lightbleeder said:
True, but about half of GT5 development was already done when GT5p came out, so the overall cost of developing GT5p and GT5 didn't cost the development of two different games, just one... |
Two different games don't cost the same either. The original engine, the art, etc. that goes into the first game tends to be reused to a large degree in the sequel and it brings costs down considerably That's exactly what GT5 is to GT5P, essentially it's sequel.
This also doesn't take into account that if all of the profits from GT5 Prologue are supposed to count towards GT5's profitibility, that makes GT5P completely unprofitable and a financial failure as a standalone product. That isn't true. The reality is, GT5 Prologue is likely profitable, and it's profits are being used to further fund GT5, and getting swallowed back into Sony as a whole. GT5 doesn't get to take credit for profits it didn't generate, same as Assassin's Creed II doesn't get to account for the excess profit Assassin's Creed made, just because they reuse assets in the sequel and the profits were likely used to fund it. Gran Turismo 5 starts making money the moment someone walks into the store and buys a copy.