Hello,

My questions in this days of medium size to big mega-companies, is it possible for a lone developer to come up with original ideas without getting muzzled out by these bigger companies due to their massive resources? While the lone developer is trying to get off the ground slowly and gradually?

I'm not just referring games here but also including other software products in general (noting that its impossible to get IP for pure software - even if it is, it would be too expensive for the lone poor but creative developer to start and maintain lawsuits. i.e. Apple, Samsung, google, Microsoft are protecting their products and suing each other because they can afford it)

I have brained-stormed gaming ideas in the past but my ideas never really seemed original enough to excite me -every genre seem very competitive. Then I shifted away from games (but using same skills-set) then (light-bulbs) and great ideas started coming. But there are lots sad stories around of real creative people muzzled off.

So how do people here see this issue? Or if i am missing the point how does it work?

thanks

3. Question unclear. It's possible. Ideas aren't enough....

Actually i have gone beyond the business plan stage...

I mean with your idea you haven't got the funds to fully develop and mass-market it. So with the aim of developing further in versions/sequels, you release a watered-down version (so the idea is out), which means the rich guys (big companies) with the huge marketing resources see the idea and your toil becomes their gain

welOhim, on 21 Jan 2015 - 11:44 PM, said:
1. is it possible for a lone developer
2. to come up with original ideas
3. without getting muzzled out by these bigger companies due to their massive resources? While the lone developer is trying to get off the ground slowly and gradually?

Actually the way you split up and rewrite the question has completely mis-interpreted my questions. I wasn't asking if it is possible for a lone developer to come up with original ideas

So build your camp on dry land and do the things that a big studio cannot do.

Easier said than done. I can't imagine what a lone developer can do that big studio can't

Generally good point!

The more interesting question is how to acquire an unusual idea in the first place. I feel like the hobbyist and indie world is split in two major and one small group:

Those who have unusual, cool ideas, but are unable to implement them.

Those who have no innovative ideas, but would be able to implement them.

And a very small group of those who have both. Those are the guys that can actually live off of their work as indies (if they somehow manage to get the business part right, too).