Indie or commerical?

It really depends on each persons situation. If you want to make a career out of game development (art, code, ect.), being a part of a AAA title would likely be preferable. In my case, however, I would never make as much money in game development as I do in government contracting jobs (unless I made the next Angry Birds or w/e). So for me, developing my own game would be more desirable because its just a hobby. I can set my own time/deadlines/goals/etc.

Id have to agree with you on being able to Set your own time and deadlines pretty much being your own boss.
I do not think I will make the next angry birds/minecraft, because my game might not be fun to everyone. I'm trying to cater to a specific group that like Strategy/platforming games.

And I don't think I could find that in a AAA company.

13% + 88% = 101% ..... lol. Some funky rounding going on here.

I would prefer being (and am already) a large role in an indie company working on a AA game, not AAA (implies publisher and lots of $$).

Sure being part of AAA may be useful as alternative means of making money.
However I rather establish my own independent company and develop my own indie games. I just don't understand why some companies look for a publisher that is more likely to reap you of your profits and compromise some of your rights. Why not be your own publisher? EA Games, Blizzard, and 3DO are good examples of self-publishers. Probably even Minecraft.

I'd never develop games for money; mostly because I always would feel like I need to adapt to my audience (which I might not need to, but I'd feel like it). If I develop just for myself, I can do all the quirky things I like!

Indie has a much more relaxed and comfortable attitude towards development. I'll stick with indie. AAA doesn't interest me at all, any more.

I suppose it depends. Looking at it from a composer's POV if I was doing the work for a AAA game I would have a large budget and gain and easier time getting new AAA work. However, I've vastly enjoyed working with indie developers and love being more involved over the course of development.

Chris

I'd much rather look at a game and say, "Hey, I made that myself" than look at a game and say, "Hey, I helped with that".

Whatever lets me eat my ramen.

If "big part" implies my game idea being made by a team of people I'd say yes. But if it means I'm helping making the game someone else came up with no thanks.

i do both and enjoy it all :)

The feeling of accomplishing a feat such as creating your own indie game is well worth it.

The current game industry is so worried about making that money, innovation many of times go right out the window. When developers center a game around what will make the most money there are less creative risks taken. This is why we see so many sequels from AAA gaming studios. This is why we have a bagillion Call of Dutys. Some of the most innovative, and brilliant games in the past decade have come from the indie developers. Generally speaking, making video games should be fun, and when it is instead nothing more than a job, that is very sad.

I would rather develop my own game than be a part of a AAA company. I create stuff because I love doing it and I love doing stuff like that at my own pace, not someone else's. Not to mention, it's more fun to see the credits if there's not 10000000 people in them.

I'm currently part of a day job game developer, where I toil away with my assignments. Its not as fun, but it pays my bills and when I get home I am free to moonlight on my real passions. Its certainly better then scratching by with some other job and doing the same things after work.

Would I rather have total creative autonomy? absolutely, but I'm livin in the real world baby, life aint so peachy for most developers.

Also, a lot of my friends in the industry get laid off fairly regularly, and they're sad for a minute, but get right back into doing what they love, and then get another job.

I would totally rather get involved in an Indie development - theres so much more innovation, and personal touch in the Indies! That said, I looked at the poll results and had to laugh a little bit - asking a question like that here is kinda like when Fox News polls its fan base about whether or not they like prayer in schools! XD

It depends to be 100% honest. Having no money and just starting an indie team and working to a fully complete title that can support you is pretty hard, it'd be easier to attempt to get a job at a studio to have a nice living.

Of course, indie has the benefits of 100% creativity, while AAA is usually locked down on what you're doing.

After publishing Flack, I would love to work for any AAA developer. It's exhausting trying develop alone D:

I be in the past part of many companies. Have no triple-AAA games, but have other different games. Over 30+ games. Big, medium and small. And after 12 years i want to say - it's a good way to teach something, but bad way to breathe clearly oxygen. Past five years i told myself... go... go... runaway, you must be free. And now... i'm free. I have no money, no stability, wife want to kill me for that (laugh). But this two years of my independence... it's a lot of hard work... maybe best time of my life. Even if at the evening i can't find cash in my pocket.

BUT. Only the slave can evaluate freedom. If you have no hard work in our lives - you can't smell the powder. And you have no experience in game battle operations. In my opinion. Maybe i'm don't right.

I think it would be so awesome to (for example) be one of those people who made Assassins Creed 3, Battlefield or so on. AAA games have it so much easier and that would be a great advantage. However, Indie would probably be better in terms of learning, fun, management, every bodies contribution and so on. Are the drawbacks of Indie bigger than AAA? Not sure, but I'm swayed more towards Indie because I get to develop my own ideas.

AAA - just for the money :)

And Indie for creativity.

Come on - such question on THE INDIE DB! :D

Not a silly or leading "poll" on "INDIEdb", at all... ;)

... Indie: I can stay home
I can set my own deadline
Im the boss >:D

Big.. Thing: DEADLINE D:
Theres a different boss.
Ok this is stupid, lets jut say indie is better ok. :D

Create your own game it's an incredible experience, 100 better than just play a good game :)

como voto por transformice .-.

como voto por transformice??

To "play a big part in a AAA game" is a contradiction in terms, imho. No big company will allow any one individual influence the result of a game development project. Big companies get really nervous when anyone can contribute to that point, because this would relinquish control from those who wish to have it. All corporations are run this way now, and even the mid-size try to model after this because they are just following what they see. Indie has many advantages over this model from a design and creativity standpoint, however, capital is still king...for now.

The problems I have are publishers and their deadlines and the fact that they introduced publisher owned IPs, which is the standard now.
So when your game isn't as good as you'd like, you can't change it since you cannot buy as much time as you need. And if you complain they replace you (worst case).
IMO publisher owned IPs is the worst thing that happened to gaming.

You can create an indie game and still make a lot of money and probably a career out of it, with job proposals if your projects are successful enough.
So i will go with the make your own indie game option.

I honestly think AAA would be great for making money, but Indie is better because you can use your own ideas.

AAA for money. Indie for art.

Making Game Is Good And Fun , But Without Support Is Sucks and Boring !!!

I think that an Indie project can become just as stressful.

INDIE, F**K AAA

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my work can gbee seen her at http://beef331.blogspot.ca/

I'd like to be part of an AAA gane if I were in charge and designing it. But since thats not really realistic, indie. In any role. More condensed teams, no big bosses to appease. Might be your own idea, your input might be worth much more. AAA is more stable, but indies bit more freedom.

Games are art
And art is priceless