Microsoft's announcement of its upcoming XNA kit and Creator's Club have likely charged the minds of many hoping to break it big in Live Arcade's future, there's still many harsh realities to indie development that have to be considered.
To that end, GarageGames' and Marble Blast Ultra's (and ex-Incredible Machines co-creator) Jeff Tunnell has updated his Make It Big In Games blog with a post on the financial considerations of Live Arcade development. More hopeful sounding than his previous How Much Money Can Indie Games Make? and XBox360 Live Arcade Opportunities Get Competitive In A Hurry! entries, Tunnell admits that a typical Live Arcade slot could net developers anywhere between $780,000 - 1.5million (£414k-796k), though he admits the figure is a drop in the pan compared to most game budgets and returns.
For a good read on all the ins and outs from someone who's been working at indie development for as long as nearly anyone, Tunnell's blog is a fascinating and insightful read.
