#Crowdsource Market

[rohitpalan]

Global Crowdsourced Security Market Set to Grow at 7.9% CAGR, Reaching USD 245.4 Million by 2033

The global crowdsourced security Industry size is anticipated to exceed a valuation of US$ 114.4 million in 2023. It is projected to hit a valuation of US$ 245.4 million by 2033. The market is predicted to thrive at a CAGR of 7.9% from 2023 to 2033.

Compared to engaging specialized in-house security teams or carrying out conventional penetration testing, crowdsourced security is possibly an affordable option. Instead of paying fixed salaries or high consulting costs, organizations may use crowdsourcing platforms to interact with multiple security professionals at once, paying only for the vulnerabilities found or successful tests run.

By showcasing a proactive attitude to security, crowdsourced security efforts may improve an organization’s image. Organizations may build trust with their user base, customers, and stakeholders by encouraging security researchers to properly report vulnerabilities. For instance,

A bug bounty program was started on HackerOne by NordVPN, a personal virtual private network service provider. It is part of a strategy to update VPN companies’ security measures.

The BFSI sector is increasingly adopting crowdsourced security. The BFSI industry is a top target for cyber assaults because of the sensitive and priceless information it manages, including:

Financial data

Personally identifiable information (PII).

Transactional records.

The industry is subject to changing cyber threats including advanced hacking methods, malware, phishing assaults, and insider threats. By utilizing the skills of ethical hackers to find vulnerabilities and upgrade security procedures, crowdsourced security helps the BFSI industry boost its defenses.

North America is likely to dominate the global market. With a sizable number of companies operating across several industries, North America market accounts for a sizeable portion of the global economy. With such a wide range of businesses, from SMEs to huge international firms, crowdsourced security providers have many potentials to serve all types of businesses.

Key Takeaways from the Crowdsourced Security Market:

The global crowdsourced security industry size expanded at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2018 to 2022.

In 2018, the global market size stood at US$ 85.7 million.

The market size stood at US$ 107.6 million in 2022.

In 2022, the web application segment captured 39.2% of the market share.

In 2022, the on-premise deployment segment captured a 58.3% share of the global market.

In 2022, the United States captured a 14.5% share of the global market.

In 2022, China captured a 7.2% share of the global market.

In 2022, Japan captured a 5.1% share of the global market.

In 2022, India garnered a 10.2% share of the global market.

Key Players Working in the Global Market

Applause

Cobalt Labs Inc.

Bugcrowd Inc.

Detectify

HackerOne

Recent Developments Observed by FMI:

Microsoft unveiled new cybersecurity services in May 2022. The three services—which were unveiled under the service umbrella category of “Microsoft Security Experts”—are human-led services designed to deliver “secure, compliant, and productive outcomes” for businesses that use them.

IBM opened its IBM Cybersecurity Hub in India in February 2023. To help businesses in Asia Pacific (APAC) region prepare for and manage the growing threat of cyberattacks on corporations, IBM announced this multi-million dollar investment in its resources.

Crowdsourced Security Market Segmentation

By Type:

Web Application

Mobile Application

Other Types

By Deployment Type:

Cloud-based

On-premise

By Organization Size:

SMEs

Large Enterprises

By Vertical:

Telecom & IT

BFSI

Healthcare

Travel & Hospitality

Retail

Media & Entertainment

Other Verticals

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

Asia Pacific

The Middle East & Africa (MEA)

About Future Market Insights (FMI)

Future Market Insights, Inc. (ESOMAR certified, recipient of the Stevie Award, and a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) offers profound insights into the driving factors that are boosting demand in the market. FMI stands as the leading global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, consulting, and events for the Packaging, Food and Beverage, Consumer Technology, Healthcare, Industrial, and Chemicals markets. With a vast team of over 400 analysts worldwide, FMI provides global, regional, and local expertise on diverse domains and industry trends across more than 110 countries. Join us as we commemorate 10 years of delivering trusted market insights. Reflecting on a decade of achievements, we continue to lead with integrity, innovation, and expertise.

Contact Us:      

Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-347-918-3531 For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com LinkedIn| Twitter| Blogs | YouTube

[vaishnavireportprime]

Crowdsourced Testing Market: Trends, Benefits, and Future Growth Opportunities

The Crowdsourced Testing Market, also known as crowdtesting, is rapidly becoming a preferred method for software quality assurance (QA). Leveraging a distributed group of testers, often from diverse geographic and demographic backgrounds, this approach ensures real-world testing conditions that traditional in-house teams might not replicate.

What is Crowdsourced Testing?

Crowdsourced testing involves outsourcing the QA process to a large pool of testers through an online platform. These testers identify bugs, usability issues, and functional flaws across various devices, operating systems, and networks. Companies opt for this method to ensure their digital products—such as websites, mobile apps, and software—perform well in real-world environments before going live.

Crowdsourced Testing Market Overview

The global crowdsourced testing market is growing at a rapid pace, with projections estimating it to reach USD 2.85 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 9.6% from 2021 to 2026. Key factors driving this growth include the increasing complexity of digital products, the rising need for fast and cost-effective testing solutions, and the rapid adoption of remote work.

Key Market Drivers of Crowdsourced Testing

Growing Demand for Agile and DevOps: As companies increasingly adopt Agile and DevOps methodologies, the need for continuous testing has surged. Crowdsourced testing enables quick feedback loops, aligning well with fast-paced development cycles.

Diverse Testing Environment: One of the biggest advantages of crowdsourced testing is the ability to test across multiple devices, browsers, and regions. This ensures broader coverage than traditional in-house testing, especially for mobile and web-based applications.

Cost Efficiency: Crowdsourced testing eliminates the need to maintain large, in-house testing teams or purchase numerous devices and software for testing. Companies pay only for the services they need, leading to significant cost savings.

Global Access to Talent: By tapping into a global pool of testers, companies can ensure 24/7 testing, with access to a diverse set of skills and real-world user behaviors. This is especially valuable for global products that need testing across multiple regions.

Market Segments of Crowdsourced Testing

By Testing Type:

Functional Testing: Ensures that all features and functionalities work as expected, and that there are no bugs hindering the software's performance.

Usability Testing: Focuses on user experience, identifying how intuitive and user-friendly the product is for real-world users.

Localization Testing: Ensures that digital products are correctly adapted for different languages, cultures, and regulatory requirements.

Security Testing: Aims to find vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the software's security to prevent data breaches or cyber-attacks.

By Platform:

Web Application Testing: Crowdsourced testing is frequently used to ensure that websites and web applications perform flawlessly across different browsers, operating systems, and devices.

Mobile Application Testing: With the ever-growing number of mobile devices, crowdtesting has become vital for ensuring that mobile apps are compatible with a wide range of smartphones and tablets.

Game Testing: This niche market within crowdtesting is particularly useful for video game developers to identify bugs, performance issues, and usability problems across platforms.

By Industry:

E-commerce: Retailers rely on crowdsourced testing to ensure smooth user experiences, secure transactions, and compatibility across devices.

Healthcare: Medical software and applications require extensive testing to meet regulatory standards and ensure patient safety.

Finance: Financial institutions use crowdsourced testing to safeguard against vulnerabilities in apps handling sensitive customer data.

Gaming and Entertainment: This industry benefits from crowdsourced testing to ensure optimal performance and user engagement across diverse devices and regions.

Benefits of Crowdsourced Testing

1. Real-World Testing Scenarios

Crowdsourced testing provides access to real-world testing environments, where testers use their personal devices in everyday settings. This leads to better detection of issues that might not arise in controlled lab conditions.

2. Faster Time-to-Market

With access to a large pool of testers, crowdsourced testing allows for quicker feedback and faster bug resolution. This accelerates the testing process and helps companies meet tight deadlines.

3. Scalability

Companies can scale their testing efforts based on the needs of their project. Whether they need a small group of testers or thousands, crowdsourced testing platforms can accommodate these varying requirements.

4. Improved Test Coverage

Crowdsourced testing offers broader test coverage, as it leverages testers from different geographical locations, networks, and devices, thus covering more real-world scenarios than in-house testing.

Key Challenges in the Crowdsourced Testing Market

Despite its advantages, crowdsourced testing comes with some challenges:

Quality Control: Ensuring consistent quality and reliability in testing results can be difficult with a distributed team of testers.

Confidentiality and Security: Sharing access to pre-release products with external testers requires stringent security measures to protect intellectual property and data.

Managing Communication: Working with large groups of external testers can sometimes lead to miscommunication or a lack of coordination in the testing process.

Future Trends and Opportunities

As companies continue to shift towards digital-first strategies, the demand for crowdsourced testing is expected to grow. Key future trends in this market include:

AI-Powered Testing: Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are expected to enhance crowdsourced testing by improving bug detection and automating repetitive testing tasks.

Increased Use of Remote Collaboration Tools: With remote work becoming the norm, crowdsourced testing platforms are integrating advanced collaboration tools to streamline communication between testers and developers.

Expansion in Emerging Markets: As the adoption of digital technologies grows in emerging markets, so does the demand for localized testing, creating opportunities for crowdtesting services.

Conclusion

The crowdsourced testing market is on a strong growth trajectory, driven by the increasing complexity of digital products, the rise of Agile and DevOps methodologies, and the global need for cost-effective, scalable testing solutions. As businesses strive to deliver flawless user experiences in a competitive digital landscape, crowdsourced testing will continue to play a pivotal role in ensuring software quality and performance.

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[sophtera]

Discover the Magic: Invest Smartly, Maximize Gains with Sophtera's Expertise

[marketxcel]

In-Store Retail Audit: Boosting Brand Success

Discover how an in-store retail audit empowers brands to enhance performance, optimize customer experiences, and achieve lasting success.

[neetihtfmi]

Crowdsourced Testing Market Definition & Trend, Driver, Opportunity bullet point & Current, Forecast market size

The crowdsourced testing market refers to a type of software testing in which a large community of testers, often from diverse backgrounds and locations, is leveraged to test software applications. Crowdsourced testing is typically facilitated through online platforms or companies that connect organizations in need of testing with a pool of testers.

In this model, companies or developers submit their software applications to the crowdsourcing platform, specifying the types of tests they want to be conducted and any specific requirements. The platform then distributes the testing tasks to the community of testers, who perform the tests and provide feedback, bug reports, and other relevant information.https://www.htfmarketintelligence.com/report/global-crowdsourced-testing-market

[aos-presents]

ICYMI: Initially released in 2016 Mastodon.social is a platform that allows users to join or create independent communities. It's claim to fame is that it has an underground above ground feel,, in the sense that it's free from ads and algorithms. Its main objective is to offer more robust privacy settings. Users can choose for their posts to only be visible to followers or only be visible to mentioned followers. Its popularity is gained from being an alternative to Twitter. It's main focus is on user privacy and less on corporate interface.

[night-market-if]

A fifth of the way there in one night!!!!! Thank you, you guys! Let's keep this going! And remember, chapter twelve is up for early release on both Patreon and Ko-fi!

The Night Market Kickstarter

We have a lot of crazy things coming up for the Night Market. Here is my kickstarter. In it I label what I will add to the game based on how much we can crowdsource. The first tier is a preorder to the game itself so if you know you are going to buy, this would go a long way into getting some new content in the final product. (Due out beginning of summer)

🪷✨🪷✨ If you want to support me 🪷 ✨🪷✨

 Demo 🌿 Patreon 🌿 Ko-fi 🌿Discord🌿Kickstarter

[cyberclouddream]

What You Tend to Use Social Media For

Things we tend to seek and/or share on social media. Recommend looking for Mercury first. Also, whichever sign rules over your 11th House, look for whichever house that sign naturally rules over, e.g. Cancer/4H, Sagittarius/9H, Libra/7H, Aquarius/11H.

Gemini/Mercury in the 1st House

- to show off your personality traits and quirks, what makes you interesting

- fashion updates, like outfit and style experiments

- sharing mundane daily activities

- to create a particular public image

- instant reactions to events or trending topics

- to use your humor or wit to attract followers or engagement

- creating FOMO, lmao

- to experiment with social media trends

- to post controversial topics/challenge norms

- to seek likes and comments for self-esteem boosts

Gemini/Mercury in the 2nd House

- personal finance hacks or budgeting advice

- to post luxury items or flaunt purchases

- personal value discussion, like what’s truly important to them

- for marketing research, like judging product reviews

- promoting side hustles, businesses, or services

- to hunt for discounts or offers online

- gift ideas

- investment ideas, like stocks or crypto

Gemini/Mercury in the 3rd House

- to post about happenings in the neighborhood or community

- to engage in debates

- share updates or funny stories about family members

- post poetry, short stories, or personal anecdotes

- advertise local events or gatherings

- share educational resources or articles

- to vent about everyday frustrations

- microblogging

- posting thought-provoking questions

Gemini/Mercury in the 4th House

- family updates, like gatherings or milestones

- home projects or renovations

- childhood memories, like sharing old photos and stories

- showcase local businesses or attractions, supporting community

- personal growth experiences

- family or cultural traditions

- pet updates

- to rally support for family members

- to discuss family troubles openly

Gemini/Mercury in the 5th House

- post artwork, crafts, or performances

- date night ideas, like romantic spots

- parenting chronicles, lol

- viral social media challenges

- highlight hobbies or interests

- celebrate achievements

- flirtation, online dating

- promote fun activities

- encouraging others to participate in events or projects

Gemini/Mercury in the 6th House

- how to manage stress or workload

- health hacks and wellness tips

- productivity routines

- job milestones

- fitness challenges

- volunteer opportunities

- health struggles

- day-in-the-life posts

- job market trends

Gemini/Mercury in the 7th House

- relationship status updates, like breakups or dating life

- collaborative projects

- group discussions, like conversations about issues or shared interests

- relationship advice

- event planning, like gatherings or parties

- gossiping about friends

- insights about balancing relationships and independence

- to rally support for friends in tough personal times

- asking followers for advice on relationships decisions

Gemini/Mercury in the 8th House

- sharing intimate thoughts, like fears or deep feelings

- discuss finances, like tips on managing shared resources or investments

- to explore vulnerability with intimacy and trust

- personal growth stories

- to talk about change, like life transitions and transformations

- crowdsourcing solutions

- to engage in deep conversations on profound topics

- to discuss loss, grief, and/or coping mechanisms

- to seek closure

Gemini/Mercury in the 9th House

- travel stories

- cultural insights

- education advocacy, like promoting courses or learning resources

- debating beliefs, like philosophical or political

- inspirational quotes

- global issues

- book recommendations

- sharing experiences through videos or photos

- connecting with others from diverse backgrounds

- encouraging exploration, to inspire others to step outside of comfort zones

Gemini/Mercury in the 10th House

- sharing career milestones

- networking posts, like opportunities and connections through peers

- personal branding, promoting your craft or projects

- seek career advice or industry insights

- discuss ambitions, sharing dreams and goals

- showcase participation in community

- sharing learning experiences

- work/life reflections

- to shift public perceptions, especially after setbacks

- host Q&A sessions

- mentorship opportunities or anything related to guidance/support culture

Gemini/Mercury in the 11th House

- to grow your social circle

- to join causes or charity work

- posting about community events or group outings

- share friend’s achievements and milestones

- discuss future goals, like collective ambitions and aspu

- connect with like-minded people

- to debate societal changes or movements

- to organize or participate in virtual hangouts [ like Discord, virtual worlds ]

Gemini/Mercury in the 12th House

- share personal struggles, like mental health issues or personal battles

- reflect on dreams and fantasies

- document experiences of solitude or self-discovery

- spiritual conversations, like spiritual beliefs or mystical experiences

- posting anonymously about sensitive tooics

- using creative outlets like poetry or art to convey deeper feelings

- discuss unconventional ideas

- seek support through online communities

- content related to the mysterious, like astrology or the occult

- post about reflections or meditation

[reasonsforhope]

"Is social media designed to reward people for acting badly?

The answer is clearly yes, given that the reward structure on social media platforms relies on popularity, as indicated by the number of responses – likes and comments – a post receives from other users. Black-box algorithms then further amplify the spread of posts that have attracted attention.

Sharing widely read content, by itself, isn’t a problem. But it becomes a problem when attention-getting, controversial content is prioritized by design. Given the design of social media sites, users form habits to automatically share the most engaging information regardless of its accuracy and potential harm. Offensive statements, attacks on out groups and false news are amplified, and misinformation often spreads further and faster than the truth.

We are two social psychologists and a marketing scholar. Our research, presented at the 2023 Nobel Prize Summit, shows that social media actually has the ability to create user habits to share high-quality content. After a few tweaks to the reward structure of social media platforms, users begin to share information that is accurate and fact-based...

Re-targeting rewards

To investigate the effect of a new reward structure, we gave financial rewards to some users for sharing accurate content and not sharing misinformation. These financial rewards simulated the positive social feedback, such as likes, that users typically receive when they share content on platforms. In essence, we created a new reward structure based on accuracy instead of attention.

As on popular social media platforms, participants in our research learned what got rewarded by sharing information and observing the outcome, without being explicitly informed of the rewards beforehand. This means that the intervention did not change the users’ goals, just their online experiences. After the change in reward structure, participants shared significantly more content that was accurate. More remarkably, users continued to share accurate content even after we removed rewards for accuracy in a subsequent round of testing. These results show that users can be given incentives to share accurate information as a matter of habit.

A different group of users received rewards for sharing misinformation and for not sharing accurate content. Surprisingly, their sharing most resembled that of users who shared news as they normally would, without any financial reward. The striking similarity between these groups reveals that social media platforms encourage users to share attention-getting content that engages others at the expense of accuracy and safety...

Doing right and doing well

Our approach, using the existing rewards on social media to create incentives for accuracy, tackles misinformation spread without significantly disrupting the sites’ business model. This has the additional advantage of altering rewards instead of introducing content restrictions, which are often controversial and costly in financial and human terms.

Implementing our proposed reward system for news sharing carries minimal costs and can be easily integrated into existing platforms. The key idea is to provide users with rewards in the form of social recognition when they share accurate news content. This can be achieved by introducing response buttons to indicate trust and accuracy. By incorporating social recognition for accurate content, algorithms that amplify popular content can leverage crowdsourcing to identify and amplify truthful information.

Both sides of the political aisle now agree that social media has challenges, and our data pinpoints the root of the problem: the design of social media platforms."

And here's the video of one of the scientsts presenting this research at the Nobel Prize Summit!

-Article via The Conversation, August 1, 2023. Video via the Nobel Prize's official Youtube channel, Nobel Prize, posted May 31, 2023.

[rohitpalan]

Forecast Unveiled: Crowdsourced Testing Market's US$ 7.09 Billion Ambition by 2033

According to a recent market analysis report by Future Market Insights, the crowdsourced testing market is experiencing rapid growth, with global sales estimated to reach US$ 2.90 billion in 2023. Projections indicate a strong CAGR of 9.3% from 2023 to 2033, suggesting that the market is poised to achieve a remarkable valuation of US$ 7.09 billion by 2033. This surge in demand highlights the increasing adoption of crowdsourced testing as an effective and efficient method for software testing across various industries.

Crowdsourced testing is pivotal in software and applications testing, utilizing an external group of testers from diverse demographics and backgrounds. This approach harnesses the crowd’s intelligence to identify bugs, streamline interactive software manufacturing, and enhance software products.

Request a Sample of this Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-15615

One of the significant advantages of crowdsourced testing is its scalability, benefiting both enterprises and testers. Enterprises can rely on the valuable feedback provided by external testers. This allows them to evaluate their software’s performance across various devices, operating systems, and user scenarios. Additionally, testers can participate in testing projects for multiple companies, offering flexibility and earning potential.

The rapid digital transformation has led to a surge in technological adoption worldwide. This leads to an increase in the usage of digital products and software. Consequently, it has become imperative for businesses to adopt effective approaches to test their applications strategically. This ensures an enhanced consumer experience and guards against potential threats from bugs and glitches. In response to this growing need, businesses have significantly increased their investments in end-user testing solutions, particularly in crowdsourced testing. This upswing in demand has created a thriving market for crowdsourced testing services.

In the crowdsourced testing market context, there are legitimate concerns surrounding privacy breaches and the sharing of sensitive information with external testers, especially when dealing with proprietary software. These apprehensions could potentially hinder the growth prospects of crowdsourced testing services. Additionally, a challenge faced by the industry is the scarcity of highly skilled testers in specific domains. This may lead to oversights during the testing process, potentially impacting the thorough evaluation of crucial functionalities.

Key Takeaways

The report by FMI suggests that the Asia Pacific region is poised to become a significant growth area in the forecast period. According to the report, India is expected to experience substantial growth with a CAGR of 12.3% through 2033, while China is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.3%. These growth rates indicate promising opportunities for businesses and investors in the region.

North America is expected to retain a prominent position in the crowdsourced testing market, primarily due to government support provided to major regional players. Additionally, continuous technological advancements are further bolstering the market growth in this region. As of 2022, the United States held a substantial global market share of 18.4%, underscoring its significance in the industry’s landscape.

After North America, Europe holds a significant portion of global market shares and is expected to experience rapid growth in the forecast period. In 2022, Germany accounted for a global market value of 7.0%, indicating its notable presence in the industry. The crowdsourced testing market in Europe is thriving, driven by the presence of established players and the continuous expansion of the IT sector, which further enhances its potential for growth and innovation.

Request for Methodology: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/request-report-methodology/rep-gb-15615

Competitive Landscape

Intense competition in the crowdsourced testing market has compelled key companies to focus on reducing manufacturing and production costs, aiming to gain a competitive edge over their rivals. Numerous companies are resorting to strategic approaches like mergers and acquisitions to broaden their consumer base and expand their businesses. The market landscape is a dynamic mix of established players currently dominating the market and several startups and emerging players making their mark. Companies are offering specialized testing services and enhancing their testing platforms to expand their global testing community.

Recent Market Developments 

June 2023: Infosys, a world leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, entered a partnership with Skillsoft, a leading provider of transformative learning experiences, aiming to revamp education and learning for middle school students in India. Infosys Springboard intends to give students access to Skillsoft learning content designed to build technology and business.

June 2023: Cigniti Technologies, a global leader in AI and IP-led Digital Assurance and Digital Services, collaborated with Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Technology (MGIT), an educational institute based out of Hyderabad, with an aim to launch an innovative training program to bridge the gap between academia and industry and empower future IT Professionals.

Key Segments Covered in Crowdsourced Testing Industry Survey

Crowdsourced Testing Market by Testing Type:

Performance Testing

Functionality Testing

Usability Testing

Localization Testing

Security Testing

Others

Crowdsourced Testing Market by Platform:

Website Testing

Mobile Testing

Others

Crowdsourced Testing Market by Organization Size:

Large Enterprises

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Crowdsourced Testing Market by Vertical:

Retail

BFSI

IT and Telecom

Healthcare and Life Sciences

Media and Entertainment

Others

Crowdsourced Testing Market by Region:

North America Crowdsourced Testing Market

Latin America Crowdsourced Testing Market

Europe Crowdsourced Testing Market

South Asia Crowdsourced Testing Market

East Asia Crowdsourced Testing Market

Oceania Crowdsourced Testing Market

Middle East & Africa Crowdsourced Testing Market

[marklikely]

oh ok. turns out the original zepotha video was made by a musician who was just trying to make a meme with their song as the background for free promo and thats why its an extremely random and googleable word that easily shows how fake the movie is. and why there was zero effort to make this a real fake movie. disappointed.

ok u know that fake 80s horror movie meme that people did on tiktok well aside from the blatant goncharov plagiarism i feel like the idea isnt inherently bad but trying to convince people the movie is real while giving it an obscure and therefore easily googleable name like zapotha is unwise. like goncharov was always openly fake but the video said they want to convince people zepotha is real. too easy to fact check imo.

[sophtera]

Sophtera's Crowdsourcing Mastery: Master the art of real estate investment through Sophtera's crowdsourcing expertise. Transform possibilities into lucrative investments with our innovative platform.

[centrally-unplanned]

I watched two documentaries recently that were very "2000's nerd culture" which I thought were very fun! In like a meta way as cultural commentary, of course, it is me after all. The first was Indie Game: The Movie, a 2012 documentary on the making Braid, Super Meat Boy, and Fez. It is a "creator-focused" documentary and in particular for the latter two games the film crew actually filmed them mid-production & release, which does make for some authentically heartfelt scenes.

So in a certain sense all eras of documentary will contain this, but the 2000's going into the 2010's was absolutely rife with a new wave of films, often supported by crowdsourcing funds like Indie Game was, primarily concerned with the self-legitimization of niche subcultures. By creating something cohesive, academic, and prestigious like a documentary, the film can codify the subculture as "real" and "worthy", and additionally lend credence to narratives about the subculture that have grown prevalent. And to be clear, this is not a criticism, even if there are parts that are - all meaning and identity is forged in similar ways. But for nerd culture in the 2000's, there was a particularly intense need for this process, because this was the era of nerdom going mainstream. That level of culture shift generated demand for all the above, which films like this aim to supply. There were lot of films of this type - we made a brony "documentary" propaganda film guys, nothing was exempt.

Indie Game is overwhelmingly the story of outsider artists bleeding and dying for their art, which will triumph above all odds. And it leans, heavily, into the bleed; at one point Phil Fish (creator of Fez), openly states he might commit suicide if his game fails. Much screen time is spent on personal sacrifice, financial poverty, the "doubters", etc. This is of course a classic tale for artists, but if I may be so bold that is something of an easy sell - emotionally, narratively - for someone writing the Great American Novel. It is maybe harder to sell if you are making this?

(Cover art by Bryan Lee O'Malley btw - very era appropriate!) How do we make "dude in hat solves puzzles" worth the Starving Artist life?

We do that by positioning these games not as games, but as paradigms. These games, by dint of being the independent vision of unitary creators, are making games that Big Gaming never could. New digital means of distribution are allowing artists to cut out the middleman of publishers, groups that corrupt the real vision of creators. And with no barriers to development, now anyone (maybe...even you?) can make games that can compete in the big leagues. Indie games through this lens are a different product than mainstream titles, and these creators are opening doors. And their suffering is going to be financially rewarded with success and money to boot! That is the narrative Indie Game is selling to its audience of gamers, to understand why the indie games they bought and loved are meaningful.

And to be clear, as much as I am about to deconstruct this, it isn't like totally false or anything. Starting in the late 2000's digital platforms like Steam, more accessible development tools like Unity (released in 2005), and so on did in fact make smaller games appealing to more niche markets more viable, and by virtue of their nicheness yeah they can do things big budget games maybe can't. These creators absolutely had passionate visions for their games, sacrifice for your passions is fine (not bashing that part here), hats off to them. Indie games in this era would absolutely "change gaming".

But not really in the ways this narrative wants them to, nor with the "meaning" people of the time expected it to have. For one, there is a conflict in this documentary of them wanting to highlight "bold new visions" and also wanting to highlight...popular indie games. This is Super Meat Boy, for example:

Yeah, never had a 2D platformer blob guy dodging traps before in gaming! "No see its retro" yeah retro to what, old games? Like those Nintendo made back in the 90's, which you explicitly mention in your documentary? You know, niche indie studio Nintendo? This isn't a bash, at all, at the game itself, but instead the idea that "AAA Studios would never"; they totally would, and always did. There has never been an era where the large gaming studios weren't also making creative games, but for this narrative they need to be propped up as static for it to make sense. And the actual niche indie stuff that big studios wouldn't touch don't sell well enough to justify being in this film!

And the idea of the "solo developer" is also, hm, let us say a bit sus. Not that these developers weren't solo or small teams, they were (though ofc a solo core creator will often have dozens of helpers on supporting roles that get sidelined in this "unitary vision" narrative); but that such a model is all that new? How big do you think development teams were in the 90's for so many classic games? The original Pokemon Red/Blue game had less than a dozen core developers (the total staff list, including American localizers, is ~30 people - Super Meat Boy meanwhile seems to have 16 for comparison). You wanna bring up the dev teams for PC-98 visual novels? They were made in an Akihabara cave with a box of pixel art scraps by like 6 people! You think those games didn't have "unitary creative visions"? Small gaming companies have always been a part of the ecosystem, getting niche titles funded & published using insane magic and pure luck. The "indie boom" is better seen as a change in the numerator.

Though what did change is that, by being self-published, development was approachable by outsiders in new ways. Though even then, this is a bit of a lie - Jonathan Blow of Braid was an industry veteran, and everyone here plays the "convention circuit" and networks with people like the PAX crew and Xbox representatives. But with the games being published by an individual over a studio, even a studio of a half dozen people, it is far easier for the audience to see the creators as "one of them". No office, no suits, just a man in his gamer den banging out his dream. That aesthetic is core to why this narrative was potent at the time, and why making a documentary to codify it was seen as compelling. It takes an already ascendant idea, polishes it, packages it as nonfiction, and then sells the idea back to the people who invented it. LIke so much media, to be clear! I always enjoy seeing it, it is the dialectic of culture in action.

I also find it very funny to see a documentary made in 2012 playing tropes that will become far more ~problematic~ just around the corner. Burnout and work-life balance - in a documentary where a developer, crying, discusses suicide if his game fails, to remind you - is pretty much never mentioned, and a successful game launch is absolutely presented as justifying endless crunch. You would never see that today. The only women in this documentary are wives and parents - which is very amusing, because the co-creator of the film is a woman! No one thinks gender is relevant to mention. Boy would that change in a few years.

Indie games today, of course, are just a segment of the gaming market. They are incredibly common now, so much so that most people lose money making them, people discuss oversaturation, big studio companies have "indie wings" to cover consumer preference ranges, etc. There is no magic in it anymore, it is just dev strategy. So yeah, very enjoyable as a representative time capsule in a strain of culture that is pretty much gone now! The Capital-R Romantic Era of indie gaming; what a time.

In the next post, we are going much more niche, so stay tuned for that. Or don't, I don't know you, and like this was a loooot of writing. Maybe i'll, idk work on that for the next one? ...I probably won't -_-