Very true. I'm considering writing a few articles regarding indy development, and how it differs from mainstream game development. The fact is, indy development is a lot more open and honest than mainstream development, and in my opinion leads to better communication with it's community. Take a look at Wolfire Games, and other such developers. As someone who's been on the "inside" of game development, it's definitely a step in the right direction, imho.
In regards to BF3 ... I think most of the negative feedback has come from the beta testing, which was NOT the final version of the game. After having played it the last few weeks, I can definitely see the disparity. The game is much more polished than before, and I enjoy it a lot more than what I did previously. Yes, there are still bugs, but they are no more nor less than what a typical game company faces. The problem is that players are much more critical than they used to be, and expect more than what is realistic.
I have a 3d artist friend who is in the gaming industry, and I've listened to his rants and raves ad nauseum. BF3 is NO different in it's bugs than any other game.
Cameni, and Angrypig, have fostered one of the best online communities I've seen in 12 years (and I do this for a living). The lengths they go to is hands down the most impressive feat I've seen so far, and I will forever be grateful for that first email I sent to Cameni, asking specifics on the engine, and telling him my eventual goals for it
. Out of half a dozen engines I'd looked at, only Cameni even bothered to talk to me about it.
That gives Outerra a +10 in my book, if not more ... even if I have to wait two or three more years before everything's in place for what I want.
