Elite: Dangerous a 'Triple-A' or 'Indie' title?

[Rog]

As per the title!

I'd previously assumed that E: D was classed as a 'Triple-A' title, but a recent article had it listed as an 'Indie' release.

Not that it really matters (or does it?), as the title is shaping up pretty well from what I can see with my nose pressed up to the glass looking at Alpha.

Does the designation mean anything from a marketing or reviewing point of view or in any way?

 

[SAB380]

I definitely wouldn't call it an Indie title ....it is being developed by an established publisher.

Those titles get very hazy though as 'indie' is supposed to be mean independent but generally means low budget labour of love....... I mean technically the Star Wars prequel trilogy were all indie movies

 

[Crayfish]

It's technically an indie title because it's not being released through a publisher, the developer is acting independently. Because of this, indie titles tend to be higher risk and more innovative which is also the case with Elite: Dangerous.

I've written a blog post on this topic and my conclusion is that the essence of an indie game is that it is being developed because the developer really wants to make it. The alternative being that the developer is writing the game purely because they are being paid to. Elite: Dangerous fits this definition as well.

 

[danjo]

triple A is just a label used to determine quality/budget etc.
its certainly tripleA standard; but doesnt have the budget of most "tripleA" titles,

at the end of the day - it doesnt matter!

but its not indie. frontier developments are NOT indie developers.