Regarding the cash please know what actually defines a AAA game from an A game. Is it just a quality issue? Not in my opinion. It''s the brand that makes it a AAA game. Imagine Quake 4 and an equally good FPS product you made yourself (if that''s possible just for argument''s sake). Quake 4 is AAA because it''s the forth Quake game. Your game is just as good but unless you put some massive publicity on it you will never get to the same level. Hence your game is an A title from a marketing perspective. With AAA quality gameplay though.
The money you make with AAA titles ranges somewhere between $300.000,- and $3.000.000,-. Most of it is paid in royalties but you get some hefty cash advances too. Mainly to buy equipment and hire professional staff. Suffice to say only top developers with a track record of consecutive hit titles get to work on a AAA game. For a newcomer it''s very tough to start unfortunately and the only way up is to work from B and A titles to AAA quality A titles to make that final leap. If the big publishers see you''re good then they might hire you for their next job. But it takes a lot of work and the afore mentioned track record of previous B and A titles.
