I'm not suggesting they top the dev cost list. I've said many times I figure that they are in between reported high end costs ($30-$40 million) and official reported low end costs ($10-15 million). I think that puts the games at around $20-25 million each (not necessarily equal costs per game). That IS average cost this gen for a good game. The only link you have suggesting games are even possible under $15 million is 3 years old, and full of other completely false information.
That said, if Legend's link is correct then they aren't far from breaking even anyway. And of course like I said in the first place, Microsoft paid for all this development. Mistwalker is a Microsoft funded company, and they might as well be first party like Rare. Their losses will be felt by Microsoft, not by them.
I just think it's ridiculous that you're still arguing 2 40 hour plus games full of FMV and with tons of big names like Uematsu hired on for fully orchestrated soundtracks cost less to make than Uncharted. A 12 hour game that used no FMV, was made in half the time, and had no orchestral soundtrack...
