Indie Game Developer VS. AAA Developer: Which Path Is Right For You?

Jason Weimann and I compare and contrast the two paths, answering the questions: which path is better for you, and why. We're also going to give some tips on how to make the best decision for your career path. So if you're wondering which path to take, this is the video for you!
Jason Weimann and I debate about which career path is better, AAA or indie! In this video, we're going to answer the question: Indie Game Developer VS. AAA Developer: Which Path Is Right For You?

[thomasbrush]

Which path do you think is easier: indie game development or AAA development? 

[jonbednez]

I think as an indie, there is something to be said about owning a piece of digital media that you developed. Even though the path is harder to walk.

[StarContract]

I'm making a triple A game from my basement, howboutdat

[velgd]

Great discussion, thank you for the video!

I have a few things to add. For context, I am a AAA game developer and I do indie games in my free time

AAA is much easier than indie, I totally agree with that. But as to "Which Path Is Right For You", I think it's much more complicated.

For me, the most important factor when making a choice between AAA and Indie is fulfillment.
As a AAA dev I'm working on games that are bigger than any of my dream games could ever be, and it's so cool to see everyone talk about those games, and feel proud of my team. I feel extremely lucky to be involved in the current project that I'm working on.

But with Indie games I get a much deeper, more personal connection to the game, and to the players, which makes it so much more fulfilling than AAA.

Also, AAA usually has better work environment and many benefits compared to indie, but it doesn't give you the same level of creative freedom. This could be important to some people. Important enough to put up with the indie struggle.

I actually just released a video on this topic inspired by your discussion, check it out if you're interested.

[tommallama]

I can 100% confirm that it is possible to get started in games from the Customer Service angle.
I have been using Unity for almost 10 years, but I didn't quite have the experience to work as a programmer professionally.
There was an opening for a Customer Service position at a Game Company and I got the job.
Made good friends with the programmers who gave me lots of awesome advice.
From there, got a job in QA and continued having good working relationships with people while working on my skills on the side.
Eventually a Junior Programmer position opened up and I've been working as Unity Developer for 3+ years :D
Lots of opportunities can present themselves in non-obvious ways!!
Do your best to grow your skills, treat people well, and you will eventually land that job!!

[Esoteric_Games]

What he says about being versatile is so true. I had to start learning modeling/animating/rigging and other aspects so I won’t have to rely on others as much, and I can “wear all the hats”

[bowman-dev]

100% agree with the tremendous amount of work to build the tools to make the design much easier! Made even harder for indie, designing / building tools and implementing the systems for the game ends up being like 2 entire projects in itself (6+ months a piece) haha!

Would completely recommend building amazing and flexible tools for an indie studio, being data-oriented lets you scale up from being just a one-person team and enable designers, world builders, etc. to easily build assets for the game - freeing you up to build awesome systems that make use of those tool assets, making it much more approachable to build massive games with small teams

[zayniacgames]

I am a Indie Game Company and I am proud of my journey. Growth will happen step by step just stay humble along the way. If you like to program or do other task in Gaming working for any company can be great but know your worth. If your doing everything anyways go indie. If you just want to focus on one programming or art work for a company that respects your talent or offers growth in the future.

[tmoneygamestudio]

Much props to Jason Weinman for working on an Everquest series game. Loved playing all of them. Much props to Thomas Brush on Pinstripe was a great 2.5d game. Haven't tried Coma yet, but I hear great things. And thank you both for giving back to the GameDev community.

[DmDv]

loved this video! Would love to see you discuss if multiplayer or story mode games is more successful for an indie studio :)

[morpheus]

You also have to take into account the country where you live. It's almost impossible to find a triple-A position in my country.

[DPrinterAcademy]

30:00 @ThomasBrush, wouldn't you want to hire people to fill your "skillset voids" rather than a smaller version of yourself? Then you can build a team where the sum is greater than its parts

[shonmacklin]

"Connections" That makes me sad too, Thomas. And it explains a lot of the struggle I have been through. But thanks to people like you, and Lost Relic games ; I can see my end game now.

[skytl]

As someone who works in QA, and started in the industry at a triple-A studio (I actually worked on EverQuest (the first one, not EQ2)), and has since transitioned to indie, I'll throw in my unsolicited 2cp here, and point out that while having connections is incredibly helpful in getting a foot in the door, larger triple-A studios sometimes hire a lot of QA testers as they work towards launches. So often folks without connections can come in as part of a ramp up. It's usually just temp work, but it's a way to get industry experience.

[RamunatorGames]

I feel like Thomas should start a podcast

[alxdrksoul]

45 min long? as interesting as it is I don't think I have the time to watch this :/ ... *45 minutes later* ... I can't believe I watched the whole video, keep them coming please C:

[cycomyco]

That intro trailer was awesome I felt like I was getting ready to watch a Tyson fight XD.

[wills]

Cool change of pace Thomas! Loving it, thanks!

[ramoncf]

Thank you both for the video, I really enjoyed the conversation and also thank you for answering my question.

[AaronGwynaireGameDev]

Great video! Really interesting perspectives ... Person note: I did have an offer from Infinity Ward back in late 2020, to have an interview with their artists after being spotted with Neyyah on facebook. If successful, I could have moved out to LA to work in their studios (once COVID permitted travel). However, it was at this time that Microprose had also approached me ... and I could be funded full time to make my first person adventure game, Neyyah, to continue living and breathing my game but on a whole new scale, to really breathe life into the world I'm developing, and having Microprose's brand behind Neyyah ...

It was a no brainer for me.

I chose Microprose. I chose indie game development. I chose to keep to myself, do what I do, my way.