand the hype.

 

[M.W.]

Garbage game. Fuck Dave.

 

[SlimeGooGoo]

As long as Sea of Stars doesn't win, who gives a shit.

 

[Spukc]

Go play dave the diver