Game Development Community

Go Commercial or Stay Indie? - for career

by Sean Brady · in General Discussion · 06/12/2010 (4:44 pm) · 10 replies

Hello I am just wondering whether or not a game development graduate of any kind should strive for the overbaring crunch employee position in a massive games company or to stay indie wherever possible and potentially for career?

I personally am not looking to join a massive game dev corporation/company. Indie is my decision and love. Apart from my opinion what are yurs?

Just trying to get the general consensus plus clarifying whether or not the pursuit of the massive games company job is worth it nowadays.

Thank you.
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Associate Konrad Kiss
Bitgap Games
#1
06/12/2010 (5:59 pm)
In a professional big budget studio with a publisher you can have a work environment that is full of professionals and can turn out to be great for learning. Also, your portfolio will definitely look better and will open more gates for you with some AAA finished titles on it. The downside is the endless boring grinding and the volatile moral that can easily be corrupted by the publisher or even a bad manager.

My friends at Digital Reality tell me they have lots of fun - but I know from having many friends at similar studios around Europe that this is a unique case. Most of them end up hating the studio they work for and quit before the title would ship due to personal reasons.

I am one of the lucky indies who managed to find an investor to fund their ideas for a game. It's a lot harder to get off the ground. But for some reason I've never even came close to feeling the way my friends often do at some pretty famous studios. And it's a thousand times more rewarding to me.

Associate Tom Spilman
Sickhead Games
#2
06/12/2010 (8:39 pm)
If you have an opportunity to work at a good established studio its worth doing at least once. Yea you might get unlucky and work long hours, endure crazy crunches, be totally unappreciated, and feel like you've had your soul sucked out thru your bowels... but you may learn some things along the way.

You can always decided to go indie later.

Torque Owner Sean Brady
#3
06/12/2010 (9:00 pm)
Suck it up, do it and learn; the journey every developer must go through..

thanks very much guys.

Sean.

Torque Owner Sean Brady
#4
06/14/2010 (7:53 am)
I was only summarising it from myself more so than anyone else. I didnt intend to come across as disrespectful.

Associate Konrad Kiss
Bitgap Games
#5
06/14/2010 (10:37 am)
Oh, I don't think anyone interpreted it that way. :) You've pretty much hit the nail on the head, Sean.

Associate Tom Spilman
Sickhead Games
#6
06/14/2010 (10:59 am)
Np. ;)

Torque Owner Sean Brady
#7
06/14/2010 (12:46 pm)
Cheers, I just read over it and it seemed a bit harsh in a certain light. I thought I better make it clear hahaha.....

Gud luk.

Torque Owner Sean Brady
#8
06/15/2010 (10:29 am)
I have made a decision regarding the topic at hand, I am going to have a go at going indie. I cannot face the reality of becoming some soulless production monkey dealing with something I care about alot for someone else for 5-10 years. Any advice from current or past indie developers?

NOTE: I am not planning to takeover the world or anything I realise the restrictions and implied obstacles to overcome. Just have to give it a go you know....

Torque 3D Owner Ronny Bangsund
Torque Cheerleaders
#9
06/15/2010 (10:37 am)
I can't give much useful advice (and I'm leaning towards freedom), but whatever you do, it should be what you want to do. So basically the advice is to not follow advice on forums, including this :)

Torque Owner Sean Brady
#10
06/15/2010 (10:51 am)
Cool will do, cheers.

Torque Owner Sean Brady
#11
03/28/2011 (2:36 pm)
Quote:but whatever you do, it should be what you want to do.

There is alot to be said for this approach especially after you realise what you're scarificing everything for in life..... ;)