Comments on: The Costs of Game Development and Publishing http://www.zippygamer.com/2010/03/the-costs-of-game-development-and-publishing/ Playing with energy. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:19:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Used Game Sales: The Death of Video Gaming? | New Game Blog http://www.zippygamer.com/2010/03/the-costs-of-game-development-and-publishing/comment-page-1/#comment-11699 Used Game Sales: The Death of Video Gaming? | New Game Blog Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:19:09 +0000 http://www.zippygamer.com/?p=1213#comment-11699 [...] for just as long, but only in recent years has the conflict escalated to controversial levels. The average cost to make a video game these days can set developers back as much as $30 Million. Development Kits [...] [...] for just as long, but only in recent years has the conflict escalated to controversial levels. The average cost to make a video game these days can set developers back as much as $30 Million. Development Kits [...]

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.zippygamer.com/2010/03/the-costs-of-game-development-and-publishing/comment-page-1/#comment-907 Jonathan Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:27:44 +0000 http://www.zippygamer.com/?p=1213#comment-907 Also be sure to check out GameStudies: http://www.gamestudies.org Awesome site. Also be sure to check out GameStudies: http://www.gamestudies.org

Awesome site.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.zippygamer.com/2010/03/the-costs-of-game-development-and-publishing/comment-page-1/#comment-906 Jonathan Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:20:53 +0000 http://www.zippygamer.com/?p=1213#comment-906 Hi Shane, Thanks! A lot of my data came from Game Design Workshop by Tracy Fullerton. It's a fantastic and big (496 pages) book that I'd consider required reading for anyone who wants to be a game designer. I read most of it over my Winter vacation. You can hopefully find a copy of it at a nearby library. If not, this data is available in some other places online. Some Google searching should bring up some results. Hi Shane,

Thanks!

A lot of my data came from Game Design Workshop by Tracy Fullerton. It’s a fantastic and big (496 pages) book that I’d consider required reading for anyone who wants to be a game designer. I read most of it over my Winter vacation. You can hopefully find a copy of it at a nearby library. If not, this data is available in some other places online. Some Google searching should bring up some results.

]]> By: Shane http://www.zippygamer.com/2010/03/the-costs-of-game-development-and-publishing/comment-page-1/#comment-903 Shane Thu, 15 Apr 2010 09:59:27 +0000 http://www.zippygamer.com/?p=1213#comment-903 Hi Jonathan, Great post. I am doing some research on the video game industry as a preliminary to trying to starting my own middleware company. Can I ask where you got your data? Can I have a copy of it for personal use in building my business model? Thanks! Hi Jonathan,

Great post.

I am doing some research on the video game industry as a preliminary to trying to starting my own middleware company. Can I ask where you got your data? Can I have a copy of it for personal use in building my business model?

Thanks!

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.zippygamer.com/2010/03/the-costs-of-game-development-and-publishing/comment-page-1/#comment-892 Jonathan Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:39:45 +0000 http://www.zippygamer.com/?p=1213#comment-892 No worries. I didn't think you were sand-bagging at all. You brought up some interesting questions. I don't know who sets the price limits. In my research of the game industry and development, I never came across that info. I'd assume it's the console makers (Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony). PSP games were originally $49.99? Yikes. That is too much, I agree. $39.99 is agreeable. No worries. I didn’t think you were sand-bagging at all. You brought up some interesting questions.

I don’t know who sets the price limits. In my research of the game industry and development, I never came across that info. I’d assume it’s the console makers (Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony).

PSP games were originally $49.99? Yikes. That is too much, I agree. $39.99 is agreeable.

]]> By: Bonemeal http://www.zippygamer.com/2010/03/the-costs-of-game-development-and-publishing/comment-page-1/#comment-888 Bonemeal Wed, 14 Apr 2010 08:13:47 +0000 http://www.zippygamer.com/?p=1213#comment-888 BTW, I do like your article. It is quite informative. Just want to make sure you didn't think I was sand-bagging you in any form. BTW, who actually sets price limits for the games themselves? Everything seems to have its own price. I'll list the max prices below for the games and corresponding system (note - all prices US $ as I have no idea how much they cost in £, and prices are MSRP w/o sales tax): Wii - $49.99 360 - $59.99 PS3 - $59.99 NDS - $39.99 PSP - Initially $49.99, then standard was set as $39.99. (Partially why I sold my first PSP. Didn't think console-priced games on a handheld were worth it.) BTW, I do like your article. It is quite informative. Just want to make sure you didn’t think I was sand-bagging you in any form.

BTW, who actually sets price limits for the games themselves? Everything seems to have its own price. I’ll list the max prices below for the games and corresponding system (note – all prices US $ as I have no idea how much they cost in £, and prices are MSRP w/o sales tax):

Wii – $49.99
360 – $59.99
PS3 – $59.99
NDS – $39.99
PSP – Initially $49.99, then standard was set as $39.99. (Partially why I sold my first PSP. Didn’t think console-priced games on a handheld were worth it.)

]]> By: Death Hormone http://www.zippygamer.com/2010/03/the-costs-of-game-development-and-publishing/comment-page-1/#comment-885 Death Hormone Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:31:43 +0000 http://www.zippygamer.com/?p=1213#comment-885 i'd say its more of a advantage for both consoles and pc, yes with consoles you know what your're working with, and how much power you it can produce, but with the pc, the devolpers have the choice of what to work with, and try new hardward, which most likely would work like a new console upon release for devolpers. (if that makes sense) i’d say its more of a advantage for both consoles and pc, yes with consoles you know what your’re working with, and how much power you it can produce, but with the pc, the devolpers have the choice of what to work with, and try new hardward, which most likely would work like a new console upon release for devolpers. (if that makes sense)

]]> By: Bonemeal http://www.zippygamer.com/2010/03/the-costs-of-game-development-and-publishing/comment-page-1/#comment-884 Bonemeal Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:23:22 +0000 http://www.zippygamer.com/?p=1213#comment-884 Thanks for clearing that up. It makes sense. It's not simply certain publishers; it's all publishers that affect pricing. All new 360/PS3 games are $60, as opposed to all Wii and PC games being max. $50. Still, like you said in your article, I mainly buy games from Half.com. I wasn't always pleased paying $50, and so by no means will I pay $60...unless it's something I'd really REALLY want... Thanks for clearing that up. It makes sense. It’s not simply certain publishers; it’s all publishers that affect pricing. All new 360/PS3 games are $60, as opposed to all Wii and PC games being max. $50. Still, like you said in your article, I mainly buy games from Half.com. I wasn’t always pleased paying $50, and so by no means will I pay $60…unless it’s something I’d really REALLY want…

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.zippygamer.com/2010/03/the-costs-of-game-development-and-publishing/comment-page-1/#comment-880 Jonathan Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:25:07 +0000 http://www.zippygamer.com/?p=1213#comment-880 Bone, one reason (and probably not the only reason) that PC games are cheaper is licensing fees. When you release a game on the PC, Microsoft and Sony aren't asking for a cut of your profit. Bone, one reason (and probably not the only reason) that PC games are cheaper is licensing fees. When you release a game on the PC, Microsoft and Sony aren’t asking for a cut of your profit.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.zippygamer.com/2010/03/the-costs-of-game-development-and-publishing/comment-page-1/#comment-879 Jonathan Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:21:10 +0000 http://www.zippygamer.com/?p=1213#comment-879 It depends on how the game is made too. Many indie developers use the Microsoft XNA framework, which has native support on Windows and Xbox 360, so it is easy to release them on both PC and Xbox 360 with minimal or no changes that need to be made. I haven't read too much into this, so I'm not 100% sure, but one advantage of designing for a console over a PC is that you know the console's power. You know what you're working with. With PCs, there are virtually an unlimited amount of combinations, so they have to give users the option of different resolutions, turning off effects, and so on so it will run on as many PCs as possible. When developing for a console, I'd imagine it's easier to deliver a consistent experience. Halo 3 runs exactly the same no matter which Xbox 360 I play it on. It depends on how the game is made too. Many indie developers use the Microsoft XNA framework, which has native support on Windows and Xbox 360, so it is easy to release them on both PC and Xbox 360 with minimal or no changes that need to be made.

I haven’t read too much into this, so I’m not 100% sure, but one advantage of designing for a console over a PC is that you know the console’s power. You know what you’re working with. With PCs, there are virtually an unlimited amount of combinations, so they have to give users the option of different resolutions, turning off effects, and so on so it will run on as many PCs as possible. When developing for a console, I’d imagine it’s easier to deliver a consistent experience. Halo 3 runs exactly the same no matter which Xbox 360 I play it on.

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