{"id":1004,"date":"2014-10-13T19:09:16","date_gmt":"2014-10-13T19:09:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mycours.es\/gamedesign2014\/?page_id=1004"},"modified":"2014-10-14T14:09:51","modified_gmt":"2014-10-14T14:09:51","slug":"aaa-indie-diy-games","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/mycours.es\/gamedesign2014\/aaa-indie-diy-games\/","title":{"rendered":"AAA vs Indie"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is an independent game developer?<\/em><\/p>\n

Small developers have been around since forever but it’s only in the mid-00 that a new idea of independent game development<\/em> started to emerge.<\/p>\n

I think it makes sense to locate the indie games movement in the context of a broader indie \/ DIY culture.<\/p>\n

Which includes indie rock via punk.<\/p>\n

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Post-hardcore band Fugazi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Independent cinema.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Reservoir dogs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Independent comics and publishing<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Daniel Clowes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Indie != obscure or marginal<\/p>\n

And we can connect it to broader trends like the DIY\/maker movement, open source, local farming etc.<\/p>\n

As both a rejection of regimented factory and office work.<\/p>\n

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And an affirmation of an excess of creativity<\/em> that is not captured (yet) by the capital.<\/p>\n

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Independent from what?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The machinery of gaming has run amok… An industry that was once the most innovative and exciting artistic field on the planet has become a morass of drudgery and imitation… It is time for revolution!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

-Greg Costikyan Death to the Games Industry<\/a> – An early indictment of the game industry<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1992<\/strong>
\nthe typical development budget for a PC game was as little as $200,000<\/p>\n

2005<\/strong>
\nFor A-level title is around $5m
\nFor triple-A title $10m is common<\/p>\n

2010<\/strong>
\nAverage AAA TITLE BUDGET: $28M<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What happened?<\/em>
\nFactors include: Moore’s law, CD-ROM, 3D<\/p>\n

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Today, art assets (not programming) are the main cost driver. As machines become capable of rendering more detailed 3D models in real time, the market demands more detailed 3D models<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n