>Decades of video game graphics, audio, and overall technology

Because most indie developers don't have the multi-billion dollar budgets to make photorealistic graphics, hire an orchestra for the soundtrack and use top of the line custom game engines with all the bells and whistles

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Market-demographic appeal.
Also defined as dosh.

>>386832231
>80% of modern "indie" circle jerks have 16 bit artwork, chip tune OSTs, and CRT filters
cite your sources redditor

>>386832289
There are free and $100 licensed AAA game engines. Look at the Spelunky remake, it has fresh and smooth graphics while retaining the classic sidescroller look.

>>386832378
Look at literally any PAX and you will see plenty of games that fit at least one of those criteria.

>>386832231
Laziness, budget, "retro" style is what's bringing in all the money
what pisses me off the most is that devs can't be bothered to set a low resolution to upscale so they get diagonal pixels

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>>386833185
Forgot image

Modern grafics require more and more dosh and effort with diminishing returns, why even bother

>>386832231
>16 bit artwork, chip tune OSTs, and CRT filters
You don't know what any of these mean fagget

Barrier of entry to making indie games is small, since anybody can make them. Just like you can's expect games with publisher backing to all be of equal quality, indie scene is no different.
Making a 2D sprite-based game is much easier than something more detailed. And 90% of time these people are making games on their spare time, with other things taking majority of their focus.
If somebody was skilled enough in something to match big-budget productions, they wouldn't be indie developer. And if they still are despite being skilled enough to match surpass somebody on AAA team, they have made concious choice to stay as indie.
>>386832456
Spelunky was made by experienced indie team, who even before Aquaria had spent several years making smaller games. It's not really fair comparison.
I do admit that established developers have no excuse not to put more effort into their work, but sometimes the less detailed style is part of the appeal, such as with Kero Blaster.