Indie vs. AAA: What’s the difference?

Jem wrote:

AAA games are developed by bigger and highly established companies who are capable of producing costly visuals for different growing game genres. Indie, in contrast, may be likened to start-up companies.

[ziggurcat]

budget. that's what classifies a AAA game as a AAA game.

[boomtube1987]

Basically a AAA has in average better gameplay & graphics the reason console business still exist. I wouldnt call myself a console gamer let alone a gamer if it wasn't for AAA. Non AAA Indies are terrible games polluting console and they do not sell well. Console gamers in general do not like indies. Just look at the hate the Free PSN games get on YouTube and look what happened to indie based hardware like PSP VITA. I rest my case.

[nitus10]

I suppose the best question to ask is "What defines a AAA game?"

Great gameplay and great graphics? Contrary to what some people say games are art and appreciation of any type of art is subjective and dependent on the people (in this case gamers) who are experiencing it.

All games fall into genres, some with multiple sub-genres as well and you will normally find most gamers usually like a few types whilst disdaining others. Sure the free games that have been lately made available for PS+ subscribers may not be exciting to some but others who may not have even considered those genres may give them a go and either dislike or like them. You can't please everyone all the time.

Anyway, I purchased my subscription to PS+ not for the free games since they IMHO are a bonus but for the discounts which can be considerable. You should also note that I did not purchase a PS+ subscription for on-line access since the games I normally play are single player or in the case of the Souls and Bloodborne have an on-line component.

Lately, I have found that a few Indie games have been released with a so-called nostalgia or retro look. Personally, I hate that and would not purchase that game unless the developer has an option for smoother graphics (eg Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap). This is not to say that I would begrudge others who like the retro look but I personally don't.

Are AAA games better than Indie games? The answer to that is "It depends".

[KwietStorm_BLM]

So if an independent studio makes a game with a "large" budget, it's not an indie?

[ziggurcat]

Indie just means it's made by an independent studio... while they're often small studios with small budgets, if an independent studio makes a game with a budget large enough for it to classify as a AAA game, then yes... it would not be an "indie" game.

[stuna1]

Budget is the difference! But resourses and developers size and notariety are also factors

What I mean by notariety it's usually developers that have gained some type of following that transcends certain quota in developmental circles where they've done work that has garnered the attention of not only gamers, developmental groups,, but Platform makers. That in itself could be a major factor into what transistion a Indie title into or the beginning of a AAA title, Simply because through those things, usually the budget, resourses, man power and notariety expands.

[Fist4achin]

Indies are generally a lower budget concept brought by a small development team, while AAA are usually large budgets, huge development teams and have hard deadlines.

[Tetsujin]

You want my difference?

Indie titles, as of late, have been much better in story telling and game play.
AAA lately have been nothing but over hyped garbage.

So far for 2017 I've spent more on Indie titles, and gotten way more enjoyment out of them, than the "AAA" titles a lot of fans scream are better. Judge all you want, but I've gone back to previous consoles because I get a sense of enjoyment out of something made by companies who had gamers working for them, not business people who think with their pockets.

[nitus10]

Well said, my sentiments exactly.

Although Horizon Zero Dawn, NioH, Dark Souls 3 (already got and playing 2), Gravity Rush 2 (already played GR Remastered) and Neir Automata are definitely on my to-do list. My biggest complaint is that there are far too many games available on the PS4 that I am currently playing or want to play in the future.

Personally, if I am in a rush to get through a game then that game is not that interesting and in some cases, I can't be bothered finishing. Fortunately, I rarely get these (again subjective) type of games and for games I really like I just enjoy taking my time even if it means a restart.

[mochachino]

Graphics, animations, sound, voice work definitely. Often story and gameplay.

Generally it's like comparing a blockbuster movie to an indie movie, indie movies can still be amazing but an indie Batman/Marvel/Starwars movie would never compete with a blockbuster one.

[bluefox755]

Budget. I suppose an indie game COULD be considered AAA in theory, if they had the funds to do it. Though they are generally not considered AAA, because they lack the financial backing of a publisher. So while they are afforded more creative freedom as an indie developer, this generally comes at the trade-off of a much smaller budget.

[subtenko]

indie = independent, and AAA is a well known and bigger title

[triggermike187]

del

[KwietStorm_BLM]

The difference is one carries an unfair stigma because of some bad eggs, while the other openly gets preorders out the ass, while ignoring it's own bad eggs and cut content because of the name. To me, a good game is a good game, wherever it comes from.

[JCW2005]

I hate this push for indie... this fad needs to die. i payed 400 for my ps4 and 800 for my pc, aint got no time to play pixel games or super cartoony 3d games which is what most indies are. screw dat.

[TheColbertinator]

Sometimes they are the same thing. Level 5 is an independent developer yet has created some of my favorite AAA games of all time.