Cost of Developing games

[Slimebeast]

Squilliam said:

Slimebeast said:

Squilliam said:
^ Actually L4D is probably closer to 15M at most. They are reusing the Source engine and there isn't a hell of a lot of content (voice acting, levels, graphics) in the game.

It's possible. But it's a fairly big project and a new IP.

But then I'm using a new formula for estimating dev costs, by using $125-150K per man-year instead of $100K which I always thought was too low. (L4D 2 years x 75 guys x $150k=$22.5 mill)

75 guys didn't work solely on that game for the whole two years. $100k per year was given by developers working in the industry its a pretty good rule of the thumb really, if you took that and redid your calculations it would come in at exactly $15M as an estimate.

@SaviourX advertising is based on cost/benefit not how much a game cost to make. If a game sucks and cost $30M they won't advertise it extensively. A lot of games last gen got more advertisement than development dollars.

 

$100k is too low. If other software business outside of gaming have costs well over $100k per man-year, I dont think the resource heavier gaming development can have less. Gaming development has these extra costs of doing research, traveling more, using expensive high tech equipment other than just the PCs, creating music, photographs, promo material etc.

Salaries alone are $80,000 per man (the gross salary that the employer has to pay, net salary is less). At least here in Sweden.