We can toss hypotheticals back and forth until the cows come home. We need solid statistics if we're to come to any conclusions here.
Does anyone have a source illustrating the cost of development, publishing & Advertising?
Someone barked out the claim that third party developers make about $7 off of each copy sold. It would be nice to see some evidence coroborating this claim as well, but assuming its true...
1m units sold = $7,000,000
2m units sold = $14,000,000
3m units sold = $21,000,000
4m units sold = $28,000,000
5m units sold = $35,000,000
6m units sold = $42,000,000
Now even if DMC4 does break even or make a profit, the real question is whether or not it is a worthwhile profit to justify such a project. For Example...
If the Game hypothetically cost $5,000,000 and made $8,500,000 then there is a profit of $3,500,000. Sure, that's a profit, but was it worth the risk? Is taking two steps back and three steps forward really that sound an approach or a comfortable strategy for the developer? I'm sure it would be appreciable to see the game at least return the amount initially spent on it or a greater sum.
I would like to see some solid sources giving us the details on this game before anyone jumps to such conclusions.
1: Stop making shooters. Please. You're not Valve or Free Radical.
2: Stop trying to force photo-realism down my throat until you can get out of the uncanny valley. Work on style and presentation instead of just pixels and bloom.
3: Try something weird and new, and hope we like it.
You'll cut costs way more than you cut revenue, and thus increase profit.
