Question: Differences between working in a big game studio vs a small one (indie deve

onewinged · Oct 2013

Have anyone of you 3D guys here had the experience of working in both a big and a small studio (indie developer)?
If you have what was the biggest differences between the two? What are advantages and disadvantages of each in your opinion? And how did it affect your role as a 3D Artist?

3D artist in this case can be anything from characters, environments and props.

Also if you have anything else that relates to this (articles, interviews and so on) feel free to do so.

And I apologize if this question have been posted before.

Thanks in advanced /onewinged

monster · Oct 2013

In my general experience... (There are always exceptions.)

Big studios pay more and have better benefits.
Smaller studios have more freedom with projects.
Smaller studios provide more ownership of work.
Big studios usually have more red tape when it comes to moon-lighting/freelancing.
Big studios have more specialists.
Small studios need more generalists.
Big studios tend to start and cancel projects more frequently.

Justin Meisse · Oct 2013

Hermit wrote: »

And in big studios, 3D artists might do a lot more of unpaid overtime than anyone else in other departments. If your goal is to improve your overall skills, big studios might not be your first choice.

I wouldn't say that's exclusive to big studios, bad planning can happen anywhere. I'd say you have more of a safety net in bigger studios, I've heard plenty of horror stories of small studios missing pay-roll when they fall on tough times.