Independent developers, as far as I'm concerned, are not defined by the originality of their games. It is only how fun the game is. Who cares if they used an old gameplay or art style? If you have fun playing it, what will it matter?
However, I think that many independent games are not fun. I could point out quite a few, but I'll spare you.
Edit: To elaborate -- if you make a game without having a publisher dictate what you do, you're independent, but it's all worthless if it's not fun. You have to make a fun game, regardless of whether or not it's 100% original. It seems a lot of independent developers get hooked up on this mentality that their games have to be original when they really don't. They have to be fun.
However, I think that many independent games are not fun. I could point out quite a few, but I'll spare you.
Edit: To elaborate -- if you make a game without having a publisher dictate what you do, you're independent, but it's all worthless if it's not fun. You have to make a fun game, regardless of whether or not it's 100% original. It seems a lot of independent developers get hooked up on this mentality that their games have to be original when they really don't. They have to be fun.