MovieChat Forums > Indie Game: The Movie (2012) Discussion > More embarassing than interesting

More embarassing than interesting

posted 11 years ago by alex13-358-826161
9 replies | jump to latest

Not exactly an interesting documentary with depth but rather a commercial presentation with teen angst stereotypes and endless self-pity dialogues. I guess it works for the young audience in some way (david v goliath) but it fails to establish any positive connection with the featured game-developers since most of them come across pretty arrogant and at times just ridiculously embarrassing ... is it just me, or do others also just shake her heads thinking "Ok, then go ahead and kill yourself already" .. after hearing for the 5th time about how their lives will end , how everything is sooo bad and "depressing" (they like to use that word alot) and how planet earth will stop to exist when they just dont make their "deadlines" ....

Its more like, you cant help thinking that these guys are lucky to develop videogames, else they would most likely serve burger and fries with that kind of attitude.

Anyway, the featured games are pretty good, no doubt, and there is definatly some good talent involved .. but the overall mental state of some of them is something really not to admire ...

One of them is asked what he would do if he doesnt finish his videogame .. to which he replies that he would kill himself ... yes, some call it passion, but for other half of the planet, thats just plain stupidity.

[–] Angelater 11 years ago

I'm happy someone made this post, because the subtle arrogance and the threats of ending their lives kinda killed it for me. I couldn't really connect with the 'Meat Boy' team because of that.

I won't reply about the quality of the games, because I'm mostly not interested in Indie Games (yes, why did I even watch it?), but I was attracted to see how these games were made. Wasn't expecting these fella's to be so 'psychological' damaged.

"Some motherfvckers are always tryin' to ice-skate uphill."

[–] KingJohnTX 11 years ago

The majority of people who make art or media are "psychologically damaged" tbh. Most painters, poets, authors, directors, musicians, etc..... draw inspiration from their troubles like the guys in this movie did.

"And it made me wonder, would I do the same? What would I sacrifice to be loved? Not my balls."

[–] Chilosopher 11 years ago

One of the major themes of the film was the vulnerability that comes with creating a truly personal expression (as shown by using Blow's monologue as bookends). Most people work conventional 9 to 5 jobs and never have to deal with the pressures of creating something independently. I can't even imagine the stress of placing your entire personal and professional success on a project that you've worked year/s on, with no safety net and no higher-ups managing you.

Seeing the developers break down and express their depression made them much more relatable to me. They weren't titans of industry or super-confident salesmen like Steve Jobs. They were regular guys who decided to follow their passions. Even Phil Fish, the most "arrogant" of the bunch, was sympathetic to me because I could tell that he really believed in what he was doing, and his controversial statements were just a reflection of his frustrations with the logistical problems that come with undertaking such an ambitious project.

[–] BrainGremlin 11 years ago

"is it just me, or do others also just shake her heads thinking 'Ok, then go ahead and kill yourself already'"

Hell no. What is wrong with you?

---
Sad story. You got a smoke?

[–] hmvatnan 11 years ago

That's how documentaries work.
They were filmed right before their games released. They obviously seemed to spend a let more time and energy in these projects than anything else they've ever done (and also more time/energy than the most people spend on anything). There is no wonder why they seemed a bit down. Especially since the Fez developer had spent 4 years in almost complete isolation to try and make the project finally done.

I really can't blame these guys for being a bit awkward in the movie. As far as they see it, this is the most important point in their lives this far. Most people people don't come close to feeling that way

[–] inuimari 10 years ago

I'm surprised how there are people who lack compassion and imagination that lets them think what it would be like in other people's shoes. These guys dedicated years of their lives into something that may or may not pan out. Of course they would be stressed.

[–] DanielMann861 10 years ago

I have compassion. I understand that expressing ones self can be artistically frustrating. But still, with all of that said, some of these guys came across as true *beep* elitist hipster douchebags. In the purest sense.

It's been a while since I've seen it but I do remember one of the Meat Boy guys laying the verbal beat down on those who like AAA shooters with a sense of smug superiority. That pissed me off. That truly pissed me off. That's the purest sign of an elitist douchebag dick.

As for Phil Fish, I can totally see why his former buisness partner left the venture. Phil Fish is completely and utterly mentally unstable. Either that or he is just a *beep* overbearing dick who needs to pull his head out of his ass.

These people annoyed me. Truly annoyed me in every way. They are quite frankly arrogant douchebag dicks.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] RedBeard628 9 years ago

It's been a while since I've seen it but I do remember one of the Meat Boy guys laying the verbal beat down on those who like AAA shooters with a sense of smug superiority. That pissed me off. That truly pissed me off. That's the purest sign of an elitist douchebag dick.

Yes, that guy almost irritated me more than Phil Fish because of that. It's been awhile since I've seen this as well, but I remember him saying something along the lines of "Those people play $hitty games. They won't like my games, because I don't make $hitty games." What an arrogant ass.