I kinda get the impression that indie game development is a bit more respected now-a-days? But I may be wrong?
I remember my early experience with indie games was RPG Maker stuff like Yume Nikki, Space Funeral, OFF, IB, Misao, Witch's House, Middens etc.
I think there was definitely a sort of underappreciation towards flash and rpg maker stuff for a while. But I think more people are open to trying indie games, not minding the format/engine. I definitely know more of my friends like to play indie stuff rather than exclusively triple a titles. Whereas several years back that wasn't really the case.
I believe whats even more helpful for indie titles is that more of them are showing up on consoles etc. Like all the ones I mentioned playing in the past were all PC based, so that cut out a broad audience of players.
I pretty much take every game with a grain of salt and give a bit more leeway towards indie devs. People that judge indie games too harshly are kinda out of the depth of the industry? (ie. or may not be the target audience, who knows?) I feel like people gotta look at indie games as sort of passion projects.
Honestly the way I look at it is kinda like the two cakes comic lol
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