Machiavellian said:
The thing is expectation of next gen is that you will not only get a graphics boost but you will get a content boost. This is the reason that development cost goes up because trying to fill the world with unique assets takes time. Longer development means higher cost. Reduce longer development by highering more people increase cost. As stated on this site many times people are expecting to see their game world increase , with higher order or content, AI, Physics, interaction with that environment. So just isolating the texturs is not looking at the bigger picture. As for the pricing of the PS4, I just cannot see Sony absorbing to much on the cost. Its not like Sony can bleed money until the PS4 starts to make a profit, I believe the console will come out with Sony take a 50 dollar hit where 2 first party games should be able to stem the loss. The cheapest I see the PS4 selling is 400 - 500. If Nintendo was taking a lost with the WiiU at a price 349, I just cannot see the PS4 not taking a hit at 400. Actually Sony probably will be taking a hit at 500. It will be interesting if Sony goes for broke and take 100 dollar or more hit if they believe they can outpace the nextbox. |
People seemed fairly happy with the massive drop in content from 25-30 hours for a blockbuster PS2 gen game to 10-15 hours for a blockbuster PS3 game. I would imagine most PS4 games are going to stay in the 10-20 range, which should keep costs down.
As for A.I., that progresses so slowly each generation that it seems to not progress at all. Devs would generally reuse A.I. code from previous similar games, with just slight tweaks, A.I. costs are not that high, and I doubt they will increase.
You are right that a game like GT, GTA or any other open world game will cost a lot more, but most will be fine.
As for cost, it's been stimated that the cost to Sony for parts and manufacturing, including their bulk discount and price drops between now and Nov but not including shiping, retailer's cut or sales taxes, will be $540 . I think the most likely cost of the PS4 will be exactly the same as the PS3, $499 and $599. They'll be taking a small loss for each console sold, but enough that they will make profit from the console if the owner buys a 2nd controller and 1-2 1st party games, or 2-4 3rd party.
